The New York Province of the Society of Jesus staffs several parishes in New York and New Jersey: St. Francis Xavier and St. Ignatius in Manhattan; St. Aedan’s in Jersey City; St. Michael’s in Buffalo; St. Anthony’s in Oceanside; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel-St. Benedicta in Staten Island, and St. Mary of the Assumption in Staten Island. In our ongoing exploration of other Jesuit apostolates, we focus today the parish of St. Michael’s in Buffalo. We are happy to share this reflection by Fr. Ben Fiorie, S.J., pastor of St. Michael’s. We are grateful to Fr. Fiorie for sharing this reflection. This exploration of the work of St. Michael’s concludes our E-News series on other Jesuit apostolates. Over the course of the last 18 months we have explored the work of the parishes, retreat houses, schools, colleges and universities of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus. The works under the Society’s care are rich and varied yet are all united in the work of serving the Church-- the people of God, and promoting faith of which justice is an inextricable component. The website of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus as well as the Jesuit vocation website are always great sources of information about the Society and her works. While our monthly exploration ends, the E-News will continue to share news about the other works of the Society of Jesus throughout the year.

St. Michael’s Parish has served downtown Buffalo since 1851. It also anchored Canisius High School and Canisius College, both of which later moved to more spacious sites in the city. With the decline of the Buffalo economy after the 1950s, with the opening of the Welland Canal, with highway construction cutting through the nearby residential neighborhood in the 1960s, and with white flight to the suburbs in the later 1960s, the parish was left without its residential base. To date, most of the registered parishioners are not from the immediate vicinity of the church, although there is some increase due to the return to the area of retired persons and young professionals.

The parish is known and cherished by laity and clergy throughout the diocese and even nearby southern Ontario for its availability of priests offering the sacrament of reconciliation on a regular schedule in the church and by request in the rectory. Three daily and six Sunday Masses are generally well-attended. Novenas to the Sacred Heart, to St. Francis Xavier, to the North American martyrs, and to the Divine Mercy, as well as adoration of the blessed sacrament for 10 hours daily meet the desire for traditional pious devotions. The parish serves as the center for the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life, with some 40 persons participating each year in small groups. The parish hosts two AA groups and one of the Jesuits directs a monthly meeting of Calix, a spiritual 12-step program. Another Jesuit is spiritual adviser to the Frassati group of young Catholics who seek to deepen their spirituality. Two of the staff are involved with the feasibility study for establishing a chapter of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps in Western NY. The Jesuits on the staff also assist at St. Luke’s mission of Mercy, a lay-run comprehensive support organization for the area needy. The parish also supports the local Nativity school financially and one Jesuit teaches at the school. The parish hosts the downtown program of the Catholic Biblical Studies Program and one of the staff offers a course in that program. The parish staff regularly fills in at the nearby hospital chaplaincy chapel and in area parishes. Jesuits on staff regularly offer spiritual direction to area laity, religious and clergy. The Jesuit staff is comprised of Jesuits over 70, with a good number over 80. We accomplish a great deal for others at a time when many of our contemporaries are enjoying retirement.

This the last article in a series on Jesuits Apostolates: The Other Works of the Society of Jesus. For other Apostolates in the series, click the following links:
St. Aedan’s: The St. Peter’s University Church
St. Mary of the Assumption and Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Benedicta
St. Ignatius Loyola Parish
Cristo Rey New York
Canisius and McQuaid
St. Peter's Prep and Loyola
Fordham Prep and Regis
The Jesuit Collaborative
Loyola House of Retreats
Manresa and Inisfada Retreat Houses
America Magazine
Centro Altagracia de Fe y Justicia
St. Peter's University
Fordham University
Le Moyne College