Powerful story. I attend The Tabernacle in OP- a non-denominational church. They have fund-drives for St.Lukes and are always recruiting volunteers for their work and programs. The suburban churches are helping- too bad the Roman Catholic churches aren't so involved or interested.
platt4 - I have to disagree regarding the Roman Catholic churches. One of the sections of St. Lukes, called the Good Shepherd Residence, is actually in reference to Good Shepherd R.C. Church in Pendleton (the town I grew up in and attended church). So, there are those helping out from Catholic churches.
Joshua... did the "Journey of Faith" just recently close down Good Shepherd?
Shake - Good Shepherd hasn't closed due to the Journey of Faith. My dad regularly attends and is involved at the church. Since it appears that Pendleton is growing, (probably everyone from Buffalo moving out there, grumbling......), the diocese hasn't felt the need to close the church. As soon as the pastor who is about 79-80 retires, there was talk that the Good Shepherd would share a pastor with St. Pius X on N. French Rd. The pastor at St. Pius X isn't young either. I only know as much as what my dad tells me, I haven't gone to church there besides Christmas and Easter, in years.
I've had the pleasure of visiting St. Luke's many times in my High School years. Every experience, from helping with a day care to attending services, were powerful and eye-opening. Seek out any opportunity to go there, you will not be disappointed.
platt4 -- Don't talk about what you don't know about. Catholic Churches around the region support St. Luke's in incredible ways throughout the year. Sure, you may do a food drive once per year... but I work at 2 Catholic Churches that send volunteers there monthly, do food-drives regularly, send in presents every Christmas... the list goes on. This is not isolated to the 2 Churches I work at, it is all over the Diocese. Oh yeah, the people running St. Luke's are Catholic, they have mass regularly, do daily Adoration... it is a very Catholic place, and Catholics from all over (a few I know go daily) help all the time. Your comment was completely unwarranted.
I have had also had the pleasure of volunteering at St. Lukes in grade and high school. A beautiful building with a truly beautiful purpose. The people there truly are doing the work of christ. homeless and impoverished people can come in there, get fed, and get clothes and not even say thank you and they are still welcome. norm and amy don't ask for anything in return. An inspiring story about the spirit of altruism that makes the catholic church great.
I had the pleasure of experiencing this wonderful structure up until its closure for both grammar school and as a place of worship. Despite my many recent years of atheism, I still think back very fondly to my years spent there...the place seemed to hold a lot of magic, especially to a child. I loved being there at christmas and easter. The old, lengthy mass rites were always carried out with such grandeur on the holidays. It is a shame the Catholic Church is becoming so tragically out of touch with both reality and its congregation. This was a place filled with wonderful people who provided me with an amazing foundation. The day the Diocese closed first my school, then my church, was the day I began to lose my faith. It's a sad story, one that continues to be played out with predictable and regrettable consequences, especially for the Catholic faith. Declining resources, urban population shifts, and rising financial costs are quite understandable and are to be expected. However, it is my opinion that the Catholic Church should not be surprised the numbers of faithful are dwindling...too many feel abandoned and played like pawns. Upon its closure, I was very happy to see the ministry come in and use the space that I grew up in and loved for so many years. It comforted me, and it made me see that 'religion' is nothing more than a contrived scam, and that real faith happens because people do things that make others believe in the awesome power of humanity.
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