Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!
Since the solemn day of Pentecost is upon us, the Easter season officially draws to a close. Therefore, I wanted one last opportunity to give the Easter greeting to all of you. As we conclude this season, again, with the most holy day of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, we soon return to the season of Ordinary Time and the familiar green color that marks this season after Pentecost.
Along with this shift into a new liturgical season, I myself must shift into a new pastoral role, and thus, I wish to announce to all of you some coming changes.
I will continue to serve and minister to all of you here at Blessed Sacrament as your pastor, in addition to a new role that the diocese has asked me to undertake. I will also be serving as Administrator of the parish of St. Paul RC Church in the village of Kenmore! I am very happy to begin this new role and to learn about the parish of St. Paul’s, especially to get to know the people and families of that wonderful community. As Rev. Joseph Vatter begins a well-deserved retirement, I hope to carry on the good work that he has been doing for so many years at St. Paul’s. Once again, I will continue to serve as pastor here at Blessed Sacrament, as well as keeping the rectory of Blessed Sacrament as my residence.
Just as this new role marks a change in my pastoral duties, we also take the time to welcome a new member to our Blessed Sacrament family…Rev. Peter C. Ekanem! Fr. Peter Ekanem currently serves as administrator of St. Martin de Porres RC Church in Buffalo, but he will be taking on the new role of serving as Parochial Vicar of both Blessed Sacrament and St. Paul’s in Kenmore. Fr. Peter will also live in the rectory here, alongside myself and Fr. Leo. We welcome Fr. Peter to our little corner of Tonawanda and wish him all the best as he begins this exciting new chapter in his priestly ministry.
I ask all of you, in your kindness, to pray for Fr. Peter and myself, and also to pray for the people of St. Paul’s. As the work of the Road to Renewal begins to unfold, there will have to be a lot of adaptation and adjustment, especially in the many roles that priests will have to take on. However, with God’s grace and your prayers, we can face the future together with faith, hope, and charity.
God bless you all!
Our Lady of Perpetual Help…pray for us!
St. Paul the Apostle…pray for us!
May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved, with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.
~Fr. Martin Gallagher
Blessed Sacrament Church 