Jubilee Events All scheduled events are FREE and open to the public.

Sunday, july 13, 2008

Day 1

11:30 am

Annual

Sunday Mass in the Park

Portville, NY

followed by a pot-luck lunch.

Hosted by Sacred Heart Oratory Community [meat, beverage and table service provided. Please bring dish to pass.]

5:00 pm

Solemn Vespers

St. Mary of the Angels Church (Olean, NY)

An ecumenical prayer service featuring reflections from colleagues in ministry during Fr. Greg’s tenure in Olean. Psalms of praise sung by our parish choir.

6:00 pm

Dinner Reception

Grounds of St. Mary of the Angels Church

Enjoy wonderful dishes prepared by our fine area restaurants.

The evening features LIVE Traditional Irish Folk Music by

Fieldstone

Monday, July 14, 2008

Day 2

6:00 pm

Eucharistic Celebration

St. Mary of the Angels Church (Olean, NY)

Join Fr. Greg on the actual day of his Ordination Mass. Come worship with his family and friends as we give thanks and praise to the Lord for this beautiful vocation!

7:00 pm

Reception

The celebration continues on the grounds of St. Mary’s with a delightful fare of desserts, coffee and champagne toast. Enjoy live musical entertainment under the big tent.

schedule

Tuesday, May 20
Recital in Honor of Fr. Greg
by Maria Bellanca, Soprano
Eastman School of Music
7:00 pm
St. Mary of the Angels Church

Following the Jubilee theme, “Dedicate yourselves to thankfulness,” Maria offers this public concert in gratitude for Fr. Greg’s guidance and support during her years as a cantor at St. Mary’s.

A free-will offering will be accepted to benefit Fr. Greg’s Silver Jubilee Celebration.

Sunday, May 25
Annual
Corpus Christi Procession
Noon
This was St. John Vianney’s favorite feast day! Join Fr. Greg in bringing Jesus out into the world in a splendid procession complete with canopy and incense from Ars, France following the 11:00 am Mass. Outdoor hymns played on St. Mary’s historic tower chimes.

June 20, 21, 22, 2008
Procession in Honor of
St. John Vianney
As part of our annual Church Festival, Fr. Greg has designated processions in honor of the patron saint of his Silver Jubilee (a relic of the Cure of Ars will be used in these processions). This helps to highlight public attention to the need to pray for priests and for an increase in vocations.

September 14, 2008
5:00 pm
Orchestra Concert
in Celebration of the Priesthood
St. Mary of the Angels Church (Olean)
Enjoy Fr. Greg’s gift of music to the community with his specially selected pieces performed by the Southern Tier Symphony.
Mr. John Whitney conducts.

September, 2008
To Be Determined
Kathleen Wright Lecture Series
“Priesthood: the love of the heart of Jesus.”
This weekly series will focus on the great mystery of God’s gift of priesthood with a variety of speakers invited by Fr. Greg. Get insights into this vocation from the men who live it. Come see and hear how--in many and varied ways--”the priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.” (St. John Vianney)

Past Events
april 3,10,17 & 24, 2008
Lecture Series
“In the Footsteps of St. Paul”
7:00 pm Thursdays
St. Mary of the Angels Church Cafeteria (in basement of the church)

In anticipation of the Year of St. Paul, Fr. Greg will offer Thursday night reflections on the great “Apostle to the Gentiles.” His teachings will blend photos and discoveries made during his recent pilgrimage to Greece. Experience wonderful insights into your Christian faith by sharing in Fr. Greg's personal discoveries.

april 3
Macedonia
Philippi--St. Paul lands in Greece and baptizes the first European Christian. Greeks from all levels of society were welcomed into the Christian faith. See photos and video of the actual site of Lydia's baptism. We reflect on Paul's unceasing praise during his imprisonment while we look at photos of his actual prison cell. Some aspects of Philippi today have not changed from Paul's day as photos and video will reveal. Come see!

april 10
Macedonia
Thessalonia--Fr Greg reflects on Paul's teaching about the necessity of work. You will discover through pictures and video how this very concept is highly visible in Thessoloniki today!
Borea (Veria)--Paul convincingly argues the Christian message by using Scripture to prove Christ is the Messiah. See photos of the very steps upon which he preached.

april 17
Corinth and Delphi
An examination of Greek pagan religion/culture and how Paul used these experiences to open their eyes to the wider Christian message. Paul's concepts of the democratization of the Holy Spirit and the joy of a hopeful existence here and in the afterlife are reflected upon. The most beautiful photographs of Fr. Greg's pilgrimage were taken at these sites.

april 24
Athens
Here at the Areopagus, below the Acropolis, Paul delivered his beautiful "Men of Athens" speech in which he proclaimed to the Athenians the identity of the "unknown God" they worship. See photos of this actual site as it looks today. Fr. Greg offers a reflection on Paul's direct legacy in this country-- aspects of the Christian culture in Greece today and how this speaks to all of us.

Fr. Greg’s favorite scene from the “Light” Rosary Musical

Mass in the Park in Portville, NY (2007)

Evolution of a “Simple Country Priest”

Past Events

February 9, 2008
Official Kick-Off of the
Silver Jubilee
View the video of the blessing under the VIDEO tab of this web site. During the 4pm Mass on Feb. 9, Fr. Greg blessed the new statue of St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests, brought to St. Mary’s Church sanctuary on loan from St. Elizabeth’s Motherhouse. He incensed the statue with incense from Ars, France, the very incense the priests in St. John’s church use today. Sisters from the Motherhouse were in attendance.
Known world-wide as the Cure of Ars, the famous saint made his entry into the town on Feb. 9, 1818. We celebrate his statue’s entry into St. Mary’s on this occasion. Fr. Greg has placed his Silver Jubilee under the patronage of St. John Vianney. He has dedicated the year to intercessory prayers for priests, particularly those in our Vicariate and within the Diocese of Buffalo. The parish also prays for the former pastors of St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart, living and deceased.

Sunday, April 27
“Light” Rosary Musical
10:15 am (after Mass)
Southern Tier Catholic School gym.
Performed in honor of Fr. Greg’s Jubilee.