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In preparation for Election Day, Priests for Life calls upon believers to say this prayer each day. O God, we acknowledge you today as Lord, Not only of individuals, but of nations and governments. We thank you for the privilege Of being able to organize ourselves politically And of knowing that political loyalty Does not have to mean disloyalty to you. We thank you for your law, Which our Founding Fathers acknowledged And recognized as higher than any human law. We thank you for the opportunity that this election year puts before us, To exercise our solemn duty not only to vote, But to influence countless others to vote, And to vote correctly. Lord, we pray that your people may be awakened. Let them realize that while politics is not their salvation, Their response to you requires that they be politically active. Awaken your people to know that they are not called to be a sect fleeing the world But rather a community of faith renewing the world. Awaken them that the same hands lifted up to you in prayer Are the hands that pull the lever in the voting booth; That the same eyes that read your Word Are the eyes that read the names on the ballot, And that they do not cease to be Christians When they enter the voting booth. Awaken your people to a commitment to justice To the sanctity of marriage and the family, To the dignity of each individual human life, And to the truth that human rights begin when human lives begin, And not one moment later. Lord, we rejoice today That we are citizens of your kingdom. May that make us all the more committed To being faithful citizens on earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Rev. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life ElectionPrayer.com

June 29, 2019 at 4:00 pm Mass -- 100 years ago on this date, our magnificent windows were installed just in time for the Consecration of our church building as it was "baptized' or set aside solely for use for God. Prior to our designation by Pope Francis as a minor basilica, the consecration of our building on June 29, 1919 was the most significant event in our congregation's 167-year history! Join us for Mass at 4PM which includes special music and candle-lighting of our consecration candles on the nave walls by some of our legacy families! MORE INFO AT THE LINK ABOVE!

These Plenary Indulgence days are offered just a few days apart because they happen to be timed with THREE separate points of celebration granted to minor basilicas: 1) Our Consecration Day which coincides with the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul AND 2) our Patronal Feast Day which falls on August 2.  CLICK LINK ABOVE for more info!

FREE TOUR begins at 1pm in conjunction with StrOlean on Saturday, June 15, 2019. We are celebrating THIS MONTH the 100th Anniversary of the installation of our windows!!! The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels offers free 45-minute tours of its splendid art, architecture and history. This is a unique opportunity for the community to see and hear what impressed the Vatican so much that Pope Francis designated this local church a Basilica.      “Our remarkable history and art began in 1850 here on this very lot in Olean,” said Jennifer Kane, author of the Vatican basilica application in 2016 as well as the basilica’s brand new history book. She guides most tours along with Jim Bardenette who is an avid history buff of the basilica and whose family has been associated with the parish for generations.      Our tours are designed to allow visitors the chance to not only learn about the parish community’s history but experience the beauty and scale of its famous Munich-style windows (as large as 20 feet tall) and hear about the development of the spectacular interior decoration that includes original art spanning back to the 19th century.      “So much of our history—which is really Olean history—is connected to the art in the basilica because everything you see was added precisely for specific historical events celebrated here,” said Kane noting that nothing of significance has been removed from the interior since the historic building's 1915 opening.       “The Vatican’s recognition of the significance of our art and history are two important elements of being designated a basilica,” she said. “We are thrilled any time we can offer tours like this to give people in the region the chance to learn more about this beautiful house of worship and its important history so closely tied to the development of the City of Olean. It is a treasure not just in this region but, as the Vatican recognized, in our nation and in the world,” she noted.      Kane’s recently published 372-page fully-documented book, A Place Set Apart, covering the basilica’s history from 1850 to the present day, will be on sale before and after the tour for $22 with proceeds benefitting the parish. 

Saturday, June 29 --Please mark your calendars for the opportunity to communicate to Bishop Malone your concerns/opinions surrounding the clergy sexual abuse crisis and any other topic. Eight Listening Sessions are planned throughout the diocese which are open for all Roman Catholics in the diocese to speak to the bishop. The Listening Session for our region will be held Saturday morning, June 29 from 9:30 - 11:30 am, at Archbishop Walsh Academy [208 S. 24th Street | Olean, NY]. Bishop Malone will be in attendance to listen. He will not answer questions at this event as it is designed for listening. He will give a 10-minute address following the public comments. Prayer will be included.

Basilica of St Mary of the Angels' bell (largest in the city) will ring for five minutes in commemoration of the centennial anniversary of the morning it sounded to wake up city residents to the news that the Great War (World War I) was over. While the bell rings, the congregation and all who wish to attend from the public will be invited to silent prayer for peace and for protection of those in the military serving in harm’s way. Military Veterans and active service men and and women are invited to ring the bell at 11:00AM.

(Olean) — Local Roman Catholics heading to Mass after Labor Day weekend will need to re-think their normal routine. That’s because a new Mass schedule goes into effect for three area Roman Catholic parishes—Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, St. John the Evangelist Church, and St. Philomena Church in Franklinville.  The new schedule, beginning September 3, reflects a consolidation of Mass times among the parishes resulting in a reduced number of Masses offered, particularly during the weekend, at each of the three recently-linked parishes. In effect, each parish loses a weekend Mass.  The new Mass schedule, announced last month, was developed by the new Roman Catholic clergy team servicing the three linked parishes in consultation with their advisory lay councils. The clergy team includes Rev. Patrick Melfi, regional pastor; Rev. Romulo Montero and Rev. David Tourville, regional parochial vicars; and Deacon Richard Matthews.  

Starting August 1, 2018, we will begin a new reality impacting our identity as church. On that date, the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels, Olean, Saint John, Olean, and Saint Philomena, Franklinville parishes will be linked together as a way to address the clergy shortage and in response to the diocese’s Journey of Faith and Grace, circa 2007-2010. This also includes Sacred Heart, Portville as an oratory connected with the basilica. Linking of parishes is the diocese’s way of saying all three parishes will remain independent financially with separate Trustees, Finance Councils, and Parish Councils, but pastored by the same clergy. Our clergy team includes Fr. Patrick Melfi, regional pastor; Fr. Romulo Montero and Fr. David Tourville, regional parochial vicars; and Deacon Richard Matthews. Fr. Melfi and Fr. Montero currently live at St. John; Fr. Tourville lives at St. Mary of the Angels. Deacon Matthews is married and lives with his wife, Linda. Of immediate concern to everyone are the Mass schedules of all three parishes. When considering any changes in the Mass schedule, many factors come into play: the time of Religious Education for our youth and the availability for their Mass attendance; the attendance (which the Diocese recently required every parish to document) of each Mass; the availability of supporting ministries, ie. Greeters, Ushers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion; and the health of the priests all have to be considered. The Franciscan Friars from the university are low in numbers and are not able to assist us as frequently as in the past. The clergy team is revising the Mass schedule that will begin September 3 for weekdays and September 8 for week- ends. You may be asking, “with three priests, why change the Mass schedule?” Please realize that one of the challenges we face here in the Southern Tier is a lack of “extra” priests who can help when a pastor is sick or away on retreat or vacation. So with a third priest on staff, we also will be providing priest coverage for neighboring parishes (Salamanca, Ellicottville, Cuba, etc.) from time to time so as to allow the other pastors time away. So we need to be flexible for those requests as well. As we move forward toward this new reality, your patience, understanding and most of all, your prayers will make this a success. Together we can “do all things in Christ, who strengthens [us].” Philippians 4:13. Fr. F. Patrick Melfi Fr. David Tourville Fr. Romulo Montero Deacon Richard Matthews

OLEAN — Of all the community members out enjoying the summer weather Saturday, and hundreds did so on the grounds of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. While this is the event’s first year as BasilicaFEST, it was the 47th year of the festival — and Olean has been celebrating with St. Mary’s even longer than that. “The church has been doing festivals since the 1870s or 1880s,” said Jennifer King, communications director for the Basilica. “We were running festivals back then. Sometimes at Christmas, one year was at Riverhurst Park … these festivals are important to community lives.” The Very Rev. Greg Dobson — celebrating his last festival before he retires as the basilica’s rector July 31 — agreed. “I am thrilled with the support of the community,” he smiled. “This will always have an important place in my heart, in my life.” It was the second year the church offered tours of the newly-named minor basilica and the crowd kept King busy as she hosted tours every half hour. “(The festival) is designed to be a fundraiser, which is important,” King said, “but what we like about it is it’s something for the parishioners to congregate to and it’s fun for the community — to invite them to our facility, to enjoy our hospitality. That’s what we do here.”

OLEAN — Speakers, singers and a puppet joined the chorus of well-wishers honoring Olean’s “simple country priest” as he heads away after more than two decades in the city. In a large tent dinner blocking the 100 block of West Henley Street, the Very Rev. Gregory Dobson, rector of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, was celebrated by parishioners and visiting guests Friday on the eve of BasilicaFEST. The dinner was meant to mark Dobson’s departure from Olean after 22 years and thank him for his service. “Shortly after I arrived, I knew this was a special place,” Dobson said after a series of speeches, adding he wrote to the bishop, “I don’t know who advised you to send me to Olean, but it was good advice — keep that adviser close.” Dobson announced in April he will leave Olean on July 31 for a temporary reassignment at St. Joseph’s Church in Gowanda before receiving a more permanent assignment, which St. Mary’s officials said coincides with the 70-year-old priest’s long-standing plans to serve the remainder of his ministry in the Buffalo area near his family.

OLEAN — The bells of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels will ring Friday for 15 minutes straight in honor of the Very Rev. Gregory J. Dobson, who is stepping down from his post after more than two decades. St. Mary’s famous bell in the west tower is the largest in the city and can be heard from a radius of more than 2 miles. It will ring starting around 6:45 p.m., church officials announced. It is anticipated the chimes located in the east tower — the last Deagan 25-chime set still operating in the United States — will play as well. Friday’s bell ringing in a slow toll will honor Dobson as the third-longest serving pastor in the 166-year history of the church — now a basilica. The pastor of the parish for almost 22 years, he recently announced his retirement effective Aug. 1. As the bell tolls, the church is set to host a community appreciation dinner in Dobson’s honor with 250 people, which is not open to the public. Although the parish’s BasilicaFEST starts Saturday, the appreciation dinner is not part of that event. The dinner will take place on the basilica grounds starting at 6 p.m. and will cause the first block of West Henley Street to be closed. The dinner will celebrate Dobson’s time with St. Mary’s as well as his 35th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Saint Mary of the Angels’ bell, which has been part of the Olean landscape since 1878, weighs 2,500 pounds. It was cast in 1915 from the two former bells that hung in the bell tower of the previous church building built in 1860 by the Franciscan Friars at St. Bonaventure College — as the university was known at the time. Those bells were donated in 1878.

“This festival could not be done without the benevolence and hours of time spent by our volunteers,” Tominez said. “Our volunteers are not only of the church, but they are from other parishes. They are also from out-of-state and come here to partake in this great community event.” He and Colarusso said proceeds from the event will benefit the basilica and parish activities, as well as charities in the community. Colarusso, who has chaired the event since 2006, said the festival has taken on special meaning under the auspices of the basilica.

Very Rev. Gregory J. Dobson, VF, Rector of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and pastor of the basilica’s parish community for the past 22 years, will be leaving his assignment in Olean this summer, he announced to parishioners this weekend during all four scheduled Masses. This announcement has been long anticipated by both Fr. Dobson and the local Catholic community.   Beginning August 1, he will be serving as the priest in Gowanda at St. Joseph’s Church.  Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, Bishop of Buffalo, confirmed Fr. Dobson’s temporary reassignment last week that coincides with the Olean pastor’s long-standing plans for serving the remainder of his tenure in ministry as a Roman Catholic priest in the Buffalo region near his family.    While in Gowanda, Fr. Dobson will be covering for Rev. Joseph Porpiglia, pastor of St. Joseph’s,  while Fr. Porpiglia is on sabbatical until Christmas. A more permanent assignment for Fr. Dobson will be announced by the bishop later this year, it is anticipated.      The 70-year-old South Buffalo native arrived in Olean in January, 1997, and celebrates his 35th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood this July.  He has always teased about being a simple country priest no matter where his ministry took him.   Following his ordination, he served 14 years as a parochial vicar in several Buffalo parishes. Fr. Dobson took on his first assignment as a pastor when Most Rev. Edward Head, Bishop is Buffalo, assigned him to St. Mary of the Angels in 1997.  With this assignment came the additional appointment as Vicar Forane, Southern Cattaraugus Vicariate.        In 2003 Fr. Dobson assumed the pastorship of Sacred Heart parish in Portville, a position he maintained until the 2007 merger with St. Mary's in Olean.    Among highlights of his past 22 years in Olean, Fr. Dobson helped clear the parish debt; strengthened several parish ministries including the annual Christmas Dinner serving more than 900 meals on Christmas Day, youth ministry, Stephen Ministry; became an integral leader in strengthening the local Catholic schools, ecumenical and interfaith interactions and dialogue ; and led a parish capital campaign to refurbish the 103-year-old historic church building which included painting the spectacular artwork in the ceilings. Fr. Dobson is credited with spearheading the Vatican application process in getting the historic Olean church designated as a Minor Basilica—a title Pope Francis granted in 2017.    He is one of the senior clergy member among all Christian clergy in Olean.   Fr Dobson served as Canonical Administrator for Southern Tier Catholic School and currently serves on Archbishop Walsh Academy’s governing board. He is a frequent  speaker at Catholic, ecumenical and community events.   Some of the region’s top civic citations have been bestowed upon Fr. Dobson.  Among them:        ◦     the Chamber of Commerce's Good News Award (2001)        ◦     The Olean Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Fellow (2001), Rotary’s highest honor.        ◦     Unity Award by the Bahá’í Community (2002) for his work in fostering religious unity in the community        ◦     The Olean YMCA's Salute to Olean (2007) in which he was honored for humanitarian leadership in the community        ◦     The BPO Elks Man of the Year (2007); he joined their ranks in 2008        ◦     St. Bonaventure University’s Gaudete Award for his leadership in western New York exemplifying the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi through his “joy, hope, positive outlook on life, sincerely compassionate spirit and desire to serve humankind.”        ◦     Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce’s Heart of Olean Distinguished Service Award    Fr. Dobson has served through his time in Olean on several governing boards including the Olean YMCA, Greater Olean Association of Churches (president), Friends of Good Music (president), the Renodin Foundation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, and Genesis House family shelter in Olean.   In addition to the governing boards, Fr. Dobson serves as chaplain to the Olean Police Department and other area chaplaincies.   In the Fall of 2014, Fr. Dobson was appointed to the Catholic Charities of Buffalo Board of Trustees.    Coinciding with the worldwide Christian Unity Week in January, 2016, he was awarded the Ecumen Award by the Greater Olean Association of Churches for fostering an ecumenical spirit in the Olean-area for almost 20 years.   The Olean community will honor Fr. Dobson at a special dinner celebration sponsored by the parish on the basilica grounds on June 8. A celebration with members of the parish community is being planned later this summer. Audio recording of his announcement is at the link.

The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels celebrated its first anniversary Sunday by unveiling new artwork, announcing a new celebration and looking toward the future. St. Mary’s officials and parishioners gathered at the 103-year-old West Henley Street church to reflect on last year’s basilica designation from Pope Francis. The actual anniversary of the designation is Feb. 14 — the day Pope Francis’ decree was signed — but Feb. 14 falls on Ash Wednesday this year so the Mass was held Sunday instead. For the Most Rev. Gregory Dobson, St. Mary’s pastor, the Mass was about celebrating not only the basilica’s present, but also its future. Fr. Greg's blessing of the coat of arms... May the Lord bless this coat of arms. May it declare our devotion to our Holy Father; to all the successors of the apostles. May we reverence the apostolic mission of the church. And when we reverence that here, may we pay tribute to those who have dreamed about this place. May we honor those who make it what it is today. And we pray for those who will be the parishioners of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels for years to come. May this holy insignia truly be blessed this day as I pray a blessing upon all of you. And so we unveil the coat of arms of Pope Francis “to be here as long as this building stands. To dedicate this special space to this pope and to show our affinity and our devotion to the Holy Father. It’s a very simple way for us to remember Pope Francis here forever.”

Jean Smith's letter to the editor reporting results of our Annual Christmas Dinner and thanking those who contributed time and treasure and talent so generously!