Bishop Richard J. Malone will have a chance to look, listen and learn what southern Chautauqua County is about when he visits Sunday.
"When he was first assigned as bishop of Buffalo, he said one of his goals is to become acquainted. Everywhere he visits, he is coming to look, to listen and to learn," said the Rev. Dennis Mende of Ss. Peter and Paul Church.
The new bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo will visit Jamestown and southern Chautauqua County on Sunday. He will begin his trip by presiding over Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul Church of the Holy Apostles Parish, before visiting the Catholic House at Chautauqua Institution and touring the grounds.
Article Photos
Bishop Richard J. Malone, pictured above, will celebrate mass at Ss. Peter and Paul Church on Sunday.
Photo by Sharon Cantillon | Buffalo News, pool
"From there, he's going to Mayville. In the evening, at St. Mary of Lourdes Church, where all of the vicariate clergy are going to meet with him for vespers," Mende said. "That's an evening prayer service. We will have a social and dinner with him there."
Prior to becoming the bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, Malone was bishop of Portland, Maine, for eight years. Before that, he was bishop of Boston, South Region. He has also held positions such as faculty at Catholic high schools, chaplain of Harvard Catholic Student Center in Cambridge, Mass. and secretary of education for the Archdiocese of Boston.
"Being new to the Diocese, he wants to get acquainted with all of the different areas of the Diocese of Buffalo. Many times, a Bishop only has the opportunity to visit local parishes to administer confirmation. Before he starts doing confirmation, he wants to take the opportunity to pay pastoral visits to different portions of the Diocese," Mende said.
According to Malone, typically each new Bishop will try to visit various parishes in order to become acquainted with them.
"What is unique to Bishop Malone is, he is coming to areas that are outside of the immediate city of Buffalo area," Mende said.
The Bishop will be visiting Ss. Peter and Paul Church of the Holy Apostles Parish because it is the largest church in the area, and can also accommodate the most people
"This particular building is also the first Catholic church that was here. This was the first Catholic parish founded in the Jamestown area," Mende said. "The parish here was founded in 1854, and this church building was built in 1894. And, it's the largest worship space."
Having the Bishop visit the Parish allows people the opportunity to hear Malone preside at mass, as well as hear his vision for the Diocese. Additionally, it allows people the chance to welcome him into the area and Diocese.
"It's an honor and a privilege to have him here. We are anxious to hear his reflection and vision of where he thinks we want to develop our sense of growing as Catholics and how we share our faith with others," Mende said. "Whenever there is a new person coming in, whether it's a Bishop or a pastor of a parish, it's really a time of new beginnings. It's a time of refreshing our sense of our whole identity as a Catholic family."
Ss. Peter and Paul Church of the Holy Apostles Parish is located at 508 Cherry St. Malone will be presiding over the 11 a.m. mass at the church, with a reception to follow in the church hall.