Greater East Buffalo Family of Parishes

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St. Katharine Drexel Parish formed in October 2007 with the joining of St. Agnes, St. Francis of Assisi, and Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary parishes which had been located in the Lovejoy area of Buffalo. The parish is founded on the site of the former St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Rev.  James M. Monaco was the first pastor of this parish family.

St. Katharine Drexel, a "modern age” Saint, was an heiress from Philadelphia who founded the Order of the Sisters of the Blesses Sacrament in 1891. Decades before the days of the Civil Rights Movement, Mother Katharine used her inherited fortune to minister to the plight of disadvantaged Black and Native American people by establishing a system of schools from elementary to university levels; Xavier University being one. Embracing poverty was another  hallmark of Katharine's spirituality. She was a Third Order Franciscan, and much like St. Francis of Assisi, she left behind a life of wealth and privilege for the joy of serving "Lady Poverty."

In the 1920’s the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament came under attack from those who abhorred the thought of blacks & whites living and working together. A group in fact threatened to dynamite a church if services for blacks did not stop.

The windows of our Parish Church tell not only the Life of St. Francis, but we see in them St. Katharine’s “saint.” Walking in the footprints of Jesus Christ after the  example of St. Francis she herself becomes a fruitful model to us of God’s benevolent intentions for all creation!

She was canonized a saint at 10:00 am on October 1, 2000 in St. Peter's Square in Rome.

All are welcome to the parish community of St. Katharine Drexel in the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. 

Bereavement Support
Teams who help plan the funeral liturgy and lead prayer service with families. For more information on funeral liturgies, please
 click here

Weddings
We highly recommend making arrangements at least 4 months in advance.

Wedding music selections may be discussed with the Music Director after the second meeting with the priest. Couples may use the document below to assist with planning. Links to recordings can be found by downloading the document and clicking on the titles.

Music Planning Document 
Psalm Texts 
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Processional/ Recessional - Links for each song provided

 

• Trumpet Voluntary – Jeremiah Clarke

• Rigaudon – Andre Campra  

• Trumpet Tune in D – Henry Purcell

• Trumpet Tune in D – John Stanley

• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Johann Sebastian Bach

• Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel

• Prelude to a ‘Te Deum’ – Marc Antoine Charpentier

• ‘Hornpipe’ from the Water Music Suite – George Frideric Handel

• Psalm 19 – The Heavens Declare the Glory – Benedetto Marcello

• ‘Rondeau’ from the Symphony of Fanfares – Jean Joseph Mouret

• Ode to Joy – Ludwig von Beethoven

 

Psalms 

 

• Ps 33 – The Goodness of the Lord – 66

• Ps 34 – Taste and See – 70

• Ps 103 – The Lord is Kind – 140 or 143   **Ps 103 click each number for different recording

• Ps 128 – Blessed Are Those Who

• Fear the Lord – 173

• Ps 145 – The Lord is Compassionate - 193

 

Vocal Selections (Preparation or Communion) – Links for each song provided                                            

• Ave Maria, Franz Schubert

• Ave Maria, J. S. Bach/Gounod

• When Love is Found, arr. Hal Hopson, # 942 Hymnal

• Bridal Prayer, Roger Copeland

• The Gift of Love, arr. Hal Hopson

• Covenant Hymn, R. Cooney/G. Daigle, #904 Hymnal

• Set Your Heart on the Higher Gifts, Steve Warner #611 Gather

• The Call: Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life, Ralph Vaughan Williams

• A Nuptial Blessing, Michael Joncas, #941 Hymnal

 

Communion Hymns

 

• Now in this Banquet - 93

• One Bread One Body - 915

• Love One Another – 745

• God Is Love – 744

• We Have Been Told – 815

• Taste and See – Moore Sheet

Catholic Charities / St. Katharine Drexel Lovejoy Outreach & Pantry
Provides services to help assist families in our local area through hard times. Please offer your donations of non-perishable foods after weekend masses. (call 716-312-7510)

Faith Sharing
Join us after Sunday mass the first Sunday of each month for faith sharing. An open discussion of topics from the readings, current events, homilies, and our own reflections. All are welcome to listen and share.