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Father James Fee and Robert Chambers meet on the grounds of Holy Angels Parish.
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Holy Angels Parish in Buffalo is celebrating 160 years of ministry the same way it began when it was founded by Bishop John Timon in 1851. It continues to have heavy missionary emphasis.
Bishop Timon purposely invited Oblate Priests of Mary Immaculate to pastor the new parish because of their missionary vision. Initially, the parish ministered to Irish immigrants. Today the parish looks to minister to Hispanics and African Americans.
Father James Fee, OMI, has been pastor of the parish for three years. He sees the comparison of the parish of today to its beginning.
“There are two threads throughout the parish history,” Father Fee said. “One is the Oblates and the other is diocesan. The missionary character of the parish speaks to the present time. In previous years, we were facing a missionary reality. We are on the cusp of the largest multi-cultural section of the City of Buffalo according to the census. That is right in our neighborhood. That calls for Holy Angels to be what it always was and always will be. It calls to continue the spirit of St. Eugene (Izenod, founder of Oblates) to be a missionary parish as we look beyond 160 years.”
The parish began an elementary school soon after its founding. Separate high schools for girls and boys soon followed. The parish reached its pinnacle in the 1950s when it was the center of activities to almost 3,000 families.
One of the major aspects of the parish continues to be its relationship with the Oblates. The parish still houses the pre-novitiate of the Oblates.
“One of the reasons Bishop Timon invited the Oblates is the beginning was to teach in the seminary downtown,” Father Fee said. “The parish still has that relationship with Oblate religious life and priestly formation. First it was a college and then a high school and college for Oblate seminarians.”
There are currently seven men in the pre-novitiate living at the parish. They are at the entry level of their religious life and attend classes at D’Youville College next to the parish.
The parish has seen changes in the demographics of the neighborhood through the years. Currently there is a large Hispanic population. Father Fee and the parish team place an important emphasis on reaching out to people in the community.
“We need to love them,” he said. “That puts flesh on the idea of being a missionary parish. It is part of the history and call of Holy Angels Parish. That goes to the roots of the parish when the Oblates first came.”
The parish is developing a relationship with Holy Cross Parish and Our Lady of Hope Parish which are both nearby. Robert Chambers, a member of the parish team, said the relationship with the other parishes is growing and has had success.
“We have a tri-parish retreat during Lent which is one of the best things we do at the parish,” said Chambers, who has been a member of Holy Angels Parish his entire life. “We go to a different parish each night and the parish puts on a supper and then the retreat. I was floored at how many people came.”
Father Fee looks forward to the parish continuing with its missionary identity. While the demographics have changed, the neighborhood has seen some updated housing and new shops.
“I would hope Holy Angels will continue to be a welcoming community to new people and have that relationship with people in the neighborhood,” Father Fee said. “I hope they will find reason to know the Lord and be present at Sunday assembly.”
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