News - October 2016 RSS Feed

Times Herald's report on the Mass kicking off the 140th anniversary of the arrival of our first resident pastor, Very Rev. John Hamel, VF (1876-1912). The Mass included descendants of Fr. Hamel's family bringing up their ancestor's restored chalice to the altar during Mass.

Debbie Spinler is a hardworking janitor. She’s also part of the supported employment program with the ReHabilitation Center in Olean Spinler shared her story recently in honor of October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Officials with the ReHab Center said the agency is a longtime advocate of disability inclusion in the community’s work force through the Employment Connection and SubCon Industries.

“Opening up these pages of history — in this case, the story of Dean Hamel — helps us to understand who we are: Americans and Catholics with a rich heritage of faith, continuing to live that faith in our community, just as our ancestors did,” she says. “Our upcoming celebrations are all a part of rediscovering those who fed and nurtured in the faith the many hundreds of Catholic immigrants who settled in this part of the diocese so long ago.”

Incredibly, Rev. John J. Hamel, the first pastor of St. Mary of the Angels and popular religious leader more than 100 years ago has been almost forgotten by subsequent generations. A newly released biographical look at the life of Hamel along with a revived anniversary celebration is changing all that at St. Mary of the Angels, with monthlong events starting Sunday.

Our Holy Door of Mercy, designated by Bishop Richard Malone, has been a point of pilgrimage for Catholics in the region the past year during the Extraordinary Year of Mercy called for by Pope Francis. Bishop Malone announced the eight select Holy Doors throughout the diocese will close on November 1. St. Mary of the Angels will formally close its Holy Door during the 7:00am Mass on that day.

Joseph Scordo receives Eagle Scout Award. He also earned the prestigious Catholic Scouting medal, Ad Altare Dei, during his years as a Boy Scout.

Very Rev. Gregory Dobson, as Vicar Forane in this region of the diocese, oversaw the installation of a tabernacle at Olean General Hospital. He was joined by the Pastoral Care team including Rev. David Tourville, parochial vicar at St. Mary of the Angels.