Spiritual Care
Providing Spiritual Care & Counseling in Western New York
The Brothers of Mercy Can Take Care of Your Spiritual Needs
As part of our mission, The Brothers of Mercy Wellness Campus is committed to the pursuit of excellence by providing a supportive, compassionate and healing environment for those we are privileged to serve. Part of that mission includes spiritual care. We provide spiritual counseling, facilitate services, distribute Eucharist and are always available to comfort and support our residents.
We also celebrate mass at Sacred Heart Home in our beautiful chapel and have services at Montabaur Heights independent living community.
Father Tom Roman’s Easter Homily:
Have you ever seen Honey I shrunk the Kids? Well, I want you to imagine you’ve been shrunk down to tiny size. You see a mysterious treasure before you. It is a great silken egg. It glitters with a silver-white glow. Suddenly, it rips open, and a vivacious green caterpillar emerges. At once, it begins to devour all the lush green foliage it can find, until it grows enormous, swelling in proportion from side to side. Now it’s time for it to rest, as it dangles from a tree branch encased in a heavy silken cocoon. Next, it prepares to metamorphize and be transfigured. Then the process begins, as it starts to grow wings from around its base. One day when it breaks free, it spreads its wings to six times its body size, (six times!) fluorescent in color, vivid gold and fiery orange with sharp purple markings. Then it takes to the sky flying wild and free, being all that it can be, all that God intended it to be, the best version of itself.
Like the butterfly, we must die and rise many times in life, and we long for the day when we can die to rise to be with Christ forever. We celebrate Jesus’ passion, death and rising. When we reflect on the Passion and the immense amount of blood Jesus shed for each one of us, we must be shocked. Jesus loved us so much! He went to the wall for each one of us. If it were only just for you, Jesus would have died on the cross just for you. There’s nothing He won’t do for you if you have faith. Yet, Jesus also rises the absolute Victor after suffering His cross.
But let’s return to the butterfly. The butterfly has to ‘symbolically’ die in stages to rise into a new stage. First, the baby caterpillar has to break free of the egg, which doesn’t always happen. Next, the caterpillar has to break free of the cocoon. In fact, it has to bleed in order to break free. So that doesn’t always happen either.
We too, have to die many times in life. We have to die in our struggle against sin. It’s a process, but with God’s grace we can break free from sin. We also have to die when we face devastating illnesses. Our way of life may have to change radically. Sometimes we are healed physically, but if not, God gives us the grace to endure and we can offer up our suffering for the salvation of souls.
Finally, sometimes we experience death when a loved one is taken from us. Still, one day, we will actually die and yet be born into a new world with no more suffering and pain. Today let’s celebrate Christ’s rising from the dead 2000 some years ago. Even more, let us celebrate the day when we will die to rise to be with Him forever in Heaven. Amen.
Mass & Comnmunion Services for Our Campus Residents:
– Nursing Home (Broadcast on Channel 97)
Tuesday – 9:30 a.m. Mass
Sunday – Friday – Distribution of Holy Communion
– Sacred Heart Home
Wednesday – 11 a.m. Mass
Sunday- 9:30 a.m. Mass
– Montabaur Heights
Wednesday – 11 a.m. Communion Services
Thursday – 11 a.m. Mass
Saturday- 2 p.m. Mass
Sunday – Bus Service for 10:30am Mass at Our Lady of Peace
– Trier Woods Independent Living Apartments
Wednesday – 11 a.m.- Communion Service
Fridays – 9:30 a.m. Mass (except for 1st Friday of month)
Sunday- Bus Service for 10:30 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Peace
(Current offerings for attendance by residents only)
Showing Mercy
The word “mercy” is defined as kindness or compassion that is shown to others. A merciful relationship provides protection, provision, and presence. At Brothers of Mercy, it is our hope to reveal the healing love of Jesus to those in need by attending to both physical and spiritual needs.
Spiritual care can help a person (re)discover hope, resilience and inner strength in times of illness, injury, transition, and loss. Spiritual care attends to a person’s spiritual or religious needs as they seek to heal physically and emotionally and thus regain a sense of well being.
By providing spiritual support, mercy and compassion are manifested not simply as a consoling message but in practical help.
2024 Prayer Intentions of The Holy Father
The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network’s list of prayer intentions set by Pope Francis for 2024:
April: For the Role of Women
This month’s prayer intention is “that the dignity and richness of women be recognized in all cultures, and for an end to the discrimination they suffer in various parts of the world.”
May: For the Formation of Religious, Monks, Nuns, and Seminarians
The Pontiff urges prayers “so that religious, monks, nuns, and seminarians may grow in their vocational journey through human, pastoral, spiritual, and communal formation, leading them to be credible witnesses of the Gospel.”
June: For Those Fleeing Their Country
Pope Francis dedicates June to praying “for migrants fleeing wars or hunger, forced into journeys full of danger and violence, to find acceptance and new life opportunities in their host countries.”
July: For Pastoral Care of the Sick
The Holy Father asks “for the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to give strength from the Lord to those who receive it and their loved ones, becoming a visible sign of compassion and hope for everyone.”
August: For Political Leaders
Pope Francis invites prayers “so that political leaders may serve their people, work for comprehensive human development and the common good, attending to those who have lost their jobs and prioritizing the poorest.”
September: For the Cry of the Earth
“Let us pray that each of us hears with the heart the cry of the Earth and victims of natural disasters and climate change, personally committing to care for the world we inhabit.”
October: For a Shared Mission
Pope Francis asks for prayers so that the Church “continues to support a synodal way of life, under the sign of co-responsibility, promoting participation, communion, and shared mission among priests, religious, and laypeople.”
November: For Parents Who Have Lost a Child
“Let us pray that all parents mourning the death of a child find support in the community and receive heart’s peace from the consoling Spirit.”
December: For Pilgrims of Hope
Pope Francis requests this month’s prayers “so that this Jubilee strengthens us in faith, helps us recognize Christ risen in our lives, and transforms us into pilgrims of Christian hope.”