UPON THIS ROCK SURPASSES $90,000,000!

                The Diocese of Buffalo is thrilled to announce that Upon This Rock has now surpassed $90 million in gifts from donors across Western New York! On February 18, 2016, Bishop Richard Malone unveiled a bold new initiative for the Diocese of Buffalo called Upon This Rock. Upon This Rock is a five year initiative to raise $100 million to support the ongoing ministries of the Diocese. It was announced last Monday that the Upon This Rock initiative has reached 90.9% of its goal. Many thanks to all of you who have contributed your time, talent, and treasure to allow us to strengthen essential pillars within our Church.

                So many organizations and individuals have already benefited from this incredible support including our own parish. On January 31st, St. Louis received its first portion of the Upon This Rock proceeds. We received $61,417.51 to further our efforts at St. Louis.

                As a part of this program, parishes were asked to identify a need that they would like to address in order that each parish may continue their good works. For more than 10 years we have been discussing the possibility of making the church hall handicapped accessible. This entails installing a lift to make it easier for people to access the hall, a new handicapped accessible bathroom and to enclose the handicapped ramp to make it easier for people entering the church. Thanks to the Upon This Rock program we are able to undertake this project. It is already underway. The trustees and the Finance/Restoration Committee have been meeting with an architect on design work and future implementation. Our next step is to make a presentation to the Planning Board and Preservation Board of the City of Buffalo to secure the proper permits allowing us to begin this work. Over the course of the next few years we will receive two disbursements to be used for enclosure of the handicapped ramp, lift and modifications to the church hall.

                The benefits of the Upon This Rock initiative are many. Not only are we supporting our own mission at St. Louis Church but also the continued mission of the Diocese and the mission of Catholic Charities.