The Genesee Region Initiative, one of the partnership dioceses’ signature initiatives, entered a new phase recently when the Rev. CanonCathy Dempesy-Sims, partnership canon for pastoral care and congregational support, accepted Bishop Sean’s invitation to assume clergy leadership of the project. Dempesy-Sims, who has been serving as part-time priest-in-charge at St. James, Batavia, in addition to…
The Rev. Canon Cathy Dempesy-Sims, partnership canon for pastoral care and congregational support, will devote 90 percent of her time to ministry with the Genesee Regional Initiative beginning June 15. Bishop Sean announced her new role, in which she will also provide pastoral care to clergy and lay leaders in the Diocese of Western New…
The Rev. Diane Cox of the Genesee Region Initiative has completed Parish Nurse Ministries of New York, Inc.’s training to become a Faith Community Nurse. Cox, a registered nurse, was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Sean in January. In her new ministry, she will care for individuals and groups in the Genesee congregations and their communities,…
On the fourth Sunday evening of each month, an ecumenical group of Christians gathers around tables in the parish hall of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Holley, NY. Some members come early for Eucharist; others join afterward, in time for a discussion about a book or article they have all read. Some are Episcopalians, while others…
The Diocese of Western New York has long been active in refugee resettlement ministry, and with the expected arrival of 330 Afghan evacuees in the region, several congregations are stepping up their involvement. The Rev. Barbara Price and Deacon Tom Tripp have both active in organizing financial support for Buffalo United for Afghan Evacuees, and Tripp says that…
The Genesee Deanery of the Diocese of Western New York is made up of small towns and small churches that are struggling to survive. Only one of the nine churches in the three-county region between Buffalo and Rochester has an average Sunday attendance of more than 40. Five have an average attendance of 15 or…
Earlier this summer, more than 200 people across the partnership dioceses enrolled in Sacred Ground, an Episcopal Church dialogue series about race that includes readings, documentary film and short videos. Co-sponsored by the Diocese of Western New York’s Commission to Dismantle Racism and Discrimination and the partnership Mission Strategy Advisory Group, the ten-week program includes two…
