September 6th 2020 - SERVICE - REV. Rev. Charlie Bang

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Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein

Congregation Shir Shalom, Williamsville, NY.  ​

Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein came to Buffalo in the Fall of 2008 to serve as the rabbi of Temple Sinai, now called Congregation Shir Shalom.  He brings warmth, creativity, and compassion to the role of synagogue rabbi.  A trained chaplain and gifted teacher, he is actively engaged in all aspects of communal life, from helping people with their everyday struggles, to intricate details of synagogue governance.

Rabbi Alex is a respected leader in the Buffalo area, serving on many local boards including: the Buffalo Board of Rabbis, the Network of Religious Communities, Jewish Family Services, the Bureau of Jewish Education, Jewish Community Center, and the Coalition of Economic Justice.  He has served as president of the Network of Religious Communities.  He is also on the national board of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association out of Wyncote, Pennsylvania.  He works with leaders of all faiths, to improve the quality of life in Western New York and beyond.

A 2004 graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College he also holds Masters and Bachelor Degrees from the Jewish Theological Seminary, as well as a Bachelors degree from Columbia University.  Before coming to Buffalo he served as rabbi of Temple B´nai Abraham in Bordentown, New Jersey, and directed the Community Partnership Program for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

He currently resides in Amherst, with his wife Ashirah, and three young children, Jarah, Boaz, and Noam.

Rabbi Alex has graciously prepared a 'special service' to be live streamed and captured on video for the Friends of the Holloway Memorial Chapel to view virtually in their home as we are all practicing social distancing and cannot meet in person.

The live service is scheduled to broadcast on Sunday, 30 August, at 10:00 am, afterwhich it will be available on their Youtube Channel for viewing at your leisure.

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See the adjacent link to his video presentation on our Holloway Memorial Chapel's Youtube Channel.

Thank you so much Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein!

Rev. Richard (Duke) Zajac

Sisters of Charity Hospital, Buffalo NY.  ​

Richard E. Zajac, known in many circles as “Fr. Duke” has been a staff chaplain at Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo for the past 38 years. 

He is presently serving on many Boards and Committees throughout the community including Catholic Medical Partners, Town of Amherst Meals on Wheels, Seminary Alumni Association, as well as the Perinatal Bereavement Network. 

He has chaired or co-chaired the Sister’s Hospital Ethics Committee since its inception in 1984, and serves on the Ethics Committee for the Catholic Health Care System of Western New York. 

He served on the National Advisory Council of the National Association of Catholic Bishops, and served as the Chairman of the Board of the Life Transition Center as well as the South Buffalo Community Development Association. 

He served on the Boards of the Upstate New York Transplant Services, Baker Victory Services, Bishop Timon High School, WNY Peace Center, Catholic Health System’s Corporate Members Board, Buffalo Area Metropolitan Ministries (BAMM), Sister’s Hospital Credit Union as well as the American Cancer Society. 

He has also served 7 terms on the Priests’ Council of the Diocese of Buffalo, 2 terms on the Priests’ Personnel Board and 3 terms on the Priests’ Council of New York State. 

In his spare time, he has authored four books: Life Injections I , II , III & IV, and is presently writing a book on preaching at funerals for priests, ministers, and deacons.  He enjoys reading, smoking a good cigar and baseball for which he’s been an officer of the Parochial Baseball League since 1969 and was inducted into the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Fr. Duke has graciously prepared a video of his homily entitled 'Sinking From Grace? Rise to Great Heights!' for the Friends of the Holloway Memorial Chapel to view virtually in their home as we are all practicing social distancing and cannot meet in person.

​​​​See the adjacent link to his video presentation on our Holloway Memorial Chapel's Youtube Channel.   

Thank you so much Rev. Duke Zajac!

Rev. Jan Mahle

East Aurora Christian Church, East Aurora, NY.  ​

The Rev. Jan Mahle is currently serving as pastor of the East Aurora Christian Church.  Prior to being called as pastor, she served as a Campus Minister at D'Youville College in Buffalo, NY. for 20 years.  She retired from that position in January 2020.  

While serving at D'Youville, she was the transition pastor for a number of congregations.  You might say she is a Church Woman United because she has served various congregations to include the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the American Baptist faiths.  As an aside, she considers herself to be a "cultural Catholic". 

She graduated from Hiram College, attended Vanderbilt Divinity School and completed her Masters of Divinity at Methodist Theological School in Columbus, OH.  She was ordained in 1982 although she had been serving as an Associate Pastor since 1977.   

Jan met her husband Marvyn while at college.  They have been married 44 years.  They have 2 wonderful adult children plus a great son-in-law and 2 fabulous granddaughters.  

Jan has graciously prepared a video of her homily entitled 'When Faith Encounters Bias' for the Friends of the Holloway Memorial Chapel to view virtually in their home as we are all practicing social distancing and cannot meet in person.

​​See the adjacent link to her video presentation on our Holloway Memorial Chapel's Youtube Channel.   

Thank you so much Rev. Jan Mahle!

Venerable Dr. John Course

Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Fonthill, Ontario.  

The Venerable Dr. John Course is in his forty-first year of ordained ministry in the Anglican Diocese of Niagara where he has served as rector in four of its parishes. 

He has a PhD in Ancient Near-Eastern Language and Literature and has taught the introductory course to the Old Testament at Trinity College, Toronto.  He is currently the Archdeacon of Brock and rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Fonthill, Ontario on a part-time basis. 

His outside interests include downhill skiing, golf, and woodworking.

John has graciously prepared a video of his homily entitled 'God Will Never Give Up on You' for the Friends of the Holloway Memorial Chapel to view virtually in their home as we are all practicing social distancing and cannot meet in person.

​​​See the adjacent link to his video presentation on our Holloway Memorial Chapel's Youtube Channel.  

Thank you so much Dr. John Course!

Rev. Tom Yorty

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, NY.  

Tom Yorty came to Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1998 following pastorates in Easton, PA and Williamsville, NY.  

During Tom's pastorate at Westminster, the congregation has continued its historic role as a leader in mission to the city, social justice, and worship and music ministries.  

In 2005, the Church launched the Westminster Economic Development Initiative, which provides business coaching and loans to Buffalo’s growing immigrant community as well as an English language learner after school program for K-8 children.  Westminster's Early Childhood Programs is a leader in early childhood development in Western New York.  Westminster works in solidarity with Muslim and Jewish communities to provide education and outreach.

Tom grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, graduated from Muskingum College, Yale Divinity School, and Drew University (PhD, 19th Century Studies), and has served on the board of Auburn Theological Seminary, NYC since 2003.  

He and his wife, Carol, have two adult sons and a Labrador retriever.  Tom enjoys writing poetry, riding his bike, and playing with his granddaughter.

Tom has graciously invited the Friends of the Holloway Memorial Chapel to participate in Westminster's Sunday Service virtually in their home as we are all practicing social distancing and cannot meet in person. 

Sunday's service will be broadcast live on both their Youtube Channel https://youtu.be/5TCurQcqsMA   and their Facebook Live Account https://www.facebook.com/274539338778/posts/10157391910038779/?d=n indicated .

Both the YouTube and Facebook broadcasts are identical and “premiere” at 8 AM on Sunday morning, but the post stays up and folks tend to watch it over the course of the morning and week.  Viewers can’t fast forward ahead but, if you log on at 8:10 you can start over from the beginning. 

​See the adjacent link to his video presentation on  Westminstir's Youtube Channel.  

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Thank you so much Rev. Tom!

 Sr. Denise A. Roche

Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart

Sister Denise Roche has been an invited speaker at the Holloway Memorial Chapel for several years.  She is the retired President of D’Youville College, in Buffalo, having served from 1979 to 2017. After retirement, she wasn’t idle very long and took on the position of the Chair of the Board of Commissioners for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA).  Currently, she shares her time as the President of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart in Buffalo and Philadelphia.  Other interests include being a member of the Erie County Industrial Development Authority and a Board member of the WNED Foundation.

Sister Denise has graciously prepared a video of her homily, entitled "Commitment', for the Friends of the Holloway Memorial Chapel to view virtually in their home as we are all practicing social distancing and cannot meet in person.

​See the adjacent link to his video presentation on our Holloway Memorial Chapel's Youtube Channel.  

​We are very grateful for the time and participation that Sr. Denise has contributed for our Holloway Memorial Chapel summer service.

Thank you so much Sr. Denise!

Rev. Cathy Dempesy-Sims

Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York

The Rev. Cathy Dempesy-Sims serves as the Canon to the Ordinary in the Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York.  That means she is the Bishop’s primary clergy assistant.  Ordained as a priest in 2008, Canon Cathy has served as a priest at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Buffalo, the Church of the Good Shepherd, Buffalo and the Church of the Ascension in Buffalo.  In 2015, Bishop Bill Franklin called her to the Canon position, which she has continued under the present Bishop, Sean Rowe. 

The priesthood is a second career for Cathy, having spent 20 years as a psychotherapist specializing in mental health and addiction issues in mothers and their drug-affected children.  The Women’s Program she developed has been replicated across the State of Illinois.  A native of Chicago and central Wisconsin, Cathy is a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Green Bay Packers, as well as the Bills and the Sabres.  Pray for her sport fan soul! 

A widow, she lives in Western New York with her two rescue dogs. 

Cathy has graciously prepared a video of her homily entitled 'Sometimes We Are Wheat, Sometimes We Are Weeds' for the Friends of the Holloway Memorial Chapel to view virtually in their home as we are all practicing social distancing and cannot meet in person.

​See the adjacent link to his video presentation on our Holloway Memorial Chapel's Youtube Channel.  

Thank you so much Rev. Cathy Dempesy-Sims!

Rev. Ray Schooler, D. Min.

American Baptist International Ministries,  King of Prussia, PA

Rev. Ray was born and raised in Texas, but ministry has provided opportunities to live and serve in several different places.  Ray served on the American Baptist Churches, General Board and Board of International Ministries (IM) and it was in this role with IM that he discovered a passion for Global Missions. 

In 2007 he went on staff with IM as the Sr. Dir. of Donor Relations and Church Development.  In this role he travels extensively and counts it a real honor to serve the Lord on behalf of all involved in Global Missions.  

He resides in Lancaster, NY with his wife Gail and, they have five adult sons, two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren.  Other interests are that he plays a round of golf whenever able and enjoys volunteering at Roswell Park with the Spiritual Care Department.

Rev. Ray has graciously prepared a video of his homily for the Friends of the Holloway Memorial Chapel to view virtually in their home as we are all practicing social distancing and cannot meet in person.

​See the adjacent link to his video presentation on our Holloway Memorial Chapel's Youtube Channel.  

Thank you so much Rev. Ray Schooler!