Simboli puts emphasis on positivity with new cabaret show

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Gary Simboli, a retired music teacher and theater director for Albion Central School, performed his new show on Saturday, called “Accentuate the Positive.”

Simboli took people through his ABCs of positivity, and shared songs and reflections about joy and seeing good in the world.

He encouraged people to look at situations from more than one viewpoint to try to get a deeper understanding of others and complex issues.

Simboli also shared photos of hopefulness, including this one of a baby. He also has large images of a double rainbow, and a tiny plant growing in a crack of concrete.

The concert at the First Baptist Church in Albion was fundraiser for the church’s Major Projects Fund. Simboli also is the organist at the historic site that was built from 1860.

Marsha Rivers, the church’s pastor, also was in the theater program led by Simboli when she was a high school student in 1989 to 1992. She did a cameo during the Simboli concert on Saturday, performing, “Broadway Baby.”

The First Baptist Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The congregation wants to be a good steward of the building, including the large stained-glassed windows.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A new fundraiser for the Albion band program was a sell-out today with all 300 dinners gone.

This photo show Scott Mann, left, of Mann vs. Food working with Albion band students and adults involved in the marching band, including Jon Trembley, second from left, who is the percussion instructor.

The meals included the pulled pork, potatoes, cole slaw, a roll and a cookie. They were served from the High School FFA.

Press Release, Catholic Charities

ALBION – Catholic Charities has moved the office down the street and is now housed at 106 S. Main St. inside the Holy Family Catholic Church office.

Services offered at the Albion site include emergency assistance, friendly phones, home visitation, and the Our Kids parent education and awareness program.

Catholic Charities is unable to accommodate walk-ins at this new site. Those in need of assistance should call 585-343-0614 to schedule an appointment.

Priest served Holley and Kendall Catholic churches for 7 ½ years until 2018

Photos by Tom Rivers: Father Mark Noonan is the new pastor of a Family of Parishes that includes Catholic churches in Albion, Holley, Kendall, Medina, Lyndonville, Barker and Middleport. He is shown outside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Albion today. He and two other priests will serve the Family of Parishes.

ALBION – This weekend is the start of big changes for Catholic churches in Western New York, including in Orleans County and eastern Niagara.

The Diocese has grouped 161 parishes into 36 Families of Parishes. The five churches in Orleans County and two in eastern Niagara are in family No. 11. They are led by pastor Mark Noonan, a priest who previously served for 7 ½ years at St. Mark’s in Kendall and St. Mary’s in Holley. He also was a seminarian at St. Joseph’s in Albion in 2006.

Father Noonan and two other priests will serve the seven churches. (St. Joseph’s in Lyndonville currently is closed after a devastating fire at the church on Feb. 28.)

The three priests will be on a rotation leading Mass at the churches. Father Noonan is joined by Father Jan Trela and Father Richard Csizmar. Father Csizmar retired on Wednesday but will continue as an active priest until a parochial vicar is named to Orleans and eastern Niagara.

“The process we are entering will be a good one, but not without some bumps,” Father Noonan said during an interview on Friday in Albion. “I’m excited to be a part of it.”

The Diocese Road to Renewal plan is in response to a declining number of priests – and parishioners. The number of active priests is down from 179 in 2011 to 144 in 2019. Attendance at Mass dropped 41 percent during those 8 years. The decline is more pronounced in the 8-county Diocese going back to 2012 when attendance was 155,000 for weekends. Now it is about 60,000.

Father Noonan wants to welcome people back to church who haven’t been recently. And he wants to encourage others to be open to attending services.

“Our goal is real renewal,” he said. “We want the church to be really alive, and a source of light an strength in the whole community.”

This week is the temporary start of the new Mass schedule.

• Circuit 1: Father Jan Trela this weekend, includes Saturday at 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s in Holley, and 5:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s in Kendall. Sunday includes 8 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph’s in Albion, and 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s in Holley.
• Circuit 2: Father Mark Noonan this weekend, includes Saturday at 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s in Medina, and 5:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s in Albion. Sunday includes 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Stephen’s in Middleport, and 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s in Albion.
• Circuit 3: Father Richard Csizmar this weekend, includes Saturday at 4 p.m. at St. Patrick’s in Barker. Sunday includes 9 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s in Barker and 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s in Medina.

The priest in circuit 1 will do circuit 2 the following week, and then circuit 3 after that.

The three active priests assigned to the family of parishes in eastern Niagara and Orleans County is down one priest from before the new alignment.

Father Dick Csizmar is keeping a full schedule until a new parochial vicar is assigned to the family of parishes. Csizmar retired on Wednesday, but is keeping a busy schedule as a priest for now.

Father Mark Noonan has scheduled the following listening sessions at 6:30 p.m.: March 13 at Holy Family in Albion, March 14 for St. Josephs in Lyndonville (to be held at Lyndonville High School library on Housel Avenue), March 16 at St. Mary’s in Medina, March 20 at St. Patrick’s in Barker, March 21 at St. Mary’s in Holley, Mark 27 at St. Mark’s in Kendall, and March 28 at St. Stephen’s in Middleport.

The listening sessions are a chance for Father Noonan to share more about the Families of Parishes process and hear thoughts from parishioners.

Father Mark Noonan is back in Orleans County. He previously was a seminarian at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in 2006, and then was the priest for 7 ½ years at St. Mary’s in Holley and St. Mark’s in Kendall until 2018.

Father Noonan likes the move to group nearby parishes as a family.

“We really are one Catholic community,” he said. “We can live out our Catholic faith in a broader way and see our mission in a broader way. Our goal in this is to pray together and grow together.”

Noonan, 46, is a Cheektowaga native. He most recently served as priest for seven months at a parish in Dunkirk. Before that he spent two years in Detroit, Michigan at a Spanish-speaking congregation.

He has become bilingual and wants to do more outreach with the Spanish-speaking community in Orleans and eastern Niagara.

How to connect with that population will be among the priorities for Father Noonan and the Family of Parishes. He said it will be among six pillars to be discussed among the local parishes in the next six months. Those pillars include liturgy, spiritual life, outreach and “in-reach”, Catholic education/faith formation, stewardship and administration.

The priest said the focus will be on helping to foster a deep spiritual life among the new Family of Parishes.

“Everybody on Earth is looking for happiness,” Father Noonan said. “That’s what is found in God, a happiness that never goes away. People want joy. We all have burdens and challenges that will always be there. But our happiness is grounded in something that is everlasting.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kamryn Simmons plays the role of King Louie in the Albion Middle School production of “The Jungle Book.” Louie, an orangutan, is leader of a gang of monkeys and sings, “I Wanna Be Like You.”

The show opened on Friday and returns today with shows at noon and 7 p.m. at the Albion Middle School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door.

There are 75 students in the cast and crew. This is the 52^nd musical directed by Carrie Kozody at the middle school.

She said the program is returning to full strength after being limited during the Covid pandemic. “This show has brought a lot of enthusiasm from our students,” Kozody said. “This is our first full-length story line (since Covid).”

Yaritza Fernandez Perez is Rashka the Mother Wolf, holding the baby Mowgli. The baby is found in a basket in the deep jungles of India. Mowgli will be raised by wolves.

Ayme Vallejo Morales is Kaa, a python that sings “Trust in Me” to Mowgli, played by Sophie Kozody. The snake has powers to hypnotize.

Mowgli, “The Man Child,” prefers life in the jungle and doesn’t want to go back to the village with other humans.

Liam Leader plays the role of Akela the Father Wolf who is the chief and leader of the wolf pack. Cerenity Johnson is Bagheera, a black panther who is one of Mowgli’s protectors.

Sophie Kozody as Mowgli and Aubrielle Barry as Baloo perform “The Bare Necessities.” Baloo, a fun-loving bear, becomes a good friend to Mowgli and vows to not take him to the “man-village.”

ChrisJen Winters is Shere Kan, a dangerous tiger that is determined to destroy Mowgli, fearing the human will bring guns and fire into the jungle.

Carley Smith, center, is Colonel Hathi, leader of the elephant brigade. Hannah Olles, left, and Lily Brigham are part of the group. Hathi gets the elephants in line for their patrol.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Representatives from the Holy Family Parish in Albion today presented $1,267 to the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen at Harvest Christian Fellowship.

Holy Family did a collection on Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 11-12, and parishioners donated $1,267, about double what is normally given for the “Souper Bowl” collection. The parish in Albion does the collection for the kitchen each weekend during the Super Bowl because people tend to indulge in snacks and food during the big game.

Pictured from left include Father Dick Csizmar, Father Jan Trela, Agnes Piskorowski (holding the check), Faith Smith of the OK Kitchen, Carolyn Budynski, and Father Mark Noonan.

Trela and Noonan started on Wednesday as priests in a family of Catholic churches in Orleans County and eastern Niagara. Noonan was a seminarian in Albion in 2006 and served at St. Mark’s in Kendall and St. Mary’s in Holley for 7 ½ years until about five years ago.

Volunteers from the Holy Family Parish in Albion are making beef stew for the OK Kitchen today. In front chopping carrots and onions include Gina Boothby at left and Elaine Kovaleski at right.

ALBION – Bullard Park would become an even bigger community asset with courts for volleyball, bocce and pickleball, the Village Board was told on Wednesday.

John Grillo, the village’s long-time recreation director, said those courts wouldn’t cost much to put in and maintain.

He has heard from community members asking for those courts at Bullard. Some people also would like to see a horseshoe playing area.

Grillo said the park has been busier since the new splash park and playground equipment were installed about two years ago. Last year’s summer park’s program averaged 70 kids a day, Grillo said.

The village Department of Public Works will be putting in a disc golf course in the spring with baskets and tee-off areas.

Grillo said he would like to see the bocce, pickleball and volleyball spaces ready by summer. The pickleball could perhaps go where there was a former pavilion near the old bathrooms. That spot still has the asphalt on top of a concrete base. The asphalt would likely need to be removed with new asphalt put down, said Village Trustee Tim McMurray.

The ideas are in the discussion stage right now, Grillo said.

He told the board there is also interest and support in the community to bring back the July 3^rd fireworks show which was at Bullard Park.

In other action at Wednesday’s meeting:

• The Village Board appointed Chris Kinter as a part-time code enforcement officer at $25 per hour, not to exceed 1,040 hours in a year.

Kinter was a member of the Albion Planning Board and also works at the Town of Albion code officer.

Trustee McMurray abstained from the vote, saying the village should have posted the position and better advertised it.

Mayor Angel Javier Jr., Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley and Trustee Zack Burgess voted for Kinter.

“He is a known quantity and he has served our community well,” Riley said.

• In another codes issue, the village’s other part-time code enforcement officer, Anne Podolak, requested that former code officer Ron Vendetti be retained as a consultant to share how handled court cases in the role, and also how he was able to generate so much in revenue for the office. Podolak said Vendetti generated more money for the village through the code office than his successors.

“I want to know his processes and procedures,” Podolak told the Village Board.

Riley, the deputy mayor, made a motion for Vendetti to be retained as a consultant for up to 20 hours in the next two months but no one else backed that motion.

“We’re not asking Mr. Vendetti to come back,” Riley said. “We’re asking Mr. Vendetti for his expertise.”

• Fire Chief Rob Conner informed the village he will be done as the Fire Department’s leader on May 1.

“He has done a yeoman’s job leading his men and making sure the village is safe,” Riley said.

• The board approved closing East State Street from Main to Platt on April 8 for the second annual Easter Egg Hunt, an event organized by the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries.

• The board also approved use of Mount Albion Cemetery on march 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Wayne A. Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness Run. That 5K starts near the elementary school and goes along Route 31 for a loop in the cemetery and then heads back down Route 31 to the school.

Risen Café offers ‘safe place with no judgement’

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Risen Café opened on Tuesday the former Crooked Door Tavern at 469 East State St. Pictured from left include Sarah Ferguson, Terry Bryant and Jeannie Sullivan.

ALBION – Pastor Terry Bryant of God’s Voice Ministries wants to lead a 21^st Century church where he said everyone is welcome, and they don’t feel out of place if they aren’t familiar with hymns, Bible passages and the usual structure of a church service.

Bryant and the church members at God’s Voice have opened the Risen Café at the former Crooked Door Tavern at 469 East State St. They serve coffee and have a breakfast and lunch menu of soups and sandwiches. They are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday.

“Cheers without beers,” Bryant said. “Everybody can feel comfortable here.”

However, their main goal is offering people a place to share prayer concerns and develop a deeper spiritual life.

“This is a place to connect with people,” Bryant said today at the café. “We want to reach people that wouldn’t come into a traditional church. This is a very nonthreatening environment.”

The church has been meeting out of Bryant’s home the past four years. It was meeting at a Best Western hotel in Lockport until Covid restrictions sent them to Bryant’s living room.

Two of the church members moved to Brown Road in Albion. Bryant was visiting them when he saw the former Crooked Door. He saw the building as a way to serve the community, giving the public another dine-in option for coffee and meals.

But he also sensed people who aren’t connected to a church might see the site as a place to get spiritual guidance.

The congregation has been meeting in the back side of the building since November for Sunday church services at 11 a.m. That space, with a capacity for 37 people, also is used for Bible studies and other gatherings for the church.

The former bar side of the building is the café, where Bible quotes are now on the walls.

Scripture is displayed on the walls at the Risen Café. There is also a prayer corner and a spot for people to submit prayer requests.

Sarah Ferguson of Lyndonville is one of the servers at the Risen Café. She also is the church’s associate pastor. She has master’s degrees in pastoral counseling and addiction recovery. She wants to lead a Christian-based Celebrate Recovery program to help people with addictions, and also direct them to other resources in the community.

“This is somewhere where I can talk about Jesus, learn about people and pray for people,” she said. “We are creating a safe place with no judgement.”

Bryant has worked as an IT systems administrator for about 30 years. He works out of the Larkin Building in Buffalo for Kaleida Health. In 2009, he said he lost feeling in his legs from symptoms of multiple sclerosis. But he said God restored his health and he has been striving to serve God since. He earned a ministry degree while working his other job in information technology.

Bryant initially pushed his ministry with his wife Denise. She contracted Covid and passed away on Dec. 20, 2021. Bryant said he misses his wife very much. He believes that difficult loss can help him relate to others enduring heartache.

“This can be a place where we can have uncomfortable conversations,” he said. “We want to love people where they are.”

ALBION – Katharine Waite, Albion’s high school vice principal, will be retiring on March 31. She was worked at Albion for nearly eight years, after 10 years as a principal at Perry Central School.

The Board of Education on Monday appointed Dan Monacelli to fill in as interim vice principal, beginning after spring recess on April 10 until the end of the school year in late June.

Monacelli, an Albion resident, retired as the middle school principal in 2017. He also has filled in as an interim junior-senior high school principal in Holley for three months in late 2018 and early 2019.

Mickey Edwards, the Albion district superintendent, said he reached out across Western New York and there weren’t any other candidates for the position to close out the school year. He said he appreciated Monacelli’s willingness to come back to the district in the interim position.

In other action during the board meeting on Monday:

• School resource officer Matthew Prawel, a deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, outlined how his first year has been going with the district so far. Prawel said his main focus is the security of the campus. He has connected with other law enforcement agencies, giving them a color-coded map showing different zones of the school buildings.

Prawel said he would welcome more chances to connect with students and staff but most of his time is dedicated to security and safety.

He recommended the board add a second school resource officer, either through the Sheriff’s Office or Albion Police Department. That would increase a safety response and also allow for more positive connections between students and the school resource officers, Prawel said.

• Brad Pritchard, the middle school principal, gave a presentation to the board on how the middle school is doing more computer based testing, which he said not only measures academics but familiarizes students with keyboarding, software and using Google Docs and other software.

• Approved a trip to Boston from May 26-28 for 18 students from minority backgrounds. The trip for the Girls Leadership Group is covered through a Community Schools grant.

• Changed the date of the Honors Convocation for graduating seniors with GPAs at 90 percent or higher from May 11 to May 4. The date was changed so some of the seniors can be a part of the “Stars of Tomorrow” program featuring students in the musical. They will be able to perform at the Rochester Broadway Theatre League.

• Julianna Kuntz was recognized with the elementary student leadership award and Brody Furness was honored with the elementary school character award.

$22 million overall construction work starts next week with district office the first project

ALBION – The Board of Education approved a bid for $2,567,090 on Monday from the Day Automation of Victor for access controls, which is a card swipe system that will allow the district to lock down all the doors in case of an emergency.

District personnel will have badges to unlock and lock doors as part of this project.

That brings the total construction bids to $21,866,992. Eight other bids were accepted at last month’s meeting. The board wanted more time to review the proposal from Day Automation for the access control system that will be in all classrooms throughout the district.

School district residents on Dec. 14, 2021 approved the $26.69 million capital project that includes all three schools, as well as the bus garage, and new synthetic playing surfaces for football, soccer and softball.

The other bids accepted last month include:

• Site work – $6,295,082 by Diehl Development
• General Trades – $5,441,000 by Javen Construction
• Mechanical – $2,797,700 by T. Bell
• Plumbing – $1,636,300 by Blackmon Farrell
• Playground equipment – $257,027 by GameTime
• Scoreboards – $124,725 by Toth
• BMS (Building Management System) Controls – $339,068 by Day Automation

The first project gets started next week at the district office. District office staff will move to the E wing of the elementary school while the dstrict office is upgraded.

People visiting the district office will need to go to the main entrance of the elementary school starting on Monday.

The construction schedule for 2023 and next year includes:

Site Work – In 2023 the work includes the football field replacement, track resurfacing, multi-purpose field replacement (softball and soccer – starting June 1, 2023 and ending July 15, 2024), elementary school hot water service line, elementary school drop-off loop and sidewalks, elementary school playground fence replacement and high school hot water service line.

In 2024, the site work includes middle school hot water service line, tennis court replacement, middle school drop-off loop reconstruction, concrete sidewalk replacements, playground replacement at middle school, baseball field drainage improvements, JV softball field drainage improvements.

Construction at elementary school – In 2023, district office renovation, classroom doors and plumbing fixtures at E wing (Nov. 6 to Dec. 1), classroom doors and plumbing fixtures at D wing (Dec. 11 to Jan. 5), crawl space plumbing and hot water heaters, EIFS replacement, carbon monoxide detectors/fire alarm, and electrical abatement and replacements.

In 2024, classroom doors and plumbing fixtures at C wing (Jan. 1 to Feb. 9), classroom doors and plumbing fixtures at B wing (Feb. 19 to March 15), classroom doors and plumbing fixtures at A wing (March 25 to April 19) and classroom doors and plumbing fixtures at G wing (April 29 to May 24), emergency generator replacement, doors/hardware/security enhancements, main office windows and fire shutter, and gymnasium folding partition replacement.

Construction at middle school (basement) – In 2023, pool deck structural repairs, boiler room abatement and demolition, boiler room plumbing renovations, ad pool pumps.

In 2024, electrical room A/C and auditorium A/C.

Construction at middle school (first floor) – In 2023, domestic hot water repairs, replace insulated window panels, gymnasium renovations, pool lighting and locker room renovation, replace ANSUL system, exhaust fan and relief air work, flooring abatement, flooring installation, carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarm, and electrical service component replacements.

In 2024, doors/hardware/security enhancements and auditorium AC.

Construction at middle school (second floor) – In 2023, exhaust fan and relief air work, replace insulated window panels, flooring abatement, and flooring installation.

In 2024, convert lockers into storage rooms, electrical room A/C, auditorium A/C, and doors/hardware/security enhancements.

Construction at middle school (third floor) – In 2023, exhaust fan and relief air work.

In 2024, doors/hardware/security enhancements.

Construction at high school (first floor) – In 2023, library door reconstruction, window lintel replacements, domestic hot water heaters and carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarm.

In 2024, replace lockers (with wider units), doors/hardware/security upgrades, gym renovations and gym locker room renovations.

Construction at high school (second floor) – In 2023, library door reconstruction, window lintel replacements, domestic hot water heaters, and carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarm.

In 2024, replace lockers, doors/hardware/security upgrades, gym renovations, gym locker room renovations, gym HVAC abatement and demo, gym HVAC installation.

Photo and information courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION – Middle school Science Olympiad students participated in the regional competition this past Saturday at St. John Fisher University, with many students placing in the various events.

Students who competed were Payton Babcock, Evan Love, Jaili McPhatter, Sadie Money, Tatiana Morales, Aries Webster, Brilee Seewagen, Payton Gray, Brad Pierce, Charles Warren, and Lily Allison. Mr. Petrus and Ms. Fiegl coached the students.

The following are the top results for the Albion students:

• Anatomy and Physiology: Brad Pierce and Aries Webster, First Place
• Green Generation: Brad Pierce and Sadie Money, First Place
• Bio Process Lab: Brad Pierce and Brilee Seewagen, Second Place
• Solar System: Charles Warren and Lily Allison, Fifth Place
• Crave the Wave: Sadie Money and Lily Allison, Sixth Place

Father Richard Csizmar has served as pastor in Albion the past 28 years

Photos by Tom Rivers: Father Richard Csizmar is shown inside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where he has been the parish priest for 28 years. He is retiring from full-time ministry. He will continue to lead Mass at local Catholic churches while living in Albion.

ALBION – The Rev. Richard Csizmar has announced his retirement from full-time ministry after more than a half century as a priest.

Csizmar, 80, could have retired five years ago but chose to continue in a full-time role at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in the Holy Family Parish. Csizmar will continue to live in the church rectory in Albion and lead some Mass services as needed in a family of churches that includes Catholic sites in Kendall, Holley, Albion, Medina, Lyndonville, Barker and Middleport.

Father Mark Noonan, the former priest at St. Mark’s in Kendall and St. Mary’s in Holley, is returning to lead the family of local Catholic churches, beginning next weekend.

“It’s been great,” Csizmar said about his 28 years in Albion. “I’ve really loved it. I see myself as the community’s priest.”

Csizmar has two long tenures in his ministry. Before coming to Albion, he served 25 years at Notre Dame High School in Batavia as a teacher and development director. He also served on weekends at St. Joseph’s and St. Anthony’s in Batavia.

He started his ministry with a year in Cherry Creek, and also three months at the Nativity at Harris Hill in Williamsville.

Father Richard Csizmar is shown inside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. About 700 families are part of the Holy Family Parish.

In Albion, Father Csizmar was active in the Albion Ministerium, a group of local clergy that plan community ecumenical services and a baccalaureate service for graduating high school seniors.

He praised the Albion parish for their love shown towards him and many in the community. The parish includes about 700 families and 1,600 people.

“I have felt at home here,” he said during an interview at the church rectory. “It has been a great run. I’ve had a lot of wonderful experiences.”

Father Csizmar said he continues to feel a call to ministry and enjoys preaching and leading Mass.

“I haven’t run out of gas,” he said. “I’m always getting new ideas.”

Susan Starkweather Miller said Father Csizmar has been accepting of new ideas to engage the community, including a new Bible study she is leading with Pete Sidari on Monday mornings and Tuesday evenings. About 70 people are attending that study on the Passion of the Christ. Csizmar is among the attendees.

“Father loves community,” Starkweather Miller said. “He loves to build community in our church. He’s always been very positive and willing to try new things. He is always on board.”

Starkweather Miller is a lecter, eucharistic minister, altar server and Bible study leader at the parish. She is very thankful Father Csizmar will be staying in the Albion community.

“We care so much about him,” she said. “We are so thankful he wants to be with us. Father Dick can continue to do the things he loves.”

Father Dick Csizmar greets Albion firefighters and other first responders during a “Blue Mass” on Oct. 22, 2017 at St. Joseph’s. The service offered appreciation and blessings for first responders. Csizmar worked to connect with many community members during his time at St. Joseph’s.

The parish is also looking forward to Father Mark Noonan leading the family of churches.

“We have the best of both worlds,” Starkweather Miller said.

Joe Gehl is a current church trustee for the Holy Family Parish. He has attended St. Joseph’s since 1971. He said the parish admires Father Csizmar and appreciates his long commitment to the Albion community.

“He is not afraid to get involved in things,” Gehl said. “He considers wherever he is at as part of his family. He just blends in well with anyone regardless of their religious affiliation. He accepts everybody for who they are.”

Father Csizmar in a message to the parish in this weekend’s church bulletin said he is very proud of Mark Noonan who brings a kind and gentle spirit.

“It’s great to be passing the torch to a new generation pastor,” Father Csizmar writes.

Father Richard Csizmar prays a blessing on Albion graduates during a baccalaureate service on June 2, 2019 at the First Baptist Church. Csizmar has been very active in the Albion Ministerium, a group of local clergy members.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Lenten lunches returned on Wednesday for Albion area churches. This group from the Gaines Congregational Church – Laurie Hatch, Kathy Smith and Chris Sartwell – serve soups prepared by the church.

The event was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion. The Presbyterians provided sandwiches.

The lunches will be at noon every Wednesday in March at the Presbyterian Church. Different churches take turns providing food and the message.

Marie Follett plays the piano and the Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Albion, leads the singing of hymns during the Lenten luncheon.

The luncheons are back for the first time in three years after being cancelled during the Covid pandemic.

Thaine also delivered a short message for the group. There were about 40 people from several churches at the gathering. The luncheons are free with a goodwill offering accepted.

The Lenten luncheons also are back in Medina at the Presbyterian Church on Main Street. It is a tradition going back several decades and sponsored by Medina Area Association of Churches.

All luncheons are served at the Presbyterian Church, with members of MAAC taking turns preparing the meal. Take-outs are available at 11:45 a.m., with serving at noon followed by a brief message. This year’s theme will explore “The Passion of Christ.”