On Wednesday, July 21, at 11:30 a.m. in Buffalo, New York’s Niagara Square, the Most Reverend Michael W. Fisher, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, hosted a prayer gathering for the community, in response to a high level of violence in the City of Buffalo and Western New York. Our Lady of the Angels Province friars, Br. Michael Duffy, OFM Conv. (left) and Fr. Max Avila, OFM Conv. (right) were among those present, which included government officials and representatives of New York Pastors for Life, Buffalo Peacemakers, PeacePrints of WNY, Stop the Violence Coalition, as well as other members of area faith communities and concerned citizens. They all gathered to pray for peace and an end to the violence threatening their community. Both of these friars as assigned at our St. Francis High School, in Athol Springs, where we have six friars of our province serving in varied capacities. Br. Michael Duffy, OFM Conv. will begin the new 2021-2022 school year as Principal and Fr. Maximilian Avila, OFM Conv. has served as an instructor there since August 2018.

Read more in the Western New York Catholic online article, “Bishop Fisher hosts prayer for peace in Niagara Square.”

If you watch the WGRZ News clip you will see a quick glimpse of our friars as they pan the crowd.