Fate brings man to Mass to more than 200 parishes in diocese

A recent WNYCatholic story about Ray Geska, a man attempting to experience Mass in all 161 diocesan parishes, drew the attention of David Will, who is on a similar journey. But, instead of actively mapping out where his next worship service will be, he lets fate be his guide.

“Twenty-five years ago, I think I was somewhere for a funeral, and I was thinking, ‘I’ve been to many places. Where have I been?’ I thought, I’m going to make this a goal of attending every parish in the diocese,” he explained.

He made a list that began with St. Andrew in Kenmore, where he was baptized. Then St. James in Buffalo, his grandparent’s parish. The others came from weddings, funerals, baptisms and “in the neighborhood” visits. His work as a financial advisor keeps him on the road most days.

“I don’t think I ever went somewhere specifically to go there,” he said. But, when he’s camping in the Southern Tier, he looks for a nearby place for Mass. He never planned a special trip to Wellsville, but driving home from Washington, D.C., he showed up in front of Immaculate Conception 10 minutes before the 5:30 Saturday Mass. He visited St. Joseph in Scio as he was heading to Virginia. He’s even conducted his own Seven Churches Visitation through Buffalo’s Broadway Fillmore District on Holy Thursday. 

Over 25 years, Will has visited 221 parishes, from St. Bernard in Youngstown to St. Brigid in Bergen to St. James in Westfield. 

When he began this mission there were 265 parishes. Over 100 have closed in the early 2000s as a result of the Journey in Faith and Grace restructuring plan. 

“It’s been quite a journey around the diocese. And I’ve seen some tremendous places, some of which aren’t open anymore,” he said, adding that he is a “student of church design” although he has no formal education on the subject. “The ones that were built by immigrants in the city are just incredible structures,” he said.

He names St. Gerard’s, the Roman basilica style church on Bailey Avenue as one of his favorites. 

“Magnificent doesn’t even begin to describe St. Gerard’s. That one really stands out,” he said. “St. Mary’s in Olean. Now it’s a basilica. That is a great place. St. Stan’s, Corpus Christi (on Buffalo’s East Side), those are winners too. St. John Gualbert in Cheektowaga has great windows in there.”

He’s also been to several chapels as a parent and due to his commitment as a eucharistic minister. His kids have taken him to their schools, Canisius High School and Holy Angels Academy. He volunteers to bring Communion to the sick at Sisters Hospital and Mercy Hospital. He has lectored at the former Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora. He’s also visited some of the religious order convents.

“You name it, I pretty much have been there,” he said.

It has exposed him to foreign cultures, having attended a Hungarian Mass at Assumption Parish and Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vietnamese, both for Holy Thursday.

Now with about 16 parishes left, Will thinks he’ll have to plan some special trips.

“Right now, I’m doing this sort of spontaneously. But I’m going to have to make a point of some Sunday or weekend of picking one place to pick away at the remaining ones.”

Praying in all these different environments has added a new dimension to his faith life.

“It’s definitely heightened my spirituality, no doubt,” he said. “It’s allowed me to, first, get to know a lot of clergy. But also get a little bit different spin on homilies. Their different styles. Who’s a good homilist. Who isn’t a good homilist. 

He recalled once being in and out of a rural parish in 14 minutes.

“I didn’t feel I was there for any spiritual purposes because he just raced through Mass, and I went somewhere else later in the day, because I was missing the spiritual component of the day,” he said. “I felt as if I missed out on it by how fast he offered Mass.”

On a regular Sunday, Will can be found at Sacred Heart of Jesus Diocesan Shrine in Bowmansville.  Monday through Friday he is … somewhere. He’ll stop off somewhere on his way to the hospital for a daily Rosary.“This has allowed me to experience other people who share the same passion in their faith as I do,” he said.