Bishop Fisher Catholic Life Features

Lay volunteers honored with special St. Joseph the Worker Mass

Joe Martone April 2, 2025

On Saturday, March 29, in the still cold early spring in downtown Buffalo, the Diocese of Buffalo celebrated the Lay Award of St. Joseph at the cathedral named for the foster father of our Lord and the loving husband of Mary during a 10 a.m. Saturday Mass.

During his homily, Bishop Michael W. Fisher congratulated the more than 50 individuals who were recognized for the work in their respective parishes.

Elizabeth Reiser (second from left), from the Greater East Buffalo Family of Parishes, gathers with her family, Father Cole Webster, and Bishop Michael W. Fisher after receiving the Lay Award of St. Joseph at St. Joseph Cathedral on March 29. (Photo by Nicole Dzimira)

“How appropriate that we honor people today throughout the diocese in his name with the St. Joseph the Worker Award,” explained Bishop Fisher. “You are here today as a reflection of your faith and dedication and for the work that you’ve done, and using your time, talent and treasure. Thank you for sharing your varied gifts in your parishes and throughout the diocese.”

As the bishop reflected on the Gospel of Luke that told the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector, he related that comparisons in life often fall short.

“Comparing ourselves to others is seldom the way to mature in our spiritual life,” said Bishop Fisher. “We judge others from the outside, but God knows us from within.”

A runner who looks at his competition is bound to fail and the bishop related a story of his high school gym class. His coach instructed the class…

“Don’t look back, just keep looking forward and keep your eyes on the goal. And that’s the lesson we learn today,” he said. “Our eyes should always be on our own call to holiness.”

The bishop then voiced the litany of roles held by the day’s honorees.

Erica Brenner, who works in Internal Audit at the Catholic Center, was honored for her 25 years at Immaculate Conception, Eden, part of the Catholic Family of the Holy Rosary. She also has had many roles at Immaculate Conception ranging from business manager, to faith formation coordinator, secretary for the Rosary Altar Society, to when-needed teacher, maintenance person, and has been known to shovel some snow at the church on occasion.

Her involvement with the church she described as life changing.

Bishop Michael W. Fisher presents the Lay Award of St. Joseph at St. Joseph Cathedral on March 29. (Photo by Nicole Dzimira)

“It’s truly an honor, there are things that you do that parishioners don’t know about,” she explained. “I felt a calling, and I wasn’t sure what it was… and the older I got, the more I got into my faith and I felt drawn and called to do this.”

When asked about how the Road to Renewal has impacted her parish family, she said the changes in the diocese just want her to work harder.

“It makes me want to bring people together more and sing the praises about our parish and say this will work out, just have faith. It is bringing the strengths and weaknesses from each of our parishes and it is bringing us together as a whole now.”

Another recipient was very moved because the award came as a surprise and he was so pleased to meet the bishop.

His work with his diocesan parish family was inspired by his priestly formation in his home country, and he was honored for coordinating many aspects of his parish’s Hispanic Mass, including the music ministry and working with altar servers.

The 2025 Lay Award of Saint Joseph Recipients: