A Brief History of The Franciscan Center
The Franciscan Center opened its doors on April 1, 1980, when
two Franciscan Friars from
Bishop Timon High
School rented a house at 395 Cumberland Avenue in South Buffalo. Thus
began the “apostolate for runaway adolescents”. Interest in this apostolic work
prompted Father Patrick Mendola, OFM Conv. from
St. Francis High
School to join the two Franciscans in July 1981. The following November,
the Center was legally incorporated under the directorship of Fr. Patrick.
The Cumberland Avenue facility soon became inadequate and
so on May 28, 1982, The Franciscan Center moved to its present location on
the corner of Seneca Street and Roanoke Parkway. The two Franciscans from
Timon High School left the program and Fr. Patrick was joined by Fr. Kenneth
Ward, OFM Conv. in July 1982. Father Ken, a dynamic force in the growth of
the Center, remained on staff until his untimely death on November 10, 1989.
Runaway and homeless youth began coming from all areas of Western New York
and beyond. Many of these young people found the Center a haven where they
could turn their lives around in a nurturing, homelike atmosphere. The
Friars continued to hear and respond to the call of the Gospel and St.
Francis - to care for and heal the body and soul of those most in need.
In 1985, a house located at 7 Roanoke Parkway was accepted as a gift from
Mr. William McMullen, which allowed for further expansion. The following
year this house was dedicated, and the Friary (living quarters of the
Friars) was blessed and placed under the patronage of St. Joseph, the Foster
Parent. The provincial administration of St. Anthony Province has sent 18
Friars to serve at the Center over the years.
As the needs of the youth continued to grow, the Friars realized the need
for two separate programs: a long-term program for those ready and willing
to work on long-term goals of personal growth, education, employment, etc.;
and an emergency program to help those in crisis situations, or who are in
need of a temporary place to stay. In April 1989, the house at 1920 Seneca
Street was purchased, and then opened in September 1989 as the Emergency
Shelter. The Franciscan Center also received NYS certification in 1988 for
Transitional Independent Living Program. The Emergency Shelter was also
eventually certified by NYS Office of Children & Family Services in 1990.
In 1990, Fr. Joseph Bayne, OFM Conv., succeeded Fr. Patrick Mendola as
Executive Director of The Franciscan Center. From its modest beginning, The
Franciscan Center has continued to provide quality holistic care for young
men, ages 16-20. Transitional Independent Living Program Shelter allows
youth up to one year to develop skills and attributes that will help them to
become independent, while furthering their education and working on more
long-term goals. In addition to housing several youth each year, The
Franciscan Center also ministers to hundreds of men, women, youth and
children each year in crisis situations by outreach, counseling and
referrals.
An Advisory Committee was formed in 1992, made up of dedicated men and women
from the community. Their chief task was to assist in the area of
development, i.e. keeping the Center afloat by public relations and fund
raising. The Corporate Board of Directors, the Provincial Council of the
Conventual Franciscan Friars of St. Anthony of Padua, encouraged and guided
this local Advisory Committee to form a fully active and responsible Board
of Directors in 2003. To date this Board does yeomen work in the area of
fund raising. The Board approves the annual budget, reviews and approves
policies, and evaluates the Executive Director, reporting to the Corporate
Board. It’s make up is highly professional, with men and women from diverse
backgrounds of employment and community service.
Due to decline in the number of friars available, St. Joseph Foster Parent
Friary eventually closed (2002) and is now used for the Administration Wing,
affording much more space for the Transitional Independent Living Program.
At one time there were as many as five friars residing on site on Seneca
Street. Currently, Fr. Joe lives at St. Francis High School Friary in Athol
Springs. Over the years, The Franciscan Center has served as a formation
site for young friars or others interested in the Franciscan Order as well
as local seminarians and lay students from Christ the King Seminary in East
Aurora.
Other significant dates and events in the life of The Franciscan Center
include the following:
1995: First Annual +Fr. Patrick Mendola Memorial Dinner, major fund raiser
named in honor fo the founder, at which one or two current or former
residents are honored with a scholarship. Eventually the Memorial Dinner
began to honor some of our significant benefactors and/or staff.
The Annual Golf Tournament was begun in 1996 and continues to date, one of
our most significant and needed fund raising events, along with our Annual
Spaghetti Dinner and Chicken Bar B Q (sponsored by the Fire/EMS Community of
Erie County).
In 2003, Jon Williams, CEO of Ontario Specialty Contracting, pulled together
“The Friends of the Franciscan Center, a group of corporate and business
benefactors who make a monthly or annual pledge of financial support to the
Center. This “Friends” Group has expanded and is a critical line in our
annual budget.
In mid 2001, Maureen Armstrong, was named Assistant Director, along with her
role as Case Manager. She continues in this dual role to date.
Late in 2004, we offered office space for a Counselor from the Buffalo
Division for Youth. This has been a win/win situation, as the counselor sees
any of our residents in need as well as other young people from the area.
This is one major example of how we link and network with other agencies to
care for youth.
Also in 2004 a revised
Mission Statement and Philosophy, along with a new logo, capturing our
Body, Mind, Spirit approach to caring for troubled youth was approved by the
Boards.
In December 2007, the Emergency Shelter closed, after a long discernment
process. Trends, studies, and experience show that youth need more than a
few days to “get their life together.” With the encouragement and approval
of NYS Office of Children and Family Services and the approval of our Board
of Directors, we converted the house at 1920 Seneca Street into a “Supported
Residence” with three suites for youth, who are committed to carry out an
Individual Service Plan, stay for several months, and continue in school
and/or employment. The Supported Residence, still part of the Transitional
Living Program within the NYS OCFS umbrella, affords youth a setting and
program which more clearly reflects actual “independent living, since the
house is not staffed around the clock. The Supported Residence retained that
name from January 2008 until June 2011. Despite extensive documentation,
manuals, etc. NYS OCFS never did respond with our request for certification.
Despite no grant funding for the house at 1920, we through our discernment
and the support of our Board of Directors, continue to use it for the care
of young men. It is now called the Mentor Program, which affords a safe home
for young men, even beyond their 21st birthday, who have done well at our
Transitional Independent Living Program. We continue to meet with them and
oversee their case management. The Mentor Program has basic rules. but it
more closely imitates actual independent living.
In preparation for their Chapter of 2014 and the Union of the two East Coast
Provinces, the Conventual Franciscan Friars are doing an in depth study of
their various ministries and polling the Friars of the current two provinces
for their interest and willingness to serve in such ministries. Among these
endeavors is our own Franciscan Center here in Buffalo. Initial feedback
from the Friars shows their respect and support of this ministry to troubled
youth.
