They're linked by the same name -- each church is called St. Rose of Lima. Parishioners of the church here in Buffalo collected money this past week to send to grieving members of the St. Rose of Lima church in Newtown, Connecticut. Pastor Joseph Rogliano of St. Rose of Lima in Buffalo is friends with Newtown's pastor. So, Rogliano was more than happy when his parishioners expressed an interest in doing something in the wake of the mass shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A second collection was taken at Masses the weekend after the shootings. And Rogliano said donations continued to come in over the course of the past week, including some from non-parishioners.
He said most of the money raised will be sent to his friend, Fr. Robert Weiss, at Newtown's St. Rose of Lima.
"It's something. It really was a gesture of the heart," Rogliano said. "I don't know what he'll (Fr. Weiss) will do with the money. All I know is that everyone here feels at least we did something. It's a nice connection we created with them."
Rogliano said a small portion of the donations he received will be used for a flower arrangement to brighten the holidays for the families gathering at St. Rose of Lima in Newtown this Christmas.