Deacon Tom Tripp, coordinator of WNYMM, has helped to organize the two-day celebration that begins with an 8 p.m. public interfaith service taking place at St. John’s-Grace Episcopal Church, 51 Colonial Circle in Buffalo. Included will be prayers, choir music and refugee testimonies. The service will conclude outdoors, weather permitting, at approximately 9:15 p.m. with a candlelight vigil in memory of those lost or left behind.

The celebration will continue at the west end of Bidwell Parkway on Saturday, June 21 from noon to 5 p.m. The public is invited to come meet area refugees and learn about the circumstances that caused them to seek safety here. Musical entertainment, displays by local refugee assistance agencies, and various award presentations will also be offered. (full Saturday schedule below) These events will be moved inside St. John’s Grace in the event of rain.

Everyone attending the Friday evening service or the Saturday afternoon activities is asked to bring a donation of personal care items or small household items to assist new refugees served by the local participating refugee assistance agencies.

“There are roughly 30 million refugees and forcibly displaced persons in the world today,” says Tripp. “The refugee community in Western New York includes people from all over the world. Some are simply passing through, trying to get to Canada to establish citizenship there. Others have chosen the Buffalo area as the place to start their lives anew. Some come well adjusted and fit, while others suffer various effects from the stress of persecution, torture, or organized genocide. What they all have in common is that they have fled from dangers in their homeland that make it unwise or impossible for them to return.”
WNYMM seeks to raise public awareness about refugees and promote refugee ministry efforts.

Admission to both the Friday and Saturday events is free, but a donation of personal care items, or household cooking items for local refugee shelters is requested.

Saturday Schedule