Father Robert Dmitri died of cancer in August 1991. He did
not want scholarships or memorials named after him. He only asked that
his friends encourage more devotion to St. Peregrine. Eight of his close
friends did just that by forming the Friends of St. Peregrine. Now the
Friends of St. Peregrine have been celebrating healing masses around the
Diocese of Buffalo since 1992.
As a lasting icon the Friends decided to have a statue of St. Peregrine
sculpted for the Mount St. Mary Hospital Chapel in Lewiston, NY, where
"Father Bob" was the chaplain. The cost, between $9,000 and $15,000, proved
prohibitive. Father James Judge, one of the eight Friends and former senior
chaplain at Collins Correctional Facility, suggested that an inmate and
accomplished artist, Peter Rentz create the 41-inch mahogany-stained white
ash statue.
Mr. Rentz also carved an 18-inch St. Peregrine statue for the Scalia
family when their daughter, Diane was diagnosed with breast cancer at the
age of 31. After her passing, the Scalia family decided to share this statue
with other families. This "traveling" St. Peregrine statue is delivered
to the homes of people stricken with cancer. The statue, along with a book
where cancer patients can write down their thoughts, is delivered by members
of the Scalia family and picked up a week later. The statue has visited
150 families since 1992.
The healing masses are held throughout the Buffalo Diocese from April
to October. About 12 masses are held each year with as many as 350 people
taking part.
©
Friends of St. Peregrine, Inc.
