Public novena July 8 to 16

The annual public novena in honor of Our Blessed Lady of Mount Carmel will be held July 8 through 16 at the Carmelite Monastery, 75 Carmel Road.

The Rev. James Erving of Our Lady of Refuge Church in Eagle Pass, Texas, will preside.

Services start with the rosary at 7 p. m. followed by Mass. Confessions will be heard after weekday services.

Outdoor summer Masses scheduled

St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Lancaster will hold outdoor Masses in July and August. The church, located on historic St. Mary’s Hill, will use the grassy area outside the church for 7 p. m. Mass on Saturdays, as has been the tradition for the past several years.

Visitors are welcome and are asked to bring a blanket or lawn chair. For more information, call the rectory at 683-6445 or visit

www.stmarysonthehill.com

. Lecture, meditation set

The Buffalo Mindfulness Community will sponsor a free evening lecture July 10 and a day-long meditation July 11, “Mindfulness and Loving- Kindness: The Heart of the Buddha’s Teachings.”

Both events will be at Daemen College. To register or for more information, go to

www.buffalodharma.org

or call 400-5899. Kmiec to dedicate garden

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec will dedicate a new Scripture prayer garden following the 11:30 a. m. Mass on Sunday in SS. Peter&Paul Catholic Church, 5480 Main St., Williamsville.

The garden features a winding path in a wooded area next to the church with 80 stones engraved with Scripture passages. The centerpiece of the garden in a statue of Saints Peter and Paul, designed by artist Kent Langerman.

The parish was founded by St. John Neumann 173 years ago.

“It is our hope that this site, well familiar to John Neumann, will serve as a spiritual oasis for the entire village,” said the Rev. Jerome Kopec, pastor of SS. Peter&Paul.

Church welcomes Cobbs

A welcome service for the Rev. William C. Cobb Jr. and his wife, the Rev. Lois Cobb, will be held at 4 p. m. Sunday in Agape African Methodist Episcopal Church, 224 Northland Ave.

Cobb is the newly appointed pastor of the church. Keynote speaker during the service will be the Rev. Richard A. Stenhouse, pastor of Bethel AME Church.