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	St. Agatha Inspires Bequest Like-Named Churches across U. S. Inherit Gift By Jay Tokasz Buffalo News November 23, 2008 http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/502356.html Ray Flesher left only vague instructions on what to do with his life's savings after he passed away — assist the Catholic Church. So, when it came time to determine what form that would take, the executor of Flesher's Manteno, Ill., estate sought the help of a favorite saint. Soon, Catholic parishes around the country with the name St. Agatha, including one in South Buffalo, began receiving unsolicited checks of $2,000 in the mail, followed usually by another check for $1,500 — from a man who had never set foot inside most of the churches. In all, more than two dozen congregations were the beneficiaries of the unusual philanthropy. "I think there's something like 25 or 26 St. Agatha churches in the country," said Pete Henrisey, also of Manteno. Henrisey, the executor, was a longtime friend and caretaker of Flesher, a retired school guidance counselor who died in 2007 at age 83. St. Agatha, an early Christian martyr who today is revered among Catholics as the patron saint of nursing mothers, breast cancer survivors and victims of child abuse, served as Henrisey's inspiration. St. Agatha hailed from Sicily, near Mount Etna, and is often invoked for protection against national disasters such as volcano eruptions, fire and lightning. Henrisey has been devoted to the saint since he first learned about her as a young boy and "adopted her as a spiritual companion," he said. He decided to reward St. Agatha parishes directly as a way to fulfill Flesher's wishes, even though he admits he could have come up with much easier plans. "I didn't want to give money to dioceses and see it be turned around to pay off lawsuits," he said, alluding to the fact that several U. S. dioceses paid huge settlements in clergy sexual abuse cases. Henrisey would not disclose how much money he was charged with distributing nor how much in total has been paid. He's visited only three St. Agatha's— in Chicago, St. Louis and New Albany, Ill. — and he searched the Official Catholic Directory for others, including one on Abbott Road that has about 500 member families and has been around since 1921. Today, the South Buffalo parish will celebrate by blessing a new processional cross purchased with part of Flesher's gift. Henrisey attached a few strings to the gifts, which could not go to pay for any operating expenses of the churches. He wanted two-thirds of the money to go toward the purchase of something tangible for the church that had religious significance. The remaining third of the money, he said, should help feed the poor. The gift, while not huge, was a blessing at the Abbott Road parish. "The cross we had was in need of repair," said Monsignor David Lee, pastor. The new cross, made of bronze and wood, will henceforth "stand in the sanctuary at all times." The parish also purchased a new Advent wreath stand and made a donation to a local food pantry, Lee said. Henrisey said the processional cross was a "beautiful" use of the gift. In Philadelphia, St. Agatha- St. James Parish will likely use the Flesher gift toward etched glass in a confessional room, said the Rev. Steven J. Marinucci. Like Lee, Marinucci said he was caught off guard by the donation. "We right away tried to find out who it was," he said. "We were wondering if it was somebody we knew." One place that received a gift assumed it was a scam and shredded the check rather than trying to cash it, said Henrisey. Henrisey also made gifts in the name of Flesher and his wife, Nora, who died about five years ago, to several Catholic Charities organizations around the country. Flesher was a lifelong Catholic who went blind at age 35, but was adept at using computers, said Henrisey. One of the St. Agatha churches applied its Flesher donation to upgrade parish computer facilities, which Henrisey said was a very appropriate use of the gift. Contact: jtokasz@buffnews.com
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