Temple Sinai to hold service of healing for Buffalo Police Officer Parete

Temple Sinai in Amherst will hold an interfaith service of healing and hope for Buffalo Police Officer Patricia Parete, at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29 at 50 Alberta Drive in Amherst, near the corner of Longmeadow.

The service is being organized by synagogue member Susan Frawley, a close friend of Parete's.

Parete and her police partner, Officer Carl Andolina, were shot in the line of duty on Dec. 5 in downtown Buffalo. Parete was seriously wounded and remains hospitalized at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, N.J.

Rabbi Jerry Seidler, a former military police first lieutenant, said, "We are honored to host this spiritual event two days before the convention center fundraiser. When a city police officer is hurt, it also affects us in the suburbs, because they put their lives on the line to protect us, too."

Rabbi Seidler was referring to the benefit for Parete set for 7 p.m. Saturday, March 31 at the Buffalo Convention Center.

The service at Temple Sinai is scheduled to include prayer, meditation and musical offerings by Buffalo Police Chaplain Rev. David Selzer of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Rev. Rich George of the Chapel at Cross Point, Rev. Joel Miller of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, Rabbi Seidler and members of the community, including police officers.

The service is free and open to the public. Voluntary contributions to the Patricia A. Parete Fund will be collected.