EAST AURORA - The 16th annual Rev. Merrick Bednar Memorial Golf Tournament to support Christ the King Seminary is moving from May to June and is also switching to a new venue. The 2019 event will be held on Monday, June 17, at Brookfield Country Club in Clarence.
Last year's tournament netted $58,000 and organizers report this year's goal is to raise close to $61,500. Proceeds from the tournament help educate men and women studying at the seminary in East Aurora to become priests, deacons and lay ministers. 

There are several ways supporters can participate in this tournament, including becoming an event sponsor or taking part in many golfing opportunities. Golf sponsorship packages range from $200 to $5,000.
Father Bednar, an Olean native and an avid golfer and athlete, graduated from Christ the King Seminary and was ordained on May 12, 1990. He overcame numerous health issues including heart transplant surgery, post-transplant lymphoma, and a pre-leukemia condition requiring a bone marrow transplant before his untimely death at the age of 33 on May 12, 1997, while waiting for a suitable match for a second heart transplant. Most remarkably, Father Bednar died on the seventh anniversary of his ordination.

Registration will take place at 10:30 a.m. lunch will begin at 11 a.m. A noon shotgun start will kick off the tournament. Cocktails and dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m.

This year's tournament chair is Keith Waldron, president and owner of Schwabel Fabricating Company. Personal Touch Food Service is this year's tournament sponsor.

Christ the King Seminary is a graduate school of theology and pastoral ministry. Its main mission is to educate sponsored candidates for ordained priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church. The seminary also serves in the formation of permanent deacons and lay ecclesial ministers and provides the theological education necessary for students to help carry on the mission of the Church. Christ the King Seminary is located at 711 Knox Road, East Aurora.

For more information contact Laura DeMizio, special events coordinator of The Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, at 716-847-8373, ldemizio@buffalodiocese.org or visit www.bednargolf.com.