Amid a marching band, confetti, balloons and a massive ribbon, Church officials, celebrities as well as local dignitaries opened the Church of Scientology of Buffalo November 16, 2003, with Mayor Anthony Masiello proclaiming “Church of Scientology of Buffalo Day.”

The Church purchased the new building, the former Buffalo Catholic Institute at Virginia and Main streets, in December 2002. After 50,000 volunteer hours from parishioners from Buffalo and other states and countries it was opened in grand style. One guest at the opening described it as “truly a showplace of the practical, spiritual methods you have to offer.”

The ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, David Miscavige, addressed the assembly, noting that the true significance is not the “monument” but its key duty: “to bring the help this world so desperately needs.”

Also, attending the ceremony were 1,400 well-wishers, including City Council members who praised the Church’s social betterment programs, preservationists pleased that the Church had breathed life into not just the building but also the neighborhood, and celebrities Billy Sheehan, renowned rock bassist and Buffalo native, and TV and film actress Jenna Elfman.
The Scientology religion was founded by American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard.
The first Church of Scientology was established in Los Angeles in 1954. The international religion has since grown from that one church to more than 3,000 churches, missions and groups in 154 countries.

Mr. Hubbard’s research into the mind as laid out in his 1950 bestseller Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, led to development of the Scientology religion, a precise path for individuals to explore and know their own spiritual nature and to improve conditions in their lives.

The Church provides auditing and training, the two core religious practices in Scientology. Auditing (from “audire,” to listen) is one-on-one religious counseling. Training is the study of the tenets of the religion.