Dr. Dennis Castillo gives a a presentation Friday at the Bishop John Timon Conference at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora.

A hundred people gathered at Christ the King Seminary, in East Aurora, Friday to hear more about Buffalo's first bishop. Bishop John Timon established the Diocese of Buffalo in 1847 and over the next 20 years laid a groundwork for many of the hospitals, schools and missions which still serve the diocese to this day. To commemorate his legacy on the 150th anniversary of his death, Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora hosted a four-hour conference in the seminary's main dining room. 

Bishop Richard J. Malone opened the afternoon with a welcome and prayer. Dr. Paul Lubienecki, a professor at the seminary, led a talk on Bishop Timon's life before coming to Buffalo. Dr. Dennis Castillo, also a CKS professor, gave an overview of Bishop Timon's work in the diocese. Representatives from Sisters of Charity Hospital, St. Mary's School for the Deaf, Niagara University and Nardin Academy touched upon the institutions which began under Bishop Timon's tenure. Msgr. Paul J.E. Burkard, pastor of Our Lady of Victory Basilica and Shrine, and president of Baker Victory Services, closed the day by speaking of the care for orphans from the time of Bishop Timon to Venerable Nelson H. Baker.

A memorial Mass with Bishop Malone will take place Sunday, Sept. 24, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo in recognition of Bishop Timon's legacy.

Below are a series of articles printed in the Western New York Catholic over the course of this year detailing the impact that Bishop Timon's legacy still has on the Diocese of Buffalo: