As part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) 15th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Catholic Health is joining forces with local law enforcement to help get unused and unwanted drugs out of people's homes.

BUFFALO — The Intensive Care Unit at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo has earned the Beacon Award for Excellence presented by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The award recognizes the nation's highest performing hospital patient care units for excellence in professional practice, patient care and clinical outcomes.

Over 1.5 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year. While doctors treat their patients, a team of teens from Cardinal O'Hara High School is cooking for a cure. For the past five years Allyson Nemeth has organized a Cooking for Cancer Club, which prepares and sells baked goods and pasta sauce for Courage for Carly, an organization that raises money for pediatric cancer research and family support programs at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Trinity Pediatrics is not like any other doctor's office. Copies of Theology of the Body for children sit in the waiting room. Parents are given full information on vaccines. The doctor prays for her patients.

The Corporate Members and Sponsors Council of Catholic Health has appointed Mark A. Sullivan, FACHE, the new president & CEO of the Buffalo based health system. A veteran healthcare executive, Sullivan has been with Catholic Health since its inception, most recently serving as Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer since 2007.

"We value tremendously the service that you render to us," Bishop Richard J. Malone told a gathering of healthcare workers Saturday afternoon at the annual White Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral. "We pray that all of you in the healthcare professions will be guided by the hand of God and sustained by Christ's grace as you engage the art and science of healing body, mind and spirit."

Please join us on Saturday, Feb. 10, at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo for the annual Diocesan White Mass, with Anointing of the Sick, at 4:30 p.m. All doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals will receive a special blessing from our principal celebrant, Bishop Richard J. Malone.

Healthcare professionals will be recognized at the White Mass on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo. Bishop Richard J. Malone will be the principal celebrant and will offer a special blessing for those working in the healthcare field.

As the area leader in health care quality and patient safety, Catholic Health has once again earned the region's highest overall grades in the Leapfrog Group's biannual Hospital Safety Grade Report. Catholic Health also received two of only seven "A" grades that were presented to hospitals throughout New York state. A national leader in health care quality reporting, the Leapfrog Group grades hospitals from "A" to "F" on how well they protect patients from medical errors, infections and injuries.

WASHINGTON—On World AIDS Day, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Chair of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, along with Sean Callahan, President and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, urge full funding of U.S. and global HIV and AIDS programs in the FY 2019 budget request. Their position was outlined in a letter sent to the Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Last month, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Tonawanda held a training session for Catholics looking to incorporate exercise into their daily prayer. Colleen Scariano and Deanne Miller, the co-founders of SoulCore, held a training session intended to introduce others to teaching the experience they first began in Carmel, Ind.

Catholic Health has agreed to purchase the Immaculate Conception Convent at 5229 South Park Ave. in Hamburg from the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. The agreement provides for the continued residence of the congregation. The sale is expected to close on Dec. 28.

After completing an exhaustive search of properties in Amherst, Catholic Health has found a new location to expand much needed chemical dependency treatment services. The new site at 210 John Glenn Drive will enable the health system to move and expand the services it currently offers at 3730 Sheridan Drive to provide area residents suffering from drug and alcohol addiction with easy access to counseling services; medication assisted treatment, including methadone; and primary care services in one, convenient location.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - In the wake of an executive order issued by the Trump administration halting federal assistance for certain insurance plans, the U.S. bishops reaffirmed that helping to protect low-income persons and the vulnerable is of the utmost importance.

WASHINGTON, DC - (CNA/EWTN News).- The Trump administration announced broad new exemptions to the HHS contraceptive mandate on Friday, giving relief to religious non-profits and others with deeply held religious or moral convictions regarding contraception.

D'Youville College celebrated its first inauguration in 38 years at Kleinhans Music Hall on Sept. 29, marking a 'passing of the torch' from former president, Sister Denise Roche, GNSH, to Lorrie Clemo, Ph.D. Clemo has been serving in the role of D'Youville's president since last December, with plans to make the college a leader in developing health professional leaders. "That is our goal going forward," Clemo said.

In the throes of addiction, not one facet of the victim's life is left unaffected. Everything from familial and personal relationships to daily tasks are impacted. Knowing that, the Chemical Dependency Treatment Program of Catholic Charities' Monsignor Carr Institute seeks to treat the whole person - both physically and mentally. Catholic Charities Chemical Dependency Treatment Program, housed at 76 W. Humboldt Parkway in Buffalo, is a New York state OASAS licensed outpatient program that provides services to adolescents, adults and families where substance use/abuse is an ongoing concern.

After nearly 15 years at the helm of Catholic Health, Joe McDonald, the health system's longest tenured president & CEO, has announced plans to retire. While an exact timetable has not been set, McDonald plans to remain on to help transition his successor, which is expected during the first quarter of 2018. A committee, made up of representatives of Catholic Health's Corporate Members, Sponsors, Board of Directors and Medical Staff, is leading the search process for a new president & CEO.

The road to recovery from drug addiction is lined with many hurdles and pitfalls. For the past five years, St. Bonaventure Parish in Allegany has worked with a counseling recovery service to provide a safe passage to sobriety.

While many people do not like to think about end of life decisions, these topics are often not brought up or discussed until it is too late for them to plan ahead, leaving them unable to make informed choices. In response to this need, faith community nurses will host a four-part series on important documents people should prepare - advance directives, wills, power of attorney and funeral preplanning - on Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, held from 7-8:30 p.m. on each date at St. Leo the Great Parish in Amherst.

Following is a statement of Kathleen M. Gallagher, director of pro-life activities for the New York State Catholic Conference:

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) joined thirty-two other major pro-life, religious, and health care organizations on September 6 urging the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to pass the Conscience Protection Act of 2017 (H.R. 644/S. 301). Signatories include numerous medical groups representing tens of thousands of health care professionals who object to abortion and are seeking legal protection to serve their patients in good conscience.

Sisters of Charity Hospital, a Catholic Health facility, was recognized by two of the nation's leading independent quality rating organizations, Healthgrades and Leapfrog, in their recently released national quality reports.

Located on the campus of Sisters Hospital on Main Street in Buffalo, the St. Catherine Laboure Health Care Center offers a full range of services to assist residents and patients in need of long-term care and rehabilitation. To assist those who wish to live at home and maintain their independence, while still receiving needed services to remain healthy, the center's Adult Day Health Care Program offers a place for adults of all ages to socialize and receive care for several hours per day in a controlled environment.

Eudist Father Dr. Robert Perelli, CJM discusses his upcoming course on Family Systems Theory at D'Youville College beginning on September 19.

Denver, Colo., Aug 5, 2017 / 04:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- With awareness of mental health conditions on the rise, how is the Church called to respond to those who do not simply wish to end their lives, but push for the right to do so legally?

WASHINGTON—In response to last night's Senate vote on the "skinny repeal" bill, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, has issued the following statement:

WASHINGTON—In light of today's Senate Republican vote to address the healthcare law, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, is appealing to Senators on both sides to work together in the days ahead to advance changes that will serve the common good of all.

WASHINGTON—In light of uncertainty about how the Senate will proceed on health care in the coming days, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, called on the Senate to fix problems with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in a more narrow way, rather than repeal it without an adequate replacement.

LEWISTON — Thanks to the funds provided by a donation from Catherine DiMino of Niagara Falls, Mount St. Mary's Hospital has acquired the latest vein visualization technology to assist in the placement of IVs and blood draws. The newly acquired system was unveiled in May at a luncheon as part of the hospital's celebration of National Nurses Week.

WASHINGTON—Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, reacted strongly to the revised Senate health reform bill, the "Better Care Reconciliation Act" (BCRA).

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities in Williamsville have now entered Phase II of their property study and are pursuing a senior care provider owner/operator for the community living center and region house at 201 Reist St. for the 62 sisters currently in residence as well as for any additional future sisters currently residing in local mission houses in Western New York.

KENMORE — Kenmore Mercy Hospital announced that it has received national recognition for excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program. With this recognition, Kenmore Mercy joins a select magnet community, as only 454 hospitals worldwide have received the designation. Kenmore Mercy is also the only magnet-designated hospital in Western New York.

WASHINGTON, DC - As the U.S. Senate begins to discuss health care reform, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida and Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin provided moral principles to help guide policymakers in their deliberations.

Maybe it was one too many holiday dinner parties or those extra calorie-rich culinary treats that leave us feeling a bit more vulnerable to the weight-loss advertisements that bombard us this time of year. 'Tis the season, right? Or maybe, like me, you tend to struggle with body image in a world that's hyper-focused on our physical appearance. It makes no difference if you feel this on occasion or have felt this your entire life. I've gathered some meaningful Bible verses that speak to me about loving my body. Hopefully, they will help you too.

For the second year in a row, the Mercy Nursing Facility at the Our Lady of Victory Senior Neighborhood was named a Top Performing Nursing Home by the New York State Department of Health. This designation places the Catholic Health long-term care facility, which is affiliated with Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, in the top 5 percent of nursing homes in the state.

For more than 30 years, Regina O'Connor, 99, has served as a friendly face greeting patients and their families at the front desk of Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo. Since shortly after she retired from her job with U.S. Customs in 1983, O'Connor has volunteered weekly at the same time on Tuesdays, a comforting and familiar presence for the people who have known her for three decades at the hospital.

Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Buffalo will be in a better position to help students make healthier choices thanks to a $60,000 grant from Fidelis Care, a not for profit, faith based health insurance company. "They have been most generous," said Sister Carol Cimino, superintendent of Catholic Schools. "What we're trying to do with this particular grant is to change lifestyles and choices that children make."

WASHINGTON, DC - After the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628), Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, called on the Senate to strip out the harmful provisions of the bill when the chamber takes it up for consideration.

Members of Catholic Health, Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Buffalo Medical Group donned hardhats and shovels to break ground for a new radiation oncology center in Orchard Park on April 28. The 5,000-square-foot center, located at Buffalo Medical Group's Southtowns Campus on North Buffalo Road, will offer outpatient radiation therapy under the clinical oversight of Roswell Park radiation oncologists. A panel of cancer specialists including radiation oncologists, medical physicists and medical dosimetrists will work together to plan, review and deliver personalized treatment for each patient in accordance with both national oncology treatment guidelines and the latest medical evidence.