Today's announcement by the Holy Father that he has named Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York and Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto to the College of Cardinals has brought great joy to me and to the faithful of the Diocese of Buffalo.

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has announced that His Excellency the Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, will be elevated to the dignity of Cardinal in a Consistory to be held on February 18, 2012.

In December of 1961, Elvis Presley's "Blue Hawaii" was number one on the album charts, President John F. Kennedy approved of the deployment of U.S. military crews and helicopters to Vietnam and young Edward U. Kmiec of Trenton, N.J. was preparing for his ordination to the priesthood.

On the date of his ordination to the priesthood, Dec. 21, 1935, Bernard J. McLaughlin was about to embark on a journey of faithful service that has continued for more than three quarters of a century. From student in Rome to his ordination in the Eternal City, from assistant pastor at St. Joseph New Cathedral to the founding pastor of Coronation Parish, from his appointment as auxiliary bishop of Buffalo to his episcopal ordination at the hands of Pope Paul VI, Bishop McLaughlin's service to the Church has been hallmarked by grace and a special devotion to our Blessed Mother.