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.

For one local Catholic school alumna, a solid foundation early in her academic career led to a life passion for working toward resolving complex global issues.

EAST AURORA — The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo is hosting a free workshop, "Good News for Social Media: How Parishes and All Catholics Can Share Faith Online," at Christ the King Seminary on Tuesday, Feb. 27, from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

"Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). It is precisely this directive, from Christ at His ascension, that the third component of the newly-implemented "Forming Disciples" diocesan Lifelong Faith Formation curriculum seeks to illuminate.

EAST AURORA — Leading national and international speakers, and top creative minds working in theology and philosophy, will converge on Christ the King Seminary on the weekend of Feb. 23-24 for the 2018 Conference for Collaborative Philosophy, Theology and Ministry. The conference's keynote speakers represent institutions from three continents - the U.S., Europe and Australia.

On Saturday, Feb. 24, Catholic Women of Buffalo will present their third-annual conference. This year's conference, "The Heart of a Woman," will be held at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda, starting at 7:30 a.m., with registration and continental breakfast. It will also include three speakers.

As we started this year of Our Lord 2018, the Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies, our present officers and our executive board continued to make their personal commitments to the society. I personally thanked all these men and women for coming together to continue our wonderful movement. We are always in need of more good men and, in some parishes, women to fill the void of many men who are not Holy Name participants.

Since Bishop Richard J. Malone approved the diocese's newest faith formation curriculum, "Forming Disciples," for gradual implementation over the next few years, parishes have been making changes in religious education programs in terms of how parish communities learn together.

In honor of their 50th anniversary, alumni of St. Gerard School's class of 1968 are planning a special celebration in April, and have been trying to touch base with classmates in the area who would be interested in participating.

Today Bishop Richard J. Malone issued the following timely directives in response to the current influenza outbreak within New York State to all pastors, pastoral administrators, principals and presidents.

Northern Chautauqua Catholic School learned the word "amiga" in November, when two sisters who lost their home to Hurricane Maria were welcomed to the Dunkirk school. Amiga is the feminized Spanish word for friend.

For many, holidays are a time for joy and sharing with family. But for some, the colored lights and burning candles cast a shadow of depression. Many are saddened by the loss of family members or fear of dealing with the first Christmas since the death of a loved one.

The Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo will hold its 18th annual Catholic Education dinner, GALA 22:6, on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. The 2018 Bishop's Medal honorees will include the chair couples for the Upon This Rock capital campaign, the Montante family and Uniland Development Company.

In September, parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo began using the new faith formation curriculum, "Forming Disciples," designed to be introduced over the next few years. Of its four key components, the first is a focus on engaging parents in their faith, and in faith in the home. This family attention is intended to build up the Church within households to support a child's growth in the faith. Although the actual process is different in every parish, and it should be tailored to the unique needs of each one, the diocesan Department of Lifelong Faith Formation has implemented a plan to ensure they share a common goal.

As the Advent season draws to a close, St. John the Baptist Parish in Kenmore will welcome a special guest in the form of a multitalented musician, motivational speaker and world traveler. At 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 17, the parish will welcome Sujeet Desai, a local musician born with Down syndrome who, among other talents, is classically trained in seven instruments and has become a leading advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.

2 programs honoring the memory of Gary Tatu who founded Harvest House with wife, Linda.

DENVER, COLO. (CNA) - Sexual misconduct allegations against Republican candidate Roy Moore have brought Alabama's special election to fill a U.S. Senate seat into the national spotlight.

Bishop Richard J. Malone announced the diocesan Upon This Rock capital and endowment campaign has raised $107 million since February 2016, surpassing its goal of $100 million, thanks to the donations and efforts of 27,000 benefactors who gave gifts of varying sizes. The bishop made the announcement during a press conference Nov. 20.

In September, the Diocese of Buffalo began implementing a new faith formation curriculum, "Forming Disciples." To prepare parish leadership for this transition, diocesan staff from the Department of Lifelong Faith Formation have visited over 155 parishes to discuss it and answer questions. Parishes are being supported to develop their own implementation plans, likely to spread out over two to three years, rather than a few months.

A local family with a long history of service to their country and the Catholic Church had seven sons who served in wartime. On Sept. 1, the 78th anniversary of the start of World War II, the Allaire family received medals for Joseph Allaire Sr.'s Navy service aboard the USS Missouri, which officials of the Town of Tonawanda presented to the family in a formal ceremony in front of the Town of Tonawanda Veterans Memorial at Kenney Field in the town.

DETROIT, MICH. (CNA/EWTN News) - Venerable Solanus Casey, an American-born Capuchin priest who died in 1957, will be beatified at a Nov. 18 Mass in Detroit.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (CNA/EWTN News) - After at least 26 people were killed when a gunman opened fire at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday, the local Catholic archbishop offered prayers and solidarity for the victims.

EAST AURORA — A lecture on "Remembering the Holocaust: Continuing Ethical and Spiritual Challenges" will be held on Friday, Oct. 27, in the Main Dining Room of Christ the King Seminary, 711 Knox Road.

It was just like being back in school for Bishop McMahon High School's class of 1957, who gathered at Classics V restaurant in Amherst for their 60th anniversary reunion. The only difference was they could talk as loud as they wanted, and chew gum and wear makeup.

The Diocesan Care for Creation Committee will hold a gathering of parish leaders to discuss best practices for educating the community about protecting the environment. Everyone is welcome to the meeting at Villa Maria Convent in Cheektowaga, Monday, Oct. 23.

Recently, 4-and-a-half-year-old Giani Rizzo, of Williamsville, came scampering into the brightly-decorated classroom of the Mercy Speech Center to be greeted by Sister Maralynn Sciarrino, RSM, with a smile, hug and welcoming words.

It has been 50 years since a group of students at Pittsburgh's Duquesne University experienced the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was the first known case of a group of people receiving gifts at the same time. That experience spread to other college campuses, spawning the Charismatic Renewal movement in the United States. To mark the golden jubilee, Pope Francis called for a conference in Rome.

FATIMA, PORTUGAL (CNA/EWTN News) - On "the day the sun danced," thousands of people bore witness to a miracle that not only proved the validity of the Fatima Marian apparitions, but also shattered the prevalent belief at the time that God was no longer relevant, according to one theologian.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Fatima appearance, several local parishes will host special celebrations throughout the year beginning this month.

Christ the King Seminary will host its annual Curé of Ars awards dinner on Thursday, Oct. 5, at The Atrium @ Rich's in Buffalo. This year's event will honor Msgr. Leo F. McCarthy and Father Mark J. Wolski.

In a Mass that was celebrated in both Spanish and English, Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, confirmed 15 young people Monday evening at Holy Family Parish in Albion. All 15 are of Mexican descent and their parents are part of the migrant farming community in Orleans and Niagara Counties.

Back to school, "Give Back," and Masses, Masses, Masses. Look at some of our favorite memories of September 2017 in our new photo gallery.

What is it like to have peace within? What is it like to know God loves you regardless of your faults? What is it like to love God, to know Him more and want to do His will?

In October, the Diocesan Revival will be sponsored by the Office of Cultural Diversity's Diocesan African-American Commission. The theme of the Revival this year is "Shut Up and Just Listen, Jesus Has Something to Say."

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.

In October, the diocesan Holy Name Society, part of one of the oldest confraternities in the Catholic Church, will be holding its annual awards banquet to honor clergy, religious and laypeople in the community who have gone above and beyond in service and dedication to the Church, society and the diocesan community as a whole. It will take place Sunday, Oct. 15, at Kiebzak's Restaurant and Beginnings Banquet, 38 Crocker St. in Sloan, with refreshments beginning at 5 p.m. and family style dinner at 6 p.m.

Six Sisters of Mercy are celebrating their jubilees this year during a Mass on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. at the Mercy Center Chapel, 625 Abbott Road, Buffalo. The Rev. William Bigelow will celebrate and music will be provided by the Sisters of Mercy and Mercy Associate Choir.

The Sisters of Mercy Many Faces of Mercy Giving Circle celebrated its 15th anniversary of awarding grants to non-profit agencies that serve women and young girls by distributing 10 grants totaling $17,100 during a ceremony at Mercy Center, Buffalo, on Sept. 14.

Bishop John Timon, the first bishop of Buffalo, will be the topic of a conference commemorating his legacy on the 150th anniversary of his death. Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora will host the conference on Friday, Sept. 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the seminary's main dining room. Bishop Richard J. Malone will open the afternoon with welcome and prayer.

WASHINGTON—Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty has issued the following statement in response to the line of questioning directed at a federal judicial nominee earlier this week.