Thomas Awiapo from Ghana tells his story of being helped by Catholic Relief Services in his youth which led to working on their behalf today.

Some people take home their parish bulletins and hang them up on their refrigerator. Now St. Mary of the Angels Church in Olean is making an even stronger connection to its parishioners by putting new updates right in their pockets.

The latest presentation in a faith enrichment series at Our Lady of Pompeii in Lancaster ponders what happens after the Year of Mercy.

As a decorated World War II veteran, retired New York State Supreme Court Judge James B. Kane Jr. transitioned from the Army Air Forces to the bench after completing his tour of duty. Last month, the nonagenarian discussed his military service and being shot down over Europe, accomplishments as a judge and his wife, Marie, who passed away earlier this year, as well as his Catholic faith.

Ted Drews remembers his war stories all too vividly. The former Marine saw things during World War II that have haunted him for 70 years. Now 90 years old, the Tonawanda resident still recalls burying his dead buddies on the sands of Iwo Jima.

An audio pilgrimage to parishes where St. John Neumann ministered in our diocese.

Every Friday at 2 p.m., Father Ivan Trujillo, pastor of Resurrection Parish in Batavia, conducts a special Mass for veterans and their family members living at the nearby New York State Veterans Home, located on Richmond Avenue. For 21 years, this Mass has been a tradition at the facility, home to 126 residents, including veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and their family members.

On October 28-30, the African Commission of the Diocesan of Buffalo will sponsor a retreat and thanksgiving bazaar at Holy Cross Church, 345 7th St., Buffalo. The retreat will be held Friday, Oct. 28, and Saturday, Oct. 29, from 6-9 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 30, following a 10 a.m. Mass with Bishop Richard J. Malone, there will be bazaar until 3 p.m. All are invited to attend.

TONAWANDA ­— ­­Not every birthday is celebrated with cake and singing, "Happy Birthday to You." At Cardinal O'Hara High School, the Booster Club, starting its 44th year, celebrates every time someone calls out, "Bingo!"

A discussion of Faithful Citizenship and public policy ahead of the upcoming election.

On Oct. 15, Bishop Richard J. Malone presided over the second-ever Blue Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, which recognized the work of police officers, firefighters and other first responders who live and work in the Diocese of Buffalo. Although the concept of Blue Mass dates back to 1934, it is a new addition in this diocese, and since 2015, Bishop Malone has been committed to making this an annual tradition here.

At this important time in our nation's history, I encourage all of us to take a moment to reflect on one of the founding principles of our republic - the freedom of religion. It ensures the right of faith communities to preserve the integrity of their beliefs and proper self-governance. There have been recent reports that some may have sought to interfere in the internal life of the Church for short-term political gain. If true, this is troubling both for the well-being of faith communities and the good of our country.

In order to prepare catechetical leaders to make the best use of this material to teach and instruct Catholics for life, the diocesan Office of Lifelong Faith Formation announced last month that it will be offering some opportunities to learn more about the updated curriculum and ask any questions they may have.

While her friends are saying "hello" to fall, Mara Wicket will say "hello" to a new life. On Oct. 17, the Steubenville grad will fly to Ecuador to begin a year of missionary service with Heart's Home.

CHEEKTOWAGA — The Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary of Buffalo will host their second bazaar from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15, at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish, inside the school. This year, all proceeds will raise money for the daily operational costs and various necessary maintenance projects at the monastery.

The WNY Catholic is sponsoring a pilgrimage to Fatima and Lourdes with Msgr. David Slubecky, Vicar General of the Diocese. He and Director of Communications, George Richert, also discuss an information night at St. Joseph Cathedral on October 19 at 7PM.

As it celebrates 91 years of existence, Boy Scout Troop 107 of St. John Kanty Parish in Buffalo is looking for a few good young men interested in the Boy Scout experience. Recruitment will take place Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., in the parish's Convent Center, and will be combined with a gym night. Boys 11 years or older, or if they have completed the fifth grade, are welcome to join.

The diocesan Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministry will host a hiking retreat for young adults on Saturday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 9 at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora. The retreat will include peer witness talks, Mass, spiritual direction, small group discussions, board games, a bonfire and hiking opportunities.

BOSTON, MASS. (CNA) - In an online video, actor Mark Wahlberg said that he will be praying for vocations to the priesthood, which he deeply values because of the role that priests have played in his own life.

Christ the King Seminary will host its annual Curé of Ars Awards dinner on Thursday, Oct. 6, at The Atrium @ Rich's in Buffalo. This year's event will honor Father Peter J. Drilling, Father Gregory M. Faulhaber and Kathleen Heffern as award recipients.

In modern times, St. Peregrine, who lived in Italy during the 13th and 14th centuries, has become known as the patron saint of people suffering from cancer. In the Diocese of Buffalo, the Friends of St. Peregrine continue to celebrate healing Masses, as they have since 1992, to administer the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick to people who are fighting cancer. More recently, its actions led to a new Friends of St. Peregrine chapter in Ireland, courtesy of an Irishman who was inspired by his visit to Western New York.

Father Peter Calabrese, CRSP from the Fatima Shrine in Lewiston leads off the month of October, dedicated to the Holy Rosary.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (CNA/EWTN News) - One day after they were kidnapped from their parish, Mexican priests Alejo Nabor Jiménez Juárez and José Alfredo Suárez de la Cruz were found murdered in a field.

Each year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops designates the third Sunday in September as Catechetical Sunday, an opportunity for catechists at the diocesan and parish levels throughout the United States to focus on lifelong faith formation. Since the theme for this year's event is, "Prayer: The Faith Prayed," parishes will focus on devoting themselves to prayer and the understanding of the practice.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the annual Red Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 12:05 p.m. Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo, United States district judge, will give remarks at the close of the Mass on behalf of the judiciary.

Two USCCB committee chairmen have issued a joint statement reaffirming the Catholic Church's teaching on marriage "as exclusively the permanent, faithful, and fruitful union of one man and one woman [and] cannot change."

The diocesan Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministry held its first-ever "Give Back," a large-scale outreach effort for young people to engage in community service in the name of the Catholic Church. The event, which took place Sept. 10 and allowed dozens of volunteers to help out at a total of 11 service sites, was a success.

Msgr. David Gallivan's life as a priest plays like a sequel to "Forrest Gump." In the past 50 years, the longtime director of the Hispanic Apostolate has had some unique, if not historical, experiences. From working with the poor in Buffalo to walking among cardinals in Washington, he has traveled through war zones, patched roofs and read secret files. Then there was the time he had to act as translator for a Cuban dictator.

After living mostly away from his family, a refugee originally from what is now South Sudan was able to reunite with his wife and three of their four children at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, with most of them never before having set foot on American soil. On July 27, Fidele Diing Dhan, who has been working with Reaching Out 2 Africa with Father Ronald Sajdak and Joan Ersing, met his wife, Abang Garang Kuol, and their children Abuk, Lok and Gau at the airport. Dhan, born in what is now South Sudan, has lived here since 2001.

The annual Men's Retreat sponsored by the Holy Name Society had a change in venue this year. Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora hosted 35 guests who learned about "The Blessed Mother and Her Apparitions" through talks and sharing.

Western New York Lawyers for Life will hold its 20th annual Pregnancy Care Center benefit banquet on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Creekside Banquet Facility, 2669 Union Road, Cheektowaga, starting with a social hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7. Guest speaker Ann McElhinney is a prominent Catholic investigative filmmaker who has recently produced a movie about Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortionist who was imprisoned for life for the murder of several born-alive infants, and manslaughter of a woman patient. McElhinney will show clips from her forthcoming film, "Gosnell."

Bishop Richard J. Malone celebrated an outdoor Mass for the volunteers of Buffalo's Little Portion Friary on Saturday, Aug. 13. Over three dozen of the homeless shelter's volunteer staff attended the annual Mass and picnic with the bishop.

Continuing our series on the Works of Mercy in our diocese, this week we visit the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The diocesan Care for Creation Committee and Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish will team up with NYSERDA to save the planet and help people save some money. The Blasdell parish will host an energy workshop on Thursday, Sept. 1.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - It's been said that saints often come in pairs.

Spain, Portugal and France are all on the itinerary next March, when Msgr. David Slubecky, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Buffalo, will lead a group of local Catholics on a pilgrimage which will include the sight of a candlelight procession outside the Little Chapel of Apparitions in Fatima, Portugal. The trip falls within weeks of the 100th anniversary of when the Mother of God appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima.

Once again we reflect upon our concerns for the Catholic Church in Poland. Through the 73-year history of the Catholic League Organization much has been accomplished in charity, which cannot be evaluated in dollars alone or weighed by any material instrument.

From San Bernardino to France to Dallas and back to France; violence has erupted in all corners of the world. In Amherst, a group of church leaders sought to deliver a message of peace

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (CNA/EWTN News) - Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky are two of the names to know in this year's summer Olympic games in Rio.

It's that time of year again: time for the Bagley Open. All are welcome to participate in the 10th anniversary celebration of the Bagley Open and Charity Dinner, held Thursday, Aug. 11 at Deerwood Golf Course in North Tonawanda. The cost of the nine-hole event is $75, which includes golf, a steak dinner at Classics V Banquet Hall, and some great golf goodies. If you can't make it for golf, dinner is available at Classics V, for $45.