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Under the shadow of intense criticism of diocesan leadership, a Catholic congregation from all over Western New York came together at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna to witness the celebration of the ordination of 15 men to the order of the diaconate on Saturday, Sept. 15.

If all goes well, by the time you read this, Danielle Arthur will be adding Esq. to her business cards. The Williamsville native earned top honors in school from kindergarten all the way up to her recent graduation from Columbia Law School. She credits her success to a foundation in Catholic education.

The Diocese of Buffalo is pleased to announce that it has hired Kathy Baranski Spangler as its director of Communications.

After receiving an abuse complaint against Father John J. Sardina, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Sardina on administrative leave as an investigation continues. This administrative leave is for the purpose of investigation and does not imply any determination as to the truth or falsity of the complaint.

We've all seen those commercials about who to call when you slip and fall. But who do you call months later when you find yourself still taking opiates for the pain, and can't stop? Your local parish should be able to answer that question.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - As three airliners smashed into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, and Flight 93 crashed into a Pennsylvania field on September 11, 2001, Joaquín Navarro-Valls, at the time the director of the Vatican press office, delivered the news to Pope John Paul II.

Bishop Richard J. Malone delivered the following message to the faithful in the Diocese of Buffalo. His letter was read at Masses throughout the diocese on the weekend of September 8 and 9, 2018:

Catholics and Lutherans gathered together at Christ the King Seminary on Aug. 15, to continue a dialogue that has shown promise in mending the 500-year rift that has kept the two faiths focusing on their differences, rather than focusing on what they have in common.

On the first day of classes at SS Peter and Paul School in Williamsville, kindergartners and first graders in the first row squealed and smiled as they were hit with holy water. They were gathered in the new 'Mind Cave' which was blessed by Bishop Richard J. Malone Wednesday afternoon.

(Olean) — Local Roman Catholics heading to Mass after Labor Day weekend will need to re-think their normal routine. That's because a new Mass schedule goes into effect for three area Roman Catholic parishes—Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, St. John the Evangelist Church, and St. Philomena Church in Franklinville.

WASHINGTON—In his 2018 Labor Day statement, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, calls for all persons to work together for just wages, which are necessary for families to flourish. A just wage is one that "not only provides for workers' financial well-being, but fosters their social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions as individuals and members of society."

He didn't wear a fedora or carry a bullwhip, but Msgr. Paul J.E. Burkard did lead an adventurous expedition into a historical land as Our Lady of Victory took its annual pilgrimage. This year 22 pilgrims traveled to the Holy Land, visiting Israel, Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

St. Casimir Church, the home of the world's first shrine to the Domestic Church, will offer classes on easy family faith celebrations for the home. The 10-week series offers traditional, user-friendly ways to invite Jesus into the family household.

When friends gathered together to reminisce about the old days, who knew that it would blossom into a full blown class reunion for the Christ the King School class of 1968. Through social media and friends reaching out to other friends, most of the class was able to reconnect. They came from California, Texas, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont and from all parts of New York state.

George Richert has decided to step down as diocesan Director of Communications, effective Friday, Sept. 7.

In the coming months the Lifelong Faith Formation Department is updating the catechist formation requirements in order to create a solid, robust formation process for adult catechists.

The word Discipleship does not appear in the Bible, yet it is often used to mean a follower of Christ. Nearly two-dozen high school teens began their journey on the road to discipleship during a weeklong program of education and self-discovery.

After receiving a new abuse complaint against Father Robert Yetter, Bishop Richard J. Malone has asked for and received the resignation of Father Yetter as pastor of St Mary's of Swormville. Father Yetter has also been placed on administrative leave as an investigation continues. Please note that this administrative leave is for the purpose of investigation and does not imply any determination as to the truth or falsity of the complaint.

On Sunday afternoon Bishop Richard J. Malone outlined new actions to handle cases of clerical sexual abuse against both children and adults.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo has begun the process to phase out current foster care and adoption services under a contract with the Erie County Department of Social Services (DSS). The contract is set to expire in March 2019.

Grammy-nominated musician David Haas will lead a workshop/retreat at Sacred Heart Parish in Lakewood, followed by a concert. With him will be Lori True, associate director of Music Ministry Alive, a national liturgical music formation program.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has named Father Mark J. Noonan pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Orchard Park for a term of six years, effective Sept. 1. Father Noonan had been serving since May as vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Buffalo after leaving St. Mary Parish in Holley and St. Mark Parish in Kendall where he had been pastor since 2010. Since his ordination in 2007, he has also served as parochial vicar at St. Amelia, Tonawanda, and Nativity of Our Lord, Orchard Park.

An incident of vandalism against a Catholic Church statue of Mary received a happy ending, as the St. John Kanty Parish community in Buffalo raised more than $1,000 to buy a replacement statue over the summer. Bishop Richard J. Malone blessed the new statue during a parish visit Aug. 14.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis called Monday for every member of the Catholic Church to pray and fast in penance for the evil of clerical sex abuse, and to be involved in needed change within the Church.

This past year has seen much change for St. John the Baptist Alden; a new principal, teachers and a pastoral administrator. All of these changes have positively affected their school, but the most fun transformation was the addition of STREAM Academies.

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities today announced that they have signed a purchase and sale agreement (PSA) for the property known as St. Mary of the Angels in Williamsville to The Tzetzo Companies LLC of Buffalo. In addition to owning the property, Tzetzo will operate the region house as a New York State-licensed senior assisted living facility. The purchase price was not disclosed and final closing on the sale is not expected until sometime in November.

"As a body of bishops, we are shamed by and sorry for the sins and omissions by Catholic priests and Catholic Bishops," Says President of U.S. Bishops' Conference in Joint Statement with Committee Chairman for the Protection of Children and Young People

For the first time ever, Buffalo will play host to Catholic Charities USA's Annual Gathering. Catholic Charities of Buffalo was the catalyst for bringing the Sept. 12-14 conference to the Nickel City and has been involved in the planning as well.

Students in the Kenmore area should get used to the name Principal Spillman. St. Joseph Collegiate Institute has hired James Spillman as its new principal. At the same time, Mount St. Mary Academy welcomed his wife, Katherine, as its new head of school. The Spillmans are natives of Western New York. Katherine hails from Rochester and James from Tonawanda.

Clarence has been home to Joan Baez, Joyce Carol Oates and Bishop John Neumann. Now it is home to the Bowen sisters, who form a close sorority in the Brothers of Mercy's Senior Apartments. The five sisters, who come from a family of 15 children born in Mount Jewett, Pa., gather every Tuesday to play cards, which usually turns into an afternoon of laughs.

"The diversity of topics and ability to reach a broad audience and offer something for practically everyone are what makes this newspaper stand out." This is what the judges for the Catholic Press Association had to say about the Diocese of Buffalo's own Western New York Catholic. The paper won first place in the category of Newspaper of the Year for non-weekly diocesan newspaper with a circulation of 25,001 or more.

WILLIAMSVILLE — The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities will host their third annual "Burgers, Brews and Blues" summer fundraiser on Tuesday, Aug. 14 at St. Mary of the Angels, 201 Reist St., in Williamsville. Event proceeds will benefit the sisters' important ministries throughout Western New York and beyond.

Food service ambassador Gloria Peay is delivering a special patient experience as she serenades the individuals she meets during her job at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. Her story has gone viral on social media after a video of her singing was posted by a patient on Aug. 1.

Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity board of directors proudly announces the appointment of David J. Kersten as chief executive officer. Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity is the fundraising and support services arm of Our Lady of Victory Organizations/Father Baker's.

As I write this column, I'm just home from some restful days back in Massachusetts, where I lived for 58 of my 72 years until I was called to Maine and then Western New York. It is always a grace to reconnect with cherished people and places, and to enjoy for a few days the beautiful and calming sight, sound and smells of the Atlantic Ocean.

Emily Kwiatkowski returned to CLI 12 years after first learning the skills of a Christian leader. Now, a leader in her own right, she wants the young people of her parish to experience the learning, the challenge and the friendship she did.

Have you ever had an encounter with Jesus outside a 5 and dime store? A crew from St. Vincent Parish in Springbrook hopes you will.

The National Pilgrim Virgin Statue will come to more than a dozen parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo from Aug. 8-27. The statue is one of 25 blessed by Pope Paul VI for the 50th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions in 1967.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - The Vatican changed on Thursday the Catechism of the Catholic Church's teaching on the permissibility of the death penalty, which the Church has taught is legitimate in limited cases, stating the penalty is 'inadmissible,' and its elimination should be sought.

After receiving an abuse complaint against Msgr. John M. Ryan, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Msgr. Ryan on administrative leave as an investigation continues. Msgr. Ryan retired in 2001 from St. Benedict's Parish. Please note that this administrative leave is for the purpose of investigation and does not imply any determination as to the truth or falsity of the complaint.