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Bishop Richard J. Malone has announced several clergy assignments including naming a new rector for St. Joseph Cathedral.

Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News)- In his message for the first World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis said that the suffering and broken bodies of the poor are where we encounter the body of Christ - and to know Christ we must know the poor.

As a conclusion to the large-scale renovations that took place at St. Mark Parish in North Buffalo over the winter, the parish will welcome the nearing of summer with a formal dedication to the updated church's interior.

It's time again for the annual Catholic Communication Campaign, the campaign that connects people with Christ. Each year, on the second weekend of June - June 10 and 11 this year - parishes throughout the diocese participate in this second collection which helps the men and women in the Office of Communications bring the Good News to you.

In its role in serving the Catholic Church in Buffalo, Daybreak TV Productions, part of the Office of Communications' job is to ensure it distributes not just entertainment, but accurate information about the Catholic faith to audiences. Since videographers, producers and others in the field of communications are laypeople and usually not as well versed in theology as clergy and men and women religious, this has led to collaboration between Daybreak staff and other departments in the Catholic Center.

In the diocesan Office of Communications, a variety of individuals with talents in the fields of writing, editing, copyediting and videography work together to produce Catholic media for Western New York and the rest of the United States. For Daybreak TV Productions, part of the office, one individual who makes things happen every day as a jack-of-all-trades is Ann Przybylski, whose official title is that of administrative assistant and bookkeeper, but her actual job behind the TV scenes consists of much more than this.

If you have ever turned on the television to see one of Buffalo's priests celebrating Mass, you can thank the crew of Daybreak TV Productions. The video-producing arm of the Diocese of Buffalo records over 300 liturgical celebrations every year at the Our Lady Chapel of St. Joseph Cathedral, just a couple of miles from their downtown Buffalo studios.

It's always nice to get to know the people you work with, especially when you are all working toward a common goal: spreading the news and ministry of the Catholic Church. Some people may call this evangelization. Me, personally, I like to call it "talking about my job."

I am writing this column on May 20, the 45th anniversary of my ordination as a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston. Never did I imagine then that today, 45 years later, I would be bishop of Buffalo, preparing to ordain four fine young men as priests for our diocese of Western New York. Over and over again I have learned that when we pray "Come, Holy Spirit," we had best be prepared for surprises!

There are two sides to Father Jeffrey Nowak. Not quite Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, more like Father Jeff and Captain Facebook. Both have the same purpose - to deliver the word of God. That is why the diocesan Office of Communications has named him honorary chairperson of the Catholic Communication Campaign.

Bishop Richard J. Malone and Catholic Charities of Buffalo officials are asking for help as the organization struggles to reach this year's $11 million goal with the 2017 Appeal entering its final month.

Bishop Richard J. Malone said he never sees as many smiles as he does during an Ordination Mass. You can see why in our new photo gallery covering the ordination of four new priests.

Bishop Richard J. Malone welcomed a crowd of nearly one thousand at St. Joseph Cathedral Saturday morning by noting that he rarely sees so many smiles in church as on the day of an ordination. On this day, he placed his hands upon the heads for men as he said the ordination prayer making them priests of Jesus Christ forever.

Cole Webster left a career in hotel hospitality to become a concierge for the Lord. The Buffalo native will be ordained to the priesthood June 3.

WASHINGTON, DC - According to White House officials, President Donald J. Trump is reviewing the United States' commitment to the Paris agreement on climate change. The president tweeted that he will make an official statement on the agreement in a few days.

WASHINGTON, DC - According to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate's (CARA) annual survey, 82 percent of the 2017 class of men ordained to the priesthood were encouraged by about four people in their lives including parish priests, friends or other parishioners. The report also says that ordinands were, on average, 16 years old when they first considered a vocation to the priesthood, and religious ordinands reported they knew the members of their religious institute an average of six years before entering.

CNA/EWTN News — It was August in Rome, the dog days of summer, and most people had left the Eternal City for the beach or another summer holiday destination.

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.

Six diocesan Catholic Cemeteries will celebrate Memorial Day Masses throughout the holiday weekend on May 27 and 29.

It seems evident that Catholic schools are a viable, hopeful alternative to other kinds of schools in our community. But, over the years, it has become increasingly important to point out a significant fact about them. Catholic schools enroll a diverse population of rich, poor, black, white, Catholic, non-Catholic, smart and not-so-smart students.

On June 3, a native of Nigeria will be ordained alongside three other men at St. Joseph Cathedral, when the Diocese of Buffalo will welcome its newest priests to its fold. Currently serving as a transitional deacon, Robert Agbo, who came to the United States and settled in Buffalo in 2013, said he is looking forward to being able to serve God's people in this diocese and celebrate Mass with them in his ministry.

Camp Turner, located in Allegany State Park, is a summer resident camp operated by the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. The camp serves boys and girls ages 7 to 16. The camp strives to foster an emotionally safe culture in which everyone feels welcomed and accepted.

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.

He's the superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools, but Dr. Kriner Cash spent some time touring Catholic Academy of West Buffalo on Tuesday, May 23. It was an idea inspired months ago during a conversation between Dr. Cash and Bishop Richard J. Malone.

In the shadow of the majestic Our Lady of Victory Basilica resides St. Anthony Church in Lackawanna, a small parish that has ministered to a diverse neighborhood for generations. St. Anthony Parish celebrated their 100th anniversary with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Richard J. Malone on May 21.

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."

This summer, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will be convening an unprecedented gathering of diverse leaders from dioceses and Catholic organizations from across the country to assess the challenges and opportunities of our time, particularly in the context of the Church in the United States. An ongoing initiative of the Bishops' Working Group on the Life and Dignity of the Human Person, the Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in America, will assemble Catholic leaders in Orlando, Florida for a strategic conversation, under the leadership of the bishops, on forming missionary disciples to animate the Church and to engage the culture.

The priesthood is not only in the heart of Father Mark Wolski, it's also in his bloodline. He and his cousin, Father Daniel Fiebelkorn, will celebrate 125 combined years of the clerical vocation for the Wolski family this year.

On Fridays at Immaculate Conception School in East Aurora, teachers, faculty members and volunteers engage students in interactive learning and fun via its STREAM Academies. This includes a variety of age-appropriate and inventive activities that promote learning skills needed to excel in science, technology, religion, engineering, art and math in the Catholic elementary school.

Deacon Luke Uebler, just a month before being ordained a priest to the Diocese of Buffalo, introduced himself as a "Renaissance Man." Articulate and intelligent, the 26-year-old seems to have the credentials of a person who spans genres of interest.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, will ordain Rev. Mr. Robert Ikpe Agbo, Rev. Mr. Martin F. Gallagher, Rev. Mr. Luke P. Uebler and Rev. Mr. Cole T. Webster to the priesthood at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo at 9:30 a.m. June 3. Each of the deacons graduated from Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, on May 12 with a master's degree in divinity.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Lewiston welcomed well over 2,000 people on May 13, who came to honor the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions in Fatima, Portugal. Bishop Richard J. Malone celebrated Mass and blessed a new statue of Jacinta and Francisco Marto, and their cousin Lucia Santos, three shepherd children who witnessed a series of visions near Fatima, Portugal.

For over 90 years, Camp Turner has provided young people with an opportunity to explore and appreciate the outdoors. Now, thanks to the hard work and determination of many people, campers have a chapel to appreciate the Lord.

ROME, ITALY (CNA/EWTN News) - While a lot has changed since Mary's appearances at Fatima 100 years ago, we can't stop heeding Our Lady's request to pray and offer sacrifices for the world, an expert on Marian theology has said.

Throughout the world, foster parents open their hearts and homes to children in need. On today's "Our Daily Bread," hosted by Father Paul D. Seil, the topic of foster care is on the table. Joining Father Seil in the kitchen is Virginia Goodremote, director of foster care at Baker Victory Services in Lackawanna.

A South Buffalo native will be among the four men ordained to the priesthood on June 3 at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo. Transitional Deacon Martin Gallagher, who attended high school and college in Western New York before studying theology at Christ the King Seminary, reflected on his strong Catholic upbringing and the factors that led to his decision to become a diocesan priest.

On Saturday, May 13, Pope Francis will travel to Fatima, Portugal, to bestow sainthood on Francisco and Jacinta Marto. They were two of the three shepherd children who captured the world's attention 100 years ago by witnessing appearances from the Blessed Mother six times, on the 13th of each month from May to October of 1917, each time exhorting them to "Pray, pray, pray."

Holy Angels Parish in Buffalo will throw a party to celebrate a lifetime of service. Bob Chambers, its longtime organist, will be honored with a special Mass and reception May 13. The 4 p.m. Mass at the church will be followed by a reception at D'Youville College in Buffalo.

For 15 years, men from all over the Diocese of Buffalo have gathered together to celebrate their spirituality at the Catholic Men's Fellowship of Western New York Conference. For those 15 years, Deacon Jim Jaworski has led from a place where he is least visible among those involved, but after serving dutifully for years, he has decided to quietly step down.

Late on Easter afternoon, driving east on the Thruway, I stopped for coffee. The woman at the counter asked me, "How was your Easter?" A gracious, well-intended expression of hospitality, but ... was? How was my Easter? ... and this on Easter Day! I said, "My Easter is great, thank you, and it will be for the next 50 days. I pray it will be for you, too." I never miss a teachable moment, in this case, an opportunity to make a simple reference to the Great 50 Days, the season from Easter to Pentecost when the Church basks in the radiance of the Risen Lord and longs for a new coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.