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The sixth-annual St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center banquet offered a witness of the saintly testament to the value of life. Father Thomas Rosica, CSB, a friend of the Molla family, spoke about the legacy of the saint who died rather than abort her daughter.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Even her friend of more than 30 years, Father Sebastian Vazhakala, did not know Mother Teresa had conversations with and visions of Jesus before forming the Missionaries of Charity.

Msgr. Frederick D. Leising, a retired diocesan priest, will receive the Clarence Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achiever of the Year Award. The chamber's 2017 awards dinner will take place at 6 p.m., on March 2, at Samuel's Grande Manor in Clarence, where Msgr. Leising will receive his award along with others from the area.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis said Tuesday that the Word of God isn't something that can be explained to people as a mere recommendation, or merely a good idea, but that it requires courage, prayer and humility to preach with honesty - and this is the only way it will have an impact.

When intending to provide the best assistance to discerners, especially to those of high school age, it has become clear to me that family members, especially parents, play a large part. In many cases, parents have been of tremendous help on their sons' vocational journey, and much appreciation is due to them. Sometimes, when a high school student musters up enough courage to share that he is feeling a call to priesthood, the parents are stopped in their tracks. This surprise can be followed by a number of possible reactions.

The St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center, the pastoral outreach of the Office of Pro-Life Activities of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, has become a significant resource in the Buffalo and surrounding Western New York area. The Center will hold its sixth annual benefit banquet on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. at the Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Ave.,

It is a well-known adage that "history repeats itself." In an effort to prevent one of the worst atrocities from history from happening again, Mount Mercy Academy is teaching a class entitled the Holocaust.

For World Marriage Day and National Marriage Week we discuss marriage preparation and the Office of Family Life.

For years now, Buffalo Mass Mob has used a grassroots social media campaign to draw many people, Catholic and otherwise, to the city's churches for Sunday Mass. Their latest destination - St. Lawrence Parish on Feb. 26 - also includes a fundraising campaign to help repair and replace the church's roof.

VATICAN CITY (CNA) - Pope Francis could meet with President Donald Trump at the end of May.

Did you know that Feb. 8 is recognized as the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking? According to the United States Department of Homeland Security, "Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act."

Two lethal bills have been introduced in Albany: A.1748 in relation to abortion expansion, and A.10059/S.7579 in relation to legalizing physician-assisted suicide.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has named Father Edward "Ted" F. Jost Jr. pastor of St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Hamburg, for a term of six years, effective Jan 1. Father Jost had been serving as the parish administrator there since September 2015.

St. Mary Elementary School In Lancaster began its STREAM integration during the 2015-2016 school year. "Being a STREAM school takes a lot of planning, organization and professional development for the teachers. Last year, we were new to the program and we learned so much," said Becky Hoag, STREAM coordinator for St. Mary's. The school offers STREAM Academies to all students during the school day on Friday afternoons thanks to the support from principal, Kim Kwitowski. "I am very happy that we are a STREAM school. STREAM education is essential to the future of our children and helps to shape their everyday experiences," stated Kwitowski.

Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about the celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life. Women and Men Religious have been part of our faith lives and we should thank them for their gifts. Watch the latest "Consider This."

Since 1997, when St. John Paul II declared the first World Day for Consecrated Life, the global Catholic Church has set aside a specific day each year to pray for men and women who have chosen to dedicate their lives to service in the Church. Each year, it falls on Feb. 2, the date of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, and in 2017, diocesan parishes will be celebrating the special occasion on Feb. 4 and 5.

LEWISTON — During the past two months, science for students at St. Peter School has been focused on real research with real world ideas, working in two different areas of the living environment. Recently, students from grades four, five and six and their teachers were given an opportunity to work with volunteers from Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in Cheektowaga on a project involving the Buffalo River.

At Nardin Academy, an independent Catholic school in the heart of the Elmwood Village in the city of Buffalo, an enriching academic experience extends beyond the classroom for students in the co-ed Montessori, co-ed elementary, and high school for young women.

Persistence pays off for Catholic schools - to the tune of $6 million. Advocacy from the NYS Catholic Conference State Coordinating Committee, Catholic school staff and parents has caused New York state to agree to modify the formula used to reimburse all state non-public schools for mandated services those schools provide.

On Jan. 30 and 31, Jonathan Shaw, an alumnus of Christ the King School in Snyder and filmmaker who has relocated to Hollywood, came to the Buffalo Museum of Science to speak with Catholic schools' seventh-grade students as part of the diocesan STREAM initiative. STREAM focuses on integrating the diverse fields of science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and math into the classroom setting.

SNYDER — At Christ the King School, students came together to help fellow students at Our Lady of Black Rock School in Buffalo in the weeks leading up to Christmas by collecting donations for the city students, many of whom are refugees in great need as the weather started getting colder.

Father David Richards from the Diocese of Buffalo talks about super hero saints and how we can learn to be heroes too. Watch the latest "In a Word."

At 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 12, the Diocese of Buffalo will continue the tradition of holding the White Mass, an annual event to recognize health care professionals in Western New York, at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo. In the diocese, the Buffalo guild of the Catholic Medical Association supports and brings together Catholic doctors, nurses and other health care professionals who have committed themselves to caring for all patients to the best of their ability, while also following rules of Catholic doctrine.

WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order addressing the U.S. refugee admissions program and migration to the United States, generally. The executive order virtually shuts down the refugee admissions program for 120 days, reduces the number of refugees to be admitted to the United States this year from 110,000 to 50,000 individuals, and indefinitely suspends the resettlement of Syrian refugees. In addition, it prioritizes religious minorities suffering from religious persecution, thereby deprioritizing all other persons fleeing persecution; calls for a temporary bar on admission to the United States from a number of countries of particular concern (all Muslim majority); and imposes a yet-to-be determined new vetting process for all persons seeking entry to the United States.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence urged pro-lifers to win over hearts with gentleness and compassion at the 2017 March for Life on Friday.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - In a culture where abortion is prevalent, no one's rights are safe, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York insisted at a national pro-life Mass before the March for Life.

This year's diocesan Youth Convention is going by the book. The theme, breakout sessions and planning all came from "Positively Dangerous," a youth ministry guide by Frank Mercadante.

At St. Mary Parish in Swormville, three members of one family have produced much of the woodwork within the church, using their craftsmanship to update the décor while preserving the beauty of the interior. Donna Allan, an employee of the parish, noted last month that two of her family members built the altar, ambo, tabernacle stand, while her husband made the confessional and processional cross St. Mary's uses.

Sister Maria Pares, OSF, a legend in Western New York women's basketball history, an inductee of multiple halls of fame, and a vocal opponent of misogyny in sports, died Jan. 20, 2017, at age 75, due to complications related to cancer. Throughout her years of service, Sister Maria was considered to be a strong and feisty coach on the court who also enjoyed helping young women excel on a personal level.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Amid signs proclaiming "Keep Your Rosaries Off My Ovaries," "#IstandWithPlannedParenthood", and a host of other homemade posters ranging from the snarky to the explicit at the Women's March on Washington, pro-life women staked a spot in support of women's dignity - and against abortion.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Ahead of the 44th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. a survey shows a "consensus" favoring a 20-week abortion ban, which President Trump has pledged to sign into law if passed by Congress.

WASHINGTON, DC—Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Pro-Life Activities, applauded the memorandum issued today by President Donald Trump restoring the Mexico City Policy and extending its requirements to all U.S. global assistance.

The diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities presented the annual Pro-Vita Awards during a special Mass on Jan. 21 at St. Christopher Parish in Tonawanda. The Pro-Vita Awards were established in the Diocese of Buffalo in 1995 and are presented to people who best exemplify respect for all life.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - In a new interview published Saturday, Pope Francis said he will wait to see what U.S. President Donald J. Trump does before making any judgments, emphasizing God's own patience with him and his faults.

In "Consider This," Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about President Trump, the March For Life and the pro-life words of Pope Francis from his exhortation, "Amoris Laetitia."

The community of Western New York came together to celebrate Catholic education in the community at the largest annual diocesan fundraiser for needs-based tuition assistance on Jan. 19. Organized by the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, the 17th-annual GALA 22:6, formerly known as the Making a Difference Dinner, the event included a presentation of awards to individuals and organizations who have gone above and beyond.

After years of uncertainty, the former St. Gerard Church in Buffalo will find a new purpose, as the Diocese of Buffalo has agreed to sell the property to a group of men who plan on keeping the facility religious, but not Catholic.

WASHINGTON, DC - As Congress discusses a repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, the Chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, is urging members of the House and Senate to provide a replacement plan concurrently so that millions of Americans will continue to have access to vital health care.

Catholic Charities officially announced an $11 million goal to begin its 93rd annual appeal Wednesday to benefit services it offers residents throughout the eight counties of Western New York. Bishop Richard J. Malone, along with representatives of Catholic Charities, made the announcement at a press conference inside Catholic Charities' central intake building at 525 Washington St. in downtown Buffalo.

Nearly 400 people gathered for a prayer service at the historic Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Buffalo to mark a National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The interfaith service was organized by the Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable to encourage the community to work toward healing the wounds created by racial, ethnic and religious bias.