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It's contraception's 50th anniversary - on June 7, 1965, the Supreme Court ruled in the Griswold v. Connecticut case that contraception was legal.

Bishop Richard Malone of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and Bishop R. William Franklin of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York have issued a joint pastoral letter to both Dioceses, calling on all members of both churches to take specific action to address issues of equality and economic justice in the Western New York region.

The Western New York Catholic continues to foster faith through its coverage of Pope Francis, Bishop Richard J. Malone, stories and columns. The diocesan newspaper is a strong upholder of faith and morals during a time that is still facing attacks against religious freedom. According to statistics, print remains the communications backbone in reaching Catholics who attend Mass regularly.

ST. LOUIS, MO. (CNA/EWTN News) - With Pope Francis' encyclical on ecology and the environment to be released next week, the U.S. bishops are reflecting on possible themes of the upcoming document.

Daybreak TV Productions is responsible for recording daily and Sunday Masses for Western New York audiences. This month, for the Year of Consecrated Life, Daybreak will feature the contributions of consecrated religious in Sunday Masses recorded in June.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - While it may be the middle of "wedding season," the warm months between spring and fall when many couples choose to tie the knot, many young people today are avoiding - or at the very least delaying - saying "I do" themselves.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - For most graduating college seniors, the final weeks of school focus on exams, saying goodbyes and looking to their next steps in life.

Three men entered a special brotherhood Saturday morning, as Bishop Richard J. Malone ordained Father Lukasz Kopala, Father Thomas Michael Mahoney and Father Daniel Ehijiator Ogbeifun into the priesthood during a Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo.

Deacon Daniel Ogbeifun has never doubted his vocation. Now, just before being ordained to the priesthood, he is more excited than ever to begin his life as a priest.

For Transitional Deacon Thomas Mahoney, the road to priestly ordination has been an unusual one. The Depew native and Niagara University graduate transitioned from a career as an accountant to begin attending classes at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora. Bishop Richard J. Malone will ordain him to the priesthood on June 6 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo.

The road to the priesthood took Transitional Deacon Lukasz Kopala from Poland to the United States four years ago. Deacon Kopala, who spent his pastoral year at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Niagara Falls, will be ordained by Bishop Richard J. Malone at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo on June 6.

Three transitional deacons will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, June 6, by Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo. The Mass will take place at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St. in downtown Buffalo, at 10 a.m.

At the invitation of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Bishop Richard J. Malone and several other New York State Bishops and representatives from all eight dioceses will meet with members of the New York State Senate and Assembly today, June 1, at the Executive Mansion in Albany

As a former teacher, Sister M. Johnice Rzadkiewicz, CSSF, knows the power of words.

Hundreds of people came to Buffalo last week for the 79th annual National Conference for Catechetical Leadership at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Take a look at our photo gallery from the 2015 conference here.

St. Amelia Parish refused to let a little snow prevent people from attending Mass. The Tonawanda parish started a parking lot ministry to make sure the elderly and disabled could safely enter the house of God.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - On the day of Oscar Romero's beatification in San Salvador, Pope Francis sent a letter to the current archbishop, praising the martyr for his courageous service to the poor amid widespread national violence.

In order to keep the growing diocesan population of retired priests safe and ensure the safety of all who use Western New York's streets and expressways, the diocese has teamed with the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo to make sure priests, ages 80 and older, stay safe on the road.

The Diocese of Buffalo welcomed three new permanent deacons on May 23, when Bishop Richard J. Malone ordained David C. Armstrong, Peter J. Donnelly and John A. Owczarczak at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo

At an early 8 a.m. on May 16, a contingent from Newfane began a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Fatima Shine in Lewiston, 15 miles away. The journey was to prepare, both physically and spiritually, for the welcoming of the graces of World Youth Day.

David C. Armstrong's ordination to the Permanent Diaconate will allow him to continue serving God's people after already having done this most of his entire life as a teacher.

When Peter Donnelly turns 48 later this month, his birthday celebration will include one of the most unique gifts he's ever received in his life, and it's a spiritual one.

On May 23, John A. Owczarczak will answer a call he first received 50 years ago. His love and work for the Church will become official when he is ordained a permanent deacon.

A dozen educators, parents and students marched around the office of New York State Assemblymember Sean Ryan on May 20 chanting those slogans and carrying signs to let him know that as voters, they wanted him to pass the Parental Choice in Education Act.

For most practicing Catholics in Western New York, going to Mass involves a short walk to the church on their corner, or a brief drive to a neighboring town or city. For Daniel Gangi, a parishioner of St. Joseph Parish in LeRoy and a grand knight of the Knights of Columbus' Edward Powers Council in LeRoy, going to church involved attending Mass in every church in the eight-county Diocese of Buffalo.

Three men, with eight children among them, will be ordained at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, on Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m. Through the imposition of hands by Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, these men will become permanent deacons, joining more than 130 other deacons in the diocese.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis canonized the Church's four newest saints on Sunday, praising their loving witness to Jesus Christ's Resurrection.

Care for the dying, advocates against the death penalty, an encounter with Pope Francis and the superhero in all of us. Here's our weekly roundup of interesting Catholic links from around the web to get you started for the week.

Catholic Cemeteries of Buffalo will again participate in, "Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes," the annual Memorial Day program developed by the Catholic Cemetery Conference.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - The Holy See and the State of Palestine have agreed on the text of a treaty regarding the life and activity of the Church in Palestine, which is expected to be signed soon by both parties.

With only seven weeks remaining before the close of the 2015 Appeal in support of Catholic Charities of Buffalo, the annual campaign has raised $10,532,335.48 in cash and pledges, representing 96.6 percent of its $10.9 million goal. Appeal leaders are asking the community for their help in raising the remaining $367,663.52 still needed to reach the final goal by June 30.

For many priests, ordination and serving God's people can be a long and complicated process. However, for international priests, such as Father Joseph Nguyen, a native of Vietnam, it involved much more of a learning process, including leaving a country where he could not freely practice his faith. This led him on a path to where he now serves as parochial vicar of St. Andrew Parish in Kenmore.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Christian share of the U.S. population is declining, while the number of U.S. adults who do not identify with any organized religion is growing, according to an extensive new survey by the Pew Research Center. Moreover, these changes are taking place across the religious landscape, affecting all regions of the country and many demographic groups. While the drop in Christian affiliation is particularly pronounced among young adults, it is occurring among Americans of all ages. The same trends are seen among whites, blacks and Latinos; among both college graduates and adults with only a high school education; and among women as well as men.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Bishop Richard J. Malone joined together today to introduce the Parental Choice in Education Act, a revised version of the Education Tax Credit bill. Educators and students alike gathered together at Eggertsville Youth and Community Center to hear of the common goal of religion and government.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - This question was part of a special question and answer session with the Bishop of Rome touching on a wide range of themes - from the link between greed and war, to arguments with siblings, and the role of religion in promoting peace in the world.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Speaking from retirement, Benedict XVI has underscored the need for the Church to extend its pastoral care to non-believers and to share "the questions of the times" in its continuing efforts to announce the gospel to the world.

A group of dedicated young Catholic women in the diocese aspire to be part of a new religious order they hope will be recognized by the Vatican. Members of the Marian Franciscans have spoken with Bishop Richard J. Malone about the path to becoming a formal community.

Just as a standard calendar has seasons, 365 days and numerous celebrations, so too does a Liturgical Year calendar. In a Liturgical Year, the special seasons are Advent, Christmas, Lent, the Triduum, Easter and Ordinary Time.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNA/EWTN News) - Prayer is sorely needed as existential threats face faith, the family, and religious liberty in the U.S., Catholic leaders insisted at a prayer breakfast held in the nation's capital on Thursday.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has asked pastors in parishes throughout the Diocese of Buffalo to conduct special collections at Masses the weekend of May 9-10, with all proceeds going to Catholic Relief Services (CRS), which has mobilized immediate response teams in support of earthquake relief in Nepal.