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Bishop Richard J. Malone will celebrate a special Mothers' Day Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 10, at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo. The Mass will include the Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb.

Father Ronald P. Sajdak will be embarking on what he calls an "exciting venture."

Welcome to our new feature, Monday Morning Roundup, where we note a couple of interesting Catholic stories from the weekend to get you tuned up for the week.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - With the number of children raised in brokenness on the rise, young people view marriage as a path to failure - so Pope Francis says it's time for Christians to restore faith in the family.

Catechetical experts from across the U.S. will visit the Diocese of Buffalo from May 18 to 21 as part of the 79th annual National Conference for Catechetical Leadership which will take place at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

While a difficult topic, the prospect of end-of-life care is one nearly everyone must face at some point. In order to make choices easier for local families, the Respect Life Committee of Our Lady of Pompeii Parish in Lancaster has organized a conference designed to inform families about caring for aging or ill family members with dignity and in accordance with Catholic teaching.

BUFFALO - Less than one month after Appeal Week 2015 ended and less than two weeks after announcing this year's campaign surpassed $9.5 million, Catholic Charities of Buffalo today announced another milestone, reporting the organization has raised $10,096,782.40 in cash and pledges, representing 93 percent of the goal. As a result, volunteers for the annual Appeal must raise $900,000 more to reach this year's $10.9 million goal.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNA/EWTN News) - There is no legal right to "gay marriage" in the Constitution, legal experts asserted, and the Supreme Court should not bypass the democratic process and redefine marriage for all 50 states.

BALTIMORE, MD - Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is launching a major relief effort in response to the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on Saturday, April 24. A CRS team is on the ground in Kathmandu, the capital city and one of the most affected areas, and our local partner Caritas Nepal has started distributing food and shelter.

ROME, ITALY (CNA/EWTN News) - A once avid outdoors-man whose final years were marked by disability and suffering, St. John Paul II witnessed to what it truly means to die with dignity, says a close friend who was with him until the end.

Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Lewiston, directed by the Barnabite Fathers, has the opportunity this year of celebrating the golden anniversary of the laying of the dome chapel's cornerstone in 1965, and the ruby (40th) anniversary of the dome chapel's designation as a basilica in 1975.

KATHMANDU, NEPAL (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis led the crowds gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the weekly Regina Caeli address in praying for the victims of Saturday's earthquake in Nepal which has claimed thousands of lives.

More than a hundred people went to Mass first thing Saturday morning in North Buffalo; not just for the Eucharist, but also to show support for the Catholic teaching on life and marriage. Bishop Richard J. Malone noted the consistent attacks on pro-life beliefs and traditional marriage resembled the work of Satan as he presided over a Rosary Novena for Life and March for Marriage celebration at St. Rose of Lima Parish.

More than 50 members of the St. Mary's High School community, including members of the student senate, faculty, staff and parents, spent a recent Saturday morning on the West Side of Buffalo cleaning and furnishing a home for a refugee family.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis said Wednesday that marriage is a vocation all believers are called to defend, specifically in terms of the complementarity of the union between a man and a woman.

WASHINGTON—A few days before the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the rights of states to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, more than 30 religious leaders representing diverse faith communities throughout the United States have reaffirmed their shared commitment to marriage and religious freedom. An open letter entitled "The Defense of Marriage and the Right of Religious Freedom: Reaffirming a Shared Witness" was issued to all in positions of public service on April 23.

In honor of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the Serra Club of Buffalo is sponsoring two events at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora to show support for the future religious leaders and priests of the diocese. A family Mass and brunch for seminarians will take place on Sunday, April 26, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Eucharistic Holy Hour in the main chapel at 2 p.m.

LACKAWANNA, NY (April 21, 2015) - Bishop Richard J. Malone joined Baker Victory Services (BVS) President Msgr. Paul J.E. Burkard and Chief Executive Officer Terese M. Scofidio to break ground and officially begin construction on a new $16 million residential treatment facility on the BVS Martin Road Campus in Lackawanna. The latest development in the continuing evolution of programs begun by Father Nelson Baker, the new state-of-the-art facility is designed to replace cottages that were built in the 1950's and 60's, currently home to residents in the BVS RTF programs.

Washington D.C. (CNA/EWTN News) - The U.S. Supreme Court has continued its trend of decisions stopping enforcement of a federal contraception mandate against religious employers with moral objections.

Sacred Heart Parish in Lakewood will host the Donut Man, who teaches children how to fill the holes in their lives. Rob Evans will perform at Southwestern School in Lakewood on Sunday, April 26, at 5 p.m.

Chicago, Ill. (CNA/EWTN News) - Cardinal Francis George, the Emeritus Archbishop of Chicago, passed away Friday morning after a long batter with cancer.

The Department of Lifelong Faith Formation serves to support devout Catholics in maintaining their faith through all stages of their lives. Sister Barbara Schiavoni, GNSH, joined the department as associate director of adult faith formation in February, returning home after coming full circle in her ministry to serve her community.

Throughout the Christmas season, the Diocese of Buffalo participated in a large-scale television and social media campaign called Catholics Come Home which intended to welcome Catholics who have fallen away from the faith for various reasons and no longer attend Mass on a regular basis.

During this past Lenten season members of the diocesan African-American Commission studied the history of the African-American population in the Diocese of Buffalo. Their reflections composed an African-American Scripture Study based on local history.

Pope Francis has clearly made his own this teaching of the council that "the well-being of the individual person and of human and Christian society is intimately linked with the healthy condition of that community produced by marriage and family." So it is that our Holy Father has convoked two synods of bishops in Rome to reflect on the joys and challenges of family life in our time.

Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News) - In a world marked by suffering and fierce persecution - especially of Christians - now "is the time for mercy," Pope Francis said, speaking at the vigil for the Feast of Divine Mercy.

New York is facing three bills that could allow physician-assisted suicide to take place in the Empire State. The New York bishops are urging voters to prevent these bills from becoming law.

The former Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse on South Park Ave., in Hamburg, will have new life as market rate apartments and town homes, follow the closing on the sale of the property on April 8.

Bishop Richard J. Malone will talk about family life and marriage as one of two keynote speakers at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast (NCPB), Thursday, May 7, at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is also scheduled to speak.

ROME, ITALY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis said Wednesday that children are never a mistake, and called adults out for building faulty systems that leave children exploited and abandoned, rather than treated as the blessings they are.

Easter may be over for another year, but you can relive all the wonderful moments from Holy Week 2015 in our new photo gallery.

The gift of the resurrection has been seen throughout the ages, as Bishop Richard J. Malone explains in his video homily for Easter Sunday.

As Holy Week began to draw to a close, Bishop Richard J. Malone welcomed the celebration of the Resurrection during an Easter Vigil at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo Saturday night.

Bishop Richard J. Malone reminds us that Christ, risen from the dead is the ultimate reason for hope, to all who believe.

VATICAN CITY (CNA) — During a recent general audience Pope Francis emphasized the certainty of Christ's presence in the world today, noting how His resurrection is an invitation to reject sin and be open to joy and hope.

Faithful from across the Diocese of Buffalo filled St. Joseph Cathedral to capacity on Tuesday evening for the Chrism Mass, a highlight of Holy Week, as Bishop Richard J. Malone blessed three urns of oil: oil of the catechumens, oil of the chrism and oil of the sick.

At the close of Appeal Week 2015, Catholic Charities announced March 31, that 78.4 percent of their goal has been met. Donations will be accepted until the close of the fiscal year June 30. This year's goal is $10.9 million.

Bishop Richard J. Malone used his homily at the start of Holy Week at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo on Mar. 29, to remind worshipers, "God's holy word on Palm Sunday is a meditation on the meaning of suffering in God's plan of salvation."

There's something to smile about at Mount St. Mary Academy. The Kenmore school has launched a project designed to boost the self-confidence of the students and lift the spirits of the community. The MSM Friends of Rachel Club started a Pocket Paper Project asking every student to think of an affirmation, then "Write It, Read It, Believe It."

Catholic Charities and Temple Beth Zion have joined in a collaborative effort to open a new food pantry to serve Getzville and Williamsville residents. Town Square Food Pantry is located at the Town Square for Aging on the Weinberg Campus, 2710 North Forest Road, Getzville. The site will serve eligible residents of ZIP codes 14068 and 14221.