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Catholic Health is sponsoring a free women's health fair on Wednesday, March 20, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at St. John Maron Church, 2040 Wehrle Drive, Williamsville. The event will include live presentations, health screenings, demonstrations and informational displays.

Students at St. Benedict School in Eggertsville celebrated Catholic Schools Week in late January in a unique way. Nancy Grant's religion classes created beautiful quilts, weaving a collaboration of art, religion and math. Sixth, seventh and eighth graders each incorporated a different theme for their creations.

Next to Advent and Christmas, Lent is one of the most celebrated and revered seasons in the year of the Catholic Church. Almost everybody knows the basics about Lent: that it begins on Ash Wednesday, lasts several weeks in which people routinely "give up" something, and concludes on Easter Sunday with a celebration of the Risen Christ.

The mood was festive, hearts were joyful and the spirit of giving remained strong at the annual Gala 22:6 - A Celebration of Catholic Education, held Thursday, February 21st, at the Buffalo Convention Center.

On Ash Wednesday, March 6, Bishop Richard J. Malone will distribute ashes at St. Joseph Cathedral during the 12:05 p.m. Mass. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the most holy time of the year for Catholics.

The Society of Our Lady of Divine Mercy is sponsoring their seventh bus pilgrimage to the Divine Mercy Shrine for Oct. 4, 5 and 6 for St. Faustina Day.

Each liturgical season has its own sacred landscape traversed by prayer, ritual and tradition. The Church stands at the threshold of a new season with challenging terrain, the desert of Lent.

When crisis hits, how do you hold on? What role does faith play when suffering?

Two local parishes made a generous gift to Trocaire's food pantry this past December, donating $2,000 to help assist in its mission to alleviate food insecurity among students.

Bishop Malone will continue the true celebration of the feast day of Saint Patrick with Mass at Saint Joseph's Cathedral on Sunday March 17th at 10:30 AM. This will precede the lining up of the Saint Patrick's Day Parade on Delaware Avenue.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has named new pastors for two area parishes. Father Michael P. Zuffoletto was named pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Buffalo, and Father Sean DiMaria was named pastor of St. John Paul II Parish, Lake View. Both assignments are for a term of six years. Father DiMaria, who previously served as the pastor of five area parishes concurrently, SS. Brendan & Jude, Almond-Alfred; Blessed Sacrament, Andover; Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Belmont; St. Mary, Bolivar; and Immaculate Conception, Wellsville, assumed his duties at his new parish on Jan. 31. Ordained in 2005, Father DiMaria's first priestly assignment was as parochial vicar at SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Hamburg. In 2008, he was named pastor of Blessed Sacrament and SS. Brendan & Jude. Pastorates in Wellsville, Belmont and Bolivar were later added. At St. John Paul II Parish, Father DiMaria takes over for Father Peter Karalus who was named diocesan moderator of the curia and vicar general in the fall of 2018. Father Zuffoletto had retired from active priestly duties in 2013 when he was serving as pastor at St. Peter Parish in Lewiston. A graduate of St. John Vianney Seminary, East Aurora, and Canisius College, Buffalo, Father Zuffoletto was ordained in 1972 and served in various parishes throughout the diocese. He was an assistant at Ascension Parish, North Tonawanda; Our Mother of Good Counsel, Blasdell; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Niagara Falls; Assumption Parish, Buffalo; and was a weekend assistant at St. Thomas Aquinas, Buffalo. Father Zuffoletto also taught at St. Mary's High School, Lancaster, and served in the Diocese of San Diego. He served his country as a U.S. Navy chaplain for many years before returning to the Diocese of Buffalo to become pastor at St. Peter, Lewiston. Bishop Malone has given Father Robert W. Wardenski a third term as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, East Aurora. Originally assigned to the parish in 2005, Father Wardenski had served as parochial vicar at several parishes in the diocese including St. Adalbert, St. James and St. Rose of Lima, all in Buffalo, as well as St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Tonawanda and St. Paul in Kenmore. He received his first pastorate in 1989 when he was named pastor of both St. Peter, LeRoy, and St. Anthony, Lime Rock. In October 1999, Father Wardenski was appointed pastor at St. William Parish, West Seneca, where he served until moving to Immaculate Conception. Father Victor Ibhawa was named administrator of Blessed Trinity Parish, Buffalo, for a term of three years; he had been serving as the parish's temporary administrator since the retirement of the pastor, Father George L. Reger, in October 2016. Father Ibhawa, a native of Nigeria, was ordained in 2010 and came to the United States in 2013 to further his education. Bishop Malone also announced the appointment of Father Paul D. Seil as chaplain to the Buffalo Fire Department. Ordained in 1989, Father Seil has been pastor of St. Bernadette Parish for the past 10 years. In addition to various parish assignments, Father Seil was the host of the "Our Daily Bread" cooking show produced by Daybreak TV Productions and director of the diocesan Office of Worship. Father Joseph Bayne, OFM Conv., was the previous chaplain for the Buffalo Fire Department. Father Bayne, a Franciscan priest, was assigned by his order to a position in Massachusetts last summer.

Today at the Vatican, Pope Francis and the presidents of every Episcopal Conference from around the world are gathering to begin an unprecedented summit meeting to discuss the sexual abuse crisis within the Church.

For over a dozen years, come snow or shine, Camp Turner has provided a winter camp full of hikes, games and campfires. If the weather is right, snow forts are made, if not, hockey and crafts are still available.

LOCKPORT — Sam and Gerry Ward lived in Lockport most of their lives. Sam was the owner of Ward, Beals and McCarthy, an industrial distributor headquartered in Lockport until its sale in 1990. He and Gerry were always very generous with their time...

Leading national and international speakers and top creative minds working in theology and philosophy will again converge on Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22-23 for the 2019 International Conference for Collaborative Philosophy, Theology and Ministry.

With a keen eye for detail and a sense of design, Msgr. David S. Slubecky received a funeral Mass he would be proud of, because he crafted it himself, picking the hymns and readings long ago. The funeral for the retired vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Buffalo took place at St. Joseph Cathedral on the chilly morning of Feb. 18, six days after he passed away quietly.

When I had my first birthday, my parents thought that I would need a companion in the form of a dog. So for my first birthday present, I got a little beagle puppy and we ended up naming him Oscar.

Cardinal O'Hara High School suffered its worst disaster in its 58-year history the weekend of Feb. 9 when two pipes burst cascading water into the fine arts hallway damaging classrooms and offices.

The following statement was released by the Catholic bishops of New York state following the passage of the Child Victims Act. For more, visit http://www.nyscatholic.org

Being a priest had been a dream of David S. Slubecky from childhood. He would celebrate a pretend Mass and hand out Necco wafers to his younger siblings as Communion. "I'd keep all the chocolate ones for myself," he said. "I was just drawn to the idea of being able to celebrate Mass and be involved with people in a parish." Among his many duties in the Diocese of Buffalo, He would go on the become a regular fixture on the Daybreak TV produced "Daily Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral." Less than a year after retiring, Msgr. Slubecky passed away on Feb. 12. The son of the late Stanley and Maria Theresa (Zielonka) Slubecky was born Dec. 5, 1947, in Batavia. He attended Catholic schools right from the start with St. John the Baptist in Alden. The Sisters of St. Joseph who taught him claim that even in second grade he had talked about becoming a priest. "My parents actually encouraged me to go to a regular high school and I said 'No, I really want to do this," said Msgr. Slubecky. By age 14, he attended the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary, a high school for young men pursuing a vocation to the priesthood. There were 122 boys in his freshman class, but he was one of only two who went on to be ordained. After studying philosophy for two years at St. John Vianney Seminary (now Christ the King in East Aurora), he went to Rome to study theology at the North American College. He was ordained on July 21, 1973, by Bishop Edward D. Head. His first assignment was at St. Mary Parish in Batavia, where he stayed for only four months before going back to Rome to finish his graduate degree in theology. After spending a few more months at St. Mary's, he went to St. Ignatius Renewal Center in Clarence to serve as the retreat master and to direct the formation team for the permanent diaconate. When he retired last May, he spoke to the Western New York Catholic saying that that assignment remained close to his heart. "Many times I was really humbled by the quality of faith and the depth of faith of the people who came for retreats. In many ways, I gained more from them than I think they ever could've gotten from me." In September of 1983, he returned to Rome to obtain a graduate degree in Canon Law. He eventually moved on to be judicial vicar of the diocesan Tribunal. "So, although I initially went with the idea that I would be working in a parish, I was not really in a parish for most of the first 22 years of my priesthood." In 1988, Pope John Paul II honored him with the title monsignor. The title is a pontifical honor designating a priest as Chaplain to His Holiness. In July 2008, he was elevated to Prelate of Honor to His Holiness by Pope Benedict XVI. In 1994, he became pastor of Fourteen Holy Helpers Parish in West Seneca, a position he held until 2005, at which time he became moderator of the curia and vicar general for the Diocese of Buffalo. In these roles, Msgr. Slubecky served as a chief operating officer for the Diocese of Buffalo. "I serve on every board that exists in the diocese," said Msgr. Slubecky, who loved parish work, but agreed to go where he was needed most. "In every instance I have to say I believed after the fact that it was supposed to happen. In each case, I gained a lot from it with regard to various parts of my life." He considers one of the most moving moments of his priesthood to be in the final days of his grandmother's life in the late 1980s. "I anointed her and when I finished anointing her, she came out of the fetal position, had a clear mind for three days, talked to all the family and then she passed away. It was just very moving the power of that sacrament." Msgr. Slubecky had been living at the Msgr. John J. Coniff Priest Retirement Home in Lancaster since his retirement. He is survived by his siblings Daniel, Elaine Hudson, Rita Gibney and Donald. He had one other brother, the late Tommy Slubecky. Visitation will take place Sunday, Feb. 17, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Fourteen Holy Helpers Church, 1345 Indian Church Road, West Seneca. Msgr. Slubecky will lie in state on Monday, Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, where a concelebrated funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. with Bishop Richard J. Malone presiding.

According to the National Retail Federation's annual survey, consumers in the United States are expected to spend an average $143.56 on Valentine's Day this year. Total spending is expected to reach $19.6 billion this year, an increase from last year's $18.2 billion. All the treats, cards, flowers and affection can be traced back to a nearly forgotten saint, Valentine.

As part of a STEM project, third-graders at St. Benedict School have been incorporating some of the laws of physics in designing Ziggurat Marble Runs.

The Heart Center at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo has been awarded a distinguished three-star national quality rating by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for its patient care and outcomes in coronary artery bypass grafting procedures (heart bypass surgery) for reporting periods January 2017 to July 2018.

About 85 parish volunteers, clergy and Catholic Charities' Appeal leadership team and staff attended a volunteer training workshop on Feb. 9 to help kick off the 2019 Appeal in support of Catholic Charities in Erie County.

Eleven members of the St. Mary's Junior Ladies of Charity volunteered at Ronald McDonald House, Buffalo, preparing dinner for the residents there on Dec. 27. The young women prepared a full taco bar with Spanish rice, fried corn, beans, cornbread and desserts including brownies and pineapple upside down cake.

VATICAN CITY — At Mass in the Sistine Chapel Jan. 13, Pope Francis baptized 27 babies, reminding their parents that the first space in which children learn and witness the faith is at home. "Yes, when they go to catechism class, they will study the faith well, they will learn catechesis," he said. "But before being studied, faith must be transmitted, and this is a job that is up to you."

Over the last eight decades, there haven't been many who've given back to Western New York's Catholic community like Robert H. Chambers, both in length of service and number of lives touched.

The Sheehan Residence, which had been on the market, closed Thursday, February 7, 2019. The property, owned by the Diocese of Buffalo, is located at 330 Linwood Avenue in Buffalo, New York. It was purchased by Mingo Junction Steel Works, LLC and the closing price was $1,300,000.

Sister Teresa Marie Patora, 92, died at Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo on Feb. 1, 2019. The former Theresa Patora was born June 7, 1926, in Erie, Pa. She attemnded school in Erie, then graduated from Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo.

Our Church today in the Diocese of Buffalo and throughout the United States is becoming more and more diverse every day. The diversity that we see in our city is gradually becoming the diversity that we will see in our suburbs. Are we ready to embrace these cultures? Are we ready to forgive some of the hurts that may have taken place so that together we can move forward in peace and harmony?

In the past 20 years, the number of active priests serving the Diocese of Buffalo has dropped from 312 to 143. To keep parishes alive, deacons, religious sisters and even lay people are being asked to step into the role of head of the parish. In 2013, the diocese launched a pastoral administrator program to train qualified people to handle the temporal needs of a parish. This includes paying bills, fixing roofs and organizing lawn fetes, freeing priests to handle the duties only a priest can.

Living in the spirit of God was the key message at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mass celebrated at Blessed Trinity Church in Buffalo on Sunday, Jan, 20.

This year marks 35 years since Response to Love opened its doors to serve the hungry of Buffalo's East Side. Over the years, the center has expanded to meet the growing needs of the area. A thrift store, education classes and a Veterans program have been added. Thus, opening doors to a better life for those who come to the center.

DEPEW — Students at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament School learned lessons about the spirit of giving, production, economics and sales. Each class was given $25 and challenged to use that money to create something that could be sold to make money for a charity chosen by the class.

Over the next five years, more than 1,000 children are expected to learn computer and engineering skills at Our Lady of Victory Elementary School. These skills will prepare students for careers that have not even been invented yet. This is thanks to the Susan E. Brvenik Foundation.

Sister Marie Bernarde Procknal RSM, died January 23, 2019, at Mercy Center Convent in Buffalo after 73 years as a dedicated Sister of Mercy.

KENMORE — The halls of St. John the Baptist School are alive and buzzing with excitement as students, faculty and staff have jumped feet first into the Diocese of Buffalo's STREAM Education Initiative.

PANAMA CITY, Panama - Pope Francis celebrated the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2019 on Sunday, Jan. 27.

EGGERTSVILLE — St. Benedict School technology coordinator and pre-K through eighth-grade Technology teacher, Marcia Elliott, is enhancing her primary and intermediate grade coding program. She will be introducing coding robots Dash and Dot with the primary grades and Cue with her middle school students.

When St. Amelia School teacher Colleen Milette was called to assemble with other faculty, by the school principal, she thought it was to announce a calendar change.