Current News

We've compiled a list of 10 things you should know about Holy Week, what happens during Holy Week, what are the names of the days of Holy Week, and a few more nuggets of knowledge even the most faithful Catholics may have missed.

Fair and objective reporting is essential to accurate coverage of controversial issues such as the crisis involving past child abuse in our diocese. Impartiality aids accuracy. Recent media attacks by a television reporter alleging that the diocese has not "come clean about the true scope" of the sexual abuse that occurred in this diocese are simply not accurate.

The subject of child sexual abuse is one that rightfully has been the focus of intense media attention in recent years. It is a problem that, unfortunately, extends far beyond the Diocese of Buffalo and far beyond the Church. Yet despite the intense media coverage, many of the important facts regarding the scourge of child sexual abuse and the response of the Church and our diocese are either unmentioned or misstated in the news. I write today to correct some of those errors.

St. Francis Park, Catholic Health's new senior living community in Hamburg, is hosting a series of special events in May. These events are free and open to the public as well as residents of St. Francis Park.

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish put a modern spin on an old tradition.

Bishop Richard J. Malone is pleased to announce that the position of Executive Director of Financial Administration at the Diocese of Buffalo will be filled by Charles Mendolera

Cardinal O'Hara High School will soon be saying, "Ni hao," to a lot more international students. The Tonawanda school has signed a deal with the Kent School of China that will bring up to 20 students a year from China to Western New York to learn in the Catholic tradition while preparing for college in America.

Rev. Msgr. David LiPuma will be the new Pastor of Our Lady of Victory Basilica and President of Our Lady of Victory (OLV) Institutions beginning June 1, 2019.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo was recently named a recipient of two grant awards totaling nearly $2.9 million, over five years, to support the services it provides through its Immigration and Refugee Assistance Program, especially addressing barriers to employment and self-sufficiency.

The Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University has canceled an academic conference on Franciscan reform and the sexual abuse crisis within the Catholic Church.

As Catholic Charities prepares for another Appeal Week, in which the social service organization attempts to raise the bulk of its $11 million fundraising goal, their work throughout the Diocese of Buffalo would not be possible without another kind of donation: time.

The diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities and Baker Victory Services are sponsoring a Mass for all those who have been touched by adoption -- birthparents, adoptees, adoptive parents, grandparents and other relatives.

Trocaire College is holding its second annual Spring Soirée gala at the new Shea's on Seneca at 6 p.m. Friday, May 3, and will honor several deserving organizations and individuals in the process.

Sister Elizabeth Kovacs was born in a village of Western Hungary on Nov. 16, 1929. She was the second of three daughters of a Catholic family.

In an effort to expand strategic affiliations, D'Youville has joined NetVUE, the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education, a nationwide network of colleges and universities designed to expand and deepen vocational exploration and discernment among undergraduate students. The initiative is administered by the Council of Independent Colleges with generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc.

More than 600 high school students from all across the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo gathered for the 67th Annual Diocesan Youth Convention as they participated and got to "Power Up" their faith and relationship with God and others at the Buffalo Grand Hotel March 1-3.

So many New Yorkers continue to mourn the state legislature's enactment of the most permissive abortion policy in the country. I share your grief.

The Franciscan Institute of St. Bonaventure University is hosting a conference on "Franciscan Reform and the Abuse Crises in the Catholic Church" on April 12-13 in the Robert R. Jones Trustees Room in Doyle Hall.

Father Roy Herberger, who has collected Nativity sets for more than 30 years, is now looking for a permanent home for the 600 or so sets in his possession. This is the same collection that had been displayed at Buffalo's SS. Columba-Brigid Parish during Christmas.

"Unplanned" is a movie you probably wouldn't find unless you knew what to look for, but it is a movie you will tell others about. The low-budget film from Pure Flix tells the true story of Abby Johnson a Planned Parenthood clinic manager who made a 180-degree turn to be a pro-life advocate.

Sister Ann Marie Striegl, GNSH, who spent more than 40 years in the Diocese of Buffalo, died March 25, 2019, at the age of 84. She was formerly known as Sister John Bosco.

D'Youville has been awarded a Steelcase Active Learning Center grant which will transform space at the intersection of D'Youville and Leonardo da Vinci High SchoolPS 212 into a living laboratory to support learning strategies that promote engagement, creativity, and collaboration, while helping researchers better understand processes of active learning.

Through life's journey, all people in time will reach the end of the road in one state or another. In many cultures the elders of the community are treasured, protected and well cared for by family, friends and colleagues.

Brother Xavier O'Neill, who has spent 75 years living out the Brothers of Mercy mission of serving the sick and elderly, died March 18, 2019, at the Brother's Clarence residence. He was 94.

Bishop Richard J. Malone recently announced new pastors for several area parishes.

We are honored and excited to serve as chairs for the 2019 Appeal in support of Catholic Charities. We have been involved with Catholic Charities for years as parishioners at St. Mark Parish in Buffalo, and as donors and appeal volunteers. We have learned and experienced firsthand how the organization serves our neighbors in need.

Sister Anne Peter Motto, a Franciscan Sisters of Allegany for over 60 years, died March 9, 2019, at the age of 87.

Msgr. Donald R. Wangler, who served the Diocese of Buffalo for over 60 years, died March 22, 2019, while at Father Baker Manor in Orchard Park. He was 87.

As area Catholic schools embrace STREAM education, it's helping to transform perceptions about private religious education. One example occurred in January, as St. Mary School of Swormville placed third overall in the annual Future City Competition held at Mount St. Mary Academy in Kenmore.

As high school juniors and seniors grapple with college decisions, they may be surprised to find a promising career path is already in their hands in the games and apps they play for fun and rely on for everyday life.

STREAM integration at St. Mary's Elementary School is in its fourth year. "Through planning, organization, and professional development for our teachers, we now fully integrate STREAM in all classes every day," said Becky Hoag, coordinator for St. Mary's Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics program. In the classrooms, teachers engage students in project-based learning experiences which allow for cross-curricular integration of topics and themes to be learned.

Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity has promoted Eileen Hudson, CFRE, to director of Mission Advancement, and promoted Tom Lucia to Director of Annual Giving. Hudson will provide strategic direction for mission advancement activities across the footprint of OLV organizations including major, planned and corporate foundation fundraising programs that benefit the missions of the Homes of Charity, Baker Victory Services, and OLV National Shrine & Basilica and OLV Elementary. Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity (HOC) promotes Tom Lucia to Director of Annual Giving.

The Catholic Center is in the process of throwing out Styrofoam food containers for the last time. In an effort to be more ecologically friendly, the downtown office has decided to replace Styrofoam with compostable paper products in the cafeteria.

World Youth Day 2019 opened Jan. 22 in Panama City, Panama. Over 150,000 registered for the event, which ran until Jan. 27. This year's event conflicted with the American school year. As a result, the Diocese of Buffalo did not plan a pilgrimage to the Central American city.

Father Edward R. Czarnecki, who served several parishes across Erie County, died March 17, 2019. He was 78 years old.

While rummaging through the basement of Corpus Christi Church, Father Michal Czyzewski, OSPPE, pastor, found a rolled up canvas under some trophies. Unrolling it, he discovered a painting of St. Joseph and a mystery from the past.

Sister Marie McTarnaghan, who taught in Catholic schools for almost 40 years, died March 9, 2019. She was 86.

Christ the King Seminary will host a dinner lecture and a retreat this April on the seminary's East Aurora campus.

As the Hispanic/Latino Commission began planning for the Lenten Retreat that the Office of Cultural Diversity sponsors every year in Spanish, the first Gospel of the Lenten season, Mark 1:12-15 became the theme for the retreat this year.