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CHEEKTOWAGA — In October, St. John Gualbert Parish and Diocesan Shrine welcomed Father Paul Ladda as their new parochial vicar. He took his position just months after his 25th anniversary of priesthood.

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.

Sister Therese Marie Kodz, 75, a Felician Sister for 57 years, died in Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, Dec. 10, 2018. The former Mary Kodz was born on June 23, 1943, in Utica. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on July 2, 1961, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 3, 1969. After graduating from the Utica Catholic Academy, she furthered her education at Villa Maria College of Buffalo. She then attended Medaille College in Buffalo and Buffalo State College for degrees in education.

Catholic Medical Partners, the area's largest network of independent physicians, is pleased to announce that Thomas P. Lawrence, MD, MBA, has been named president and CEO. A Western New York native, Lawrence will be returning to the area to lead the nearly 1,000 member, multi-specialty Independent Practice Association. Over the past decade, Catholic Medical Partners, which includes Catholic Health and its member hospitals, has grown to become one of the country's leading authorities on population health management.

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.

Mercy Hospital, Food Bank of WNY and Catholic Charities have joined forces on a new "Mobile" Food Pantry at the Mercy Comprehensive Care Center located at 397 Louisiana St. in Buffalo's Old First Ward.

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.

It might surprise you to learn that there are over 21 million people around the world who are victims of human trafficking - modern-day slavery. Most of us would say that slavery has been eradicated from the earth, but this is far from the truth. In fact, there are more people now who are victims of slavery than any other time in human history.

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.

Church of the Annunciation in Elma to Host the Marriage in Christ Seminar.

Many voices, today, are calling for more women to function in decision making in the Catholic Church. A helpful place to begin is St. Paul's letters. In Chapter 16 of his Letter to the Romans, Paul mentions 26 persons, including nine women, three of whom are presented here.

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.

On Thursday, Jan. 31, the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo will host the 19th annual Gala 22:6 - A Celebration of Catholic Education. Since its inception in 2001, the dinner has provided more than $4 million in financial assistance to help students and their families who are most in need.

ORCHARD PARK — The students at Nativity of Our Lord School had a very busy in November. On Nov. 5, students gathered to pray for our nation. They said a rosary, dedicating each decade to a different government office.

Two contemporary events, one past and one upcoming, prompt this reflection. On Oct. 12, 2018, 11 Jews in the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh were slain as they gathered for Sabbath services. This evil was met with a righteous outcry from almost all Americans, rightly so. Meanwhile, on the 25th of this month we Christians celebrate the Conversion of St. Paul. One can ask what would Paul's thoughts be on the radical anti-Semitism occurring in a synagogue named "The Tree of Life?"

Earlier this week, Bishop Malone added this statement to the NYS Catholic Conference of Bishops, regarding the passage of the Reproductive Health Act: "NYS is already the state with the highest rate of killing pre-born children through abortion. This is a tragic day for NYS that makes a very bad situation even worse. It is a barbaric action of our legislature, and clearly nothing to celebrate."

St. Christopher School Media Lab program has been completely revamped and features the new learning platform "Google for Education."

PANAMA CITY, Panama (CNA) — Upon arriving in Panama for World Youth Day 2019, Pope Francis met with politicians, diplomats and civil society leaders, extending a message of hope for "a more humane world."

Mount Mercy Academy's Women in Social Sciences Program has completed its first full year giving the students the opportunity to interact with three strong female role models.

On the 46th anniversary of the Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision that gave women the legal right to an abortion, New York state passed the Reproductive Health Act on Jan. 22 that expands abortion-rights legislation in the Empire State.

World Youth Day 2019 opened Jan. 22 in Panama City, Panama. Over 150,000 have registered for the event which ran until Jan. 27. Usually held in the summer, this year's event was held during the cool season of Panama, which conflicted with the American school year. As a result, the Diocese of Buffalo has not planned a pilgrimage to the Central American city.