Current News

ORCHARD PARK — On Dec. 26, St. Bernadette Parish is hosting an Inclusive Christmas Mass from 7-7:30 p.m. This Mass is designed for families with children and adults who have special needs. These families are living examples of Christ's love and his nearness to the most vulnerable among us. The Open Doors Committee, who advocates for parishioners with disabilities planned the celebration.

On December 13, 2018, the Diocesan Review Board met and carefully considered the reports of Investigator Scott F. Riordan who was asked to investigate allegations of abuse against four priests of the Diocese of Buffalo.

If you are a young person, the parent of young people or a ministry leader, your thoughts are wanted.

St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, has scheduled a number of celebrations during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

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.

A tearful reunion took place in Buffalo this past month. Lynn Stephens met the woman she calls her second mother, Sister Dorothy Feltz. It had been over 40 years since they last saw each other. When Sister Dorothy saw Stephens safe and sound with her adopted family, she faded away.

Buffalo Diocese and hundreds of thousands of other Catholics will be taking a pilgrimage of public witness to Washington, D.C. They are calling for the end of abortion in the United States.

The gym is more than a place for games. It is where young people learn to obey a set of rules, work as a team and be a good sport. That has always been the belief of Msgr. Leo McCarthy, former coach and mentor, and now namesake of the Baker Hall gym.

As an activity to study the states of matter, fifth-grade teacher Mary Donahue and St. John the Baptist School STREAM coordinator Mary Makar worked together to create lab stations for the students to apply the concepts that they learned in science class and understand how these theories work in the real world.

TONAWANDA — A silver anniversary is an occasion to celebrate. At Cardinal O'Hara High School, this year's Hawk-tion, held on Nov. 9, celebrated its 25th year of the school's most successful fundraiser.

This Dec. 12, many throughout the world will join our Mexican brothers and sisters to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. St. John Paul II named her Mother of the Americas.

HAMBURG — Dr. Michael S. Brophy, former president of Benedictine University (Chicago and Phoenix) and Marymount California University (Los Angeles), has been named the fourth president of Hilbert College. Brophy, who was born and raised in New York state, is the first male president in the College's 61-year history. He will take office Jan. 15, 2019.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has named Father Bryan J. Zielenieski pastor of Our Lady of Charity Parish, Buffalo, for a term of six years.

Teenagers and adults from over 10 parishes gathered at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Cheektowaga on Friday, Nov. 9, to reflect on The Call: Sainthood is Now. The evening began with praise and worship led by The Anointed music group. The opening prayer focused on First Samuel where the young boy finally realizes it is God who is calling him. He responds, "Speak for your servant is listening." A sung litany of saints concluded the prayer.

Perhaps you caught some of the recent Plenary Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, held in Baltimore from Nov. 12 through Nov. 15.

Sister Mary Helen Buscarino, OSF, has come a long distance from her Italian birthplace, and she has met a lot of people along the way. Her life as a Franciscan sister has given her opportunities to help others, and she used every one of those chances to make someone else's world better.

The 29th Annual Night of Prayer will be observed Saturday, Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, at 9 p.m. to Sunday, Dec. 9, feast of St. Juan Diego, at 1 a.m.

The Response To Love Center is collecting everyday cleaning supplies that will be distributed to the people in need during our Christmas Eve dinner.

Retirement for Sister Joan Sherry means working four days a week rather than seven. There are also no more late night meetings, and "a lot less pressure."

Prayer is one of the most important things a Christian can do. It is a way of communicating with God. Prayer does not have to be complicated or difficult. It can be as easy as a conversation with a good friend.

Teachers know they have made an impact on their students when those students attend their birthday parties. When Sister Mary Fidelma Kakol turned 100 in October, her former students packed the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center to wish her well.

The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held Dec. 8-9 in the Diocese of Buffalo. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) in Washington, the appeal benefits 31,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests.

DENVER, COLO. (CNA) - "Insincerity was an evil which sprang up within the Church from the first," wrote Blessed John Henry Newman in 1839. "Ananias and Simon were not open opposers of the Apostles, but false brethren."

Officials and staff of Catholic Charities Workforce and Education Services celebrated the grand opening of its newest location at 1001 E. Delavan Ave., Buffalo, Friday, Nov. 16, with an open house, blessing and dedication and tours of the facility.

Wondering just how Catholics can live as missionary disciples? Pope Francis' suggests that we do it by visiting with those at the margins. In other words, we learn to be missionaries by spending time in the company of those with whom church insiders can find it most difficult. If we want our parishes to thrive and not merely survive, we need to pay attention to those who we find hardest to understand. Why? Because that is where many of God's people are. Our purpose is to connect, welcome and engage them.

Sister Ruth Haselbauer, a Sister of St. Joseph for 65 years and an administrator and faculty member at Medaille College for 35 years, died Nov. 19, 2018, at the Sisters of St. Joseph Residence in Clarence, after an extended illness. She was 84.

Sister Mary Rosalma Pawlak, 98, a Felician Sister for 76 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo on Nov. 28, 2018. The former Josephine Pawlak was born on Feb. 22, 1920, in Morris Run, Pa. She entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province of the Felician Sisters on Oct. 25, 1942, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 6, 1950. She was a member of St. Casimir Parish in Elmira, and graduated from Elmira Free Academy. She earned a bachelor's degree from Mount St. Joseph Teachers (now Medaille) College in Buffalo. She also received a diploma from Rochester Dental Dispensary and a New York state license as a dental hygienist.

Sister Mary Janet Mazierski, 89, a Felician Sister for 69 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo on Nov. 28, 2018. The former Lucille Mazierski was born Sept. 18, 1929, in Buffalo. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on Sept. 17, 1949, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 13, 1957. She graduated from Riverside High School in Buffalo and furthered her education at Canisius College of Buffalo earning a bachelor's degree and at Medaille College, Buffalo, with a master of arts degree.

The name of the Serra Club of Buffalo may have changed to Mary, Mother of Vocations Ministry but its mission remains the same; to foster and affirm vocations to the ordained priesthood, vowed religious life and permanent diaconate and through this ministry, affirm its members' common Catholic Faith. The Serra Club of Buffalo was connected to the larger Serra USA and Serra International organizations.

The longer I have reflected the clearer it has become to me that all of the vocations in the Church exist in relation to one another, and that none exist in isolation. Over the years, our diocese has been blessed with the ministry and support of several communities of religious orders.

The Western New York community is invited to begin the Advent and Christmas seasons by participating in the annual vespers service, a holiday tradition at Christ the King Seminary, on Sunday, Dec. 2. The service will begin at 4 p.m. in the seminary's St. John Vianney Chapel.

The Felician Sisters of North America's recent installation of 774 solar panels on their property in Buffalo, is part of the Felician Sisters of North America's nationwide solar power project that includes a series of such solar installations at six Felician Sisters' sites across the country.

TONAWANDA — Students at Cardinal O'Hara High School are experiencing a new opportunity to join theater. The comedy, "Anne Arky" by Lindsay Price scheduled Nov. 29 and 30, will be the first fall play performed in the school's history and will join the annual spring musical, expanding the drama and performance opportunities for students.

My name is Rebecca Young and I am a senior at the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart. My time on Youth Board so far this year has had a meaningful impact on my life already.

Two very different men, facing different sets of dire challenges with prophetic courage, faithfully journeyed along two different paths to the same destination: sainthood!

Father David Richards, administrator of Our Lady of Pompeii Parish in Lancaster, received recognition for channeling his abundant energy into advocacy for youth.

In 587 BC, the Babylonians destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem and many Israelites were exiled to Babylonia or they fled to Egypt. Just as the people were referred to as the "House of David," they were also considered the "House of God" - both the building and the community were in ruins. Eventually, the Persians, under Cyrus, defeated the Babylonians, and the Israelites in Babylonia were allowed to return to the environs of Jerusalem. The task of those returnees was to rebuild their lives, their economy and their society, as well as their religious practice and the Temple of their God.

It was a proud moment for the Diocese of Buffalo when 15 deacons were ordained this past September at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna. Upon entering this sacred space the awareness and immensity of God's presence is captivating. Those gathered to celebrate the ordination struggled to recall a time in recent memory when there were so many prepared and ready to serve the Lord and his Church.

The chancery announced several clergy appointments during the month of November 2018.

After receiving a complaint of sexual misconduct with an adult female, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Samuel T. Giangreco Jr. on administrative leave as an investigation continues.