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How many kids would celebrate a pretend Mass and hand out Necco wafers to their younger siblings as Communion? "I'd keep all the chocolate ones for myself," said Msgr. David S. Slubecky. "I was just drawn to the idea of being able to celebrate Mass and be involved with people in a parish."

WASHINGTON—In response to the destruction caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and earthquakes in Mexico, Catholics across the United States have contributed nearly $59 million to relief and recovery efforts. Initiated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), special collections and funds were launched last year to support humanitarian relief efforts as well as to provide pastoral services and financial support to rebuild facilities in dioceses impacted by these disasters.

When Johnny Graves was a freshman, to him Robert Scott was more than president of St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute. Scott became somewhat of a guardian after Graves' brother, Aaron, who was a senior at the school at the time, passed away after a battle with cancer.

At a time when daily scandals and bad behavior seem to dominate the headlines, taking a moment to pause and listen to the reflections of an international religious leader like Pope Francis sounds like a pretty good idea. A new documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Wim Wenders that looks at the philosophies and mission of Pope Francis was released locally on Friday.

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardoof Galveston-Houston, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued the following statement in the aftermath of the Santa Fe High School shooting:

WASHINGTON—In response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing violence between Israelis and Palestinians, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, Chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, stated the following:

KENMORE — Mount St. Mary Academy Principal Dawn Riggie announced her retirement after 25 years leading the Kenmore all-girls high school.

TONAWANDA — One of the core values at St. Amelia School is "Aspiring to Serve." Throughout the school year, students are involved in many different activities and projects that serve our school, our parish and our community.

The Mercy Hospital Family BirthPlace is pleased to now offer nitrous oxide, also known as "laughing gas," as another option to ease the discomfort of childbirth.

There are many experiences that tie Western New Yorkers together. One of them is visiting the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. I recall being especially attracted to a beautiful "Eucharistic Dove" circa A.D. 1200. It was auctioned off by the Albright-Knox in 2007 but can still be seen online.

Gerard Place is expanding its services in order to assist families with moving out of poverty and to expand its ministry within its East Side community.

St. Christopher Bereavement Team will have their Annual Children's Memorial Prayer Service on Tuesday, June 14 at 7 p.m. at St. Christopher Church, 2660 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Tonawanda.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo officials today reported a recent surge in donations has helped the 2018 Appeal reach $9.5 million in cash and pledges, representing 86 percent of this year's goal. This updated total includes an influx of more than $600,000 since April 30 when the Appeal was at $8.9 million. With fewer than seven weeks remaining, the 94th annual Appeal remains $1.5 million short of its $11 million goal.

Bishop Richard J. Malone announced that, effective June 1, Father Mark J. Noonan, will assume the duties of vicar general and moderator of the curia. Msgr. David S. Slubecky, who has held the office since 2005, will retire June 1.

Thomas Witakowski is missing five seconds of his life due to a stroke. The staff of Mercy Hospital has given him the past 17 months.

At a recent monthly meeting, the St. Benedict Creation Care Team held an informational session to inform those interested in living out Pope Francis's encyclical on the environment called "Laudato Si" or "On Care For Our Common Home."

What's in a name? Or initials for that matter?

"In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship, but to keep her on her course."

As we begin the month of May, our spirits are energized by the warm glow of sunshine, and beholding the new life around us in blossom and color. The long awaited springtime is upon us. This month of new life is dedicated to Mary, the Mother of the Church and our mother.

This May on "Our Daily Bread," host Father Paul D. Seil will be taking the show on the road, as he heads to Camp Turner in Salamanca. Camp Turner is a summer and winter residential camp operated by the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Diocese of Buffalo. The camp is located inside Allegany State Park about 90 minutes from downtown Buffalo.

Two trends in biblical studies come together for this reflection. The first, the search for the historical Jesus, allows us to speak also of the historical Mary; the second, the understanding that the earliest Christians lived under the oppressive rule of the Roman Empire opens our minds to elements in Mary's depiction that imply such an experience.

With Mother's Day coming soon, the Catholic Church wishes to reiterate its focus on the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. The faithful pray and protest to end abortion, while at the same time working in hospitals and with the government to care for those who are lost before birth.

Catholic Health's Sisters of Charity Hospital and Mercy Hospital of Buffalo have been named Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care as part of BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York's Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

TONAWANDA — Julia Dunn, a sophomore at Cardinal O'Hara High School, will perform Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" on a concert program May 12 and 13 with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of JoAnn Falletta.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Catholic Diocesan Bishops of New York State announced today the formation of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, which at $3.2 billion will be one of the largest in the United States, and the largest focused solely on New York State. The foundation will provide up to $150 million annually in grants to serve New Yorkers in need and will be steered by a board of health experts, business leaders and philanthropists chaired by Al Kelly, CEO of Visa.

A couple local students are putting Buffalo on the map. Zachary Hawley and Brigid Benson, both eighth-graders made their way to the state finals of the National Geographic Geography Bee held April 8 in Albany. They joined 100 students from across the state.

Sister Marie Colette Rutkowski, (formerly Sister M. Inviolata) died peacefully on May 3, 2018, at St. Francis Park in the 83rd year of life and the 61st year of religious life.

Norman (Norm) Paolini Jr., co-founder of St Luke's Mission of Mercy, passed away on April 30, 2018 in his Buffalo home, after a lengthy illness.

After receiving a recent letter regarding a previous abuse complaint against Father Fabian Maryanski, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Maryanski on administrative leave for the purpose of reopening the previous investigation

Bishop Richard J. Malone will have the honor of ordaining four men to the priesthood on Saturday, June 2. The special Mass will begin at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo. The new priests, who were ordained deacons in September, are Rev. Mr. Peter Nsa Bassey, Rev. Mr. Paul Stanislaw Cygan, Rev. Mr. Peter Santandreu and Rev. Mr. Gerard Skrzynski. Each of the men will graduate from Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, on May 11 with a master of divinity degree.

Bishop Richard Malone celebrated Mass in Spanish Tuesday afternoon with a group of about 600 detainees inside the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia. Many of the detainees are serving time for immigration violations. His visit was inspired by Matthew 25:37 "I was in prison and you visited me."

Catholic Charities of Buffalo officials today updated the community on the progress of the 2018 Appeal. With two months remaining, the 94th annual Appeal has reached nearly $8.9 million in cash and pledges, or just shy of 81 percent of this year's goal. Volunteers and campaign leadership must raise an additional $2.1 million between now and June 30 in order to reach this year's $11 million goal.

Bishop Richard J. Malone will be the main celebrant at the sixth annual Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb and Mass on Sunday, May 6. The 10:30 a.m. Mass will be held at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo.

TONAWANDA — St. Amelia School is one of only two schools in New York state and the only school in Western New York to offer the innovative, research-based Arrowsmith Program.

Wrestling with the problems of social injustice in society seems to be perennial. Two of the saints of our Judeo-Christian tradition faced these problems and both have left us a record: the prophet Amos with his words (Amos 3) and Blessed Oscar Romero with his life. We remembered Blessed Oscar last month. In a course on the biblical prophets, my students wrote out a possible initial conversation between Amos and Oscar when Oscar died and met Amos in the presence of the Holy One. The following is an excellent dialogue written by our Father Martin Gallagher.

Have you ever experienced the prayerful journey of walking through a labyrinth? According to Lessons4Living.com, "a labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering, but purposeful, path. The labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools ... It is a metaphor for life's journey

HAMBURG — St. Francis Park is now open and leasing more than 35 studio suite apartments on its South Park Avenue campus in Hamburg. The opening follows the completion of the sale of the facility, formerly known as the Immaculate Conception Convent, by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph to the Catholic Health System in January.

In the fast paced modern world you can experience plenty of noise and stress. Sometimes it can seem overwhelming. Many look for solitude and quiet. The Retreat House at Abbey of the Genesee offers just that for those who want it.

Robin Hood, the legendary hero of English folklore who took from the rich to give to the poor - whose very name conjures up thoughts of fairness, justice and love for the oppressed - stands in stark contrast to President Trump who wants to take from poor and give to the rich.

Lockport native Father Jerome P. Laubacker died April 11, 2018.