Current News

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit down with a bishop and chat, just chat, about whatever's on your mind? What would you ask him?

The Diocesan Marian Commission, under the spiritual direction of Father Michael Burzynski, pastor of St. John Gualbert Church in Cheektowaga, is in the process of planning a pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., similar to the one that took place in 2012.

World Refugee Day, June 20, came and went with hardly a notice.

HAMBURG — Sister Christine Songin, FSSJ, and Sister Benilda Nadolski, FSSJ, celebrated their 75th jubilee, and Sister Ann Marie Hudzina, FSSJ, celebrated her 50th jubilee on May 28 at Immaculate Conception Convent.

Brother Louis N. Mauro, SJ, died July 28, 2017, at Murray-Weigel Hall in the Bronx. He was 75.

WILLIAMSVILLE — The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities will host their second annual "Burgers, Brews and Blues" summer fundraiser on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at St. Mary of the Angels Convent, 201 Reist St., in Williamsville. Event proceeds will benefit the sisters' important ministries throughout Western New York and beyond.

WASHINGTON—The Most Reverend Joe S. Vásquez, Bishop of Austin and Chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, says that the newly proposed RAISE Act would cause our nation to turn its back on those setting out to build better lives, weaken family bonds and impact the nation's ability to respond to those in crisis. Bishop Vásquez's full statement follows:

The Buffalo Diocese' STREAM program has proven to be a model of education for the nation. Representatives from Buffalo led a two-day conference to teach other educators how to make the tech program work in their schools. Jean Comer, diocesan STREAM coordinator, and Shelly Reidy, diocesan professional development coordinator, traveled to Chicago's Loyola University to explain and demonstrate how to deliver the principles of STREAM education to the classrooms, school or diocese.

As part of a collaboration between Mount St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston and Catholic Cemeteries, the two entities came together on Aug. 2 to bless and dedicate a new space on the grounds of Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lewiston for families who have suffered losses associated with miscarriage. The newly dedicated section of the cemetery is designated specifically for fetuses aged 20 weeks or younger.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America awarded nearly $4 million in funding in the form of 244 grants to support the pastoral work of the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean, and nearly $2 million in funding for continued reconstruction in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. The grants were approved at the Subcommittee's meeting on June 12 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Sister Virginia May, OSF, died July 30, 2017, at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany. She was 91.

As I was trying to discern what God wanted me to write about, I walked into my 16-year-old son's bedroom to discover a military calendar hanging on the wall. It highlighted young men and women in combat fatigues, fighter jets, an aircraft carrier battle group and plenty of American flags.

The Holy Cross Parish Council is pleased to announce its first Holy Cross 5K Mass Run and one-mile walk on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 7:45 a.m.

In honor of the 81st anniversary of Venerable Nelson H. Baker's death, Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica continued its longstanding tradition of honoring the beloved Buffalo icon on July 30. A congregation, including clergy, religious, lay faithful and "Baker Boys," men who lived at Father Baker's orphanage as young boys, listened as Msgr. Paul J.E. Burkard, rector of the basilica, urged all Catholic faithful to use Father Baker's life of service as an ideal role model for modern day sainthood.

Most of the retired priests of the Diocese of Buffalo are hardly "retired" at all. Msgr. Angelo Caligiuri is a good example of that. At age 83, he still serves on the Priests Personnel Board, Diocesan Finance Council, board of directors for the Diocesan Counseling Center, and says weekend Masses and occasionally a weekday Mass at St. Joseph University Parish in Buffalo.

WASHINGTON—In response to last night's Senate vote on the "skinny repeal" bill, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, has issued the following statement:

Hundreds of people are expected to join Bishop Richard J. Malone on Sunday, Aug. 6, Transfiguration Sunday, at 10 a.m. for a special outdoor Mass at St. John XXIII Parish, 1 Arcade St. (corner of Harlem Road), West Seneca. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs. This will be the only Mass at the parish on Sunday, Aug. 6.

WILLIAMSVILLE — It has been an exciting year for STREAM at St. Gregory the Great School. St. Greg's has adopted the STREAM culture implementing, and building onto, much of the initiative curriculum. Teachers are planning their teaching around core principles of collaboration through interdisciplinary lessons and hands-on learning experiences, especially through use of the engineering design process.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Subcommittee on Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe approved over $4.8 million in funding for 206 projects in 22 countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Diocese of Buffalo's ordination class of 1967 recently shared a 50th anniversary Mass, paying special honor to Father Guy Siracuse, a classmate, a fellow priest, a friend who has spent the last 18 years at the Brothers of Mercy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Clarence following a stroke. Now, with limited mobility and speech, he remains a much-loved brother of his class.

WASHINGTON—In light of today's Senate Republican vote to address the healthcare law, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, is appealing to Senators on both sides to work together in the days ahead to advance changes that will serve the common good of all.

Father Robert J. McArtney, a retired diocesan priest, died July 23, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo. He was 83 years old.

As the Upon This Rock campaign officially surpasses the $100 million mark this month, it is by no means too late to contribute. While the pledge phase is winding down, the distribution is just beginning. Parishes began to receive checks last summer representing their 35 percent share of the fund drive. This summer, a total of $94,000 will be distributed to 18 Catholic schools to enhance or, in the case of seven of those schools, launch a STREAM program for the first time.

EAST AURORA — Since January, a group of about a dozen boys has been meeting every Wednesday evening at Christ the King Seminary. The newly organized group is part of a national discipleship program known as Fraternus.

Gathered under shelter 16 at Ellicott Creek Park, about 30 young adults celebrated Mass on a warm summer's day. Members of [re], Frassati WNY and a few strays came to worship in an environment different from the four walls and stained glass of their churches. St. Benedict Parish in Eggertsville hosted the event. Pastor Father Robert Mock celebrated the July 22 Mass.

WASHINGTON—Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Texas, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration, has issued the following statement on San Antonio law enforcement's identification of a tractor trailer containing 39 people, including ten individuals who died due to heat exposure and asphyxiation.

St. Gregory the Great Parish & School is excited to welcome Mrs. Julie Gajewski as the new School Principal. Mrs. Gajewski joins St. Gregory's after serving as Principal of the Intermediate Education Center, a school that serves Grades 3-5 in the Lewiston-Porter Central School District.

Like most parents, when my kids were growing up I read my share of Dr. Seuss books to them, and one of my favorites was "The Lorax." It is the story of the Once-ler who discovers that he can make a garment called a Thneed from the beautiful Truffula trees - and creates an entire industry that decimates the Truffula trees, pollutes the air and water, and forces the animals to migrate in order to survive.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY — A new research grant will allow a Niagara University senior to determine why Niagara Falls may lag behind comparable stateside tourist destinations when it comes to eradicating poverty and growing its tourism economy.

WASHINGTON—In a letter to President Donald J. Trump, thirty-five Jewish, Christian and Muslim national religious leaders agree that Israeli-Palestinian peace is possible. They believe, "based on the legitimate, long-standing aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians for national self-determination and security, a two-state solution still represents the most realistic way to meet essential interests of both peoples and to resolve the conflict."

WASHINGTON—In light of uncertainty about how the Senate will proceed on health care in the coming days, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, called on the Senate to fix problems with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in a more narrow way, rather than repeal it without an adequate replacement.

Earlier this year, an inquiry from a Southern Tier resident led to the rediscovery of, and renewed interest in, a piece of diocesan history: a quilt that parishioners from all existing diocesan parishes, as of 1997, contributed to that year for the 150th anniversary of the Diocese of Buffalo. For a few years after this, the completed quilt, consisting of four large, separate panels, traveled from parish to parish. Since then, it has remained safety stored in the Catholic Center in downtown Buffalo.

The gift of a building from a Youngstown businessman will allow the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to resume retail operations in Niagara Falls.

Bishop John Timon, ordained as a Vincentian priest, was immersed in the order's charisms reflecting social justice and the Gospel values of care for the poor, sick, widowed and orphaned, and he lived by the motto of the order: Evangelizare pauperibus misit me - "He has sent me to preach the Gospel to the poor." Soon after his arrival, the bishop discovered the immediate need for an orphanage and hospital. Writing in his diary years later he believed that the purpose of the Catholic Church in Buffalo was to: "satisfy their worldly and spiritual needs."

A family from Congo, Africa received many helping hands from the students, parents, and faculty of St. John the Baptist School in Kenmore. Under the guidance of James Werick, the school's Dean of Discipline, students collected furniture, household items, clothing, and food to help settle the family of four. "Our students performed a wonderful act of kindness for a young family who has nothing and is fleeing unimaginable hardship, desperately seeking a new life in our country," states Werick. "This project helped in a very substantial way—working to create a welcoming home for our family."

Canisius College hosted a weeklong immersion experience for high school students to expose them to the wonders of faith and tragedies of injustice in the city of Buffalo. The Be the Light Youth Theology Institute welcomed 10 students from July 10-15.

DENVER, COLO. (CNA/EWTN News) - In the last 24 hours more than twenty Catholic pages, some with millions of followers, have been blocked by Facebook for unknown reasons.

As jubilarians, we welcome and thank all who come to celebrate with us today: Bishop Richard J. Malone, our family and friends, priests concelebrating, and all who have supported us along our way to this day.

Although they have long histories, many Catholic parishes in the United States has become plagued by an issue many pastors have noticed, one that could lead to a shorter history than they would like. With many millennials, or young adults born during an ill-defined time period that usually includes the 1980s to late 1990s, not attending Church or participating in religion in general, parishes have been put in a bind.

WASHINGTON— Over 750,000 youth have received protection from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) since its inception by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2012. While DACA provides no legal status, it does provide recipients with a temporary reprieve from deportation and employment authorization for legal work opportunities in the United States.