Current News

Bishop Richard J. Malone announced the new assignment of Deacon Brian C. Walkowiak to diaconal ministry at Infant of Prague Parish, Cheektowaga. His appointment was effective April 1.

Father Raymond F. Uschold, a retired diocesan priest, died April 26, 2017, at Elderwood Skilled Nursing in Amherst. He was 87 years of age.

Father Paul Bossi, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church, will host the Camerata di Sant'Antonio Chamber Orchestra during a special concert May 17 at the Buffalo church.

Catholic Bishop Richard J. Malone brings attention to the genocide in Iraq and Syria. "We need to help save ancient, ethnic and religious communities," the Buffalo said in a new "Consider This."

Members of Catholic Health, Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Buffalo Medical Group donned hardhats and shovels to break ground for a new radiation oncology center in Orchard Park on April 28. The 5,000-square-foot center, located at Buffalo Medical Group's Southtowns Campus on North Buffalo Road, will offer outpatient radiation therapy under the clinical oversight of Roswell Park radiation oncologists. A panel of cancer specialists including radiation oncologists, medical physicists and medical dosimetrists will work together to plan, review and deliver personalized treatment for each patient in accordance with both national oncology treatment guidelines and the latest medical evidence.

One of my favorite sayings is, "Every expert was once a beginner," and I can honestly say there are now many experts who enjoy making retreats quite frequently. Allow me to take this opportunity to briefly describe a retreat experience through actual questions and comments received from individuals who had never been on a retreat until their visit to the Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara. Happily, those who decided to try it out have been pleasantly surprised and renewed.

A $35,000 grant Villa Maria College recently received from the St. Francis Fund of Felician Services Inc., will be used to address the problems of access to a college education and persistence to graduation for low-income and at-risk students, with a focus on Buffalo's East Side and its large immigrant and refugee population.

Dr. Maureen F. Finney, dean of the School of Health Professions at D'Youville College in Buffalo, has been made a member of the 2017-2018 Senior Leadership Academy, cosponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges and the American Academic Leadership Institute, both based in Washington D.C.

Carmen Colao, director of Catholic Cemeteries for the Diocese of Buffalo, discusses their upcoming open houses as well as special remembrances for Mother's Day and Memorial Day.

WASHINGTON, DC - As the U.S. House of Representatives appears poised to vote on the American Health Care Act (HB 1628), Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, stressed that remaining flaws in the bill will harm poor and vulnerable people and called on members to insist upon changes.

In about a month, the Diocese of Buffalo is set to welcome four new priests, as Transitional Deacons Robert Agbo, Martin Gallagher, Cole Webster and Luke Uebler will be ordained by Bishop Richard J. Malone at St. Joseph Cathedral on Saturday, June 3. Peak into the lives of these men as they prepare to take the final step of their journey to the priesthood in our new photo gallery.

Before I joined Youth Board, my faith was pretty strong. I have been very involved with my church. I am part of the Boy Scouts and also the parish youth group. I am an altar server who received the Altar Server of the Year Award this past year.

Mercy Hospital's Sleep Lab has been awarded a five-year accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The Mercy Sleep Lab is a state-of-the-art facility that provides diagnostic and treatment services for all types of sleep disorders.

The Bishop's Committee for Christian Home and Family invites everyone to an inspirational Day of Reflection. The Bishop's Committee will host the day on Thursday, May 11, at St. Philip the Apostle Parish, 950 Losson Road in Cheektowaga, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Early Wednesday morning Pope Francis addressed the TED 2017 conference, telling participants that to have a hopeful outlook for the future, we must plant seeds of humility, solidarity and tenderness today.

WASHINGTON, DC - Cardinal Timothy Dolan, chair of the USCCB's Committee on Pro-Life Activities, reacted to the announcement by the Democratic National Committee's chair pledging support only for pro-abortion candidates. Calling the pledge "very disturbing," Cardinal Dolan urged party members to "challenge their leadership to recant this intolerant position."

Students at St. Christopher School are riding the current wave of educational technology. The Tonawanda school initiated an iPad program for its seventh-graders to prepare them for the future.

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (CNA/EWTN News) - As Arkansas prepares to conduct the first double execution in the U.S. since 2000, Catholics prayed for all involved in the execution and the victims of the capital crimes.

ALEXANDRIA, VA. - Sister Donna Markham OP, PhD, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), announced that Estelle Anderson of Buffalo has been named the CCUSA Volunteer of the Year for 2017.

BOWMANSVILLE — Sacred Heart Parish will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady's appearance to three shepherd children, Lúcia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto, in Fatima, Portugal, as she pleaded with them to pray for peace and "poor souls who have no one to pray for them."

HAMBURG — Hilbert College's first-ever Giving Day, a 24-hour online and telephone giving campaign, amassed 316 donors and more than $52,000 toward student scholarships on March 1.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - When it comes to religious persecution, Christians are the most widely targeted community, said a new report released this week.

Each year at this time, governments large and small go through their budget process. It's the time when the executive and legislative branches work together to develop a plan for where money comes from and where money goes.

Immigration and refugee assistance at Catholic Charities featuring Ann Brittain, director, and Walter Win, case manager.

Each Spring brings forth a renewed spirit and sense of excitement for the season that lies ahead. In keeping with this zest for the season, the faculty and staff of St. Mary's High School in Lancaster recently participated in the school's annual Day of Caring.

As Buffalo continues to prosper, Bishop Richard J. Malone asks that we work together toward racial equity in our community.

For those interested in forming and participating in a local parish committee or team to promote helping the environment, the diocesan Care for Creation Committee will host an informational workshop at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 16, at Villa Maria College in Buffalo. The committee has been reaching out to pastors to see if their parishioners would be interested in having such a group in their parish, as well as seeking feedback from people in diocesan parishes that have them and would like to share their experiences.

The Catholic Church in the United States is in the middle of the process of the V Encuentro. This is a four-year process of ecclesial reflection and evangelization that invites all Catholics in the United States to intense missionary activity, consultation, leadership development, and the identification of best ministerial practices in the spirit of the New Evangelization.

ST. BONAVENTURE — St. Bonaventure University has hired a global expert in computer technology and security to direct its bachelor's degree program in cybersecurity.

Father David J. Peter, a retired diocesan priest, died April 17, 2017, at the Brothers of Mercy facility in Clarence. He was 76 years of age.

The Wyoming County office of Catholic Charities has moved to a larger, more accessible site and is now serving clients two days each week on the campus of Community Action for Wyoming County in Building #1, 6470 State Rt. 20A, Perry.

To commemorate the centenary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal, a novena to Our Lady of Fatima will take place on May 5-13 at the Dominican Nuns' Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary, located at 335 Doat St. in Buffalo.

Bishop Richard J. Malone invites you to attend an information session about his upcoming pilgrimage to Ireland, A Journey of Faith, which will take place from Oct. 20-29. The session will be held on Sunday, April 30, at 3 p.m. in the Msgr. Britt Room at St. Joseph Cathedral (50 Franklin St., Buffalo, 14202). Whether you have already signed up as a pilgrim or are simply interested in learning more about the trip, everyone is very welcome to attend. Enjoy complimentary refreshments while learning more about the trip itinerary and what you can expect to see and do while you're traversing the Emerald Isle. You will also be given information on what to wear, what to pack and what the weather will be like during your 10-day trip.

Sister Mary Marcella Anne Wendzikowski, CSSF, died on Good Friday, April 14, 2017, in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center of the Felician Sisters in Buffalo. She was 74.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis reminded Christians on Easter Sunday that the Resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith - and that even in the face of unexplainable tragedy and suffering in the world, we can declare, "Christ is risen!"

Holy Week at St. Joseph Cathedral is one of the busiest times of the year, with several Masses and liturgies marking the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here are some of our favorite images of the week in a new photo gallery.

The path to the Resurrection was illuminated at St. Joseph Cathedral, as Bishop Richard J. Malone celebrated the Easter Vigil Saturday night.

Hundreds of people flocked to St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo on Good Friday, April 14 to hear Bishop Richard J. Malone lead the Solemn Celebration of the Lord's Passion. Good Friday liturgies have three parts: Liturgy of the Word, Adoration of the Holy Cross, and Holy Communion.

At the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, Bishop Richard J. Malone washed the feet of twelve men, women and young people in front of the altar at St Joseph Cathedral.

The Diocese of Buffalo continued a time-honored Holy Week tradition that renewed the promises of all diocesan priests and enabled Bishop Richard J. Malone to prepare sacred oils for use in sacraments throughout the diocese. The Chrism Mass, held at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo April 11, also included the participation of "The Elect," soon-to-be Catholics initiated later in the week.