Current News

WASHINGTON, DC - A married couple in their golden years, a couple inspired by their late daughter's legacy, and a salesman who heard Jesus' call to conversion on a stranger's porch, are among the thousands who will be welcomed into the Catholic Church on Easter Vigil, April 15, in parishes across the United States. All have participated in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), a process of conversion and study in the Catholic faith for catechumens and candidates coming into full communion with the Church.

The diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities and Baker Victory Services are sponsoring a Mass for all those who have been touched by adoption -- birthparents, adoptees, adoptive parents, grandparents and other relatives.

Each year, the Office of Pro-Life Activities for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo sponsors a Rosary Novena for Life. This year, it begins on Saturday, March 25, with 8 a.m. Mass at St. Rose of Lima Parish, Parkside and Parker avenues, Buffalo, and will continue on one Saturday each month through November.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - After a bomb blast killed over 20 people and wounded several others during Palm Sunday celebrations in Egypt, Pope Francis voiced his closeness to the Coptic nation, and prayed for those who perpetrate violence through the arms trade.

During the warm months, you may have seen a group riding their bikes around Buffalo on a slow roll, checking out the scenic city. On Holy Thursday, some of these people will take a "Holy Roll" through the seven Catholic churches of Buffalo's Polonia and Kaisertown districts.

If you re-read the Easter passages in the Gospels through fresh eyes you find people rushing to share their joy in Jesus Christ. Quite simply, that is evangelization. Pope Francis taught about joy in a pithy, powerful morning homily at Casa Santa Marta (May 23, 2016). "A Christian is a man, or a woman, of joy: a man and a woman with joy in their heart. There is no Christian without joy! You may be told that there are many such Christians, they are not Christians! They say they are, but they are not! They are missing something," he said.

BUFFALO, N.Y.- Bishop Richard J. Malone reported on the progress of the annual Catholic Charities of Buffalo Appeal, announcing $7,890,544.24 has been raised to date, as Catholic Charities officials marked the close of Appeal Week 2017 which ran from April 2-9 in parishes throughout the diocese.

Sister Alice Williams, SSJ, died March 27, 2017, in Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Williamsville.

FRENCH CREEK — Christ Our Hope Parish in French Creek and Sherman held a parish celebration, entitled "United In Christ Our Hope," in February. The brainchild of Father Mark Itua worked to help further unify St. Matthias parishioners in French Creek and St. Isaac Jogues parishioners in Sherman. The two parishes merged in 2008 and worked well together, but Father Itua decided a unity weekend would improve the long-term life of the parish.

Isn't it a curious and concerning thing that so many of our Christian feasts have been overlaid - better, co-opted - by all sorts of customs that, though nice, have little to do with the essence of those feasts. Christmas comes first to mind, which for too many folks seems more a consumer-driven winter wonderland festival than the celebration of our Savior's birthday. And don't get me started on what popular American culture has done to the Vigil of the Solemnity of all Saints ... better known, sadly, as Halloween.

WASHINGTON—Three chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) are offering their strong support for the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2017. The Act would prevent the federal government, and any state receiving federal funds for child welfare services, from taking adverse action against a provider that, for religious or moral reasons, declines to provide a child welfare social service.

Sister Lucille A. Socciarelli, RSM, formerly Sister Mary Lucella, died April 9, 2017. She was 82 years of age.

WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has issued the following statement in response to explosions on Palm Sunday at two Coptic Christian churches in Egypt that have killed at least 40 and injured at least 100:

With a congregation of Catholics holding individual palms, Bishop Richard J. Malone officially opened Holy Week in the Diocese of Buffalo with Palm Sunday Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo April 8.

WASHINGTON— Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop Oscar Cantú, chair of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, have issued a joint statement calling for renewed peace efforts in Syria.

Two priests walk into a kitchen. One has a mallet, and one has a cutting board. No, this is not the beginning of a joke. It's a description of this month's "Our Daily Bread."

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Religious and political leaders have renewed calls for peace as they decried dozens of reported civilian deaths by poison gas this week in the Syrian conflict.

WASHINGTON, DC - Cardinal Timothy Dolan, chair of the USCCB's Committee on Pro-Life Activities, welcomed the State Department's April 4th announcement that it will withhold federal funding from the U.N. Population Fund ("UNFPA") because UNFPA monies go to Chinese agencies that perform forced abortions and involuntary sterilizations.

Christmas and Easter mark the birth and death (and resurrection) of Jesus Christ, but Christmas seems to get more attention. Colored lights, a houseful of decorations, even a tree brought indoors fill a house at Christmas. On Easter you might see a lily in the dining room. It even took Charlie Brown nearly nine years after his first Christmas special to introduce the Easter Beagle.

In the Lenten season, the Catholic faith emphasizes the importance of self-denial, discipline and a sense of planning and preparing oneself for the future. However, Father Ryszard Biernat, who serves as secretary to Bishop Richard J. Malone, strives to live these in his life all year long through vigorous workouts, a strong will and devotion to his spiritual life that came from his desire to make sure he is healthier.

This year, St. Mary School in Swormville will continue a parish tradition that enables both students and members of the community to participate in the Stations of the Cross while contributing to a cause. Fifth-graders at St. Mary's will participate in "Pray and Play," a live-action Stations of the Cross, at 7 p.m., Friday, April 7, at St. Mary's parish center gym, followed by a fundraiser for Catholic Charities.

The business of education merged with the business of, well, business at Mount St. Mary Academy, when the Kenmore high school opened its doors to teach middle-schoolers about entrepreneurship.

Fulfilling one of his roles as bishop, the Most Reverend Richard J. Malone celebrated Mass for inmates at the Erie County Holding Center on the evening of April 1. He told the 16 orange-clad inmates who attended the Mass in the chapel that he made the visit because Jesus said to.

Deacon Don Weigel discusses Catholic teaching on immigration.

WASHINGTON, DC - Cardinal Timothy Dolan, chair of the USCCB's Committee on Pro-Life Activities, praised both chambers of the U.S. Congress for taking action to nullify a bad policy imposed by the Obama Administration. Congress' joint resolution of disapproval (H.J. Res 43 / S. Res. 13) was passed by the House in mid-February, and by the Senate on March 30, 2017. It overrides a rule change made late in the Obama Administration that prevented states from redirecting Title X family planning funding away from abortion providers like Planned Parenthood to community health centers that provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care. The rule change went into effect on January 18, 2017.

EAST AURORA - Christ the King Seminary invites Western New York Christians and supporters to celebrate Holy Week at the seminary.

The following liturgies are scheduled for Holy Week at St. Joseph Cathedral.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Vice President Mike Pence cast the deciding vote in the Senate Thursday to advance a measure allowing states to once more have the freedom to avoid funding Planned Parenthood clinics with federal "family planning" grants.

Bishop Richard Malone shares the experience of being with his parents when they died and how physician assisted suicide is a big mistake. He offers examples of why it is problematic for society.

LAKE VIEW — How do most people see addicts? Do they see them as lazy, unkept, dirty, homeless or jobless? Perhaps some addicts are these things, but that is not the truth of the matter. The truth is that they are all someone's sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, siblings, spouses, grandparents, friends, family members, coworkers and neighbors. Addiction affects people of all walks of life.

Father Simeon (Daniel) Rukstalis, OFM, Conv., died March 27, 2017, in Hamburg. He was 83.

WASHINGTON, DC - After the U.S. House of Representatives withdrew the American Health Care Act (AHCA) on March 24 2017, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, and Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida urged members of Congress to "seize this moment to create a new spirit of bipartisanship" and make necessary reforms on access, affordability, life and conscience.

Mount Mercy Academy is dedicated to educating young women not only for academic excellence, but also for compassionate service, Christian leadership, global awareness and lifelong learning. Rooted in foundress Catherine McAuley's vision for women and those who are poor, Mount Mercy affirms the uniqueness and dignity of individuals and fosters faith with a commitment to the challenges of building a just society.

On Friday, April 7 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at St. Gregory the Great Ministry Center, the MOMS ministry will be holding a mini retreat open to all, entitled, "Lighting the Way in Lent." Laura Boronski, a singer, songwriter, Catholic wife of 25 years and mother of eight, will be singing songs she wrote and recorded, including her famous "Stations of the Cross," which can be heard on local Catholic radio WLOF 101.7FM, the Station of the Cross.

On the first Saturday of each month from September through June, a faith formation program for people with disabilities and their families meets at Baker Victory Services' Baker Hall School in Buffalo from noon until 2:30 p.m. This ministry, called God's Family, allows individuals to connect with other families who have experienced similar life circumstances while also learning more about their Catholic faith.

Catholic Medical Partners is pleased to announce that David R. Dougherty, DO, and Msgr. Robert E. Zapfel have been named to its board of directors.

Through a collaborative effort with Encompass Family Health Home and partners across upstate New York, Catholic Charities of Buffalo is now a Children's Health Home Care Management provider in the region. As a Children's Health Home Care Management provider, Catholic Charities will work alongside a network of other providers, health plans and community-based organizations to both enroll children in Encompass Health Home and coordinate services for children and their families.

Teachers were informed on Wednesday afternoon and parents were told this evening that Mary Queen of Angels School in Cheektowaga will be closing at the end of this school year. The difficult decision was made by the school's Board of Trustees, a board of limited jurisdiction, which asked Bishop Richard J. Malone's permission to close the school.

STELLA NIAGARA — Stella Niagara Education Park announced its plans to further incorporate the innovative Outdoor Education Program that was created in 2015 to provide intentional outdoor experiences and infuse outdoor education into all areas of the curriculum. Building on an existing curriculum that utilized the 104-acre campus, the education committee of the school's board of directors created the Outdoor Education Program and hired Coleen Edwards as the coordinator.

Why do we do the things we do during Lent? Find out the reasons why we fast, abstain from meat and more.