Current News

Two lethal bills have been introduced in Albany: A.1748 in relation to abortion expansion, and A.10059/S.7579 in relation to legalizing physician-assisted suicide.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has named Father Edward "Ted" F. Jost Jr. pastor of St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Hamburg, for a term of six years, effective Jan 1. Father Jost had been serving as the parish administrator there since September 2015.

Sports are like religion in many ways. People identify with sports teams the way they identify with their religion. They gather to celebrate and sing together. Sometimes they mourn together. People dress in special clothes to play or just be a fan. There are even similarities with the halls of fame and canonized saints.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Rather than protecting U.S. interests, recent executive orders restricting immigrants and refugees could actually pose a threat to national security, warned a group of Catholic leaders on Wednesday.

St. Mary Elementary School In Lancaster began its STREAM integration during the 2015-2016 school year. "Being a STREAM school takes a lot of planning, organization and professional development for the teachers. Last year, we were new to the program and we learned so much," said Becky Hoag, STREAM coordinator for St. Mary's. The school offers STREAM Academies to all students during the school day on Friday afternoons thanks to the support from principal, Kim Kwitowski. "I am very happy that we are a STREAM school. STREAM education is essential to the future of our children and helps to shape their everyday experiences," stated Kwitowski.

Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about the celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life. Women and Men Religious have been part of our faith lives and we should thank them for their gifts. Watch the latest "Consider This."

Given the heightened news focus on immigration, on this week's podcast we revisit 2 interviews on the topic of refugees.

Since 1997, when St. John Paul II declared the first World Day for Consecrated Life, the global Catholic Church has set aside a specific day each year to pray for men and women who have chosen to dedicate their lives to service in the Church. Each year, it falls on Feb. 2, the date of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, and in 2017, diocesan parishes will be celebrating the special occasion on Feb. 4 and 5.

LEWISTON — During the past two months, science for students at St. Peter School has been focused on real research with real world ideas, working in two different areas of the living environment. Recently, students from grades four, five and six and their teachers were given an opportunity to work with volunteers from Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in Cheektowaga on a project involving the Buffalo River.

At Nardin Academy, an independent Catholic school in the heart of the Elmwood Village in the city of Buffalo, an enriching academic experience extends beyond the classroom for students in the co-ed Montessori, co-ed elementary, and high school for young women.

VATICAN CITY (CNA) - In the first days of U.S. president Donald Trump's administration, Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark said he has seen encouragement on pro-life matters, but cause for concern when it comes to refugees.

DALLAS, TEXAS (CNA/EWTN News) - Citing legal and community changes, the Boy Scouts of America have said self-declared gender identity now determines youth eligibility for its scouting programs. The move could add new difficulties for Catholic sponsors of scout troops trying to adapt to the organization's relatively new policy on homosexuality.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Jesus wasn't worried about his polling results, Pope Francis said Tuesday - instead, he was concerned with each and every person, seeing everything about them, even those things which were seemingly small or inconsequential.

Persistence pays off for Catholic schools - to the tune of $6 million. Advocacy from the NYS Catholic Conference State Coordinating Committee, Catholic school staff and parents has caused New York state to agree to modify the formula used to reimburse all state non-public schools for mandated services those schools provide.

Father Joseph C. Carlo, a retired diocesan priest, died Jan. 25, 2017, in Kenmore Mercy Hospital. He was 79.

On Jan. 30 and 31, Jonathan Shaw, an alumnus of Christ the King School in Snyder and filmmaker who has relocated to Hollywood, came to the Buffalo Museum of Science to speak with Catholic schools' seventh-grade students as part of the diocesan STREAM initiative. STREAM focuses on integrating the diverse fields of science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and math into the classroom setting.

Deacon Richard J. Mahaney, a permanent deacon, did Jan. 8, 2017. He was 91 years old.

Christmas and New Year's have now passed, which means it is the season of resolutions.

SNYDER — At Christ the King School, students came together to help fellow students at Our Lady of Black Rock School in Buffalo in the weeks leading up to Christmas by collecting donations for the city students, many of whom are refugees in great need as the weather started getting colder.

Father David Richards from the Diocese of Buffalo talks about super hero saints and how we can learn to be heroes too. Watch the latest "In a Word."

At 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 12, the Diocese of Buffalo will continue the tradition of holding the White Mass, an annual event to recognize health care professionals in Western New York, at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo. In the diocese, the Buffalo guild of the Catholic Medical Association supports and brings together Catholic doctors, nurses and other health care professionals who have committed themselves to caring for all patients to the best of their ability, while also following rules of Catholic doctrine.

WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order addressing the U.S. refugee admissions program and migration to the United States, generally. The executive order virtually shuts down the refugee admissions program for 120 days, reduces the number of refugees to be admitted to the United States this year from 110,000 to 50,000 individuals, and indefinitely suspends the resettlement of Syrian refugees. In addition, it prioritizes religious minorities suffering from religious persecution, thereby deprioritizing all other persons fleeing persecution; calls for a temporary bar on admission to the United States from a number of countries of particular concern (all Muslim majority); and imposes a yet-to-be determined new vetting process for all persons seeking entry to the United States.

WASHINGTON, DC - National Catholic Schools Week 2017 will be observed in dioceses around the country January 29-February 4. This year's theme, "Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service," focuses on the important faith-building, academic and societal contributions provided by a Catholic education.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence urged pro-lifers to win over hearts with gentleness and compassion at the 2017 March for Life on Friday.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - In a culture where abortion is prevalent, no one's rights are safe, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York insisted at a national pro-life Mass before the March for Life.

Trocaire's surgical technology program was recently congratulated by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting for achieving a 92 percent graduate pass rate of the Certified Surgical Technologist exam for Aug. 1, 2015-July 1, 2016. The organization bestowed its annual merit award upon the college as a result.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - On Wednesday Pope Francis said having total faith and trust in God means recognizing that he always knows and wants what is best for us, even if it's hard to accept because it doesn't align with our own plans.

WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald J. Trump today issued an executive order to construct a wall at the U.S./Mexico border, to significantly increase immigrant detention and deportation, and to disregard/preempt/overrule the judgment of state and local law enforcement on how best to protect their communities.

This year's diocesan Youth Convention is going by the book. The theme, breakout sessions and planning all came from "Positively Dangerous," a youth ministry guide by Frank Mercadante.

Father David Richards talks about not getting caught up in appearance and to appreciate our bodies as a temple to be cared for in the latest "In a Word."

ST. BONAVENTURE — The sidewalk that runs between the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts and Butler Memorial Hall at St. Bonaventure University has a new design that pays tribute to the university's history.

WASHINGTON, DC - The National Prayer Vigil for Life will be held from Thursday afternoon, January 26 to Friday morning, January 27, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Over 20,000 pilgrims from around the nation will pray there for an end to abortion before the annual March for Life. The Vigil marks the 44th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions legalizing abortion nationwide. Since those decisions, over 57 million abortions have been performed legally in the United States.

At St. Mary Parish in Swormville, three members of one family have produced much of the woodwork within the church, using their craftsmanship to update the décor while preserving the beauty of the interior. Donna Allan, an employee of the parish, noted last month that two of her family members built the altar, ambo, tabernacle stand, while her husband made the confessional and processional cross St. Mary's uses.

Sister Maria Pares, OSF, a legend in Western New York women's basketball history, an inductee of multiple halls of fame, and a vocal opponent of misogyny in sports, died Jan. 20, 2017, at age 75, due to complications related to cancer. Throughout her years of service, Sister Maria was considered to be a strong and feisty coach on the court who also enjoyed helping young women excel on a personal level.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Amid signs proclaiming "Keep Your Rosaries Off My Ovaries," "#IstandWithPlannedParenthood", and a host of other homemade posters ranging from the snarky to the explicit at the Women's March on Washington, pro-life women staked a spot in support of women's dignity - and against abortion.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Ahead of the 44th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. a survey shows a "consensus" favoring a 20-week abortion ban, which President Trump has pledged to sign into law if passed by Congress.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - On Monday, President Donald Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy, an international pro-life regulation that is generally seen as an indicator of an incoming president's views on abortion.

WASHINGTON, DC—Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Pro-Life Activities, applauded the memorandum issued today by President Donald Trump restoring the Mexico City Policy and extending its requirements to all U.S. global assistance.

The diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities presented the annual Pro-Vita Awards during a special Mass on Jan. 21 at St. Christopher Parish in Tonawanda. The Pro-Vita Awards were established in the Diocese of Buffalo in 1995 and are presented to people who best exemplify respect for all life.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - In a new interview published Saturday, Pope Francis said he will wait to see what U.S. President Donald J. Trump does before making any judgments, emphasizing God's own patience with him and his faults.