Current News

Father Leon Biernat received a papal honor, making him a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

As the world (and the Diocese of Buffalo) begins to celebrate the Year of Mercy, Bishop Richard J. Malone discusses the mystery of mercy through passages from the Pope in a new "Consider This."

Being a part of a team at school often brings to mind sports teams, but Canisius High School Fine Arts Department Chair Kevin Durkin points out that the school's music programs could be considered teams as well.

"Jesus is the reason for the season." How many times have we heard this saying and and wondered where Jesus is among all the twinkling lights, merry tunes, and bustling shoppers rushing home with their treasures? Community and civic light displays are everywhere, but where is Jesus?

St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, has scheduled a number of celebrations during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

In proclaiming an "Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy," Pope Francis has called us all to embrace mercy and recognize it as, "God's loving concern for each one of us." He states emphatically that God's mercy has no limits, and that all of us should strive to follow His example by always being ready to forgive.

The pilgrimage to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families and Washington, D.C., to see Pope Francis took plenty of sacrifices. We traveled by bus, train and foot, walking sometimes miles to see him.

Sister Dorothy Feltz, SSJ, keeps herself busy these days. When she's not at the Lighthouse cleaning the Clarence retreat facility, she's with her faith-sharing group at the Williamstowne Apartments. Then there are those fundraisers for Future in Our Hands, and, of course, the monthly prayer and reflections sessions, and let's not forget those book discussions in Cheektowaga.

A unique adaptation of the classic holiday tale, "A Christmas Carol," will be presented live on stage at St. Mary School in Swormvillle on Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Sister Mary Francelette Smigielski died Dec. 5, 2015, in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo, at the age of 78.

Twenty-Eight years ago the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops had the foresight to anticipate the retirement needs of Congregations of Women and Men Religious who had worked for the Church in the United States since the late 18th century. Most of these congregations, whose focus had been on providing services to the Church and its pastoral, educational and health care needs, were without adequate savings or investments for the care of retired members. It was at this time that dioceses throughout the country were asked to take up an annual collection to assist these religious congregations in providing funding for the anticipated retirement needs of their members.

This year, a new but popular tradition at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in North Tonawanda will begin another year of briging the community together to enjoy a local selection of traditional Christmas sweets.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at the noses, and Father Bill Quinlivan singing about the birth of our Lord. The season has arrived.

Sister Anthony Clare Reiman died Nov. 6, 2015, in the St. Clare Community of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany. She was 87 years old.

Sister Marianne Ferguson is a retired sister of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities in Williamsville. A native of the Buffalo area, she attended elementary school at St. Margaret School in North Buffalo and graduated from Bennett High School in Buffalo. Although she no longer received religious education in her public high school, she remained active in her faith by attending Mass and religious education classes at the nearby St. Joseph University Church in Buffalo.

On Sunday, Dec. 13, Bishop Richard J. Malone will open the "Door of Mercy" at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, signifying the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Mercy for the Catholic Church. The doors symbolize the welcoming of all to the Church. The ritual will take place at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. All are welcome.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNA/EWTN News) - Is it simply having pity for someone or bending the rules? As the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy kicks off, Catholic theologians weigh in on mercy, and its surprising connection to justice.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis has officially commenced the Jubilee of Mercy, calling those who pass through the newly-opened Holy Door to rediscover God's mercy and experience the mystery of his love.

The altar at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Bowmansville received a dedication courtesy of Bishop Richard J. Malone, in which he spoke of the meaning of the altar in Catholic churches, the then-coming Christmas season and the ways in which both are important to Catholics. Bishop Malone gave the church's new wooden altar, adorned with a depiction of the Last Supper, a special blessing on Dec. 5.

The Diocese of Buffalo held its second annual Xtreme Games and Expo, and cats everywhere are grateful.

The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collections will be held this weekend, December 12 and 13, in the Diocese of Buffalo. Now in its 28th year, the appeal is coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) and offers support for senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests whose communities lack sufficient retirement funding. Some 33,000 women and men religious past age 70 benefit.

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (Church Pop) - Sir Alec Guinness is one of the most recognizable actors of the 20th century. While he appeared in lots of films over the years and won many awards, he is best known as having played Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars.

The diocesan bulletin announcements for the week of Dec. 7, 2015.

The opening of the Year of Mercy within the Buffalo Diocese will be take place on Sunday, Dec. 13, with Mass celebrated by Bishop Richard J. Malone at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo. The Holy Door of Mercy will open during this Mass.

A family from St. Stephen Parish on Grand Island got to meet Pope Francis in Philadelphia for the pope's first-ever visit to the United States in September. Mary and Marty Bobak meet Pope Francis and watched as he gave a blessing and kiss on the forehead to their youngest daughter.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - The United States Senate voted Thursday to pass a bill that would defund Planned Parenthood, though the White House has said President Obama will veto the legislation.

The 26th Annual Night of Prayer will be observed Tuesday, Dec.8, at 9 p.m. to Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 1 a.m., Feast of the Immaculate Conception with the Feast of St. Juan Diego.

Sister Mary Ann Schutz, previously known as Sister Timothy, died Nov. 28, 2015, in the Sisters of St. Francis Health Center in Stella Niagara. She was 85 years old.

Daybreak TV Productions, the television component of the Diocese of Buffalo's Office of Communications, has announced special programming that will air on WKBW-TV Channel 7 during the month of December.

ST. BONAVENTURE - The Western New York Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Glen Cortese, will perform the program "Baroque for the Holidays" at St. Bonaventure's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9. It is the fourth concert in the 2015-2016 Friends of Good Music concert series.

Sister Beverly Schleider, formerly known as Sister Mary of the Passion, died Nov. 27, 2015, in Sisters Hospital in Buffalo, at the age of 88.

Sister Mary Marguerite Brylinski died Nov. 17, 2015, in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo. She was 100 years old.

Sister Mary Sylvia Roma died Nov. 5, 2015, at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo. She was 76 years old.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - On a Nov. 30 in-flight press conference returning from his trip to Africa, Pope Francis said that efforts to push the Church to allow condom use to prevent HIV are too narrow and do not see the whole picture.

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (CNA/EWTN News) - After Friday's shooting at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic killed three but with an official motive for the act not determined, pro-life groups have condemned any act of violence against abortion clinics.

Dec. 1 is Giving Tuesday, a worldwide effort designed to encourage people to donate charitably after several days of shopping and sales from Black Friday to Cyber Monday.

BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CNA/EWTN News) - Reported violence near a mosque Pope Francis is slated to visit in Central African Republic caused the pontiff to reply with an immediate "can I go (be with them)?" according to a bishop who was standing close by.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has named three new pastors and two new administrators for area parishes.

LANCASTER — St. Mary of the Assumption Parish will hold sessions for the intergenerational faith formation program Generations of Faith from Saturday, Dec. 5 through Monday, Dec. 7 at the parish center.

Washington D.C., Nov 25, 2015 / 04:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- For a veteran runner who's completed 21 marathons, one bishop sees a deep connection between his Catholic faith and running, and says this connection can even evangelize young people.