Current News

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - By reforming the process for discovering the nullity of marriage on Tuesday, mere weeks before the beginning of October's Synod on the Family, Pope Francis has taken that issue out of the hands of the synod fathers.

WASHINGTON, DC - Pope Francis will bless a five-foot tall wooden cross, known as "the Cross of the Encuentros" in Philadelphia later this month. The cross symbolizes the journey of faith of Hispanic/Latino Catholics in the United States. The blessing will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, upon his arrival to Independence Mall.

Bishop Malone talks about returning to school, faith formation and Catechetical Sunday in a new episode of "Consider This."

Sister Mary Walz, a Sister of St. Joseph, died Aug. 24, 2015, in Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo after fighting leukemia for 18 years. She was 72 years old.

Sister Rosemarie Stuhler died Aug. 26, 2015, at the Stella Niagara Health Center in Stella Niagara, at age 92.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - In a reformed marriage annulment process, Pope Francis has made significant changes, giving more of a role to the local bishop, dropping automatic appeals, and declaring the process free of charge.

Thousands of students were welcomed back into school buildings - both public and private - this week. As students, faces filled with joy, smiles and nerves, walked off the bus onto the grounds of the Catholic Academy of West Buffalo Tuesday morning, they were greeted by three of the top diocesan officials - Bishop Richard J. Malone, Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education Carol Kostyniak, and Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools Sister Carol Cimino, SSJ.

ROME, ITALY (CNA/EWTN News) - With many European families already opening their homes to refugees, the current head of the Jesuit's refugee agency says Pope Francis' appeal for parishes to open their doors offers a practical way of combating what is otherwise an overwhelming crisis.

DENVER, COLO. (CNA/EWTN News) - "I have a friend who has been divorced for 30 years. Her husband just left her one day, and she hasn't received communion in all this time," author David Dziena recalled.

If you've ever spent one day at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, you have begun to experience the legacy of St. John Baptist de La Salle - the patron saint of all teachers and a true educational innovator who transformed Western education more than 300 years ago.

Sister Mary Andrea Illig died Sept. 2, 2015, at Mercy Center Health Care Unit in Buffalo. She was 98.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNA/EWTN News) - Choir members from around the Washington, D.C. archdiocese chosen to sing for Pope Francis during his visit later this month hope to stir the soul of the pontiff - and maybe even inspire him to sing along.

Nardin Academy in Buffalo, an independent Catholic school, has a long history of developing boys and girls within an academic, spiritually-based focus. The academy encompasses a Montessori school, an elementary school and a high school.

Our Catholic schools are strong and advancing purposefully into the future. Catholic schools are essential to the diocesan commitment to evangelization. Throughout the history of the diocese, our Catholic schools have been shining beacons of catechesis, social justice and daily living of the Gospel.

When Pope Francis arrives in the U.S. for the World Meeting of Families later this month, he will find a Catholic public that is remarkably accepting of a variety of non-traditional families, according to a new Pew Research Center survey that provides an in-depth look at American Catholics' views on family life, sexuality and Catholic identity.

WASHINGTON - Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., archbishop of Boston and chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), responded September 1 to Pope Francis' letter allowing all priests worldwide "to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it."

Father Robert J. Suchan, a missionary who served in the Philippines, died Aug. 22, 2015, in the Jesuit residence at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. He was 89 years old.

Sister Mary Virginis Kozlowski, a Felician Sister, educator and musician, died Aug. 21, 2015, in Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo, at age 102.

Sister Mary Laurene Szymanski died Aug. 24, 2015, in Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, at the age of 97.

Sister Ruth Wangler, of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, died Aug. 15, 2015, in the health center of St. Mary of the Angels Regional House in Williamsville. She was 90

Sister Mary Walz, a Sister of St. Joseph, died Aug. 24, 2015, in Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo after fighting leukemia for 18 years. She was 72 years old.

After consulting with the Canonists of the Chancery, I have confirmed that the faculties granted to all priests of the Buffalo Diocese include the faculty of remitting the excommunication attached to the procurement of abortion. This has been the case in our diocese since the 1980s during Bishop Edward Head's tenure. By extending this faculty to every priest throughout the world, Pope Francis is reminding us of the limitless power of God's mercy and compassion.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - In a new set of pastoral guidelines for the upcoming Holy Year of Mercy Pope Francis has made some significant moves, allowing all priests to forgive the sin of abortion and granting SSPX priests the faculty to forgive sins.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNA) - A group representing Catholic students with intellectual disabilities is hoping a U.S. visit from Pope Francis could spark nothing less than a renaissance in Catholic education.

WASHINGTON - Families, parishes, schools and other Catholic groups can participate in National Bible Week, November 15-21, with resources provided in English and Spanish and available on the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The theme of the observance is "The Bible: A Book for the Family/ La Biblia: Un Libro para la Familia."

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Benedict XVI considers the quest for God to be contemporary society's foremost challenge, according to one of the emeritus Pope's former students, who has organized the annual meeting of Ratzinger's students to discuss that very topic.

St. Bonaventure University and Hilbert College announced that they will each offer Bachelor of Science degree programs in Cybersecurity beginning in the fall of 2016. They are the only higher education institutions in the region to offer undergraduate majors in this high-demand field.

NEW ORLEANS (CNA/EWTN News) - For Sister Greta Jupiter, SSF, it was an odd sensation driving through New Orleans East in the months after Hurricane Katrina. Her neighborhood was quiet. The power, out. Gone was the familiar white noise of birds chirping. There was no traffic, save for military and first responders.

This fall, a new and luxurious independent living faculty, owned and operated by the Brothers of Mercy in Clarence, will be available for seniors as an alternative to home ownership. Montabaur Heights, the brothers' newest apartment complex, is nearing completion, with plans to open in November.

A group of dreamers, women religious from various congregations in Western New York, had a vision of helping those in need.

ST. BONAVENTURE - Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, will preside over St. Bonaventure University's Opening Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sunday, Aug. 30.

By now, almost everyone has at least heard about Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si - On Care for our Common Home," and there have been a great number of articles, analyses, and assessments of what it says and means.

Father Joseph Gatto, president-rector of Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, said students can expect to see a blend of several new faces and a few familiar ones in expanded roles heading into the 2015-16 academic year this fall. It's all part of the story of resurgence taking place at the seminary.

Canisius High School in Buffalo named Andrea Tyrpak-Endres the first female principal in the school's 145 years of history. A longtime religion teacher at CHS, her experience includes 40 years in Catholic education.

DENVER, COLO. (CNA/EWTN News) - Hundreds of demonstrations were held outside of Planned Parenthood clinics across the U.S. this weekend with protesters calling on the federal government to stop funding the abortion giant.

Sister Mary Lourdes Donovan, a Franciscan Sister, died Aug. 17, 2015, in the health care center of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany, on her 87th birthday.

For many priests and permanent deacons, hospital ministry is an important part of their ministry to their community. It is true for Deacon Charles D. Esposito, who was ordained June 2014. While serving parishioners at SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Williamsville, he also ministers to patients and their families at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Williamsville.

Sleep studies are growing in popularity this summer, as people realize the importance of sleep for personal health.

OMAHA, NEB. (CNA/EWTN News) - Police have arrested one suspect in the assault and robbery of a 76-year-old woman at Omaha's Catholic cathedral - and the woman is asking prayers for her attackers.

In its second year of the STREAM Education Initiative (S - science T- technology - R - religion - E - engineering A - arts - S science) more than 150 Catholic elementary school teachers will be trained in dynamic 21st century education courses which emphasize inquiry, creativity, design and complex thinking.