Current News

Bishop Richard J. Malone used his homily at the start of Holy Week at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo on Mar. 29, to remind worshipers, "God's holy word on Palm Sunday is a meditation on the meaning of suffering in God's plan of salvation."

Isn't it striking how much we need each other? We may feel like we are independent, and there is something of the "rugged individualist" that plagues our American psyche and culture. But the truth is that no one can live well independently of others. We are inter-dependent beings.

There's something to smile about at Mount St. Mary Academy. The Kenmore school has launched a project designed to boost the self-confidence of the students and lift the spirits of the community. The MSM Friends of Rachel Club started a Pocket Paper Project asking every student to think of an affirmation, then "Write It, Read It, Believe It."

Catholic Charities and Temple Beth Zion have joined in a collaborative effort to open a new food pantry to serve Getzville and Williamsville residents. Town Square Food Pantry is located at the Town Square for Aging on the Weinberg Campus, 2710 North Forest Road, Getzville. The site will serve eligible residents of ZIP codes 14068 and 14221.

Chancery bulletin announcements for the week of March 23, 2015.

The 2015 annual Rosary Novena for Life commences on Saturday, March 28, 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.

Would you receive an ashen cross on your forehead if it meant being ridiculed, mocked and laughed at or even worse, if it meant persecution? It would probably be easier to say yes to the first part of the question, but the last part of the question? I wonder what I would do?

Bishop Richard J. Malone announced Tuesday Catholic Charities' 91st annual Appeal has raised $7,432,587.16 to date, representing 68 percent of the $10.9 million goal. The total includes monies collected and reported by parish volunteers during the opening weekend (March 21-22) of Appeal Week 2015, the period which marks the strongest push for parish donations. The total reported is more than $500,000 short of where Catholic Charities' officials and the Appeal leadership team hoped to be after the first Sunday.

The Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity at Stella Niagara are providing an after-school tutoring program for young children in Niagara Falls.

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

St. Bonaventure University and Hilbert College announced the conclusion of their integration efforts and agreed to continue to collaborate on key strategic initiatives in keeping with their 20-year partnership.

The Camerata di Sant' Antonio will perform at Blessed Trinity Church in Buffalo on Sunday, March 29, as part of the church's Trinity concert series of beautiful music in a beautiful space.

Bishop Richard J. Malone and Father Ryszard Biernat recently delivered meals to some of the area's homebound through Meals on Wheels for WNY.

At the beginning of this past summer, I attended the Christian Leadership Institute in preparation for being on Youth Board. I was quite excited, and couldn't wait to start up the year full of fun events including Witness the Spirit, Da Bounce and, especially,

To continue the forward motion of this exciting diocesan initiative, more than 160 teachers from the 10 pilot STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and math) schools in the Diocese of Buffalo took part in a professional development program Friday afternoon.

St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute principal Jeffery Hazel has been named Director of Instructional Technology and Learning for the Niagara Wheatfield Public School District. The district's Board of Education approved the hiring at its regular meeting on Mar. 16.

Father Walter J. Szczesny and Father Jozef Dudzik have received new assignments from Bishop Richard J. Malone.

As we journey deeper into Lent, the choice is ours - a mission or the Matrix.

A graduate school information session will be held from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at St. Bonaventure University's Buffalo Center, located at Hilbert College, 5200 South Park Ave.

The Ladies of Charity will hold their 21st annual Bellringer Silent Auction and Luncheon on Saturday, March 21, at Kotecki's Grandview Grove, 4685 Seneca Street, West Seneca. The event is in support of the Ladies of Charity and its ministries.

The Legion of Mary will participate in the annual "Acies" at St. John the Baptist Church at 2021 Sandridge Road in Alden on Sunday, March 22, at 3 p.m.

As a celebration of National Nutrition Month, Trocaire College will once again host a Nutrition and Wellness Fair to be held on Wednesday, March 25 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm on the college's Main Campus, 360 Choate Avenue in South Buffalo.

Over two dozen people gathered in Dunkirk to pay respects to a life lost. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish hosted a memorial service on March 14, for "Baby Jesse." a fetus discovered last August on the shore of Lake Erie State Park just south of Dunkirk.

The Chancery bulletin announcements for the week of March 16, 2015.

Judas Iscariot, the most hated man in history, will speak at the 13th annual Men's Conference on March 21. The conference will also welcome musician Deacon Allen Tatara and wild man Mark Houck.

No doubt about it; St. Patrick's Day is one of the fun days of the year, particularly if you're Irish Catholic. After a Sunday morning Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, Bishop Richard J. Malone joined the afternoon parade that drew thousands to downtown Buffalo. Be sure to catch all the fun in our new photo gallery.

The professional staff of Catholic Cemeteries understands the benefits of pre-planning. Staff members know how important it is for people to make their plans, then to live life creating memories to last a lifetime.

The Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, Th.D., bishop of Buffalo, will be the main celebrant at the special St. Patrick's Day Mass preceding the 75th annual St. Patrick's Day parade. As in the past, members of the United Irish-American Association will be in attendance, including parade grand marshal Denice Morrison of Darien Center.

In 2012 after 47 years of teaching, Sister Barbara Whelan, OSF, could have simply retired. She remained committed to service and began a second ministry as a medical assistant.

Just because we're celebrating Lent and not Thanksgiving right now doesn't mean it's not a good time to express gratitude. Bishop Malone asks people to thank their priest and clergy personally in a new episode of "Consider This."

A Catholic prayer service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 328 Washington Ave., Dunkirk, for baby "Jesse," the male fetus discovered last August along the shoreline of Lake Erie State Park in Portland, N.Y.

In preparation for the October 2015 XIV Ordinary General Assembly at the Vatican, Bishop Richard J. Malone is asking Catholic priests and their parishioners to discuss and reflect upon the role and place of the family in the world today.

There is an embarrassing story my family loves to recount every Christmas. It is, of course, about me. I was very small, perhaps in first-grade. The only remaining present for me under the tree was from my aunt. When I opened the beautifully wrapped package and discovered a sweater - hand-knitted, no less - I tossed it to the ground and broke out in tears. What I had wanted more than anything else was a little toy fire truck. And no one had given it to me ... not even my aunt.

Feb. 18 marked the beginning of Lent, which can be described as the period spent preparing for Easter. Lasting 40 days, it commemorates Jesus' time in the desert, where He fasted, prayed and was tempted by the devil.

Msgr. Kevin T. O'Neill, canonical administrator at Mary Queen of Angels Regional School in Cheektowaga, reflected upon his work supporting Catholic schools after he received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the annual Catholic education dinner for his ministry and service in January.

The value of Catholic schools, preparations for St. Patrick's Day and a dinner to support pro-life ministries are just some of the highlights of our new photo gallery featuring the best pictures from our March edition.

Bishop Donald W. Trautman, bishop emeritus of Erie, Pa., will return home to the Diocese of Buffalo in March to lead a Lenten retreat at Immaculate Conception Parish in East Aurora on March 15, 16 and 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The Chancery bulletin announcements for the week of March 9, 2015.

Parishioners of Ascension Parish in Batavia will host a St. Joseph Table on March 15. The St. Joseph Table will be catered by Bing's Restaurant. Donations from the event will be used to care for the poor.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has announced two clergy appointments. Father James W. Fliss received a fourth term of six years as pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Farnham, and Father Johnson Machado was named administrator of St. John Neumann Parish, Strykersville.