Continuing its efforts to embrace new technology, the Diocese of Buffalo has begun publishing a regular podcast for people who are interested in listening to diocesan programming on their computer or on the go.

 A small group of women sat in the middle of the jungle in Haiti waiting for their chance at self-empowerment as Kathy Mang, parishioner at St. Joseph University Parish in Buffalo entered with hope in hand.  As the people of America sit with their  iPhones, Macbooks and flat screen TVs sighing over the state of the economy, many women in Haiti and in other disadvantaged countries are working just to survive and are waiting for a chance at a better life. Mang and the others of Mothers Clubs try to provide the education, the resources and the hope these women need to climb out of hopeless destitution into the dream of a new tomorrow.

The new September issue of the Western New York Catholic is now available online along with a photo slide show of this month's images.

The diocesan Department of Catholic Schools held a Catholic School Leadership Institute titled “Shifting the Way We Think: 21st Century Catholic School Improvement,” in June, led by nationally renowned speakers Lorraine A. Ozar, Ph.D., and Michael J. Boyle, Ph.D., from the Center for Catholic School Effectiveness at Loyola University Chicago.

The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception and the newly formed Disciples of Divine Mercy in the Holy Face of Jesus are sponsoring Divine Mercy Conference: Buffalo 2010. The theme of the conference is “Living the Message of Divine Mercy.”

Pastoral care is a vital element to any hospital, as workers and volunteers help patients come to grips with their ailments. It takes on a special meaning at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, as the spiritual relationships between ministers and patients tend to grow even after a patient is discharged.

Our Lady of Pompeii Parish in Lancaster has almost doubled its membership in the last five years and now offers more than 50 ministries and programs.  When asked about the reasons behind the rapid growth, pastor of the parish, Father Leon Biernat gave several answers.