While many parishes host a food pantry to help the less fortunate, St. John the Baptist Parish in Lockport goes above and beyond, as the St. John’s Outreach has become one of the major human service agencies in Niagara County.

 More than 200 Felician Sisters, including 36 from Western New York, joined in a celebration of community life, spiritual reflection, and discussion of future directions at the historic first provincial chapter of the Felician Sisters’ new North American province, Our Lady of Hope, which took place in Chicago.

The Hope for Tomorrow Foundation has been helping disadvantaged people around the world for years, bringing children to Western New York for surgery and sending medical teams to places such as Russia, India, Cuba, Poland and Jamaica.

Every day when we turn on our television screen we are bombarded by all types of news, reality shows, soap operas, movies, documentaries on relationships, various types of marriages and divorces. What does it take to make a decision toward getting married and following through with the commitment of until death do us part?

Be open to new things and don’t have expectations. That was the plea given to 65 teenagers during their stay at the Christian Leadership Institute. It seemed to pay off for those who allowed themselves to be challenged by the concept of servant leadership.

Since Pope John Paul II celebrated the first World Youth Day in 1985, the world of digital communication has exploded. Computers that used to fit on a desktop now fit in a coat pocket. Through YouTube and Twitter, special moments can be shared globally, instantly.

“Our Daily Bread” host Father Paul D. Seil makes tabouli with Father Georges El-Khalia. With Sonia and Wade Badawy, he helps to prepare hummus and kibbi.

The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue with its message of peace and hope will be coming to a number of parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo in August.

While many of us have been enjoying the summer, Catholic educators in the Diocese of Buffalo have been hard at work, beginning to implement the action plans contained in “Faith in Tomorrow,” the blueprint for the future of Catholic elementary schools that was released on June 1.

Holy Angels Academy has developed a worldwide reputation. Not only do they have business partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Dominican Republic, they are known as a force to be reckoned with when it comes to global competition. The school placed second in the SAGE Global Entrepreneurship World Cup. The competition of over 180 teenagers from 14 countries was held July 22-25 on the Canisius College campus. Nigeria took home the first place trophy.