Those simple words, “be not afraid,” launched the papacy of Blessed John Paul II, beatified at the Vatican on May 1 by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI.

Pope John Paul II’s humor, as I experienced it, tended toward the ironic: not in the post-modern sense, in which irony is the short road to cynicism, but in the more venerable sense of irony as a recognition that we’re not in charge of our own lives, and that we play the fool if we try to control everything.

Personal stories of the newly Blessed John Paul II are the focus of May’s “Matters of Faith,” as host Kevin A. Keenan welcomes guests who knew the previous pontiff personally, as well as those whose lives he has impacted from afar.

As mental illness is a condition that impacts one out of four families, addressing those issues is a growing concern in the United States. It’s one in which a special fellowship at St. Joseph University Church in Buffalo hopes to address with an event at 7 p.m. Monday, May 16.

With these words Pope John Paul II acknowledged that the circle of life in today’s society is in disruption, and in order to care for creation in the way God intended, people must concentrate on environmental sustainability. Pope John Paul II said that the conversion of lifestyles is what the Catholic Church wants.
 

Many people are making their way to the beatification of Pope John Paul II on May 1. Pope John Paul II was a true missionary. During his pontifical years, he made over 100 trips around the world to meet and reach out to people of all cultures, languages and nations. He knew how to approach each person regardless of age, social condition or religion. It did not matter if they were poor or rich, he reached out to all with so much love and affection.

Looking back at 50 years of ministry, Brother Joseph Radice, FSC, has found being a part of the religious life has opened up a world of experiences for him.  From entering high school to meeting the president of the United States, his faith and relationship with the Christian Brothers proved to be door openers. In his autobiography, “Ticket to Heaven,” Brother Joseph recalls some of the ups and downs he has experienced in his 68 years.

“Imagine on a Sunday morning, going to visit the grave of a loved one, and finding the tombstone gone, and a hole in the ground where the coffin once lay.”  In his homily for the Easter Sunday Televised Mass produced by Daybreak TV Productions of the Diocese of Buffalo, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec asks us to ponder that thought.

Losing a loved one can be very difficult, but Catholic Cemeteries of Buffalo strive to help the living cherish the memory of those who have passed by providing alternatives for a peaceful resting place.

As we approach one of the most holy times of the year, Catholic Health reaffirms its mission “to reveal the healing love of Jesus to those in need.” This care and compassion can be seen throughout all of our hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies and health centers.