Many parishes feel overwhelmed by the call to evangelize. Oddly, sometimes these parishes are located right down the road from those enjoying great success. How is that possible?

The St. Monica and St. Augustine Scholars Program bestowed the Bishop Oscar Romero Award for Courageous Humanitarian Service upon Milagros Ramos, the director of the Office of Cultural Diversity for the Diocese of Buffalo. Named after the former archbishop of El Salvador, the award recognizes courageous service in the causes of human and civil rights for all.   

The Diocese of Buffalo has a new advocate for its missionary activity, as Father Ronald Sajdak was appointed the new director of the Office of the Propagation of the Faith in March. The office is part of the Pontifical Mission Societies, a group of organizations that promote and establish missionary formation.

The path to self-sufficiency often consists of more twists and turns than one can maneuver. Many times people in need become lost trying to navigate the world of social services and financial aid. Thanks to a computer tool, Catholic Charities can fully assess, process and help a client follow through with all major public benefits that might be available to the client and his or her family.

Those who have met Sister Lucy Magumba, IHSA, know her for energy, grace and compassion. That’s why several area lay Catholics are marshalling their resources and energy to help the African sister and graduate of Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora with her goal to build a community spiritual center in her home country of Tanzania.

ALBANY - For the second time in three years, the bishops of New York and about 1,000 Catholics are in the state capitol amidst great turmoil at the highest levels of government. They are advocating for Catholic causes during the annual Public Policy Day, sponsored by the New York State Catholic Conference.

The massive magnitude 7.0 earthquake which left a wave of destruction in Haiti and killed up to 200,000 people in January has impacted many people here in the Diocese of Buffalo, particularly a group of parishes in southern Erie County that have supported a Haitian Catholic Church for 17 years.
 

Catholic Charities of Buffalo kicked off their annual appeal campaign on Jan. 13, by unveiling a new site at 930 Genesee St. in Buffalo, which will provide the WIC Program. The 2010 goal of $10.5 million is a half million dollars less than last year’s goal. Bishop Edward U. Kmiec said the figure was determined with the local and national economies and the necessities of Catholic Charities programs in mind. The theme, “Whoever, Wherever, Whenever,” should have a familiar ring, as it was used last year.

 The annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. takes place this year on Friday, Jan. 22, at 1 p.m. when marchers will move along Constitution Avenue to the Capitol and the Supreme Court to support the pro-life movement. This event takes place on the 37th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court case Roe vs. Wade.