The sun is rising again at Buffalo’s Canisius College, as John Hurley has begun his tenure as the 24th president of Western New York’s only Jesuit institution of higher learning. Hurley succeeds Father Vincent M. Cooke, SJ, a 16-year president who retired in June.  Hurley will be officially inaugurated Sunday, Oct. 17.

“My folks always instilled respect for older folks,” said Dr. Calogero Ippolito. “What really got me interested in geriatrics was that I found the issues that applied to geriatrics weren’t taken care of – nobody was looking at the bigger picture.”  Ippolito is a Catholic geriatric physician who works in the nursing home unit at Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital in Buffalo. He works diligently at addressing current societal perceptions of comfort care, aging and death while providing the best possible medical care available. Catholicism has contributed to shaping some aspects of his life and profession, and his beliefs are reflected in the care he gives to his patients.

Students for Life of America has an ambitious goal: to end abortion in our lifetime. While there is no question that this is a daunting task, it is one the group believes is achievable through the education and mobilization of our current generation of young people.

On the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., by Muslim extremists, a small group from a Florida evangelical church planned to burn copies of the Quran to protest the building of an Islamic center and mosque near ground zero in New York City. The protest was canceled after Rev. Terry Jones, pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center of Gainesville, Fla., reached what he said was an agreement that the Islamic center would be moved to a new location. People involved with the Islamic center have said no agreement has been made.

Long before the explosion of online social networking made Facebook a household term, organizers of an All-Catholic School reunion believe the hundreds of thousands of people who attended area Catholic elementary schools share their own personal web of common experience.

Oct. 4 commemorates the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. On this day around our diocese, we will see many newcomers in our houses of worship. Most will have four hairy legs, some may have beaks and colorful feathers, still others may be long and covered with scales, thanks to the blessing of animals.

Whether it’s picking sweet, fresh apples right off the trees or cutting the perfect pumpkin from the vine, spending some fall fun time at Western New York farms can be good bonding time for the family and also supportive of local farms and culture.  Western New York has many local farms which strive to bring families out to enjoy nature and each other while adding a bit of their own “flavor” to indulge in. 

I asked Catholic Evangelist Richard Lane from St. Louis what he would like the people in Buffalo to know as he prepares to come for the Revival that will take place from Oct. 11 to 13 at St. Martin de Porres Church. He said, “I am fired up about coming and very much looking forward to bringing the fire of the Holy Spirit with me!”

Arleen Lipke and her husband Paul have broken new ground in the pro-life movement. They have allowed a Cemetery of the Innocents to be placed on their front lawn and in front of Paul’s business. This is the first time the small white crosses have been displayed on private property in the Diocese of Buffalo.

The African-American Commission of the Office of Cultural Diversity will sponsor a Revival to inspire and evangelize. The theme will be “Did You Put on Your Armor Today?” and focus on Ephesians 6:10-17. St. Martin de Porres Parish in Buffalo will host the three-day event from Oct. 11 to 13.