The future of Catholic education will be the focal point of an address scheduled for Jan. 26, 2012, as Fordham University president Father Joseph M. McShane, SJ, delivers the keynote to the“Making a Difference Dinner – A Celebration of Catholic Schools.”Known for his knowledge of Catholic education, Father McShane has written about the qualities of a Jesuit education:  “We have a great emphasis on care for the individual student.  We have a great desire to introduce excellence and rigor into the classroom and every subject we teach, and we believe that students have to be invited to wrestle with the great ethical issues of their time. We want them to be bothered by the realization that they don’t know everything and bothered by injustice.”

Father McShane is currently a member of the Canisius High School board and is a past member of the Canisius College board.

The annual dinner raises funds dedicated to needs-based tuition assistance for students attending Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Buffalo.  This year, 1,571 students, both Catholic and non-Catholic, enrolled in Catholic elementary schools, are the beneficiaries of last year’s dinner.  The average grant is $450 per student.  There are currently 120 students on the waiting list for financial aid.

“We cannot exist without this dinner,” said Father Edward Durkin, SJ, principal of NativityMiguel Middle School of Buffalo.  “Our school has an inner life, a spiritual life and the proceeds from the dinner make it possible,” Father Durkin told committee members during their Oct. 13 meeting at the Catholic Center. 

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec will present Bishop’s Medals at the dinner to Father Mark J. Wolski, pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Hamburg, and to Gerard and Barbara Mazurkiewicz.  Father Wolski has made his parish school a focal point of the SS. Peter & Paul community while the Mazurkiewiczes, part of the “Making a Difference Dinner” since its inception in 2001, are longtime supporters of Catholic education.  Their gifts have allowed schools to remain affordable for those in need.

Tom and Jean Comer of St. Gregory the Great Parish in Williamsville are the 2012 dinner chair couple.  The Comers have two children enrolled at St. Gregory the Great School.

The name of the Catholic elementary school teacher who will be honored at the dinner will be announced in the December Western New York Catholic.

Lead sponsors of the dinner The William E. & Ann L. Swan Foundation and Restonic – Tom & Jean Comer.  Platinum sponsors are The Mazurkiewicz Family and Mrs. Arthur J. Schaefer, Lawley and John and Betsy Sullivan.  Tribute sponsors are KeyBank Jake and Katie Schneider, Steve and Kellie Ulrich, M & T Bank, Pratt Collard Advisory Partners, LLC, and The Kenneth L. & Katherine G. Koessler Foundation.

For sponsorship and ticket information, contact Susan Burns, coordinator of Special Events, at 716-847-8373 or sburns@buffalodiocese.org