Current News

Red and white colors of Polonia will line Walden Avenue and Harlem Road in Cheektowaga as the 80th annual Pulaski Day Parade makes its way from the Thruway Plaza to Cheektowaga Town Park. The parade begins at 1:30 p.m. on July 22.

As a way to improve the health of the community in Western New York, Catholic Health uses Community Benefit Grants to support non-profit organizations whose work has a direct impact on the region's most vulnerable citizens. For the third straight year, Catholic Health presented grants totaling nearly $132,000, as well as corporate funding to address unmet health needs.

VATICAN CITY (CNA) - After publishing a highly controversial essay in July 2017 alleging the existence of an "ecumenism of hate" between Catholics and Evangelicals in the U.S., close papal confidantes Father Antonio Spadaro, SJ, and Marcelo Figueroa in a new article issue a scathing critique of the "prosperity gospel," which they say is based on a reductionist view of the American Dream.

Springville's St. Aloysius Regional School is moving full STREAM ahead, as the Southtowns school incorporates the diocesan educational curriculum into its instruction.

Joan Dobrin's work brings the written word to life.

FATIMA, PORTUGAL (CNA) - While men in the trenches of World War I faced chemical gasses and industrialized weaponry that wrought unprecedented human carnage, an Angel of Peace appeared with a message.

To celebrate its rich historical connection with migrants, and to celebrate its current outreach, St. Benedict Parish has announced plans to install "Angels Unaware," by internationally known Canadian sculptor Tim Schmalz, on the grounds of St. Benedict Parish.

D'Youville College has been awarded a $5 million grant through the New York State Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program (HECap). D'Youville will use the $5 million towards the construction of a 50,000-square foot Health Professions Hub to train the healthcare workforce of the future.

VATICAN CITY (CNA) - Pope Francis surprised wedding guests Saturday when he unexpectedly celebrated a marriage being held at a small chapel in the Vatican Gardens.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has appointed a new College of Consultors, a move that canon law states should happen every five years.

WASHINGTON—The Migration and Refugee Services of USCCB and Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) today issued the following statement on the ongoing efforts to reunite children separated from their families at the border.

On Wednesday evening, August 15th at 7:00 p.m. in the dining hall at Christ the King Seminary, Father Peter Drilling and Lutheran Pastors Tim Madsen and Daniel Hoffman will discuss and share about the 500th Commemoration of the Reformation and the ongoing Lutheran-Roman Catholic cooperative efforts.

On the final episode of "Our Daily Bread", Father Paul D. Seil talks about the the importance of Circus Ministry in our Church today. Tune in on Saturday, July 14th at 6:30 a.m. and noon on WKBW-TV Channel 7.

Msgr. Mecislaus S. Wendzikowski, who served the Diocese of Buffalo for 59 years, died July 4, 2018. He was 84.

SNYDER — At the end of the year Christ the King School held a fireside chat, inducted new members into its National Junior Honor Society, and showcased the talents of its students at an art show and band concert. Each event displayed the gifts and talents of the student body.

WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is publishing a new document, Encountering Christ in Harmony: A Pastoral Response to Our Asian and Pacific Island Brothers and Sisters. The full text is available on the USCCB website at: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/asian-pacific-islander/upload/asian-and-pacific-island-pastoral-response-encountering-christ-in-harmony-2018.pdf .

WASHINGTON— Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), wrote to the members of the Senate on July 6, urging them not to use support for Roe v. Wade as a litmus test for judicial nominees in their deliberations about the upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court of the United States.

"The seed sown in rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold." This line from the Gospel of Matthew defines the purpose of the diocesan Youth Board, allowing the seeds of youth to grow in the rich soil of faith.

The message could not be missed. From the red, white and blue streamers to the American flag on Father George Devanapalle's T-shirt, everyone could tell he was proud to be an American, and his parish was proud to have him.

Jerry Wszalek is a third-generation carney. He has been working the Queen of Heaven Summer Carnival well over 30 years. He knows the history, the origins and why it's not called a lawn fete.

They say that joy is the truest sign of God's presence. Our most recent popes have called upon all Catholics to spread the joy of knowing Jesus with a new and missionary fervor. A joy for the Gospel, of which Pope Francis so often speaks, can only succeed if it exudes at all levels of church life - personal, parish, school, campus, in health care, and social services. But we cannot give what we do not possess. How would your parish score in its capacity for joy, these days?

The Diocese of Buffalo has released the following update regarding priests placed on administrative leave:

In reaction to the Supreme Court upholding the Muslim travel ban Catholic Charities of Buffalo hosted a press conference to speak out against U.S. immigration policy. Members of local refugee, Muslim and Arab organizations spoke on June 28, calling the ban anti-American.

Love and responsibility often get ignited by a new calling. The call to marriage or to the priesthood, for example, brings about a new movement of grace and love in the heart. Such a movement also happens when one becomes a mother or father. I tell couples in Marriage Preparation that when they have their first child they will discover that some part of their heart, which up until this point has been dormant, will be activated. That is because the love parents have for their child is so incredibly unique.

Father George E. Maj, a Pallottine priest for 60 years, died June 24, 2018, at the age of 86.

As a result of continued enrollment reductions, growing financial challenges and a significant reduction in Diocesan support, Niagara Catholic High School on 66th Street, will close its doors, effective immediately.

Two local Catholic schools have announced a new scholarship opportunity intended to allow better access to private education. Through an unnamed donor, Saints Peter and Paul School, in Williamsville, and Southtowns Catholic School, in Lake View, will offer a partial scholarship to each of the first ten kindergarteners who qualify financially.

WASHINGTON, DC - On June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the case of Trump v. Hawaii, which involves a challenge to President Donald Trump's Proclamation No. 9645 restricting travel from several predominantly Muslim-majority countries. The Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling upheld the travel ban.

The Sisters of Social Service in Hungary, embraced Benedictine spirituality, had a special devotion to the Holy Spirit and protected many from Nazi atrocities. Their foundress Sister Margaret Slachta is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - The Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a California law requiring pro-life pregnancy centers to post information on programs to obtain a free or low-cost abortion.

Nearly six months of fundraising efforts by hundreds of volunteers throughout the Diocese of Buffalo and a late rally by the Western New York community have helped the 2018 Appeal for Catholic Charities surpass its $11 million goal.

Former teacher and principal, Sister Rita Kane died June 22, 2018, at the age of 100.

Father Stanislaw Dudek, a Polish-born priest who served the Diocese of Buffalo for over 10 years, died June 24, 2018.

"Bishop Malone's office, Siobhan speaking - how may I help you?" Over the last two months, a multitude of callers have been on the receiving end of my phone greeting. I've talked to distressed citizens who express anger over Church cover-ups and silence, to concerned Catholics whose faith has been shaken by the priest abuse scandal, and to the victims of this abuse themselves. These latter individuals often share their stories, which are heartbreakingly horrible to hear. Even being on the periphery of their pain has been deeply disturbing. Yet remarkably, it is their strength more than their suffering that has most resonated with me.

Recently there has been a challenge to a long-held interpretation of the story of the Widow's Gift found in Mark's gospel. No doubt many have heard this short narrative used to praise self-sacrificing on behalf of others or to indicate that a gift is measured by the spirit in which it is given. But is that what the story is meant to convey?

Deaths from opioid use or substance abuse are prevalent here in Buffalo as well as other places. We know that no two people grieve exactly the same. However, an overdose death creates barricades for healing to take place thereby adding complications to the grief process. This type of grief can become disenfranchised because added emotional stressors such as guilt, resentment and shame can become suppressed because one does not have an outlet to express them. It is important that those who have lost a loved one from an overdose be comforted in a compassionate, non-judgmental way.

Catholic Cemeteries of Buffalo offered updates on their sites in the June edition of the Western New York Catholic.

Prayer is a basic necessity for us as Christians. Realizing this will help us have a better relationship with Jesus. We are blessed because we could not have a better teacher than Jesus. He prayed to the Father every chance He got. He even gave us the Lord's Prayer so that we can pray to our Father in heaven. We can learn and use this prayer daily. Therefore, those who don't know anything else, can at least pray the Lord's Prayer.

Imagine for a moment what it would take for you to stuff whatever you could into a garbage bag and take your entire family to a place you have never been, without any certain plans or destination.

The Diocese of Buffalo released the following statement Friday pertaining to cutbacks affecting Daybreak TV Productions and the Fredonia Newman Center: