"Our solidarity in Christian hope and commitment to peace is a bond that cannot be broken."

WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has issued the following statement in the wake of the latest attack on Christians in the Middle East.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, will ordain Rev. Mr. Robert Ikpe Agbo, Rev. Mr. Martin F. Gallagher, Rev. Mr. Luke P. Uebler and Rev. Mr. Cole T. Webster to the priesthood at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo at 9:30 a.m. June 3. Each of the deacons graduated from Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, on May 12 with a master's degree in divinity.

On Saturday, May 13, Pope Francis will travel to Fatima, Portugal, to bestow sainthood on Francisco and Jacinta Marto. They were two of the three shepherd children who captured the world's attention 100 years ago by witnessing appearances from the Blessed Mother six times, on the 13th of each month from May to October of 1917, each time exhorting them to "Pray, pray, pray."

Bishop Richard J. Malone will mark the Diocese of Buffalo's fifth annual Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb at a special Mass on Sunday, May 7. The 10:30 a.m. Mass will be held at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo.

Bishop Richard J. Malone announced the new assignment of Deacon Brian C. Walkowiak to diaconal ministry at Infant of Prague Parish, Cheektowaga. His appointment was effective April 1.

Each year, the Office of Pro-Life Activities for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo sponsors a Rosary Novena for Life. This year, it begins on Saturday, March 25, with 8 a.m. Mass at St. Rose of Lima Parish, Parkside and Parker avenues, Buffalo, and will continue on one Saturday each month through November.

The diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities and Baker Victory Services are sponsoring a Mass for all those who have been touched by adoption -- birthparents, adoptees, adoptive parents, grandparents and other relatives.

WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has issued the following statement in response to explosions on Palm Sunday at two Coptic Christian churches in Egypt that have killed at least 40 and injured at least 100:

WASHINGTON— Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop Oscar Cantú, chair of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, have issued a joint statement calling for renewed peace efforts in Syria.

The following liturgies are scheduled for Holy Week at St. Joseph Cathedral.

Teachers were informed on Wednesday afternoon and parents were told this evening that Mary Queen of Angels School in Cheektowaga will be closing at the end of this school year. The difficult decision was made by the school's Board of Trustees, a board of limited jurisdiction, which asked Bishop Richard J. Malone's permission to close the school.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, will be the main celebrant at the 10:30 a.m. Mass Sunday preceding the annual St. Patrick's Day parade.

Pope Francis has bestowed the title of "basilica" on St. Mary of the Angels Church in Olean. This marks only the ninth time in his papacy that the Holy Father has granted this rare honor to a site in the United States.

What is 65 years old, but still young and "positively dangerous?" It's this year's 65th annual Diocesan Youth Convention which takes place March 3-5 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Buffalo. More than 730 youth and chaperones are scheduled to attend as well as dozens of staff, volunteers, presenters and exhibitors.

Joining efforts and resources, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, Amigone Funeral Home and Catholic Cemeteries will provide a memorial service and burial for baby Bernadette, an abandoned deceased baby. Buffalo's Bishop Richard J. Malone will be the presider at the memorial service on Monday, Feb. 27, at 2 p.m. at Amigone Funeral Home, 1132 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.

Bishop Richard J. Malone will distribute ashes at the 12:05 p.m. Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, on Wednesday, March 1, Ash Wednesday.

The St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center, the pastoral outreach of the Office of Pro-Life Activities of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, has become a significant resource in the Buffalo and surrounding Western New York area. The Center will hold its sixth annual benefit banquet on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. at the Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Ave.,

The Diocese of Buffalo has implemented a new system that allows people to anonymously report if they suspect specific instances of fraud or theft in the handling of finances in churches, schools or any diocesan organization. The system is run through an independent company called EthicsPoint, which is used by thousands of organizations, including hundreds of educational institutions.

The diocesan observance of the 44th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Christopher Parish, 2660 Niagara Falls Blvd., Tonawanda. Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, will be the celebrant.

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Richard G. Lennon from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Cleveland and has named Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo as the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese until the installation of a new bishop.

Parishes throughout the Diocese of Buffalo will join parishes across the country on the weekend of Dec. 10 and 11 in holding a special collection for the Retirement Fund for the Religious. The collection, which was initiated in 1988 by Catholic bishops of the United States, helps underwrite retirement and health care expenses.

The 27th Annual Night of Prayer will be observed Thursday, Dec.8, at 9 p.m. to Friday, Dec. 9, at 1 a.m., Feast of the Immaculate Conception with the Feast of St. Juan Diego.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has announced that during the Advent season (Nov. 27 - Dec. 24), parishes throughout the eight-county Diocese of Buffalo will have additional hours for confession.

Among the most recent appointments made by Bishop Richard J. Malone are some priest reassignments and new assignments for seven deacons.

Most Reverend Richard J. Malone, Bishop of Buffalo, has appointed Jacqueline Joy to pick up where Mary Ann Deibel-Braun left off as victim assistance coordinator to offer immediate care to any person who claims to have been the victim of sexual abuse by priests, deacons or other diocesan personnel.

On Saturday, Nov. 19, Bishop Richard J. Malone will be main celebrant at the final Rosary Novena for Life for 2016. Mass at St. Rose of Lima Parish, Parkside and Parker avenues, Buffalo, will begin at 8 a.m. and will be followed by a peaceful, prayerful procession to a nearby abortion clinic (optional). At the clinic, participants will pray the rosary with the hope that today's society will choose life instead of abortion. The group will return to St. Rose of Lima for closing prayers.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, will officially close the Jubilee Year of Mercy here in the Diocese of Buffalo, on Sunday, Nov. 6, with an evening prayer service at 4 p.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo. All are welcome.

On October 28-30, the African Commission of the Diocesan of Buffalo will sponsor a retreat and thanksgiving bazaar at Holy Cross Church, 345 7th St., Buffalo. The retreat will be held Friday, Oct. 28, and Saturday, Oct. 29, from 6-9 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 30, following a 10 a.m. Mass with Bishop Richard J. Malone, there will be bazaar until 3 p.m. All are invited to attend.

Bishop Richard J. Malone will be the main celebrant at this special Mass to honor first responders of all faiths who live and work in the Diocese of Buffalo. In 2015, Bishop Malone said the first Blue Mass in the diocese and has decided to make this an annual Mass.

About 900 Catholic school educators in the Diocese of Buffalo will gather on Friday, Sept. 30, for an educators' convocation at Cardinal O'Hara High School, 39 O'Hara Road, Tonawanda. The biennial meeting will include teachers and administrators from all diocesan elementary and middle schools, which will be closed that day. Some Catholic high school educators also will be in attendance.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has appointed new pastors for two city parishes and one Chautauqua County parish.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the annual Red Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 12:05 p.m. Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo, United States district judge, will give remarks at the close of the Mass on behalf of the judiciary.

On Sunday, Sept. 25, Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, 1023 Swann Road, Lewiston, will be the site of the 36th Annual Rosary Crusade for World Peace. The event, which will take place from 2-3:30 p.m., is sponsored by the Niagara Council of Catholic Women of the Diocese of Buffalo. "Mother of mercy, pray for us" is the theme of this year's crusade.

On Saturday, Sept. 17, Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, will ordain five men to the holy order of deacon. One gentleman will be a permanent deacon and the other four will continue their studies for the priesthood. This special Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo.

A special Mass on Thursday, Sept.1, will mark the merger of two congregations of the Brothers of Mercy. The 4 p.m. Mass at Our Lady of Peace, 10950 Main St., Clarence, will signify the union of the Brother of Mercy of Montabaur, located in Clarence, and the Brothers of Mercy of Mary Help of Christians, located in Trier, Germany. Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, will be the celebrant.

Buffalo's Bishop Richard J. Malone will dedicate and bless the Mother Teresa Home on Thursday, Aug. 25, the eve of Mother Teresa's birthday. Located at the former St. Adalbert Church rectory, 208 Stanislaus St., Buffalo, the home will serve as a temporary residence for homeless, pregnant women and young mothers while transitioning back into the world.

WASHINGTON—Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) expressed prayers and support after the latest terrorist attack on a Catholic parish in Normandy, France, that left a priest dead and another person seriously injured.

Nearly six months into the public phase of the Upon This Rock capital campaign, some of the first parishes to get involved are seeing the benefits of the generous support from their parishioners.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has reappointed Father Angelo M. Chimera pastor of All Saints Parish, Buffalo, for a second term of six years. His appointment was effective June 29.