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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Three parish priests have received a third six-year term appointment by Bishop Richard J. Malone and two deacons have been given new assignments.

You don't see this every day. On Thursday, Mount St. Mary Academy named Katherine M. Spillman as its new principal. What's unique about the appointment is that Spillman's husband, James Spillman, was recently named the new principal of St. Joseph Colligate Institute.

In the hopes of hearing the 'voice of the people', Msgr. Robert Zapfel welcomed a crowd of over 600 Catholics, Wednesday evening, to an open discussion called "Let's Talk About...The Future of the Catholic Church" at St. Leo the Great Parish in Amherst.

The Diocese of Buffalo is inviting teenagers to begin their journey to discipleship.

Recent attention in local media has been given to the joyful news of the ordination of four men as priests for service in our diocese, and, on the other hand, to the tragic story of past clergy abuse of minors. While we rejoice with our new priests, and share the sadness and anger of abuse victims - while continuing our commitment a to safe environment for our young people - we must not lose sight of other important matters that call out to our consciences.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - In a new interview with Reuters, Pope Francis backed the U.S. bishops' opposition to the separation of migrant children from their parents at the Mexican border, calling the move "immoral" and "contrary to Catholic values."

With fewer than two weeks remaining the 2018 Appeal for Catholic Charities of Buffalo is $345,416 short of its $11 million goal.

'It's been a journey', in her own words, for Sister Emily Beata Marsh, who will make her perpetual profession of vows as a Daughter of St. Paul on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary of Lourdes Catholic Church in Bemus Point. The 31 year old grew up in the community along Chautauqua Lake, where she has fond memories of biking and playing soccer.

There's a buzz in Swormville. The staff of St. Mary's School has been busy as bees to get a special dedicated space for their technology program.

The Trump administration's recent policy changes in border security and immigration enforcement, particularly the move to separate parents from their children, has drawn outcry from a number of Catholic leaders like Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo.

Catholic Charities' Workforce and Education Services will have a new, more accessible site on the East Side of Buffalo this summer. The new location will be 1001 E. Delavan Ave., site of the former American Axle plant and will replace the current Kerns Avenue site. The Kerns Avenue site is expected to be closed June 25-29 to complete the move.

The new leadership team for the Missionary Sisters of St. Columban visited the Diocese of Buffalo this spring on a three-week fact finding trip. The sisters serve in cross-cultural missions, live in community, and commit themselves to helping the poor and marginalized. The four-member team is traveling to all the areas where the congregation serves. The next stop is Britain before going to Asia. Thirteen sisters live in Silver Creek, their only American province.

What started as a scary event for a 100-year-old sister, turned out to have a heroic happy ending.

Let me say here that if you are expecting a story about Norm's beautiful family or his many ministries or his work at St. Luke's Mission of Mercy, by all means read the previous obituary we shared. You can also search Norm's name at the Buffalo News for 2 wonderful tributes. This is not that story.