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As a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, I am concerned with the healing of both adult and child victims of abuse. I desire the reconciliation and the healing of the divisions in our Diocese. I long for the sanctification of the Clergy and the growth in holiness of all of the People of God. With all of this in mind: Here are three reasons why I support the Most Reverend Bishop Richard J. Malone to remain as bishop of Buffalo and lead us through the next two and a half years.

Pope Francis has spoken about providing a "moral and religious" education for all children. The diocesan Department of Catholic Education took that to heart when planning the annual education convocation. This year's theme "All Our Welcome; Learning Knows No Bounds," addressed the need to provide the strong teaching that Catholic schools are known for to all students regardless of race, economic class or special needs.

The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of the moral vision of society. Kevin Upendran, a student of Christ the King seminary studying for the priesthood in Hamilton, Ontario, has seriously considered that idea. He holds a medical degree and has met with several women who did not see new life as such an important thing.

The Church of the Annunciation has begun expansion of its 112-year-old historic cemetery. The expansion will offer a more sacred space and park like setting directly behind the old cemetery on Girdle Road in Elma.

A little bit of Africa came to Buffalo when the Office of Cultural Diversity held its annual African bazaar. The event, Held at Our Lady of hope Parish in Buffalo, raised money to help Vive La Casa Refugee Center in Buffalo.

Sitting in the office of NativityMiguel Middle School, Sister Timothy Howard, OSP, reminds her students to say, "Excuse me" as they come in for a hall pass. Sister Timothy has taught in Buffalo for nearly 50 years. She is now one of only two Oblate Sisters of Providence in the Diocese of Buffalo.

Just as mothers made lunches for their children and buttoned their coats when they were sent off to school, Blue Star Mothers are still making sure their children have a healthy snack and warm clothes even when the children are deployed around the world. Blue Star Mothers are the mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers and female legal guardians who support their children serving in the military, guard or reserves, or are veterans. They also care for each other and promote patriotism.

After graduating from Hutchinson Central High School in 1941, with plans on attending college, Russel Bracco began working at Curtiss-Wright aircraft plant in Cheektowaga building P-40 Warhawk fighter planes as part of the war effort.

Bishop Richard J. Malone said there are no priests currently in ministry that he is aware of with credible allegations against them. He also addressed plans expand current abuse safeguards to protect adults as well as minors. The bishop spoke with media on Nov. 5, to answer concerns regarding sexual abuse by members of local clergy. The bishop, along with chancery staff, explained the history of abuse, steps taken to prevent it, and the diocesan compensation program for victims.

Buffalo native Tom Fontana, who has written and produced such groundbreaking television series as "St. Elsewhere," "Homicide: Life on the Street," and "Oz," will take part in the Downtown Jesuits Distinguished Speaker Series Saturday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m. at St. Michael Church, 651 Washington St., in downtown Buffalo.

For the first time since major news stories broke about Bishop Richard J. Malone's handling of some priests accused of sexual abuse, the bishop took questions from the media during a press conference Nov. 5 held at Infant of Prague Church in Cheektowaga.

On Nov. 5, 2018, the Diocese of Buffalo released another list of priests with substantiated claims of sexual abuse of a minor. This is in addition to the original list published in March 2018. Priests who received a single allegation after their death are not included. Death dates for diocesan priests are in parenthesis.

After receiving abuse complaints against Msgr. Frederick R. Leising and Father Ronald P. Sajdak, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Msgr. Leising and Father Sajdak on administrative leave as an investigation continues.

As we move through this extremely difficult time in the Church's history, at the forefront of my mind each day and foremost in my prayers are all victims who have suffered at the hands of clergy they trusted. My heart hurts and I share in the anger, grief and disappointment felt by so many. This crisis has shaken our community of believers to its core. But as Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." Those words couldn't be truer. We as human beings are completely inept to do anything on our own, but with God, there is hope.

After receiving an abuse complaint against Father Michael P. Juran, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Juran on administrative leave as an investigation continues.

BALTIMORE — Do you need an excuse to drink that second, third ... or even fourth cup of coffee? We've got you covered, but not with just any old coffee - we have coffee with a cause. For a limited time, you can purchase "Mama Tierra" coffee, created through a partnership between Catholic Relief Services and Equal Exchange. Proceeds from coffee sales will benefit CRS' work with coffee farming communities throughout Mexico and Central America.

On May 3, Dr. Stanley L. Bukowski, a third-generation physician from Buffalo, testified before the State Assembly Health Committee in opposition to the legalization of physician-assisted suicide. For 34 years, Bukowski has been a primary care internal medicine physician with experience in caring for the chronically ill, the disabled and the dying. The following are excerpts from his testimony.

ST. BONAVENTURE — When most freshmen are taking the year to get adjusted to new class schedules and college life, Rachel Hoag accomplished all that and still found time to establish a new club on campus with a very important focus — helping service dogs in training for veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The following is the statement Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo released to "60 Minutes" in advance of their upcoming story on the Diocese of Buffalo. The diocese also released it to the public.

Soon after the birth of my son Charlie, who has Down syndrome, a visitor asked whether he was "mild, moderate or severe," referring to his level of cognitive impairment. I knew the terminology, but the question shocked me. In my arms I held my beautiful baby boy, who defied easy categorization. Clinical labels may describe some aspects of an individual's "functioning," but they don't tell the whole story. Labels could not describe how Charlie's smile lit up a room or how the sweetness of his soul had captured our hearts so completely.

Remember the classic sitcom "The Facts of Life," where four girls with diverse backgrounds are thrown together to learn and grow together under the watchful eye of Mrs. Garrett? That exact thing is happening here in Buffalo. Eastland Academy takes on the form of Mother Teresa Home, a house that provides a safe, stable place for women who have received pressure regarding their pregnancies.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has named Father Peter J. Karalus as the new vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Buffalo. A vicar general acts as deputy of the bishop, exercising administrative authority through the diocese.

Walking into the lyceum of St. John Kanty Parish is like walking into a bygone era. The tiles on the wall look like something out of Gatsby. The wooden pocket doors, the ambient lighting, the bar neatly tucked backstage that once sold beer for 35 cents brings smiles to those who remember and awe to those too young to know.

Queen City Farm is a slice of rural goodness nestled in the heart of Buffalo. Once a property whose only feature was a dilapidated house, is now an urban farm generating produce for neighbors in need. For students of Catholic Charities Workforce and Education Department, the farm serves as a mechanism to learn new skills and hone ones they already have.

The deposit on cans and bottles is 5 cents. That may not seem like a lot of money, but Response to Love Center is taking nickels from can and bottle returns in Western New York and using the accumulated money to help with its ministry.

Nearly 600 people of faith attended a Day of Reparation & Healing; a Path to Hope at St. Leo the Great Parish on Friday, Sept. 7. This collaborative effort initiated by the parish with the North Eastern Vicariate was a spiritual response to the current sex abuse scandal in the Diocese of Buffalo and in the Church. Fourteen priests were present throughout the day either as confessors or concelebrating Mass with St. Leo the Great's pastor, Msgr. Robert E. Zapfel, STD, as celebrant and homilist. "The day was designed to reach out and touch many in need of comfort and healing during these emotionally difficult days," said Msgr. Zapfel.

CHEEKTOWAGA — St. John Gualbert Church and Diocesan Shrine is debuting a Mass series, honoring the saints whose relics are amongst the 1,100 housed in the shrine. The series kicks off at 6:00 p.m., on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at St. John Gualbert in Cheektowaga.

The diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities held a gritty inservice for local Respect Life coordinators. The annual training and information session took place Oct. 6, the vigil of Respect Life Sunday.

The former host of "Our Daily Bread," Father Paul D. Seil, will serve as guest chef for the Daily Bread Food Truck Benefit Bash, Oct. 11.

When Tim Patterson came across Catholic Charities' Buffalo-based Chemical Dependency Treatment Program two years ago, he was no stranger to addiction programs. Previously, he had been in a Suboxone program with a different agency, but during his time there, Patterson said it never felt quite right.

In Pope Francis' work on modern family life, "Amoris Laetitia (On Love in the Family)," he wants Church leaders to help the young people discover the dignity and beauty of marriage and family life. In this apostolic exhortation, the pope speaks about the theme of accompaniment. He calls the Church to be a sign of mercy and encouragement for families. A pastoral way that the Office of Family Life Ministries accompanies engaged couples is with immediate preparation to receive the Sacrament of matrimony to help the couple make a solid beginning of life as a family.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY — In January 2016, Justin Crawford received a jolt that would make a Scott Stevens check feel like a mosquito bite: His father, Gary, had been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.

As the STREAM curriculum continues to circulate through many of the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Buffalo, students are refreshed and enthusiastic about their new learning opportunities. But when teachers are not fluent in some of the new subject areas offered, the schools create partnerships to fill in the gaps, like the one Department of Catholic Education has with Junior Achievement of Western New York.

Travelers from St. John XXIII Parish eagerly awaited and planned for their first ever Mystery Trip. The day they all anticipated finally arrived on Thursday, Aug. 9 as 55 brave parishioners boarded a luxury coach at the parish to an unknown destination. Father John Stanton, pastor of St. John XXIII Parish, planned a special day to a secret destination. He wanted to build community, enjoy time together, and celebrate summer in the parish.

EAST AURORA — Young people from Immaculate Conception Parish spent a week of their summer, July 15-20, serving others in the Appalachia area of Pennsylvania. This was the Immaculate Conception Youth's third Mission Trip with Young People Who Care in Frenchville, Pa. Each day the teens picked blueberries at YPWC's blueberry patch and then went to various work sites. Roofing, yard work, painting, pouring concrete and various building projects were among the tasks they completed for residents in the area. The blueberries are sold to raise funds for YPWC.

On a warm summer night, after Mass celebrating the Feast of the Assumption, the congregation at St. Mary Parish in Holley all got up to take a walk. The 100-plus line of people processed from the Main Street church down Wright Street and the public square carrying a statue of Mother Mary and singing "Ave Maria."

Catholic Charities representatives from around the United States recently visited Buffalo to participate in workshops, panel discussions and volunteer opportunities as part of the 2018 Catholic Charities USA Annual Gathering.

"Cantate Omnes," it's a Latin phrase meaning "let us all sing." That's the motivating factor behind the formation of a new young adult choir based at St. Benedict's Parish in Eggertsville. It's for everyone.

Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Buffalo are guided by the Gospel message of Jesus. At South Buffalo Catholic School Notre Dame Academy, the goal is to build a faith community in which teachers, students, parents and administrators support each other and grow in God's love. And growing they are!

After receiving an abuse complaint against Father Louis S. Dolinic, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Dolinic on administrative leave as an investigation continues.