In the shadow of the majestic Our Lady of Victory Basilica resides St. Anthony Church in Lackawanna, a small parish that has ministered to a diverse neighborhood for generations. St. Anthony Parish celebrated their 100th anniversary with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Richard J. Malone on May 21.

This summer, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will be convening an unprecedented gathering of diverse leaders from dioceses and Catholic organizations from across the country to assess the challenges and opportunities of our time, particularly in the context of the Church in the United States. An ongoing initiative of the Bishops' Working Group on the Life and Dignity of the Human Person, the Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in America, will assemble Catholic leaders in Orlando, Florida for a strategic conversation, under the leadership of the bishops, on forming missionary disciples to animate the Church and to engage the culture.

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.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Lewiston welcomed well over 2,000 people on May 13, who came to honor the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions in Fatima, Portugal. Bishop Richard J. Malone celebrated Mass and blessed a new statue of Jacinta and Francisco Marto, and their cousin Lucia Santos, three shepherd children who witnessed a series of visions near Fatima, Portugal.

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."

Late on Easter afternoon, driving east on the Thruway, I stopped for coffee. The woman at the counter asked me, "How was your Easter?" A gracious, well-intended expression of hospitality, but ... was? How was my Easter? ... and this on Easter Day! I said, "My Easter is great, thank you, and it will be for the next 50 days. I pray it will be for you, too." I never miss a teachable moment, in this case, an opportunity to make a simple reference to the Great 50 Days, the season from Easter to Pentecost when the Church basks in the radiance of the Risen Lord and longs for a new coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Catholic Bishop Richard J. Malone brings attention to the genocide in Iraq and Syria. "We need to help save ancient, ethnic and religious communities," the Buffalo said in a new "Consider This."

As Buffalo continues to prosper, Bishop Richard J. Malone asks that we work together toward racial equity in our community.

Bishop Richard J. Malone invites you to attend an information session about his upcoming pilgrimage to Ireland, A Journey of Faith, which will take place from Oct. 20-29. The session will be held on Sunday, April 30, at 3 p.m. in the Msgr. Britt Room at St. Joseph Cathedral (50 Franklin St., Buffalo, 14202). Whether you have already signed up as a pilgrim or are simply interested in learning more about the trip, everyone is very welcome to attend. Enjoy complimentary refreshments while learning more about the trip itinerary and what you can expect to see and do while you're traversing the Emerald Isle. You will also be given information on what to wear, what to pack and what the weather will be like during your 10-day trip.

Holy Week at St. Joseph Cathedral is one of the busiest times of the year, with several Masses and liturgies marking the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here are some of our favorite images of the week in a new photo gallery.

The path to the Resurrection was illuminated at St. Joseph Cathedral, as Bishop Richard J. Malone celebrated the Easter Vigil Saturday night.

Hundreds of people flocked to St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo on Good Friday, April 14 to hear Bishop Richard J. Malone lead the Solemn Celebration of the Lord's Passion. Good Friday liturgies have three parts: Liturgy of the Word, Adoration of the Holy Cross, and Holy Communion.

At the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, Bishop Richard J. Malone washed the feet of twelve men, women and young people in front of the altar at St Joseph Cathedral.

The Diocese of Buffalo continued a time-honored Holy Week tradition that renewed the promises of all diocesan priests and enabled Bishop Richard J. Malone to prepare sacred oils for use in sacraments throughout the diocese. The Chrism Mass, held at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo April 11, also included the participation of "The Elect," soon-to-be Catholics initiated later in the week.

BUFFALO, N.Y.- Bishop Richard J. Malone reported on the progress of the annual Catholic Charities of Buffalo Appeal, announcing $7,890,544.24 has been raised to date, as Catholic Charities officials marked the close of Appeal Week 2017 which ran from April 2-9 in parishes throughout the diocese.

Isn't it a curious and concerning thing that so many of our Christian feasts have been overlaid - better, co-opted - by all sorts of customs that, though nice, have little to do with the essence of those feasts. Christmas comes first to mind, which for too many folks seems more a consumer-driven winter wonderland festival than the celebration of our Savior's birthday. And don't get me started on what popular American culture has done to the Vigil of the Solemnity of all Saints ... better known, sadly, as Halloween.

With a congregation of Catholics holding individual palms, Bishop Richard J. Malone officially opened Holy Week in the Diocese of Buffalo with Palm Sunday Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo April 8.

Fulfilling one of his roles as bishop, the Most Reverend Richard J. Malone celebrated Mass for inmates at the Erie County Holding Center on the evening of April 1. He told the 16 orange-clad inmates who attended the Mass in the chapel that he made the visit because Jesus said to.

Bishop Richard Malone shares the experience of being with his parents when they died and how physician assisted suicide is a big mistake. He offers examples of why it is problematic for society.

The 500 years of animosity between the Catholics and Lutherans were washed away for an hour, when Bishop Richard J. Malone joined Bishop John Macholz for an evening prayer service.

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.

Bishop Richard J. Malone shares the official Catholic Church teaching regarding the Muslim faith, in an effort to help eradicate Islamophobia in our hearts

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.

As we enter into the holy season of Lent, let us listen to the words of our Holy Father in his Lenten message for this year: "Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ's victory over death. This season urgently calls us to conversion.

Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about threats against our brothers and sisters of the Jewish faith and asks that we share in solidarity and love.

In honor of the upcoming feast of St. Patrick on Friday, March 17, Bishop Richard J. Malone hereby grants a commutation of abstinence to all Catholics in the Buffalo Diocese.

Bishop Richard J. Malone welcomed 158 people into the Catholic faith by saying that their call to conversion "may have come as a whisper or as a roar," but in either case, they heard it and opted to say a public, "Yes, Lord, here I am."

On Sunday, March 5, the first Sunday in Lent, Bishop Richard J. Malone will celebrate the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, at 3:30 p.m. for the Diocese of Buffalo.

Bishop Richard Malone reflects on the meaning of Lent and suggests how to prepare for Easter in the latest "Consider This."

Catholics across Western New York got ashed March 1 to mark the beginning of Lent. See how people celebrated Ash Wednesday this year in our new photo gallery.

Bishop Richard J. Malone and many other diocesan clergy and laypeople distributed ashes at a packed St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo on March 1, Ash Wednesday.

For the second time in two years, the Diocese of Buffalo bid farewell to an abandoned deceased baby. On Feb. 27, Bishop Richard J. Malone and Father Jeffrey L. Nowak presided over memorial and burial services for Baby Bernadette, a girl 27 weeks along in gestation.

The Diocese of Buffalo recently sold St. Gerard Church to a group of Muslims, who will turn it into a mosque. Bishop Richard J. Malone addresses how Christians and Muslims acknowledges the same God in the latest "Consider This" below:

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.

Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about what we can do to support refugee resettlement. Watch the latest "Consider This."

Two lethal bills have been introduced in Albany: A.1748 in relation to abortion expansion, and A.10059/S.7579 in relation to legalizing physician-assisted suicide.

Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about the celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life. Women and Men Religious have been part of our faith lives and we should thank them for their gifts. Watch the latest "Consider This."

The diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities presented the annual Pro-Vita Awards during a special Mass on Jan. 21 at St. Christopher Parish in Tonawanda. The Pro-Vita Awards were established in the Diocese of Buffalo in 1995 and are presented to people who best exemplify respect for all life.

In "Consider This," Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about President Trump, the March For Life and the pro-life words of Pope Francis from his exhortation, "Amoris Laetitia."