On Sept. 17, Bishop Richard J. Malone made his first visit as bishop to Our Lady of Bistrica Parish in Lackawanna to celebrate the Croatian church's 100th anniversary. In honor of the rich heritage of the community, portions of the Mass were read in Croatian as well as English, and along with Father Christopher Coric, OFM Conv., parish pastor, several Croatian Catholic priests were in attendance.

In October, the Diocesan Revival will be sponsored by the Office of Cultural Diversity's Diocesan African-American Commission. The theme of the Revival this year is "Shut Up and Just Listen, Jesus Has Something to Say."

NIAGARA FALLS — The week of Aug. 7-11 was a flurry of activity as the St. Vincent de Paul Parish Center was transformed into Snowflake Station. During Vacation Bible School Week, the program Operation Arctic Adventure was used, and over 35 children learned about the "coolest book on the planet," the Bible.

The road to recovery from drug addiction is lined with many hurdles and pitfalls. For the past five years, St. Bonaventure Parish in Allegany has worked with a counseling recovery service to provide a safe passage to sobriety.

On Sunday, Sept. 24, Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, 1023 Swann Road, Lewiston, will be the site of the 37th 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. This year's theme is "We thank you, Blessed Mother, for 100 years of love and blessings."

While many people do not like to think about end of life decisions, these topics are often not brought up or discussed until it is too late for them to plan ahead, leaving them unable to make informed choices. In response to this need, faith community nurses will host a four-part series on important documents people should prepare - advance directives, wills, power of attorney and funeral preplanning - on Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, held from 7-8:30 p.m. on each date at St. Leo the Great Parish in Amherst.

While children of all ages tossed rings and bounced in a house behind Our Lady of Victory Basilica, passersby gave to the church by emptying their pockets and piggybanks in front.

You might not know it by driving by, but the small parish of St. Padre Pio in Elba has a very big connection to Fatima, Portugal and its most important visitor. The parish is the first in the United States to have a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. On Aug. 13, St. Padre Pio Parish welcomed Bishop Richard J. Malone to celebrate both the 70th anniversary of the church and the 100th anniversary of the message of Fatima.

LANCASTER — Our Lady of Pompeii Parish is generating new excitement in the renewal of their youth groups. In the last few months, both parishioners and non-parishioners attended youth nights and events which enriched the participant's faith and created a growing sense of camaraderie.

St. Joseph Cathedral, the central church for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, has undergone a changing of the guard. Father Charles E. Slisz has come out of retirement to take over the role of cathedral rector from Father Peter Drilling, who has served in that position since 2014. Father Drilling will continue his long career teaching at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has announced new clergy assignments at several parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo. The appointments include welcoming three priests to the diocese.

A weekend filled with live music, classic cars, numerous raffles and delicious food offerings will highlight the 80th annual summer picnic at the Church of the Annunciation, 7580 Clinton St., Elma. The event kicks off on Friday, Aug. 18, and concludes with a grand drawing the evening of Sunday, Aug. 20.

In honor of the 81st anniversary of Venerable Nelson H. Baker's death, Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica continued its longstanding tradition of honoring the beloved Buffalo icon on July 30. A congregation, including clergy, religious, lay faithful and "Baker Boys," men who lived at Father Baker's orphanage as young boys, listened as Msgr. Paul J.E. Burkard, rector of the basilica, urged all Catholic faithful to use Father Baker's life of service as an ideal role model for modern day sainthood.

The Holy Cross Parish Council is pleased to announce its first Holy Cross 5K Mass Run and one-mile walk on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 7:45 a.m.

Hundreds of people are expected to join Bishop Richard J. Malone on Sunday, Aug. 6, Transfiguration Sunday, at 10 a.m. for a special outdoor Mass at St. John XXIII Parish, 1 Arcade St. (corner of Harlem Road), West Seneca. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs. This will be the only Mass at the parish on Sunday, Aug. 6.

Gathered under shelter 16 at Ellicott Creek Park, about 30 young adults celebrated Mass on a warm summer's day. Members of [re], Frassati WNY and a few strays came to worship in an environment different from the four walls and stained glass of their churches. St. Benedict Parish in Eggertsville hosted the event. Pastor Father Robert Mock celebrated the July 22 Mass.

Although they have long histories, many Catholic parishes in the United States has become plagued by an issue many pastors have noticed, one that could lead to a shorter history than they would like. With many millennials, or young adults born during an ill-defined time period that usually includes the 1980s to late 1990s, not attending Church or participating in religion in general, parishes have been put in a bind.

St. John Kanty Parish celebrated a new beginning as it prepares to commemorate the past. Bishop Richard J. Malone installed Father Michael H. Burzynski as administrator of the Buffalo church, which will hold its 125th anniversary later this year.

ORCHARD PARK — A 5K race, food truck rally, classic car show and entertainment by Hit n Run and Eric Van Houten are among the highlights of the 25th annual St. John Vianney Lawn Fete, taking place July 20-23.

A Mass in honor of divine mercy and Hymn to St. Michael the Archangel, composed by David Butler, were premiered at the noon Mass on Pentecost Sunday at St. Michael Church in Buffalo. Butler, a well known Western New York musician and teacher, arranged and conducted the scores of his original works for voice, strings, piano and congregation. He was assisted by Jim McNeill, Colleen Mazella and the Burnett String Ensemble. Father Benjamin Fiore, SJ, pastor, presided and preached at the Mass.

The parishioners of St. Bernadette's have put their money where their mouths are. To support the Orchard Park parish's youth ministry, parishioners bought $1,300 worth of the luncheon meat at the May 20 Baloneyfest. The fundraising idea came from Father Paul Seil, pastor and friend of the Wardynski family of Wardynski Meats fame, who donated 16 logs of baloney to the parish.

The need for blood doesn't end with a particular season. By contributing to the community blood supply donors can show their commitment to a better quality of life. While one unit may not seem important at this moment, it could mean the difference between life and death to the patient who needs a particular blood type.

OLEAN — Three months after the announcement from the Vatican that Pope Francis has bestowed the title of minor basilica on St. Mary of the Angels Church, the parish is preparing for its inaugural Mass to celebrate that recognition on Thursday, June 29.

As a conclusion to the large-scale renovations that took place at St. Mark Parish in North Buffalo over the winter, the parish will welcome the nearing of summer with a formal dedication to the updated church's interior.

There was a time when women were expected to wear hats or "chapel veils" in church, and Kate Mazzarini, for one, is glad that became optional in 1962.

Bishop Richard J. Malone welcomed a crowd of nearly one thousand at St. Joseph Cathedral Saturday morning by noting that he rarely sees so many smiles in church as on the day of an ordination. On this day, he placed his hands upon the heads for men as he said the ordination prayer making them priests of Jesus Christ forever.

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.

As Upon This Rock moves into its public phase we get another update from Rick Suchan, Executive Director of the Foundation for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.

Holy Angels Parish in Buffalo will throw a party to celebrate a lifetime of service. Bob Chambers, its longtime organist, will be honored with a special Mass and reception May 13. The 4 p.m. Mass at the church will be followed by a reception at D'Youville College in Buffalo.

Buffalo Mass Mob XXI will take place on Sunday, May 7, at Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church on the city's West Side starting at 9 a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — One hundred years ago, on Oct. 13, 1917, an estimated 70,000 pilgrims travelled to the Cova da Iria, of Fatima, Portugal, to witness the miracle promised by the Blessed Mother. Our Lady appeared six times to three shepherd children, on the 13th of each month from May to October of 1917, each time exhorting them to "Pray, pray, pray."

Father Paul Bossi, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church, will host the Camerata di Sant'Antonio Chamber Orchestra during a special concert May 17 at the Buffalo church.

BOWMANSVILLE — Sacred Heart Parish will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady's appearance to three shepherd children, Lúcia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto, in Fatima, Portugal, as she pleaded with them to pray for peace and "poor souls who have no one to pray for them."

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.

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.

During the warm months, you may have seen a group riding their bikes around Buffalo on a slow roll, checking out the scenic city. On Holy Thursday, some of these people will take a "Holy Roll" through the seven Catholic churches of Buffalo's Polonia and Kaisertown districts.

FRENCH CREEK — Christ Our Hope Parish in French Creek and Sherman held a parish celebration, entitled "United In Christ Our Hope," in February. The brainchild of Father Mark Itua worked to help further unify St. Matthias parishioners in French Creek and St. Isaac Jogues parishioners in Sherman. The two parishes merged in 2008 and worked well together, but Father Itua decided a unity weekend would improve the long-term life of the parish.

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

LAKE VIEW — How do most people see addicts? Do they see them as lazy, unkept, dirty, homeless or jobless? Perhaps some addicts are these things, but that is not the truth of the matter. The truth is that they are all someone's sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, siblings, spouses, grandparents, friends, family members, coworkers and neighbors. Addiction affects people of all walks of life.