As we continue this Christmas season and begin the calendar year, the faculty, staff and students of Christ the King Seminary would like to offer you a blessed season of hope and joyous New Year of encounters with the Lord. We also believe this start to the new year is the perfect opportunity to give you a brief description of seminary life today as compared to around 50 years ago, as well as offer you a glimpse into changes that will be forthcoming.

The Presbyteral Council and the Vicars Forane met with Bishop Richard Malone on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018. The priests committed themselves to work together with Bishop Malone to move forward in the healing process of the victims of clergy sexual abuse, the healing of the divisions within our diocese, and hope-filled steps towards the spiritual renewal and healing of our brother priests and all in our diocese. With these goals in mind, the following actions steps are being initiated:

A tearful reunion took place in Buffalo this past month. Lynn Stephens met the woman she calls her second mother, Sister Dorothy Feltz. It had been over 40 years since they last saw each other. When Sister Dorothy saw Stephens safe and sound with her adopted family, she faded away.

The gym is more than a place for games. It is where young people learn to obey a set of rules, work as a team and be a good sport. That has always been the belief of Msgr. Leo McCarthy, former coach and mentor, and now namesake of the Baker Hall gym.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has named Father Bryan J. Zielenieski pastor of Our Lady of Charity Parish, Buffalo, for a term of six years.

Sister Mary Helen Buscarino, OSF, has come a long distance from her Italian birthplace, and she has met a lot of people along the way. Her life as a Franciscan sister has given her opportunities to help others, and she used every one of those chances to make someone else's world better.

Retirement for Sister Joan Sherry means working four days a week rather than seven. There are also no more late night meetings, and "a lot less pressure."

Teachers know they have made an impact on their students when those students attend their birthday parties. When Sister Mary Fidelma Kakol turned 100 in October, her former students packed the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center to wish her well.

The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held Dec. 8-9 in the Diocese of Buffalo. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) in Washington, the appeal benefits 31,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests.

The name of the Serra Club of Buffalo may have changed to Mary, Mother of Vocations Ministry but its mission remains the same; to foster and affirm vocations to the ordained priesthood, vowed religious life and permanent diaconate and through this ministry, affirm its members' common Catholic Faith. The Serra Club of Buffalo was connected to the larger Serra USA and Serra International organizations.

The longer I have reflected the clearer it has become to me that all of the vocations in the Church exist in relation to one another, and that none exist in isolation. Over the years, our diocese has been blessed with the ministry and support of several communities of religious orders.

The chancery announced several clergy appointments during the month of November 2018.

The Diocese of Buffalo takes pride in its rich cultural heritage. Masses are celebrated in 10 different languages throughout the eight counties, as well as signed English and the traditional Latin.

The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Committee of the Sisters of St. Joseph and Associates of Buffalo, dedicated a new Peace Pole at the Sisters property in Clarence. Sister of St. Joseph Associate Audrey Mang's welcome set the tone for the dedication of a Peace Pole by saying, "Today we celebrate diversity - the gift of our country. Diversity - all of us - is what makes our country great."

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.

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.

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.

The School Sisters of Notre Dame, an international congregation of over 2,500 women religious in 32 countries on five continents, are celebrating 185 years of faithful service since their foundation in 1833. Their mission, to deepen communion with God and among all people, is lived out in ministries focused on education. The sisters educate with a world vision believing that the world can be changed through the transformation of persons. Through their educational ministries the sisters have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and their families.

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.

Under the shadow of intense criticism of diocesan leadership, a Catholic congregation from all over Western New York came together at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna to witness the celebration of the ordination of 15 men to the order of the diaconate on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has named Father Mark J. Noonan pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Orchard Park for a term of six years, effective Sept. 1. Father Noonan had been serving since May as vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Buffalo after leaving St. Mary Parish in Holley and St. Mark Parish in Kendall where he had been pastor since 2010. Since his ordination in 2007, he has also served as parochial vicar at St. Amelia, Tonawanda, and Nativity of Our Lord, Orchard Park.

The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy also known as the Mercedarian Friars, the religious community that staffs the parishes of Our Lady of Mercy in Le Roy and St. Brigid's in Bergen, celebrates its 800th Anniversary this year.

Father Nicholas Swiatek, OFM Conv., will celebrate his 50th anniversary of ordination on Sunday, July 29 with a Mass of Thanksgiving at Resurrection Church in Cheektowaga at 2 p.m.

An historical moment will take place on August 1 as Father Patrick Melfi will become the ninth resident pastor (in 142 years) and the second rector of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. Also starting on that day, a new linked configuration of three local parishes will take place, effectively joining under the leadership of shared clergy the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angles of Olean, St. John the Evangelist Church of Olean (where Father Melfi serves as pastor), and St. Philomena Church of Franklinville (where Father Melfi recently assumed pastorship). A new Mass schedule for all three parishes will be announced in the coming weeks and will commence effective the weekend after Labor Day.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has appointed a new College of Consultors, a move that canon law states should happen every five years.

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.

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.

The Sisters of Social Service in Hungary, embraced Benedictine spirituality, had a special devotion to the Holy Spirit and protected many from Nazi atrocities. Their foundress Sister Margaret Slachta is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna.

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

'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.

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.

If you've visited Daybreak TV's YouTube channel, you may have seen Father James Vacco, OFM, deliver a reflection on the day's Gospel reading or cooking up Thanksgiving dinner on an episode of "Our Daily Bread." Perhaps you've read about his thoughts on Easter in the Western New York Catholic newspaper. Soon, you will hear him speak about the Office of Communications. The pastor of St. Bonaventure Parish in Allegany has been named the honorary chairperson for this year's Catholic Communication Campaign, an annual collection to support national and local communication needs in the Church.

Smiles were seen throughout St. Joseph Cathedral Saturday, June 2, as Bishop Richard J. Malone ordained four new priests into the Diocese of Buffalo on Saturday, June 2. Relive the journey of these men in our new photo gallery.

They all took different paths to the priesthood. One came from Nigeria. Another was a middle-aged computer engineer.

In preparation for the priesthood, Deacon Peter J. Santandreu took a lap around the world. The 30-year-old who is being ordained June 2, flew to Argentina, Poland and Bangkok for educational and ministerial experiences.

Of the four men being ordained to the priesthood this June, Gerard Skrzynski has the most, let's say, life experience. The 54-year-old has spent 25 years in the workforce as a computer engineer and homeowner. He now plans on taking a radically different course of life.

After receiving an abuse complaint against Rev. Mark J. Wolski, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Wolski on administrative leave as an investigation continues. Please note that this administrative leave is for the purpose of investigation and does not imply any determination as to the truth or falsity of the complaint.

Deacon Paul S. Cygan, a fourth-year theology major at Christ the King Seminary, says he first began thinking about becoming a priest when he was 7 years old. "It was a simple realization," he recalled. "I thought, 'Priests are not born priests. That means I can be a priest someday. Yes, I think that sounds like a good idea.'"

The road to priesthood can be long and winding, as it was for Peter N. Bassey, who began his journey in his native Africa. But, a few encounters in ministry have shown him that the Diocese of Buffalo is where he is supposed to be. The 30-year-old will be ordained to the priesthood on June 2.