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When I mentioned to a friend that I intended to write this month's column on the new evangelization, he accused me of having an obsession - a "holy" obsession, he qualified - with that theme. I told him that if I do indeed have such an obsession, it is because I am convinced that the work of helping people encounter Jesus Christ and His saving message is the primary mission of the Church ... at this time, and at all times. Evangelization is, as Blessed Paul VI declared in his 1976 encyclical "Evangelii Nuntiandi," the "deepest identity" of the Church. The Church, he wrote, "exists in order to evangelize" (#14).

More than a thousand people turned out at Kleinhans Music Hall on Monday afternoon to celebrate the life of Robert G. Wilmers, longtime CEO and chairman of M&T Bank Corporation. Bishop Richard J. Malone recalled Wilmers as a 'remarkable gentleman' whose personal generosity benefited Catholic education and Catholic Charities.

Today Bishop Richard J. Malone issued the following timely directives in response to the current influenza outbreak within New York State to all pastors, pastoral administrators, principals and presidents.

Over two dozen area middle schools looked toward the future and designed cities to fit into the global issues we face today.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - President Donald Trump praised the pro-life movement's support for pregnant women and touted his administration's pro-life policy achievements in his remarks to the March for Life Friday.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - In the fight against abortion, it is crucial to recognize the reality of evil and the importance of prayer, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York said on the eve of the annual March for Life.

The Cantalician Center in Depew offers a full range of services for individuals with disabilities, from children through adults. Thanks to a $125,000 grant from the Tower Foundation, the center has been able to give nonverbal children a new way to communicate with teachers, family members and friends with the help of the latest technology.

The diocesan Youth Board wants you to know the "True Story" of Jesus Christ and is inviting everyone to the Youth Convention to hear it.

In June 2015, Michelle had an accident at work that sent her life spiraling into an unknown abyss of paperwork, pain and poverty. Within months she was homeless, living out of her truck and fearing for her future. The last place she ever thought she would be, turned out to be the last place she had to go - Catholic Charities.

Northern Chautauqua Catholic School learned the word "amiga" in November, when two sisters who lost their home to Hurricane Maria were welcomed to the Dunkirk school. Amiga is the feminized Spanish word for friend.

Bishop Richard J. Malone is one who practices what he preaches. The man who has spoken about the need to help the neighbors offered his Christian generosity by volunteering with Meals on Wheels just before Christmas.

Bishop Richard J. Malone and the diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities honored those who have stood up in the fight for human life during a special Mass at St. Bernadette Parish in Orchard Park. At the Jan. 13 Mass, Pro-Vita Awards handed out in five categories to people and groups dedicated to the pro-life cause.

A group of 45 teenagers from the Diocese of Buffalo swam in a sea of 23,000 new friends of faith at the National Catholic Youth Conference. Held Nov. 15-18 in Indianapolis, with events at Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indy Convention Center, the event is a national conference similar to the local diocesan Youth Convention, with a series of keynote speakers, music, breakout sessions, prayer and fun.

Organizations involved in the Western New York Refugee and Asylee Consortium, which represents five agencies that resettle and provide services to refugees, immigrants and asylees in the Buffalo area, joined together today to respond to recent comments attributed to President Trump. The comments seen as inappropriate were allegedly made during meetings this week on immigration policies with lawmakers.

On this episode of "Our Daily Bread," host Father Paul D. Seil is in the kitchen with Jesse and Sarah Saltarelli, a young couple who have devoted their lives to youth ministry. Jesse works at St. Bernadette Parish in Orchard Park, and his wife, Sarah, ministers at Annunciation Parish in Elma.

This month, many will honor slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with prayer vigils, peace marches and service projects. SS. Columba-Brigid Parish is planning something a little closer to King's vision: building a community.

Bishop Richard J. Malone paid a visit to St. Paul Parish in Kenmore for a special occasion, the completion of a new addition to the parish in December. The bishop blessed the new gathering place, a parish center, after that morning's 11 o'clock Mass before a gathering of clergy and members of the parish community.

On Jan. 10, Bishop Richard J. Malone announced an $11 million goal for the 2018 Catholic Charities Appeal, joining representatives of Catholic Charities of Buffalo at their new Cheektowaga office providing services for the Women, Infants and Children program in Western New York. In addition to the 2018 goal, the bishop announced this year's patron saint, St. Clare of Assisi; its theme, "Love Your Neighbor," and the 2018 appeal family, the first such family to have this role.

The Diocese of Buffalo will mark the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Richard J. Malone on Sunday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. at SS. Columba & Brigid Church, 75 Hickory St., Buffalo. Deacon LeRoy T. Gill Jr. of the Archdiocese of Chicago will be the guest homilist.

The diocesan observance of the 45th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 5 p.m. at St. Bernadette Parish, 5930 S. Abbott Road, Orchard Park. Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, will be the main celebrant.

St. Michael Parish hopes to be a light in the darkness for Catholics everywhere, especially in downtown Buffalo. The Jesuit-run parish has installed a light in its bell tower as a beacon for those lost in faith and those lost on Washington Street.

For more than 30 years, the Catholic Church and United States bishops have recognized National Migration Week. This year, NMW will take place from Jan. 7-13, and its theme, "Many Journeys, One Family," will serve as a reminder that Americans came from many different origins, with every person and family having a unique story.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has offered to celebrate two Confirmation Masses at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Orchard Park; one at 1:15 p.m. for those who prefer to stick to the original plan, and another at the 10:30 a.m. Mass for those who wish to get home in time for the big game.

KENMORE — Mount St. Mary Academy celebrated the Advent season by sharing with those in need. Led by the student volunteer organization, Z-Club, students collected over 10,000 food items, which were donated to local shelters.

Growing up, my parents instilled in my three brothers and me that our Catholic faith was not what you do on Sundays, it's who you are. It is the constant celebration of the value of goodness, and this has had a profound influence on the way I think, behave and act.

As the area leader in health care quality and patient safety, Catholic Health has once again earned the region's highest overall grades in the Leapfrog Group's biannual Hospital Safety Grade Report. Catholic Health also received two of only seven "A" grades that were presented to hospitals throughout New York state. A national leader in health care quality reporting, the Leapfrog Group grades hospitals from "A" to "F" on how well they protect patients from medical errors, infections and injuries.

For many, holidays are a time for joy and sharing with family. But for some, the colored lights and burning candles cast a shadow of depression. Many are saddened by the loss of family members or fear of dealing with the first Christmas since the death of a loved one.

Father Bill Quinlivan, prolific writer, musician and minister, has done it again with a new CD out in time for Christmas. Titled "Jump for Joy," this is Father Quinlivan's eighth CD. Having published "Made to Praise Him" in 2014 and recently been named pastor of two parishes in Buffalo, you might wonder how he does all this.

Between Advent and all of the preparations for Christmas, December becomes one of the busiest months of the year, especially for a parish staff. Some believe that all of the happenings and "to-dos" distract us from the true meaning of the season. But I think that the true meaning of Christmas is made even more real by the very experiences we sometimes take for granted or that might even seem like distractions. For example: given the choice between watching a Christmas movie with all my cousins or taking time alone in prayer, I am hands down going to choose movie time. Even though prayer is an important part of spiritual preparation, time with family is a blessing and a reminder of how close to God we can be. The festivities we look forward to, the food we eat, and the family we see are experiences that help us fully realize an inward, spiritual celebration that builds with anticipation during Advent and that we celebrate on Christmas.

St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, has scheduled a number of celebrations during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

"Shhh. The baby is sleeping." Every parent of a newborn has whispered these words. Christmas is our whispering season. Christmas quiets the world. It is time to do what God did for us. It is time to share the Son of God with the world, quietly. God knows, a whisper is sometimes the best way to get a message across.

Ah, December. Turn up the radio and hear those ring-ting-tingling Christmas Carols. By definition, a carol is a song of joy or mirth often pertaining to religious joy. Although mostly associated with Christmas, they originated with pagan festivities surrounding the winter solstice. Those same festivities brought us the Christmas tree and kissing under the mistletoe.

The Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo will hold its 18th annual Catholic Education dinner, GALA 22:6, on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. The 2018 Bishop's Medal honorees will include the chair couples for the Upon This Rock capital campaign, the Montante family and Uniland Development Company.

Villa Maria College Animation student Bridget McCleary '17 and Animation faculty members Lee Terwilliger '14 and Valery Amborski '14 each had their work selected and featured in a fan-drawn episode of Bob's Burgers, which airs on FOX.

In September, parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo began using the new faith formation curriculum, "Forming Disciples," designed to be introduced over the next few years. Of its four key components, the first is a focus on engaging parents in their faith, and in faith in the home. This family attention is intended to build up the Church within households to support a child's growth in the faith. Although the actual process is different in every parish, and it should be tailored to the unique needs of each one, the diocesan Department of Lifelong Faith Formation has implemented a plan to ensure they share a common goal.

Not everyone has the luxury of enjoying a hearty dinner surrounded with family on Christmas day. Many people locally have no family in town, or no family at all. Others are unable to afford a meal, especially for a family. Local meal providers such as Meals on Wheels and the Warming House are not open that day.

For good or ill, many people go through high school and begin to form the adult they will become. Four St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute alumni who made their marks on the world were honored by the private school with inductions into the SJCI Fine Arts Wall of Honor during a ceremony at Buffalo State College Dec. 13.

Advent is upon us. While the world seems to be a frenzy of Christmas shopping, traveling, decorating and entertaining, the Church presents us with a unique traditional alternative: a season of reflection, preparation and penance as we anticipate the birth of Christ.

Bishop Richard J. Malone and Sister Mary McCarrick, OSF, diocesan director of Catholic Charities of Buffalo, have named Chancellor Emeritus Robert M. Bennett general chair for the 2018 annual appeal. Bennett's son, Andrew, and daughter, Maurine Bennett Falkowski, will serve as co-chairs, marking the first time in the appeal's 94-year history a family will serve as the campaign's top volunteer leaders.

Here's the story of a family named Donahue. It's a familiar tale of a modern-day blended family, with a slight twist. Instead of a husband and wife blending their children from former marriages, three Colombian children joined the American-based Donahues.