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WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel N DiNardo, of Galveston-Houston, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has issued the following statement in response to today's mass shooting during a church service in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Each year, the month of November is an exciting time for the Vocations Office and the Catholic communities of the United States, because it brings the National Vocation Awareness Week, which will occur from Nov. 5-11 this year.

KENMORE — The St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute Visual and Performing Arts Department is proud to announce the upcoming production of "Arsenic and Old Lace," written by Joseph Kesselring. The performances will take place in the Cullen Theater for the Arts at St. Joe's on Friday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m.

LANCASTER — The Junior Ladies of Charity at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish collected 170 dolls this summer and presented them to a local missionary, Ann Marie Zon of Swormville, to be shipped to children in the Nicaragua Missions.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - A member of the Vatican's International Theological Commission has resigned his position as a consultant to the USCCB's Committee on Doctrine, following the publication of a letter written to Pope Francis asking the Pope to correct the "chronic confusion" of his pontificate, which he says "fosters within the faithful a growing unease."

Armed with floor scrubbers, mops, gallons of soapy water, window cleaner and rolls of paper towels, members of One Jesuit Buffalo Alumni spent two days insuring that students at St. Monica School would have a bright campus when they began classes in September. Thirty volunteers from the Jesuit alumni group participated in the service project for the young women's campus of NativityMiguel Middle School of Buffalo, located in St. Lawrence Parish.

The Diocese of Buffalo has closed on an agreement with two investors who have purchased the St. Columban Center for $1.4 million. The property had been for sale since May of 2016.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo announced today that construction for a renovation project to create a multiservice center in Niagara Falls will begin next month. Catholic Charities officials said the $2.4 million project is made possible in part through the generosity of three major funders: The James and Mary Glynn Family, the City of Niagara Falls and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - On Sunday Pope Francis reflected on Jesus' command to love God above all things, and your neighbor as yourself, saying that it is in the Eucharist that we receive the grace to carry this out.

The beneficiaries of a baby shower the diocesan St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center held earlier this year are doing well, according to a parishioner of St. Vincent Parish in Springbrook who made the event possible, along with St. Gianna Molla Center director Cheryl Zielen-Ersing.

For years, Angel (name has been changed) was a victim of domestic violence and felt like she was alone with no one to help her. However, this young mother overcame difficult circumstances with support and assistance from diocesan staff, and is currently living at a local women's shelter with her children after getting the help she needed to escape from her abuser and begin the long road towards healing.

As Western New Yorkers prepare for some cold weather, Msgr. Paul J.E. Burkard is preparing for a meeting in Rome. The pastor of Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna will visit the Vatican at the end of October to discuss Venerable Nelson Baker's cause for canonization.

The St. Mary's High School travel softball team hit a grand slam this summer. They won the Msgr. Martin League Championship, toured Italy and tagged the pope outside the Vatican.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis on Wednesday spoke about the hope Christians have at the end of life, which is found in God's promise to be with us at the moment of our death, and to give us eternal life with him in heaven.

As they prepared for the start of the new school year, teachers from Catholic schools throughout the diocese met at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Kenmore for training on important elements of the STREAM initiative, focusing on the fields of science, technology, religion, engineering, art and mathematics. A total of 400 teachers from 30 schools came to the high school to learn more about 28 topics including STEM courses, tech courses, science lab courses and other aspects of the initiative, which has been well-received as a model in educating children to pursue promising career paths.

Among the recent clergy assignments announced by Bishop Richard J. Malone is a new director of the permanent diaconate office and the permanent diaconate program. In addition, three pastors have been named.

It was just like being back in school for Bishop McMahon High School's class of 1957, who gathered at Classics V restaurant in Amherst for their 60th anniversary reunion. The only difference was they could talk as loud as they wanted, and chew gum and wear makeup.

Dozens of additional students in Western New York will receive tuition assistance to attend a Catholic school next year, thanks to the Upon This Rock campaign. Next September, about $250,000 is expected to be made available for tuition assistance as a first installment from the Upon This Rock capital campaign, which may eventually grant $600,000 in Catholic school tuition assistance per year.

The Diocesan Care for Creation Committee will hold a gathering of parish leaders to discuss best practices for educating the community about protecting the environment. Everyone is welcome to the meeting at Villa Maria Convent in Cheektowaga, Monday, Oct. 23.

Recently, 4-and-a-half-year-old Giani Rizzo, of Williamsville, came scampering into the brightly-decorated classroom of the Mercy Speech Center to be greeted by Sister Maralynn Sciarrino, RSM, with a smile, hug and welcoming words.

For those who wish to advocate for the pro-life cause in a visual, humanitarian way, the diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities supports training for so-called "sidewalk advocates," people who stand outside of abortion clinics holding anti-abortion signs and praying. These advocates stand in front of an abortion clinic on Main Street in Buffalo early on Saturday mornings, as they will do in the month of October.

It has been 50 years since a group of students at Pittsburgh's Duquesne University experienced the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was the first known case of a group of people receiving gifts at the same time. That experience spread to other college campuses, spawning the Charismatic Renewal movement in the United States. To mark the golden jubilee, Pope Francis called for a conference in Rome.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - In the wake of an executive order issued by the Trump administration halting federal assistance for certain insurance plans, the U.S. bishops reaffirmed that helping to protect low-income persons and the vulnerable is of the utmost importance.

The Harmonia Chamber Singers, a professional vocal ensemble that performs across Western New York, will be performing at a special concert in Williamsville in October and a Latin Requiem Mass in downtown Buffalo in November.

If anyone can say that he has served God and his country it is Msgr. Dino J. Lorenzetti. The 96-year-old priest will be inducted to the Wall of Honor at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park on Friday, Nov. 10, at 10 a.m. The event falls almost 75 years to the day that Msgr. Lorenzetti enlisted to the United States Army during World War II.

On World Mission Sunday, October 22, our celebration leads us to hear of our Christian faith - leads us to mission, as Pope Francis explains in his message for this year's celebration.

FATIMA, PORTUGAL (CNA/EWTN News) - On "the day the sun danced," thousands of people bore witness to a miracle that not only proved the validity of the Fatima Marian apparitions, but also shattered the prevalent belief at the time that God was no longer relevant, according to one theologian.

This month, the linked parishes of St. Martin of Tours and St. Thomas Aquinas in South Buffalo will celebrate their Irish-American heritage with Father William Quinlivan. He has invited two Irish retreat ministers, Sister Briege McKenna, OSC, and Father Kevin Scallon, CM, from Oct. 16-19 for a special four-day parish mission retreat.

WASHINGTON-On Friday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memorandum for all executive departments and agencies on the subject of "Federal Law Protections for Religious Liberty". Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has offered the following statement in response:

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Fatima appearance, several local parishes will host special celebrations throughout the year beginning this month.

Since 1948, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Bowmansville has been the home of one of the first-ever statues of Our Lady of Fatima, sculpted to depict the Virgin Mary as she appeared to the three shepherd children, Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, in Portugal in 1917. As the parish was preparing for the centennial anniversary celebrations to end, Father Robert Zilliox, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus, spoke about the history of the statue and how it came to Bowmansville.

The recent solar eclipse reminded me of another celestial event of a very unique and enduring nature. As you may know, the Church has been celebrating the centennial of the Fatima Apparitions from November 27th of 2016 through November 26th of this year. It was 100 years ago this October 13th that the "Miracle of the Sun" occurred in a field in rural Portugal. This was the last of six apparitions made by Our Lady to three shepherd children - Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta.

WASHINGTON, DC - (CNA/EWTN News).- The Trump administration announced broad new exemptions to the HHS contraceptive mandate on Friday, giving relief to religious non-profits and others with deeply held religious or moral convictions regarding contraception.

Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Lewiston will hold special events to mark the 100th anniversary of the last apparition of Mary in Fatima, Portugal.

The third annual Blue Mass in the Diocese of Buffalo will take place on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo. The Mass will honor local EMS, fire and law enforcement departments of all faiths who live and work in the diocese. Bishop Richard J. Malone welcomes everyone, from all counties, paid and volunteer staff, families and friends, to attend this special commemorative Mass to honor and thank these men and women for their service to the common good. He will bestow blessings upon all who contribute to public health and safety in the Diocese of Buffalo.

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.

Christ the King Seminary will host its annual Curé of Ars awards dinner on Thursday, Oct. 5, at The Atrium @ Rich's in Buffalo. This year's event will honor Msgr. Leo F. McCarthy and Father Mark J. Wolski.

In a Mass that was celebrated in both Spanish and English, Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, confirmed 15 young people Monday evening at Holy Family Parish in Albion. All 15 are of Mexican descent and their parents are part of the migrant farming community in Orleans and Niagara Counties.

When the Communicators for Women Religious decided to hold their 2017 conference in Niagara Falls, Ont., a group in Erie, Pa., had a crazy idea.

The United States woke up on Oct. 2 to the tragic news of yet another mass shooting, this time as a gunman killed at least 50 people and injured hundreds more during a country music concert in Las Vegas.