Current News

A local family with a long history of service to their country and the Catholic Church had seven sons who served in wartime. On Sept. 1, the 78th anniversary of the start of World War II, the Allaire family received medals for Joseph Allaire Sr.'s Navy service aboard the USS Missouri, which officials of the Town of Tonawanda presented to the family in a formal ceremony in front of the Town of Tonawanda Veterans Memorial at Kenney Field in the town.

WASHINGTON, DC - In a letter of November 9, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Bishop George V. Murry, SJ of Youngstown, Ohio, called for amendments to the current draft of the House of Representatives tax reform bill "for the sake of families" and "for those struggling on the peripheries of society who have a claim on our national conscience."

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Republican leaders have restored the adoption tax credit to their federal tax proposal, after a week of criticism over the credit's omission from the original House plan.

Msgr. James Campbell is probably best known for his long run as the rector of St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo. It might surprise some to know that, years before entering the priesthood, he had a promising career in the military, serving in the Marines during the Korean War.

DETROIT, MICH. (CNA/EWTN News) - Venerable Solanus Casey, an American-born Capuchin priest who died in 1957, will be beatified at a Nov. 18 Mass in Detroit.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - In response to mass shootings in Las Vegas, Nevada and the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Spring, Texas, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has encouraged public debate on gun control, suggesting specific policies that might quell gun violence.

Father Jerome E. Kopec, pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Williamsville, received the Venerable Nelson H. Baker Award during the diocesan Youth Ministry Awards Banquet held Nov. 3. The evening saw both teens and adults receive recognition for their role in guiding young people through their faith journey.

Sister Esmeria Marie Bastos, CSSF, died Oct. 17, 2017, in Kenmore Mercy Hospital, after experiencing several ongoing medical issues. She was 53.

Adults and teens, families and friends filled Lucarelli's Banquet Center on Nov. 3 to honor the dedication of those working in youth ministry. The diocesan Department of Youth & Young Adult Ministry sponsored the annual youth awards banquet, which recognizes both teens and adults.

Sister Mary Charitine Stankiewicz, CSSF, died Oct. 9, 2017, in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Cheektowaga. She was 94.

Sister Mary Saletinia Kaczor, CSSF, died Sept. 24, 2017, in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Cheektowaga. She was 92.

Sister Mary Christine Songin, FSSJ, died Oct. 26, 2017, at Father Baker Manor in Orchard Park. She was 95.

If each of the months of the year were assigned a quality, it might be said that March is lucky and July is independent, but November is always grateful. Although the Thanksgiving holiday comes at the end of November, it lends an atmosphere of gratitude to the entire month. This month also marks the end of the Church's liturgical year, while the calendar year begins the last stretch toward the finish line. Thus, it is a fitting time to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for.

Considering it an "awesome privilege," Dr. Dennis R. DePerro was formally installed Friday afternoon as the 21st president of St. Bonaventure University.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (CNA/EWTN News) - After at least 26 people were killed when a gunman opened fire at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday, the local Catholic archbishop offered prayers and solidarity for the victims.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis has reportedly said he will allow for debate as to whether married men could be ordained to the priesthood in the region during a 2019 Synod of Bishops focusing on the Church in the Amazon basin.

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.

Last month, the Office of Cultural Diversity's African-American Commission brought in the well-known national speaker Father Tony Ricard from New Orleans. He is a tremendous storyteller as well as a comedian. He had the assembly roaring in laughter at times. His message was challenging and spiritually uplifting. It was an awesome three nights.

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.

Hope and Hudson. They are two of the most important words in my life.

One can wonder if Mary of Nazareth had a "patron saint." If so, was it Miryam of the wilderness account? One can never know, but the questions lead to a reflection on Miryam's biblical portrait.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - With House lawmakers releasing their tax reform bill on November 1, one U.S. bishop has laid out moral principles encouraging Congress to care for the poor, families, and the common good.

American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Beauty is the handwriting of God." During a much earlier time period, St. Augustine said, "Late have I loved you, beauty so ancient, and so new; late have I loved you." In these magnificent quotes, the sacred and secular intersect and invite not only insight into God who is complete beauty, but also contemplation on God, who is love.

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."

A federal government program, Computers for Learning, enabled Immaculate Conception School in East Aurora and St. Mark School in Buffalo to receive updated computer labs. Last month, Roxanne Perry, technology teacher at Immaculate Conception, and Brian Brennan, technology coordinator at St. Mark's, spoke about the effects that these donations have had on the schools.

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.

OTTAWA, CANADA (CNA/EWTN News) - Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Ottawa, Canada, called into question Ontario's new "bubble zone law," which he said restricts the peaceful efforts of the pro-life movement.

The Catholic Church preaches, teaches and practices total nonviolence.

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.

EAST AURORA — A lecture on "Remembering the Holocaust: Continuing Ethical and Spiritual Challenges" will be held on Friday, Oct. 27, in the Main Dining Room of Christ the King Seminary, 711 Knox Road.