Current News

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."

Three organizations in the Diocese of Buffalo have formed a pro-life trinity. The Knights of Columbus and Catholic Health have teamed up with the Office of Pro-Life Activities to bring ultrasound machines to the eight counties of Western New York.

Father Ronald (Henry) Sermak, OFM Conv., died Aug. 20, 2017, at Mercy Nursing Facility at Our Lady of Victory in Lackawanna. He was 83.

Sister Barbara Sipple, OSF, died Sept. 6, 2017, at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany. She was 80.

Sister Mary Nelson Harlach, OSF, of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities in Williamsville, died Sept. 10, 2017, in St. Mary of the Angels Health Center in Williamsville. She was 104.

St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute is pleased to announce that its annual open house for prospective students and their families will take place on Sunday, October 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Monday, October 2 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Prospective students, currently in grades 5 through 8, and their families are welcome. No reservations are necessary.

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.

Mount St. Mary Academy represented the United States in an international business competition this summer. Two teams from the Kenmore school's SAGE program went up against school-based businesses from 26 different countries as part of the SAGE World Cup. Both teams, representing for-profit and not-for-profit businesses took home fourth place awards.

Jesus was a refugee and friend of outcasts. What about you and me? Will we dare to follow in Jesus' footsteps?

WASHINGTON—The following is a statement released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Executive Committee in support of the new Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism. The committee focuses on addressing the sin of racism in our society and the urgent need to come together to find solutions. Bishop George V. Murry, SJ of Youngstown, Ohio has been named chairman of the committee by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the USCCB. The committee was formed upon the unanimous recommendation of the U.S. Bishops Conference Executive Committee and in consultation with members of the USCCB's Committee on Priorities and Plans.

WASHINGTON—In the wake of two devastating hurricanes in just two weeks, the Executive Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released the following statement:

Six men will receive the sacrament of holy orders on Saturday, Sept. 16, when Buffalo's Bishop Richard J. Malone ordains the men to the holy order of deacon. Two gentlemen will be permanent deacons and the other four will continue their studies for the priesthood. This special Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo.

Sister Elizabeth "Betty" Bagen, GNSH, formerly Sister Daniel Marie, died Sept. 1, 2017. She was 81.

Those laboring to cultivate a culture of life in New York received some good news at the Respect Life in-service sponsored by the Diocese of Buffalo. Bishop Richard J. Malone announced that the New York State Appeals Court affirmed that the current state laws against physician-assisted suicide are constitutional.

Blood levels drop in the summer, so the Red Cross needs help. The blood donated from one person could mean the difference between life and death.

WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued the following statement and call for prayer for those involved in this morning's devastating earthquake off the southern coast of Mexico and Guatemala.

Over the next couple of months, we have plenty of opportunities to experience celebrations and times of worship from the various cultures we have in our diocese. We all know that, in the wake of all that has happened in Charlottesville, we must turn to our Lord in prayer for peace in our country. It is important that we all come together to pray for each other, and with each other. The Lord calls us to love one another as he loves us.

WASHINGTON—Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty has issued the following statement in response to the line of questioning directed at a federal judicial nominee earlier this week.

Father John P. Bucki, SJ, a familiar face among alumni, faculty and staff of Canisius College in Buffalo, died Sept. 2, 2017, at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, following a long battle with cancer. He was 67.

Traditionally in the Northeast, September is the time of year when people of all ages wave goodbye to summer and head back into the classroom. I would bet that, for most of us, youth ministry doesn't even enter our minds when we think about back-to-school. Yet, just like teachers, this is the time when youth ministers gear up to involve, engage and invite young people into the Church.

NIAGARA FALLS — This year, students at Niagara Catholic Jr./Sr. High School will be learning about the many ways the world, and their own school, have changed since 1927. It's a creative way to mark how four different schools spanned nine decades of Catholic education on 66th Street.

WASHINGTON—Bishop George V. Murry, SJ, of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, called on Catholics and all people of faith to observe an annual Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities on September 9, the Feast of St. Peter Claver.

"I applaud New York's highest court for upholding the state's prohibition of assisted suicide. We know that we live in a world full of threats to the sanctity and dignity of human life. However, we also know that through prayer, education, responsible citizenship and pastoral care of all human life, especially the most vulnerable and in need of our love, we transform our society into a culture of life.

Following is a statement of Kathleen M. Gallagher, director of pro-life activities for the New York State Catholic Conference:

Educational technology travels at lightning speed. Interactive whiteboards, which took classrooms by storm just a decade ago, have gone the way of the blackboard. The latest teaching tool is the LED touch screen.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) joined thirty-two other major pro-life, religious, and health care organizations on September 6 urging the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to pass the Conscience Protection Act of 2017 (H.R. 644/S. 301). Signatories include numerous medical groups representing tens of thousands of health care professionals who object to abortion and are seeking legal protection to serve their patients in good conscience.

After greeting students as they stepped off of school buses on Main Street in Buffalo Wednesday, Bishop Richard J. Malone went inside and joined some of them in a drum session on the first day of classes at St. Joseph University School.

"Today's announcement by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the Trump Administration is rescinding the Obama-era Executive Order known as DACA (Delayed Action for Childhood Arrivals) is cause for great concern and anxiety for nearly 800,000 beneficiaries of the program, including an estimated 42,000 of our fellow New Yorkers.

WASHINGTON— The President and Vice President along with Chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have issued a statement denouncing the Administration's termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program after six months. The following statement from USCCB President Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, along with USCCB Vice President, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angles, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, chairman, Committee on Migration, and Bishop Joseph J. Tyson of Yakima, chairman of the Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees, and Travelers says the "cancellation of the DACA program is reprehensible." Over 780,000 youth received protection from the DACA program since its inception by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2012. DACA provided no legal status or government benefits but did provide recipients with temporary employment authorization to work in the United States and reprieve from deportation. Full statement follows: "The cancellation of the DACA program is reprehensible. It causes unnecessary fear for DACA youth and their families. These youth entered the U.S. as minors and often know America as their only home. The Catholic Church has long watched with pride and admiration as DACA youth live out their daily lives with hope and a determination to flourish and contribute to society: continuing to work and provide for their families, continuing to serve in the military, and continuing to receive an education. Now, after months of anxiety and fear about their futures, these brave young people face deportation. This decision is unacceptable and does not reflect who we are as Americans. The Church has recognized and proclaimed the need to welcome young people: 'Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me' (Mark 9:37). Today, our nation has done the opposite of how Scripture calls us to respond. It is a step back from the progress that we need to make as a country. Today's actions represent a heartbreaking moment in our history that shows the absence of mercy and good will, and a short-sighted vision for the future. DACA youth are woven into the fabric of our country and of our Church, and are, by every social and human measure, American youth. We strongly urge Congress to act and immediately resume work toward a legislative solution. We pledge our support to work on finding an expeditious means of protection for DACA youth. As people of faith, we say to DACA youth - regardless of your immigration status, you are children of God and welcome in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church supports you and will advocate for you."

With enrollment trending downward in both public and private schools throughout Western New York, private school closings and district consolidations have become common. However, St. Peter School in Lewiston was able to buck this trend by increasing enrollment from a population in the 70s four years ago to a total of 198 students in the 2016-17 year, necessitating renovations to the school building.

WASHINGTON—Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Texas, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration, Sister Donna Markham, president of Catholic Charities USA, and Jeanne Atkinson, executive director of Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC), have issued a letter calling on President Donald Trump to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Gerald T. Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, for reasons of age. He has reached the retirement age for bishops of 75.

WASHINGTON, DC - In his 2017 Labor Day statement, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, calls for action based on a vision of work that supports the flourishing of the family, a clearer understanding on the nature of poverty, and solidarity with those on the margins of society.

As we begin the 2017-2018 school year, there is much to applaud. Our 2017 graduates garnered almost $4 million in high school scholarships, and our high school graduates secured over $300 million in college awards. We expect no less of the Class of 2018.

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.

Bishop Richard J. Malone shares Pope Francis' ideas on how we can care for the earth every day in the latest episode of "Consider This."

WASHINGTON—In anticipation of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, New Mexico, chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued a statement echoing Pope Francis' call that all people, "Christians or not,...should be united in showing mercy to the earth as our common home."

WASHINGTON—Pope Francis expressed his solidarity with all those affected by Hurricane Harvey, in a message conveyed by the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

TONAWANDA — Thomas Wilkie and Tim Adowski, Cardinal O'Hara High School class of 2010, returned to the school earlier this year to demonstrate Storillo, an online program that facilitates student collaboration on group projects, which they developed.