Current News

The Diocese of Buffalo recently sold St. Gerard Church to a group of Muslims, who will turn it into a mosque. Bishop Richard J. Malone addresses how Christians and Muslims acknowledges the same God in the latest "Consider This" below:

ST. BONAVENTURE - St. Bonaventure University will offer a bachelor's degree in health science beginning this fall.

Joining efforts and resources, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, Amigone Funeral Home and Catholic Cemeteries will provide a memorial service and burial for baby Bernadette, an abandoned deceased baby. Buffalo's Bishop Richard J. Malone will be the presider at the memorial service on Monday, Feb. 27, at 2 p.m. at Amigone Funeral Home, 1132 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY - Niagara University announced today the creation of a new on-campus center that will advance the institution's commitment to diversity and social justice.

DEPEW — The Foundation for Inclusive Catholic Education will hold its third-annual Taking Flight Dinner on March 2, from 6-9 p.m., at Salvatore's Italian Gardens on Transit Road. Funds from the dinner are used for training and resources to enable Catholic schoolteachers and administrators to provide children with special needs an inclusive Catholic education experience.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Anti-Semitic incidents in the United States must be prosecuted and condemned by the government to curb their rise, a religious freedom expert insists.

Bishop Richard J. Malone will distribute ashes at the 12:05 p.m. Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, on Wednesday, March 1, Ash Wednesday.

The priestly formation process, for me, has been about developing a larger theological and ministerial toolbox.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - As the woman at the center of the case legalizing abortion in the U.S. passed away, pro-life leaders hailed her ultimate conversion on the issue and her ensuing struggles to promote life.

Over the summer, Nora Galley saw something she liked - "No Smoking" signs along the pristine trails at Allegany State Park. Coming back to Buffalo, she found something she did not like - tobacco products seemingly targeted to minors.

Sister Jean Vogel, GNSH, formerly known as Sister Stella Maris, died Feb. 10, 2017, in Philadelphia, at 91 years of age.

Sister Rose Mary Cauley, GNSH (Sister Mary de Montfort) died Feb. 3, 2017, at Holy Redeemer Hospital Hospice in Philadelphia. She was 81.

Within all of the debate of what to do with the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") - and how to replace, revise or remove it - almost all of the emphasis is on the cost and the coverages. Of course, these are the practical issues of prudential judgment that need to be made regarding any public policy. But, as in all prudential judgments, the decisions that should be made must come from some set of principles, not solely based on what works best.

KENMORE — St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute is proud to introduce three members of the Class of 2017 who are the first student-athletes to announce their college athletic intentions this year.

Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about what we can do to support refugee resettlement. Watch the latest "Consider This."

The sixth-annual St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center banquet offered a witness of the saintly testament to the value of life. Father Thomas Rosica, CSB, a friend of the Molla family, spoke about the legacy of the saint who died rather than abort her daughter.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo is the recent recipient of a $1 million grant from the Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York to help transform the former Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Parish School in Niagara Falls into a family services center.

WASHINGTON, DC - A worldwide effort sponsored by the Vatican to energize and empower grassroots leaders will convene in Modesto, Calif., February 16-19. Twenty U.S. bishops will join nearly 700 participants representing 12 countries to examine and discuss collective responses to the issues of land, labor, lodging, racism and migration.

WASHINGTON, DC - In early February, several media outlets reported that President Donald J. Trump is considering issuing an executive order establishing a government-wide initiative to respect religious freedom. A copy of a draft executive order was published by multiple news outlets. The President has not yet signed the executive order on religious freedom.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Even her friend of more than 30 years, Father Sebastian Vazhakala, did not know Mother Teresa had conversations with and visions of Jesus before forming the Missionaries of Charity.

Msgr. Frederick D. Leising, a retired diocesan priest, will receive the Clarence Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achiever of the Year Award. The chamber's 2017 awards dinner will take place at 6 p.m., on March 2, at Samuel's Grande Manor in Clarence, where Msgr. Leising will receive his award along with others from the area.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis said Tuesday that the Word of God isn't something that can be explained to people as a mere recommendation, or merely a good idea, but that it requires courage, prayer and humility to preach with honesty - and this is the only way it will have an impact.

The American Occupational Therapy Association's Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education reviewed the Report of On-Site Education regarding the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Villa Maria College.

Sister Marilyn Archer, OSF, died Feb. 8, 2017, at the Sister of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity's health center in Stella Niagara. She was 96.

Sister Rosemary Anthony, formerly Sister Mary Augusta, died Feb. 11, 2017, at Mount St. Mary Hospital in Lewiston. She was 85.

When intending to provide the best assistance to discerners, especially to those of high school age, it has become clear to me that family members, especially parents, play a large part. In many cases, parents have been of tremendous help on their sons' vocational journey, and much appreciation is due to them. Sometimes, when a high school student musters up enough courage to share that he is feeling a call to priesthood, the parents are stopped in their tracks. This surprise can be followed by a number of possible reactions.

Every year since 1989, Father Jim Goode, OFM, asked that in all our parishes we begin National Black History Month by praying for the African and African-American family. He began what is known today as National Day of Prayer for the African-American and African Family. The day designated for this celebration is the first Sunday in February.

WASHINGTON, DC - Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Archbishop William E. Lori - as chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, respectively - wrote to both Houses of the United States Congress on February 8, urging support for the Conscience Protection Act of 2017 (H.R. 644, S. 301).

WASHINGTON, DC - The chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committees on Migration, Religious Liberty and International Justice and Peace, along with the board of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) issued a joint statement expressing solidarity with Christians and all those who suffer in the Middle East.

The St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center, the pastoral outreach of the Office of Pro-Life Activities of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, has become a significant resource in the Buffalo and surrounding Western New York area. The Center will hold its sixth annual benefit banquet on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. at the Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Ave.,

Deacon Daniel H. Mackowiak, a permanent deacon at Infant of Prague Parish in Cheektowaga and a Niagara Catholic High School teacher, died Feb. 7, 2017, at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, at age 65.

WASHINGTON, DC - On Feb. 9, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a unanimous decision upholding a lower court's temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the implementation of several key provisions of Executive Order 13769.

It is a well-known adage that "history repeats itself." In an effort to prevent one of the worst atrocities from history from happening again, Mount Mercy Academy is teaching a class entitled the Holocaust.

For World Marriage Day and National Marriage Week we discuss marriage preparation and the Office of Family Life.

For years now, Buffalo Mass Mob has used a grassroots social media campaign to draw many people, Catholic and otherwise, to the city's churches for Sunday Mass. Their latest destination - St. Lawrence Parish on Feb. 26 - also includes a fundraising campaign to help repair and replace the church's roof.

VATICAN CITY (CNA) - Pope Francis could meet with President Donald Trump at the end of May.

I believe it is no mere coincidence that the U.S. national holiday celebrating the inspiring life of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (Jan. 16) was positioned within the same week as the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration of Donald J. Trump.

BUFFALO, NY - Students from 19 Catholic schools will attend the BPO's Feb. 8 Music For Youth programs, in Catholic Schools Day at the BPO. The program begins at 10:15 a.m. More than 1600 students are expected to attend this concert at Kleinhans Music Hall.

Did you know that Feb. 8 is recognized as the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking? According to the United States Department of Homeland Security, "Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act."

Father Dave Richards from the Diocese of Buffalo talks about how to detach yourself from sin and bad behavior in the final "In a Word" of the season.