The Diocese of Buffalo sponsored its youth rally, "Making Connections," Sunday, April 28 at Villa Maria College. Featuring a Mass, breakout activities, music, and praise led by keynote speaker ValLimar Jansen, it was the first official youth rally held by the diocese since COVID.
The Diocese of Buffalo hosted its 54th annual Bishop's Altar Server Awards Mass in St. Joseph Cathedral Saturday, April 27, 2004. Fr. David Baker, who delivered the homily, likened the young men and women to superheroes.
Diane Ferraro was the keynote speaker for the 2024 St. Gianna Molla Banquet hosted by the Diocese of Buffalo's Office of Respect Life, held April 25, 2024 in Amherst. Prior to the banquet, Ferraro was welcomed into the Catholic Center in Buffalo for a one-on-one interview with WNY Catholic Audio's Michael Mroziak.
The Diocese of Buffalo's Office of Respect Life held its annual Pro-Vita Awards Mass and St. Gianna Molla Banquet, during which ten people were honored for their efforts to further the pro-life cause, "from womb to tomb."
Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin made a surprise visit to Immaculate Conception School in East Aurora, NY during the afternoon of April 23, 2024. He discussed values, played trivia games with the kids, and brightened up the room not just for the kids, but also the teachers and staff.
Tony Buttino, co-creator and longtime executive producer of the iconic PBS television series Reading Rainbow, has co-authored a new book about the show, "Creating Reading Rainbow: The Untold Story of a Beloved Children's Television Series." During his career and continuing today in his daily life, Buttino has leaned heavily on his strong Catholic faith. He welcomed WNY Catholic Audio into his home to discuss his faith, and his work on Reading Rainbow.
The Diocese of Buffalo's Education Department hosted its second annual 8th Grade Retreat April 19, 2024 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish in Orchard Park, NY. Bishop Michael Fisher paid a visit and celebrated Mass as part of the day, which is designed to help pending graduates of local Catholic schools prepare spiritually for the transition into high school.
St. Gregory the Great Church in Williamsville administered first-time sacraments to 26 people as part of its Easter Vigil Mass, held Saturday, March 30, 2024.
Each year many Catholics celebrating Holy Thursday Mass then embark on the traditional Seven Churches Visitation, symbolizing the seven stops Jesus Christ made between His Last Supper and the Crucifixion. Some visitors choose their churches based on ethnic connections or perhaps other local history. The excursion from St. Leo the Great Church in Amherst, meanwhile, included every church within its parish family - plus one nearby - on its course.
The Chrism Mass, during which priests renew their promises, and chrism and sacramental oils are consecrated, is held every Tuesday of Holy Week. WNY Catholic Audio was inside a packed St. Joseph Cathedral for this year's Chrism mass.
The Diocesan Choir Festival Concert will be held Sunday, April 21, 2024 beginning at 5 p.m. in St. Louis Church in Buffalo. WNY Catholic Audio met with two participants to learn more about the concert, and the movement to preserve and celebrate classic Christian choral song.
The Diocese of Buffalo's Catholic Committee on Scouting honored more than two dozen local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts with various Catholic-oriented awards, celebrating their commitment to using Scouting to nurture their faith and share it with others.
During his Palm Sunday homily Sunday, March 24, 2024, Bishop Michael Fisher discussed the suffering of Jesus Christ and also the suffering of those victimized by past abuse by clergy, lay personnel, and volunteers affiliated with the Diocese of Buffalo. The intention of the Mass was for all victims and survivors of abuse.
Throughout Women’s History Month, we have recognized and celebrated Women Religious whose works and influence have touched countless lives in Western New York. But we now also thank and recognize the countless lay women of the Diocese of Buffalo who spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and serve as examples of discipleship.
Throughout Women’s History Month, we have recognized and celebrated many individual Women Religious whose works and influence have touched countless lives in Western New York. In this installment, we recognize the many more Sisters who have left a positive impact on people’s lives, yet whose names are not necessarily remembered.
Sister Mary Angela Betke combined her Christ-like compassion with her education in psychology and psychiatry to serve children living with emotional and learning disabilities, founding and operating the Cantalician Center for Learning.
An official ceremony was held Tuesday, March 19, 2024 to formally open the new Perry-St. Brigid Food Pantry, a larger space which replaces the longtime nearby Fulton-St. Brigid Food Pantry. It is one of the numerous services offered by Catholic Charities in Buffalo, which is currently in the midst of its 2024 Appeal.
Mother Mary Anne Burke possessed skills in education and financial management which served her well. Her contributions to the Diocese of Buffalo include half a century of service as principal of St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. She also led the Sisters of St. Joseph in the acquisition of land where several key institutions would be built.
They are a sisters act, in more ways than one. Sisters Joanne and Mary Francis Gangloff are siblings and both Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities. Both Sisters have dedicated their long lives in service to Jesus Christ in diverse ways, with their words, and by their deeds.
Before coming to Buffalo from Romania, Sister Mary Judith Fenyvesi experienced the Holocaust and communist oppression firsthand. She turned those experiences into ministry recognizing and acting against social injustice, while urging her students to do the same.
Sister Ellen McCarthy was educated at St. John the Baptist School in Alden, and would later go on to be its principal, overseeing several capital projects, introducing Pre-K and Spanish language programs, and has also served as a pastoral associate and council member for the parish.
Born in Elmira, New York in 1873, Mother M. Helena McLaughlin would come to Buffalo and become a major builder in the Diocese of Buffalo, leading projects such as a new motherhouse for the Sisters of Mercy, what would become Mercy Hospital, and St. Jerome Hospital in Batavia.
As the number of priests has decreased, their roles have become even more important in many parishes’ day-to-day operations. Sister Lori High is one such woman serving in a parish leadership role, and has held many roles in her more than 40 years of ministry and service to Christ, in Western New York and elsewhere.
While growing up in South Carolina, Sister Roberta Fulton witnessed the love of the Sisters of St. Mary and their active involvement in social justice, including the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Inspired by this, she decided to pursue a life following Christ, doing so as a social justice advocate.
For many Western New York Catholics, entering the Catholic faith begins with a knock on the door. And it might just be Sister Louise Alff who was doing the knocking.
To hear the Word of God with our ears is a gift that most of us may take for granted. Sister Conchetta LoPresti, meanwhile, uses her hands to help spread the Good News to those who are physically unable to hear it.
Approximately 75 people were honored March 9, 2024 at a special Mass in downtown Buffalo for their service to parishes and the Diocese of Buffalo. They are this year's recipients of the diocese's Lay Award of St. Joseph.
Sister Gail Glenn has lived her entire life in Buffalo, and has dedicated her life to nurturing children’s minds and souls through her work in Catholic education, fostering an environment where all students may feel safe and appreciated, and where teachers are encouraged and supported to bring out the best in each student.
Sister Grace Wechter of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart was a driving force in the growth of D’Youville College, now known as D’Youville University, an institution which today continues to provide education in health sciences, liberal arts and business. She was a pioneer in developing education in sociology and social work.
Sister Mary Joanne Suranni brings a never-ending joyful energy to the people she interacts with in Niagara Falls, New York, whether it’s while working in faith formation, or education, or providing personal support.
