St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, has scheduled a number of celebrations during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Monday, Dec. 16

7:30 p.m. – Lessons & Carols, Cathedral Choir



Tuesday, Dec. 24

4:30 p.m. – Vigil Mass of the Nativity

11:30 p.m. – Music – Choir & Brass



Wednesday, Dec. 25

Midnight – Mass of the Nativity, Most Reverent Richard J. Malone, Th.D, celebrant

8 a.m. – Mass of Christmas Day

10:30 a.m. – Mass of Christmas Day, Bishop Malone, celebrant

In October 2014, the Holy See will hold a synod on the family and evangelization. In preparation for this, Pope Francis has asked Catholics for their input. This is an unprecedented request but is essential since the family is "the vital building block of society and the ecclesial community."

"The world’s bishops are always consulted before a synod," said Bishop Richard J. Malone, "but that this wider consultation, while an innovation, is in tune with the Second Vatican Council’s teaching on the Church as the community of all of the People of God, the lay faithful (including religious sisters and brothers) as well as the ordained (bishops, priests and deacons)."　

The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held on December 7–8 in the Diocese of Buffalo as well as Catholic parishes across the nation. Now in its 26th year, the collection is coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) and benefits over 34,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. In 2012, the Diocese of Buffalo raised over $936,000, more than any other diocese in the country.

The U.S. bishops initiated the collection in 1988 to address the significant lack of retirement funding among U.S. religious communities. Proceeds are distributed to eligible communities to help underwrite retirement and health-care expenses. Since the collection began, Catholics have contributed $698 million. Over 93 percent of donations directly support senior religious and their communities.