Catholics around the world are preparing for an extra special Divine Sunday this year, as Pope Francis will canonize two of his predecessors, Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II, at the Vatican.

The canonization of these two influential Church leaders of the modern era is an historic event, as both popes made a significant impact on the Church and the world. Pope John XXIII led the Church through the Second Vatican Council from 1962-1965, "throwing open the windows of the Church." More recently, Pope John Paul II, who had the second longest pontificate in Church history (1978-2005), was a charismatic and popular pope who traveled extensively, inspired Catholics worldwide, met with religious leaders from other faiths, and helped to end Communism in Easter Europe.

Easter

Although it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, the annual Chrism Mass during Holy Week is one of the most important dates of the Catholic year, as priests joined Bishop Richard J. Malone at St. Joseph Cathedral Tuesday night to renew themselves.

“It’s one of the most festive, beautiful and meaningful liturgies of the year, both in every diocese and in our own,” Bishop Malone said. “The Chrism Mass is a unique manifestation of who we are and what we are about as Church. It’s just so good that we’re here.”

The Most Reverend Richard J. Malone, bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, provided his second report on the progress of the annual Catholic Charities of Buffalo Appeal today, revealing $8,886,816.65 has been raised to date, as Catholic Charities officials marked the close of Appeal Week 2014.

Today’s total represents 82.3 percent of the final goal, which is trending slightly ahead of last year at this time when 80.2 percent of goal was reached