The Most Rev. Wilton D. Gregory, archbishop of Atlanta, was the keynote speaker a the 15th Annual Catholic Education Dinner, Gala 22:6, Thursday evening, Jan. 29, at the Buffalo Convention Center.  More than 1,100 people were in attendance.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, who offered closing remarks at the dinner, presented the Bishop's Medal to Sister Gail Glenn, principal, Catholic Academy of West Buffalo, and to the eight Catholic institutions of higher learning in Western New York - Canisius College, Christ the King Seminary, D'Youville College, Hilbert College, Niagara University, St. Bonaventure University, Trocaire College and Villa Maria College of Buffalo. Sister Denise A. Roche, GNSH, accepted the awards on behalf of all the schools.

The Sister Lucille Socciarelli/Father John Sturm Making a Difference Award was presented to Linda A. Calandrelli of St. Peter School, Lewiston.  Calandrelli has been an educator for more than four decades with nearly 40 years at St Peter's.

The Sister Lucille Socciarelli/Father John Sturm "Making a Difference Award" was instituted by the late Tim Russert in honor of two of his former teachers.  Since Russert's death, his son Luke has recorded a special introduction about the recipient. 

Two bishops

The 15th annual Catholic Education dinner will be held tonight, Jan. 29, at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. The 2015 dinner will mark Bishop Richard Malone’s third year celebrating Catholic schools in the Diocese of Buffalo. Nearly 1,200 guests are expected to attend.

According to Richard C. Suchan, executive director of The Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, this year’s dinner is undergoing a branding face-lift. “Formerly known as the ‘Making a Difference Dinner,’ the 2015 event will officially debut as ‘GALA 22:6’,” said Suchan. “The genesis of the new dinner title is rooted in Proverbs 22:6 – ‘Train up children in a way they should go, and when they are old, they will not depart from it,’ – which references the importance of educational formation in the lives of our young children.”

The dinner is the Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser for Catholic education. Proceeds will be used to fund needs-based tuition assistance for students attending Catholic elementary schools throughout the eight counties of Western New York. To date, $140,000 has been raised from this event.

Catholic Schools Week is celebrated in the Diocese of Buffalo and nationally January 25 - January 31.  Several Catholic bishops from throughout the United States recorded their thoughts on Catholic education.

Bishops from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Diocese of Orange, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver, the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Diocese of Juneau, the Diocese of Venice in Florida and the Diocese of Raleigh share their enthusiasm for Catholic Schools.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152653545292285

Archbishop George Lucas of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Bishop Richard Malone of the Diocese of Buffalo, Bishop Robert Lynch of the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Diocese of Bridgeport and Archbishop Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis share their enthusiasm for Catholic schools.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152652903457285&set=vb.105735397284&type=2&theater&notif_t=like