Memorial Day

First Holy Communion

Students from Holy Angels Academy cheer Bishop Richard J. Malone as they attend the Invest in Education rally at the First Niagara Center in downtown Buffalo in support of the Education Investment Tax Credit. 

(Patrick McPartland/Staff Photographer)

More than 10,000 people, mostly Catholic school students, attended an “Invest in Education” rally at the First Niagara Center in downtown Buffalo Wednesday morning to support legislation that would provide tax credits for school expenses and donations.

The legislation, which is known as the Education Investment Tax Credit Bill, would allow individuals and businesses to earn tax credits by donating to public and private schools, as well as scholarship funds. If passed, the bill would benefit organizations like the BISON Fund, which provides needy students with scholarships to attend private schools. It would also provide tax benefits to teachers who spend their own money on classroom supplies.

Supporters of the bill believe it benefits both public and private schools. The bill has passed the state senate in the past, but has yet to be approved by the assembly.

It is with profound gratitude to God that I welcome the election of Pope Francis.

This is a moment of tremendous grace, demonstrating our most important Catholic conviction, that he is a man selected through the intercession of the Holy Spirit to shepherd the Church for years to come.  As the first Holy Father from the Americas, I was impressed with Pope Francis’ humility and spontaneity as he began his first blessing to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, by asking everyone to pause in silent prayer, to pray for him and bless him.  That was a powerful moment.

I ask the faithful of the Diocese of Buffalo to join me united in prayer as the papacy of Francis begins.  May God bless and guide this humble servant as he leads the Universal Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI announced on Feb. 11, 2013, that he will resign, effective Feb. 28, 2013.  At Vatican City, he told a gathering of cardinals, "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths due to an advanced age are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.  I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only by words and deeds but no less with prayer and suffering."

Bishop Richard J. Malone issued a statement, saying, "When I met with the pope in November 2011 at the Vatican, he did seem rather frail. I wish to express my gratitude for his faithful ministry as Successor of St. Peter, his life of scholarship and his faithful leadership of the Catholic Church. One hallmarks of Pope Benedict XVI is his humility and pastoral concern in putting the good of the Church first in his discernment. I cherish the pectoral cross he gave to me and other bishops who met with him during our Ad Limina visit."

This will be the first papal resignation in almost 600 years. Gregory XII resigned in 1415, forced by the Council of Constance to end the Great Schism. St. Celestine V in resigned in 1294, the last pope before Benedict XVI to voluntarily resign.

Read the Holy Father's statement