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

Our seminary is a gift

Bishop Richard J. Malone released the following statement regarding the Education Investment Tax Credit:

“I am pleased that Governor Cuomo has included the Education Investment Tax Credit in his budget message and the Senate has approved the tax credit bill.

“We know too well the increasing financial burdens placed on families with children in Catholic schools, and families who want to send their children to Catholic schools. Enactment of the education investment tax credit is a game changer, providing families the option of a Catholic or private school education for their children.

“The tax credit would stabilize Catholic school enrollment, easing the pressure on tuition, resulting in financial savings to all families.

“The Diocese of Buffalo will continue to be at the forefront of advocacy efforts to get this legislation enacted. It is my hope that the EITC will become law during the current legislative session.”