A joint venture between Reaching Out 2 Africa (ROTA), the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Diocese of Buffalo, a mission-funding agency under the jurisdiction of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and the diocesan Office of Communications is what is sending the voice of diocesan radio ministry to Africa in May.
West Seneca resident Gregg D. Prince, director of radio ministry, will embark on a 24-hour trip that will take him from the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport to Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Prince, who is traveling with Father Ronald P. Sajdak, director of the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Diocese of Buffalo, Deacon Matthew A. Hens of Fredonia and Joan Ersing of East Aurora, both of whom work with Father Sajdak in the Pontifical Mission Societies office, will spend 10 days in east Africa, May 14-24. Ersing is also the executive director of Reaching Out 2 Africa. read more...
 On consecutive weekends in June, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec will president over ordinations at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo.
On June 2, three men will be ordained to the priesthood: Rev. Mr. Seán Paul Fleming, Rev. Mr. Andrew Russell Lauricella and Rev. Mr. Jeffrey Louis Nowak.
The following weekend, June 9, the bishop will ordain five men as permanent deacons: David E. Clabeaux, John H. Hendricks, Alejandro D. Manunta, Richard R. Stachura, Jr. and Edward M. Zablocki.
The ordination Masses will begin at 10 a.m.
read more...
President Barack Obama's announcement that he is now in favor of same-sex marraige has drawn crticial reaction from Catholic Church leaders in the United States. During a May 9, ABC-TV News interview, the president said, ""At a certain point, I've just concluded that, for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married."
Bishop Edward U. Kmiec issued the following statement: “The president’s decision to endorse same-sex marriage is not surprising, but nevertheless, it is disconcerting, as he joins those in this country who wish to redefine marriage. Marriage has always been between a man and a woman, which we believe comes from God and natural law, something we do not believe that the state, or even the Church, can change. Despite the president’s pronouncement, we will not waver in our beliefs.” read more...
The Catholic bishops of New York State have issued a statement, calling on New York to increase the minimum wage. "It is increasingly difficult for the working poor to make ends meet," said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, archbishop of New York.
Pointing to recent meetings with Governor Andrew Cuomo and leaders of the state Senate and Assembly, the bishops stated, "It is our fervent hope that this spirit of bipartisan cooperation can extend to another issue critical to thousands of New York workers, and that is a modest increase in the minimum wage." read more...
Peaceprints™ program graduates, Juan, Dave, and Dan, tell their stories on recovery and redemption after their time in prison. Produced by Daybreak TV Productions of the Diocese of Buffalo.
read more...
Pointing to the severe deterioration of the exterior of St. Ann Church in Buffalo, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec has order the suspension of all activities at the church, located at Broadway and Emslie.
In a letter read at the 10 a.m. Mass on Apr. 30, the bishop said a 126-page report assessing the structural integrity of the building, "was more alarming than I anticipated, and it revealed severe deterioration of the exterior of the structure." All activities at the church have been suspended, as of April 30, until an in-depth survey of the building, which was completed in 1886, can be conducted. read more...
WASHINGTON - Blog posts, YouTube videos, on online quiz and resources on Facebook are among the ways U.S. Catholics canlearn about the Church's teaching on issues and involvement in the political process, as part of an initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. These resources prmote the document, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the call to political responsiblity, issued by the bishops in 2007 and reissued last fall.
Watch here
SHARE TOOLS:
read more...
The 22nd annual Diocesan Art Show, featuring the work of Catholic elementary school students from the Diocese of Buffalo, runs through April 26 at Mary Queen of Angels School in Cheektowaga.
read more...
WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops want to provide an opportunity for all Catholics to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ, according to a new document from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Disciples Called to Witness: The New Evangelization focuses on reaching out to Catholics, practicing or not, who have lost a sense of the faith in an effort to re-energize them.
“Every Catholic has a role in the Church, and every Catholic is called to spread the Gospel,” said Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. “But in order to evangelize, a person must first be evangelized. This is really the heart of the New Evangelization.”
The document examines what the New Evangelization is, its focus, its importance for the Church and how dioceses and parishes can promote it. read more...
 Urge strong lay involvement
Outline threats to First Freedom at all levels of government and abroad
Call upon dioceses to pursue religious liberty fortnight, June 21-July 4
WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops have issued a call to action to defend religious liberty and urged laity to work to protect the First Freedom of the Bill of Rights. They outlined their position in “Our First, Most Cherished Freedom.” The document was developed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
read more...
|