Catholic elementary school students were presented with awards for their entries in this year's Vocation contest during ceremonies at the Catholic Center on May 8.

First place and honorable mention awards were given to the winners by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec. Kindergarten through second grade students drew posters, third through fifth graders wrote vocation prayers and sixth through eighth graders developed designs for vocations.

The contest was sponsored by the diocesan Vocations Office, the Serra Club of Buffalo and the Vocation Network of Western New York.

Bishop Kmiec to ordain three men to the priesthood

Three transitional deacons will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 17, by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, bishop of Buffalo. The Mass will take place at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St. in downtown Buffalo, at 10 a.m.

Bishop Kmiec will confer holy orders on Rev. Mr. James L. Fugle, Rev. Mr. James W. Kirkpatrick Jr., and Rev. Mr. Robert W. Zilliox Jr. through the invocation of the Holy Spirit and the imposition of hands.  {read more}

Pope Benedict XVI's final public event on his first apostolic visit to the United States may go a long way toward transforming his image in the minds of many Americas, as he told the 57,000 people who celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium on April 20 to balance their country's heritage of individual freedom with a devout religious and spiritual life.

Authority … obedience. To be frank, these are not easy words to speak nowadays," Pope Benedict XVI said in his homily, spoken from his chair on center stage. "Words like these represent a stumbling stone for many of our contemporaries, especially in a society which rightly places a high value on personal freedom. The Gospel teaches us that true freedom, the freedom of the children of God, is found only in the self-surrender which is part of the mystery of love. > {read more}

Local pilgrims young and old flock to New York for Yankee Mass (4/20/2008)
As Pope Benedict XVI was exiting Yankee Stadium after his Mass on April 20, smiles and tears were the norm among the 57,000 Catholics in attendance. For the 500 people from the Diocese of Buffalo, the Mass became a moment they will likely never forget.

Most of the local pilgrims had a long day, as they boarded buses bound for New York City early Sunday morning, only to board the same bus directly after the Mass to head home. But despite the long trip, they were all excited to see what most called a once-in-a-lifetime event.    {read more}

Concert of Hope anticipates pope's arrival (4/20/2008)
Although pilgrims were asked to be inside Yankee Stadium at least two and a half hours before the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI, singers, performers and musicians kept audiences entertained with the Concert for Hope, a two-hour event designed to celebrate the third, and final, papal Mass in the current ballpark. {read more}

Manhattan welcomes pope at St. Patrick Cathedral Mass (4/19/2008)

Pope Benedict XVI began the third anniversary of his pontificate on by becoming the first pope to celebrate Mass at New York City's esteemed St. Patrick Cathedral on April 19. Hundreds of Catholics and fans stood around the cathedral for hours before the morning Mass, while thousands more lined the streets of 5th Avenue hoping for a glimpse of the visiting pontiff.

More than 3,000 priests, deacons, men and women religious and prominent New York figures like Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his predecessor Rudy Giuliani attended the Mass, as New York's Cardinal Edward Egan welcomed Pope Benedict XVI to the largest Gothic-style cathedral in the United States. {read more}

Bishop Kmiec attends papal events at White House, National Basilica (4/18/2008)
On his first full day in the United States and on the occasion of his 81st birthday on April 16, Pope Benedict XVI made a public appearance at the White House in Washington, D.C., in the morning, and then held a private vesper service to address the bishops of the U.S. in the evening. Bishop Edward U. Kmiec was on hand for both events at the nation’s capital. {read more}

Daybreak produces papal Mass video (4/16/2008)
Daybreak Productions, the television arm of the Diocese of Buffalo, produced a special video highlighting Western New York in welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the United States .  The 90-second clip will be shown with videos from other dioceses prior to the papal Mass at Nationals Park in Washington , D.C. , on April 17.  {read more}

Papal meetings with U.S. president date back nearly a century (4/16/2008)
Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the White House on April 16 marks the 25th official meeting between a United States president and a pope.

The tradition began with President Woodrow Wilson and Pope Benedict XV at the Vatican while Wilson was in Europe managing the end of World War I in 1919.   {read more}

Benefactor of Blessed Angela miracle passes away

Lillian Halasinski, the Dunkirk native whose miracle paved the way for the beatification of the foundress of the Felician Sisters, Blessed Mother Mary Angela Truszkowska, passed away of old age on April 17 at the age of 95.

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec issued a statement praying for eternal peace for Halasinski.

“(She) was living proof that miracles happen and that with prayer, nothing is impossible,” he said.  “She was a woman of great devotion.  She will always be remembered for the important role she played in the beatification process for Blessed Angela and for the shining example of faith she provided to us all.” {read more}

Catholic elementary school students in the City of Buffalo will be provided with yellow bus service beginning with the start of the 2008-09 school year. The Buffalo Board of Education has unanimously authorized the service following a request from diocesan officials that students who reside in the City of Buffalo and attend Catholic elementary schools in the city will be availed of the same yellow bus service that public school students receive.

For years, the district provided Metro bus passes to Pre-K (4) through eighth-grade Catholic school students in Buffalo while at the same time it provided yellow bus service to public school students.

Dr. James Williams, superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools, said, “After lengthy negotiations, we are pleased to have come to this unanimous agreement with the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.  The Buffalo Board of Education now joins our counterparts in urban districts across New York State in providing this service to children in the Buffalo Catholic Diocese.”

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec applauded the decision, adding, “We have always maintained that our students had a legal right to yellow bus service and I am pleased that Dr. Williams and the board agree. This will be a benefit to our students and their families, and I am most appreciative that we have reached agreement on this important transportation issue.”  {read more}

The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, established on April 23, 1847, comprises the westernmost counties of New York State, which include: Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Chautauqua, Wyoming, Cattaraugus and Allegany. The Diocese covers 6,455 square miles and has a Catholic population of  702,884.