Diocese News Archive

Diocese News - Archive

Permanent deacons to be ordained by Bishop Kmiec
6/8/2012 5:13:59 PM by Office of Communications

Five area men will be ordained permanent deacons in the Diocese of Buffalo on Saturday, June 9, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo. The men have completed a training program of spiritual, theological and pastoral formation which lasted several years.

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, through the invocation of the Holy Spirit and the imposition of hands will confer the sacrament of Holy Orders of Deacon to these men.

In the Catholic Church, there are two types of deacons, transitional and permanent. Transitional deacons will be ordained a priest and a permanent deacon is ordained without continuing on to the priesthood. Many permanent deacons are married, have children and work outside the church. Each of this year’s candidates is married, has children and is employed.

“Fortnight for Freedom” to focus on prayer for religious liberty
6/5/2012 4:47:14 PM by Office of Communications

For a two-week period, beginning June 21 on the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, to July 4, Independence Day, Catholics from the Diocese of Buffalo will join the faithful across the United States in the “Fortnight for Freedom,” described by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as, “a great hymn of prayer for our country.” Among the first martyrs of the Church, St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More remained true to their faith in the face of political persecution.

The fortnight is part of the bishops’ coordinated efforts to mobilize Catholics in response to government attacks on religious liberty. Earlier this year, the Obama administration endorsed a Health and Human Services mandate that will require Catholic organizations and institutions to pay for employee health coverage that includes contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs. The bishops have vigorously opposed the mandate on the grounds that the federal government is forcing the Catholic employers to provide coverage that is a contradiction of Church teachings and beliefs. read more...

Campaign to support Catholic communications to be held this weekend
6/4/2012 9:33:37 PM by Office of Communications

The Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) is not just another second collection taken up at parishes. This fund supports communication efforts in the Diocese of Buffalo as well as across the country. Half the money collected stays here and supports the work of the diocesan Office of Communications. The other 50 percent goes to the national office to support a variety of communications projects. This year, the annual collection will take place in parishes on the weekend of June 9 and 10.

In his World Communications Day message, Pope Benedict XVI urged Catholic youth to "make good use of their presence in the digital world." The CCC helps in this effort by providing grants to build Catholic social media pages as well as spread the Good News through podcasts, television, radio and print media. This work is also being done on the local level through the diocesan website, the Western New York Catholic, Daybreak TV Productions, diocesan radio programming and daily posts on Facebook and Twitter. There is also Daybreak’s YouTube channel, as well as diocesan radio podcasts and the annual Catholic Directory, the guide to all things Catholic in Western New York.

Watch Bishop Malone's introductory remarks
5/29/2012 5:03:56 PM by Daybreak TV Productions

Catholic radio host to visit Africa to document Medicine Depot dedication
5/14/2012 4:41:29 PM by Office of Communications

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.

Bishops issue call to action to defend religious liberty
4/15/2012 9:38:30 AM by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

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.

Welcome home
4/2/2012 8:50:52 AM by Office of Communications

During Holy Week, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec and the Diocese of Buffalo welcome you to our more than 170 parishes, mission and oratories. To find a Catholic Church near you, click on the links below.

City of Buffalo Parishes

Parishes Outside Buffalo

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad!"

Preaching, praying and practicing the Gospel are focus
3/26/2012 5:38:48 PM by Office of Communications

Father Raymond B. Kemp, senior research fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center in Washington D.C., will be the featured speaker at a parish study day to be held on Wed., March 28, at Christ the King Seminary, 711 Knox Rd., East Aurora, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

This year’s theme is “How parishes can preach, pray and practice the Gospels.” The day will include prayer, presentations by Father Kemp, lunch and group discussions.

Bishop says diocese will not abide by “unjust law”
2/3/2012 1:01:43 PM by Office of Communications

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, has asked pastors to bring to the attention of their parishioners a new government mandate that jeopardizes their religious freedoms. The United States government announced on Jan. 23 that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraception. This is a contradiction to Catholic beliefs.

Letters were distributed this week to all parishes in the eight counties of Western New York, and priests throughout the diocese will be addressing this matter at Masses over the weekend.

Bishop Kmiec Marks 39th Anniversary of Supreme Court Decision
1/11/2012 5:19:13 PM by Office of Communications

A Mass marking the observance of the 39th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion will take place on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Amelia Church, 2999 Eggert Road, Tonawanda.

The Mass is sponsored by the Office of Pro-Life Activities of the Diocese of Buffalo and St. Amelia Parish. Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, bishop of Buffalo, will be the main celebrant at the Mass which will be signed for the hearing impaired.

As part of the Mass, the annual Pro-Vita Awards will be presented. These awards are intended to recognize people who have labored tirelessly for the pro-life cause and to give them strength, encouragement and support.

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