Jamestown, LeRoy schools to close
6/5/2012 11:18:24 AM by Office of Communications

Declining enrollment and significant financial challenges have resulted in decisions to close Holy Family School in LeRoy and Catholic Academy of the Holy Family in Jamestown.

Despite valiant efforts in both communities, the schools were not able to meet benchmarks that were set to keep both operating. read more...

Progress marks year one of Faith in Tomorrow
6/1/2012 12:00:00 AM by Catholic School Advisory Council

It has been one year since we introduced to you “Faith in Tomorrow,” the strategic plan for our Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Buffalo. We are pleased to report on the significant progress that has been made over the course of the past 12 months following its implementation.

We continue to face myriad challenges in our schools: a declining Catholic and overall population in Western New York, fewer people identifying themselves as Catholic and an economy that has been slow to recover. Yet countless opportunities continue to present themselves with leadership at the school and diocesan levels working tirelessly to build and sustain Catholic schools as centers of faith formation and academic excellence for generations to come.  read more...

Holy Father names 14th bishop of Buffalo
5/29/2012 6:00:00 AM by Office of Communications

“It is with great joy and happiness to announce that Pope Benedict XVI has accepted my resignation and has appointed the Most. Rev. Richard J. Malone, bishop of Portland, Maine, as the new ordinary for the Diocese of Buffalo,” said Bishop Edward U. Kmiec. “Bishop Malone is a colleague of mine in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and we have been acquainted over the years. He comes to Western New York with tremendous experience and a wonderful reputation for being a caring, pastoral bishop and a true shepherd to his people.”

The Holy Father’s appointment was announced at 6 a.m. (Eastern) today (May 29, 2012) at the Vatican.

Bishop Malone arrived in Buffalo on Monday, May 28. He concelebrated Mass this morning at the bishop’s residence with Bishop Kmiec, diocesan Chancellor Msgr. Paul A. Litwin and Msgr. David G. LiPuma, priest secretary to Bishop Kmiec and diocesan vice chancellor. 

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Cardinal Dolan applauds 12 court challenges of HHS mandate
5/21/2012 1:22:10 PM by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

WASHINGTON—Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), in a May 21 statement applauded 43 dioceses, hospitals, schools and church agencies for filing 12 lawsuits around the nation saying the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate violates religious freedom. 

He said, “We have tried negotiation with the Administration and legislation with the Congress – and we’ll keep at it – but there's still no fix. Time is running out, and our valuable ministries and fundamental rights hang in the balance, so we have to resort to the courts now."

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec said he strongly backed the move, “We are in full support of the decision to file these lawsuits against this unjust mandate. Since talks to rescind the mandate have been unsuccessful, it was necessary to challenge the government directive, and we are confident that the courts will side with the plaintiffs in support of religious freedom.”

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Bishop Kmiec announces ordinations to priesthood, permanent diaconate
5/14/2012 9:50:29 AM by Office of Communications

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.

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Bishop Kmiec finds president's same-sex marriage stance "disconcerting"
5/10/2012 2:49:44 PM by Office of Communications

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.”
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New York bishops call for minimum wage increase
5/3/2012 8:51:18 AM by New York State Catholic Conference

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."

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United We Rise: Peaceprints Prison Ministries
5/1/2012 3:31:00 PM by Daybreak TV Productions

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.

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All activities suspended at St. Ann Church - serious structural damage poses safety threat
4/29/2012 8:00:00 AM by Office of Communications

         

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.

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Bishops promote political responsibility with online resources
4/25/2012 10:31:47 AM by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

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.

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