The Messianic Movement in Judaism, which began in the 1960s, blends evangelical Christian theology with elements of Jewish practice. Journalist, author and playwright Anthony Cardinale has spent a great deal of time in Israel researching this movement.

Father Paul D. Seil, host of “Our Daily Bread,” will kick off the show’s 16th year on television on Jan. 12 at 5:30 a.m. and noon on WKBW-TV Ch. 7. It seems hard to believe, especially in a society where tweets are fast and furious, and updating one’s status on Facebook is constant. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that viewers like watching Father Seil whip up easy and delicious dishes in his kitchen at St. Bernadette Parish in Orchard Park. 

A small crèche with the Baby Jesus surrounded by His parents, Joseph and Mary, with the Magi, camels and a donkey or two is a familiar sight in Christian homes throughout December. Some schools and parishes have been known to recreate living Nativities using real animals and actors in period dress. Cardinal O’Hara High School has gone one step further by recreating the original Nativity scene, complete with creator St. Francis of Assisi watching his work unfold. 

St. Pius X Parish in Getzville has created an extra layer of learning to its faith formation, or religious education, classes with the addition of a children’s choir. The choir, comprised of about a dozen children, is a voluntary activity that’s entwined with the traditional Faith Formation classes. 

Christmas is creeping up fast. Your “to do” list seems to be getting longer instead of shorter. You start to feel jumpy, nervous and yes, even a bit crabby during this jolly, holiday season. And to top it off, you inevitably miss a holiday television special that you wait all year to watch. What I have found very helpful is a taped list on my refrigerator with show names, dates and times. So in the spirit of holiday list making, I took the liberty of making one for you.

Marriage. This one small word conjures up many images: a long white dress and men in tuxedos, flowers, music filled churches, love, family and happiness. Whether a couple is newlywed, raising a family, or “empty nesting,” the desire to grow together in love remains always present. 

The story of St. Maximilian Kolbe, OFM Conv., a Franciscan friar who volunteered to die to save another man’s life in the Nazi-controlled concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland, in 1941, will come to life throughout the Diocese of Buffalo, as actor Leonardo Defilippis brings his one-man drama production to the area in September.

Once in a while something surprising happens which makes your entire day brighter. In this case it was an email that came from an “Our Daily Bread” viewer talking about his son’s love of cooking.

Western New York has long been known as an artistic city. It lays claim to such diverse musicians as alternative rockers 10,000 Maniacs, jazz great Bobby Militello and funk master Rick James. One local group and one solo artist have just released CDs that take Christian music to all edges of its boundaries. 

Blessed Trinity Parish in Buffalo will conclude its 2011-12 Trinity Series of “beautiful music in a beautiful space,” with a special concert by The Camerata di Sant’ Antonio, made possible by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts. The concert will take place July 22 at 2:30 p.m., with a pre-concert tour of the building beginning at 1:30.