Sister Beth Ann Finster, SSJ, teacher and campus minister, died suddenly at Mercy hospital July 1 at age 77. Born in Buffalo Oct. 20, 1947, Sister was the first child of John and Mary Agnes “Babe” (Zink) Finster. Her father was a captain in the Buffalo Fire Department. Following her graduation from Mount St. Joseph […]
Father Herman (Robert) Benedict Czaster, OFM Conv., 86, a Franciscan Friar of Our Lady of the Angels Province, died peacefully on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at Enfield, Connecticut. Born in Buffalo, on Sept. 7, 1938, he was the only child of the late Benedict and Stella (Karas) Czaster, who owned a restaurant together in Buffalo. […]
ALDEN —St. John the Baptist’s 14 Stations of the Cross with Pro-life Meditations have been installed in the parish cemetery. The lasered plaques rest on sturdy stands, built to last 100 years. More than two years in the making, this project has come to fruition through the efforts of St. John’s 200 Club for Life […]
The Diocese of Buffalo received communication this week from the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Clergy that a decision had been reached in the hierarchical recourse against the merger decree involving St. Michael Parish and St. Louis Parish, both in Buffalo. The dicastery decided in favor of Bishop Michael W. Fisher and issued a decree upholding […]
Trocaire College, a private, Catholic college providing a pathway for students to build careers of achievement and lives of purpose, announced the promotion of Jennifer Blickwedehl, Ph.D. to chief academic affairs officer. She takes on the role from Richard Linn, Ph.D., who recently retired. “Congratulations to Jenn on this well-deserved promotion,” said Dr. Bassam Deeb, […]
ST. BONAVENTURE — St. Bonaventure University has been awarded a four-year, $2.3 million federal grant to expand and strengthen the behavioral health workforce in rural communities across Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. The grant, provided by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration through its Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program, will fund […]
Father Richard Poblocki, who had served the Cheektowaga area as associate pastor, pastor and school administrator, died June 29, 2025. He was 67. Born Sept. 29, 1957, in Buffalo to Richard I. and Helen (Boczar) Poblocki, Father Poblocki attended St. John the Baptist School in Alden for four years before entering Millgrove Elementary. He went […]
The Diocese of Buffalo will hold a Summer Convocation on Thursday July 24 to Friday July 25, at The Columns Banquets in Elma. Open to pastors, parochial vicars, principals, lay ecclesial ministers, and all other parish leaders, this gathering will address family faith formation, Catholic identity in schools and communications. “We’re bringing everyone under the […]
Sister Maura Fortkort, who spent nearly 50 years as teacher and administrator, died June 21, 2025, at Mount St. Mary Hospital, Lewiston. She was 93. The former Maryann Fortkort was born May 17, 1932, in Buffalo to Albert and Mary (O’Donnell) Fortkort. After graduating from the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, Sister Maura entered […]
ORCHARD PARK — Officials from St. John Vianney School announced today that the school will not reopen for the upcoming academic year. The parish school, located at 2950 Southwestern Blvd., in Orchard Park, concluded its academic year last Wednesday, June 18. The school was tasked last year to reduce costs, enhance fundraising, and increase enrollment […]
