VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has invited Catholics to annually renew an act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25. The solemnity of the Annunciation on Saturday marks one year since Pope Francis consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Blessed Virgin Mary in St. Peter’s Basilica with a prayer asking for […]
The Department of Pastoral Ministries will hold the 12th annual benefit banquet for St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center on Thursday, April 27 starting at 6 p.m. at Classics V in Amherst, The keynote speaker for the event will be pro-life advocate and international speaker Toni McFadden. She is the author of the book, “Redeemed: […]
Throughout history, during times of unrest and desertion, the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared to help guide people back to God. One of the more notable apparitions was in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 during a time of great war. Appearing to three shepherd children multiple times, she spoke of a threefold message to focus the […]
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY — Three students were honored during Niagara University’s annual Women’s Studies Program Writing Contest at a ceremony on March 9 in Dunleavy Hall on the Niagara University campus. Established in 2004, the award program recognizes students for work that examines gender, sexuality, race and other diversity-related topics. “Our Women’s Studies Program Writing Contest […]
TONAWANDA — As part of the recent Catholic Schools Week celebration, Cardinal O’Hara High School decided to congratulate Cardinal O’Hara’s feeder schools by sending a personal note from its students along with a lollipop to students at Catholic elementary schools. St. Andrew’s Country Day School and St. Amelia’s School received Valentine Day cards with a […]
LANCASTER — Jennifer Gaglione, 27, creator of Ablaze Young Adult Ministry, was awarded the Lay Award of St. Joseph the Worker for her volunteer work at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish. She has been a lifelong parishioner at St. Mary’s. She has celebrated all of her sacraments there including baptism, first reconciliation, first Communion, […]
She arrived in Buffalo in 1898 with the newly formed Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, settling first at Corpus Christi Parish and later moving to Hamburg. Her order would later establish a teacher training school which in 1964 became known as Hilbert College. But before coming to Western New York, the woman who would become […]
Dozens of young people who give up their free time to serve the Church and their parish communities received some due recognition at the annual Altar Server Mass. St. Joseph Cathedral saw a packed house as friends and family gathered to congratulate the needed aides on March 18. “We welcome them to our mother church […]
The tradition of St. Joseph’s Day began during the Middle Ages when there was a severe drought in Sicily. In desperation, people asked St. Joseph, their patron, to intervene. They promised if rain came they would prepare a big feast in his honor. Tradition says their prayers were answered with rainy weather. In gratitude, banquet […]
Sister Paula Marie Notarthomas, OSF, died March 11, 2023, at the age of 91. She had been a Sister of St. Francis for 72 years. Born February 4, 1932, Sister Paula Marie was raised and educated in Syracuse. In 1951, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis of Williamsville. She earned a […]