While most people know February is Black History Month in the United States, fewer people may know that the month of November marks Black Catholic History Month. Black and African American Catholics make up only a small fraction of the overall Catholic population in the nation, but they are an inspired population. As WNY Catholic […]
Nov. 22, 1963, was a day of mourning for the United States as President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Now, 60 years later, Catholics continue to look back at his life and legacy and the role his faith played in his presidency. On that fateful day, Barbara Perry, currently a professor of presidential studies at […]
WASHINGTON — On the weekend of Dec. 9-10, participating dioceses will take up the annual collection that benefits approximately 24,000 elderly religious sisters, brothers and religious order priests across the United States. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office, the collection provides qualified religious institutes with financial aid to address retirement necessities. Traditionally, Catholic sisters, […]
“God has made us a family and together we will grow in love.” That was the gathering song which opened a special inclusive Thanksgiving Mass on Saturday, Nov. 18 at St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Cheektowaga. Nearly 100 people of various levels of abilities and special needs attended. They are loving Catholics who, through […]
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY — Niagara University alumnus Michael Kakos, ’60, and his wife, Aimee, have pledged a $2.5 million gift to establish the Michael J., ’60 and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Endowed Chair of Chemistry and to support the compensation and research of Dr. Mary McCourt, professor of chemistry, who will hold that position. “The extraordinary generosity […]
The month of November marks Black Catholic History Month in the United States. There are an estimated three million Black or African-American Catholics in the United States, representing about six percent of the overall Black or African-American population, and only about four percent of the overall U.S. Catholic population. While those numbers may be very […]
(Part one of a two part story) To say the Wenke family is faithful would be an understatement. Matthew, the father, is a permanent deacon. Daughter Nora is a contemplative nun. Their oldest son is now Father Emmanuel Wenke, OFM Conv. The fact that three members of the family were considering their vocations around the […]
If the smartphone had never been invented, what would you do with all the extra time you would have? This is one question posed in the new “Propaedeutic Year” which has been added to the Program of Priestly Formation. Requested by Rome, and implemented in different ways by each diocese, the Propaedeutic Year is similar […]
WASHINGTON — The Catholic Church in the United States will commemorate National Vocation Awareness Week, Nov. 5-11. Each year, national Catholic organizations, dioceses, schools and local parish communities sponsor events and provide different resources to raise awareness for vocations, and help those who are discerning a vocation, particularly one to ordained ministry or consecrated life. […]
It was one year ago, Oct. 25, 2022, that the Diocese of Buffalo and New York State Attorney General announced a settlement related to the former’s handling of past sexual abuse claims. At that time, as part of the settlement, the diocese introduced Melissa Potzler as a new point person for compliance enforcement. Since then, […]
