In the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, one parish made sure its youth didn’t miss out on the popular leadership program, the Christian Leadership Institute. The Wyoming Association of Catholic Youth, affectionately known as WACY, held their own version of CLI, formerly hosted by the diocesan Department of Youth & Young Adult Ministries. CLI has […]
As the print edition of the Western New York Catholic draws to a close, I wanted to express gratitude in print for the “virtual” support which in reality accompanied me leading up to my recent living liver donor transplantation surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester and the recovery to follow. Much of this support […]
In January, the Western New York Catholic reported that Father John Mack, longtime theology professor at Christ the King Seminary, was in need of a live liver donor. On June 30, he received his new liver from one of his former parishioners. The 66-year-old priest spoke from his family home in Rochester just a couple […]
There’s a small parish in the inner city of Buffalo that has set a benchmark for environmentalism. SS. Columba-Brigid on Hickory Street has replaced the green of the grass with bright reds and yellows of flowers that generate oxygen and provide food for butterflies and bumblebees. This effort earned the parish a Saint Kateri Habitat […]
Challenging times call for creative methods. In response to the COVID-19 health crisis, Catholic Charities’ Department of Workforce and Education transitioned its high school equivalency preparatory classes to distance learning, as on-site classes were suspended. To gear up for the change, Catholic Charities’ educators assembled and delivered distance learning packets to each student, along with […]
For Christopher Emminger, the road to priesthood wasn’t as long and winding as it is for some people, but it did take him to new places. Before entering the seminary, the 31-year-old was content to stick around and serve his Tonawanda home. “I’ve learned essentially to trust in God, that He knows what he’s doing […]
Deacon Denning Achidi has wanted to be a part of the long and rich history of the Catholic Church, ever since he realized the depth of the faith at age 12. Born in Cameroon, Deacon Achidi was raised in his father’s Presbyterian church. He admits it had little effect on him. “I just went to […]
Among the remains that were removed from Christ the King Seminary in early August were those of Father Peter McGowan, who served the priesthood a mere 37 days. The 24-year-old Buffalo native was ordained in a conference room at Sister’s Hospital in Buffalo while battling terminal cancer. Bishop James McNulty, who conducted the ordination, allowed […]
Bishop Joseph Burke found a new home in a familiar place. The remains of Buffalo’s ninth bishop, now rest, quite fittingly, in St. Joseph Cathedral, where he was baptized, ordained and served as a priest. Bishop Burke had been buried in front of the chapel of Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora since his […]
My great-grandfather worked for the Courier-Express in the same building I work in now. He was a printer by trade, so I have black ink in my veins. As we begin work on our last print issue, I think of how much we have advanced in the 20 odd years I’ve been writing for the […]
