When Covid-19 first took hold of Western New York, those who administered public gathering destinations were faced with a challenge handed down from state and local officials. How can these places where people gather to eat, to shop, to pray be made safe? Churches face added pressure by hosting multiple Masses back-to-back on Sunday mornings. […]
Sister Flavia Dampf, former pastoral associate for Blessed Trinity Parish, died Oct. 24, 2020, at the Clarence residence of the Sisters of St. Joseph. She died 96. Born Angelina Dampf to Michael and Augusta (Schneflok) Dampf in Szentgotthard/Rabakethely, northwest of Hungary, in 1924. While she was still a little child, her family immigrated to Toronto. […]
The journey on the Road to Renewal has begun. Some of the first steps involved hosting a series of vicariate Zoom sessions that sought to hear from parishioners about the strengths, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration, among parish communities throughout the Diocese of Buffalo. The teleconference sessions gathered as many as 65 people at a […]
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Europeans must not see their rich history simply as a fond memory of a time long gone, but they must look to it as a guide to overcoming divisions and challenges aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis said. Pope Francis reflected on the current state of the European Union in […]
It was just over a year ago when leaders from many different Christian churches first gathered to show their support for the pro-life cause. Known as the New York Pastors for Life, the group formed to address New York state’s Reproductive Health Act, which expands the right to have an abortion to the full nine […]
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis announced he will create 13 new cardinals Nov. 28, including Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Washington. The pope made the announcement at the end of his Angelus address Oct. 25, telling the crowd in St. Peter’s Square the names of the nine cardinals under the age of 80, who […]
When the final bell rang on Oct. 20, Michael LaFever left his office for the last time to embrace retirement. As superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Buffalo, he spent more than two years leading parish and regional elementary schools in Western New York. His main focus now will be heading the charity […]
“We recognize the challenges of this time in the Church today with many people having to worship from home through live stream Masses,” said Wade Wisler, Oregon Catholic Press publisher. Ordinarily a parish purchases its missals and they remain in the church to be used every week by many parishioners. “The difference with this program […]
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis often has expressed openness to the idea of laws recognizing civil unions, including for gay couples, to protect their rights. The pope’s comments in a brief passage in the documentary film, “Francesco,” are similar to the position he took while archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and echo remarks he […]
It’s like getting that bicycle that you wanted for Christmas. Father David Baker has been appointed the new diocesan vocation director, a role he has been eyeing since his early days in the priesthood. The 48-year-old had been serving as pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Akron for nearly five years when he […]
