Catholic radio host to visit Africa to document Medicine Depot dedication
2 days ago by Office of Communications

A joint venture between Reaching Out 2 Africa (ROTA), the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Diocese of Buffalo, a mission-funding agency under the jurisdiction of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and the diocesan Office of Communications is what is sending the voice of diocesan radio ministry to Africa in May.

West Seneca resident Gregg D. Prince, director of radio ministry, will embark on a 24-hour trip that will take him from the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport to Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Prince, who is traveling with Father Ronald P. Sajdak, director of the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Diocese of Buffalo, Deacon Matthew A. Hens of Fredonia and Joan Ersing of East Aurora, both of whom work with Father Sajdak in the Pontifical Mission Societies office, will spend 10 days in east Africa, May 14-24. Ersing is also the executive director of Reaching Out 2 Africa.

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Bishop Kmiec announces ordinations to priesthood, permanent diaconate
3 days ago by Office of Communications

On consecutive weekends in June, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec will president over ordinations at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo.

On June 2, three men will be ordained to the priesthood:  Rev. Mr. Seán Paul Fleming, Rev. Mr. Andrew Russell Lauricella and Rev. Mr. Jeffrey Louis Nowak. 

The following weekend, June 9, the bishop will ordain five men as permanent deacons:  David E. Clabeaux, John H. Hendricks, Alejandro D. Manunta, Richard R. Stachura, Jr. and Edward M. Zablocki.

The ordination Masses will begin at 10 a.m.

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Bishop Kmiec finds president's same-sex marriage stance "disconcerting"
5/10/2012 2:49:44 PM by Office of Communications

President Barack Obama's announcement that he is now in favor of same-sex marraige has drawn crticial reaction from Catholic Church leaders in the United States.  During a May 9, ABC-TV News interview, the president said, ""At a certain point, I've just concluded that, for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married."

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec issued the following statement:  “The president’s decision to endorse same-sex marriage is not surprising, but nevertheless, it is disconcerting, as he joins those in this country who wish to redefine marriage. Marriage has always been between a man and a woman, which we believe comes from God and natural law, something we do not believe that the state, or even the Church, can change. Despite the president’s pronouncement, we will not waver in our beliefs.”
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New York bishops call for minimum wage increase
5/3/2012 8:51:18 AM by New York State Catholic Conference

The Catholic bishops of New York State have issued a statement, calling on New York to increase the minimum wage. "It is increasingly difficult for the working poor to make ends meet," said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, archbishop of New York.

Pointing to recent meetings with Governor Andrew Cuomo and leaders of the state Senate and Assembly, the bishops stated, "It is our fervent hope that this spirit of bipartisan cooperation can extend to another issue critical to thousands of New York workers, and that is a modest increase in the minimum wage."

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