Catholic Diocese Of Buffalo Podcasts

The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, as part of its ongoing Road to Renewal, will undergo a consultative evaluation of its 160 parishes this summer and will soon identify parishes and worship sites for mergers with other parishes within the diocese’s 36 Families of Parishes. Following a meeting with priests Tuesday, May 28, leaders including Bishop Michael Fisher and Rev. Bryan Zielenieski, Vicar for Renewal and Development, hosted a news conference to announce this plan. This is the news conference in its entirety.

BREAKING NEWS - Pope Francis, in a decree issued May 23, 2024, has confirmed a miracle attributed to Blessed Carlo Acutis, and had announced that as a result the late Italian teenager will be canonized as the first millennial-generation saint in the Roman Catholic Church.

Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica, as well as OLV's adjacent buildings serving the legacy of Father Nelson Baker, will be added to the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places, it was announced Thursday, May 16, 2024.

A former Catholic parish turned neighborhood support center is launching a new East Side Community Partnership in cooperation with the Diocese of Buffalo's Parish Family 21, which includes several inner city churches. Bishop Michael Fisher celebrated a special Mass to begin this new partnership, which aims to expand senior citizen services and activities.

Delegates from the Diocese of Buffalo who attended last summer's National Black Catholic Congress XIII near Washington, DC hosted a follow-up meeting Friday, May 10 at St. Martin de Porres Church in Buffalo to begin shaping a local action plan based on ideas raised at last year's event.

Catholic Academy of West Buffalo features one of the most ethnically diverse - if not the most diverse - student populations among Catholic schools in the Diocese of Buffalo. On Friday, May 10, the school held its third annual Culture Day to let students celebrate their own roots, while learning about those of their schoolmates.

The Diocese of Buffalo sponsored its youth rally, "Making Connections," Sunday, April 28 at Villa Maria College. Featuring a Mass, breakout activities, music, and praise led by keynote speaker ValLimar Jansen, it was the first official youth rally held by the diocese since COVID.

The Diocese of Buffalo hosted its 54th annual Bishop's Altar Server Awards Mass in St. Joseph Cathedral Saturday, April 27, 2004. Fr. David Baker, who delivered the homily, likened the young men and women to superheroes.

Diane Ferraro was the keynote speaker for the 2024 St. Gianna Molla Banquet hosted by the Diocese of Buffalo's Office of Respect Life, held April 25, 2024 in Amherst. Prior to the banquet, Ferraro was welcomed into the Catholic Center in Buffalo for a one-on-one interview with WNY Catholic Audio's Michael Mroziak.

The Diocese of Buffalo's Office of Respect Life held its annual Pro-Vita Awards Mass and St. Gianna Molla Banquet, during which ten people were honored for their efforts to further the pro-life cause, "from womb to tomb."

Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin made a surprise visit to Immaculate Conception School in East Aurora, NY during the afternoon of April 23, 2024. He discussed values, played trivia games with the kids, and brightened up the room not just for the kids, but also the teachers and staff.

Tony Buttino, co-creator and longtime executive producer of the iconic PBS television series Reading Rainbow, has co-authored a new book about the show, "Creating Reading Rainbow: The Untold Story of a Beloved Children's Television Series." During his career and continuing today in his daily life, Buttino has leaned heavily on his strong Catholic faith. He welcomed WNY Catholic Audio into his home to discuss his faith, and his work on Reading Rainbow.

The Diocese of Buffalo's Education Department hosted its second annual 8th Grade Retreat April 19, 2024 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish in Orchard Park, NY. Bishop Michael Fisher paid a visit and celebrated Mass as part of the day, which is designed to help pending graduates of local Catholic schools prepare spiritually for the transition into high school.

St. Gregory the Great Church in Williamsville administered first-time sacraments to 26 people as part of its Easter Vigil Mass, held Saturday, March 30, 2024.

Each year many Catholics celebrating Holy Thursday Mass then embark on the traditional Seven Churches Visitation, symbolizing the seven stops Jesus Christ made between His Last Supper and the Crucifixion. Some visitors choose their churches based on ethnic connections or perhaps other local history. The excursion from St. Leo the Great Church in Amherst, meanwhile, included every church within its parish family - plus one nearby - on its course.

The Chrism Mass, during which priests renew their promises, and chrism and sacramental oils are consecrated, is held every Tuesday of Holy Week. WNY Catholic Audio was inside a packed St. Joseph Cathedral for this year's Chrism mass.

The Diocesan Choir Festival Concert will be held Sunday, April 21, 2024 beginning at 5 p.m. in St. Louis Church in Buffalo. WNY Catholic Audio met with two participants to learn more about the concert, and the movement to preserve and celebrate classic Christian choral song.

The Diocese of Buffalo's Catholic Committee on Scouting honored more than two dozen local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts with various Catholic-oriented awards, celebrating their commitment to using Scouting to nurture their faith and share it with others.

During his Palm Sunday homily Sunday, March 24, 2024, Bishop Michael Fisher discussed the suffering of Jesus Christ and also the suffering of those victimized by past abuse by clergy, lay personnel, and volunteers affiliated with the Diocese of Buffalo. The intention of the Mass was for all victims and survivors of abuse.

Throughout Women’s History Month, we have recognized and celebrated Women Religious whose works and influence have touched countless lives in Western New York. But we now also thank and recognize the countless lay women of the Diocese of Buffalo who spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and serve as examples of discipleship.