Catholic Diocese of Buffalo Podcasts

Sister Roberta Fulton, SSMN, was recently honored by the Knights of Peter Claver as its national 2025 Grand Lady of the Year. Sister Roberta, who grew up in South Carolina but has served in Buffalo for many years, explains the organization and its mission to further social justice by addressing several key pillars.

Hundreds of Catholics of Filipino origin gathered at the National Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Youngstown, NY for the center's annual Filipino Day Pilgrimage on Saturday, July 29. Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, which is one of five selected pilgrimage sites within the Diocese of Buffalo during Jubilee 2025, hosts this ethnic celebration of faith among many others each year.

Faith, fellowship, and fun for five days. WNY Catholic Audio News was there at Fourteen Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY as the Diocese of Buffalo's Parish Family #7 wrapped up a five-day youth summer program.

Students at DeSales Catholic School in Lockport, NY were called to a special assembly to find out their principal and art teacher have collaborated on a soon-to-be-released book featuring their school, and starring some of the nearby forest animals who have been known to sneak into the school.

Daniel Quagliana was ordained the newest permanent deacon in the Diocese of Buffalo at a Mass held Saturday, June 14 in St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo, New York.

Dan Quagliana will be ordained as a permanent deacon Saturday, June 14 in St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo. He sat recently with WNY Catholic, giving us an opportunity to learn about hearing God's call, and the challenge and blessing of his formation experience.

Diocese of Buffalo Catholic Schools honored the 2025 winners of the Golden Apple Awards, recognizing exemplary service in the classroom and beyond, during a special Mass held Tuesday, May 27, at St. Amelia Church in Tonawanda, NY. Bishop Michael Fisher was the celebrant.

They had planned a pilgrimage to witness the canonization of a saint. Instead, more than 40 Catholics led by a Buffalo-area pastor were in Rome to witness the funeral of Pope Francis. Some of those who made the trip shared their experience with WNY Catholic Audio.

SPECIAL – May 21, 2025 – “Life Beyond Bankruptcy” by Diocese of Buffalo Sound Studio

The Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal held its annual conference Friday, May 16, 2025, at St. Stanislaus Church in Buffalo. The theme of this year's conference was "Renewing in a Time of Challenge."

Christopher ("CJ") Wild was ordained a Transitional Deacon in the Diocese of Buffalo Saturday, May 17, 2025, at his childhood parish, Our Lady of Pompeii in Lancaster. WNY Catholic Audio was there for his Ordination Mass, celebrated by Bishop Michael Fisher.

Christopher J. ("C.J.") Wild will be ordained May 17, 2025 as a Transitional Deacon. It's a significant step as he continues his studies and prayers in his journey to become a Catholic priest. WNY Catholic Audio sat with CJ in advance of his Ordination Mass to learn more about him.

Bishop Michael W. Fisher of the Diocese of Buffalo issued a statement in response to to election of Cardinal Robert Prevost (now Pope Leo XIV) as the 267th Bishop of Rome, May 8, 2025. Pope Leo XIV is the first US-born pope in the history of the Catholic Church and succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away April 21, 2025.

The Diocese of Buffalo's Office of Worship offers some prayer guidelines to its parishes and schools in anticipation of the Conclave to Elect a New Holy Father, which begins at the Vatican Wednesday, May 7.

A Mass for the Repose of the Soul of Pope Francis was celebrated Wednesday, April 24, 2025 in St. Joseph Cathedral, two days after the Holy Father's passing at the age of 88. Bishop Michael Fisher, in his homily, recalled the occasions when he got to meet Pope Francis, and spoke of his humanity, his ministry and his legacy.

The Diocese of Buffalo joins Catholics worldwide in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, who died April 21, 2025. This special report includes statements released by the Vatican and the Diocese of Buffalo. (Credit to Samuel Francis Johnson & Pixabay for the music bed used in this piece, which was downloaded royalty-free.)

Bishop Michael W. Fisher of the Diocese of Buffalo delivers his homily during the Easter Sunday Mass, April 20, 2025 at St. Joseph Cathedral.

Blessed Sacrament Church in Buffalo hosted a special Good Friday service April 18, 2025, called the "Funeral of Our Lord." It combined elements of Taize and Tenebrae services to present a story of the Lord's Passion and Crucifixion which utilized all five human senses.

The Holy Triduum, which is at the heart of the Catholic faith, got underway Thursday, April 17, 2025 with celebration of the Mass of the Lord's Supper, Holy Thursday evening. The Holy Triduum continues with Good Friday and concludes at the Easter Vigil.

Fresh sacramental oils and Chrism were blessed by Bishop Michael Fisher, and priests from the Diocese of Buffalo renewed their holy promises during the Chrism Mass, held April 15, 2025 in St. Joseph Cathedral. The Mass is held every year during Holy Week, prior to the Holy Triduum.

Each year, boys and girls who further Catholic faith through their involvement in Scouting America, the Girl Scouts of America, or the American Heritage Girls are recognized by the Diocese of Buffalo for their efforts. On Saturday, April 12, 2025 St. Joseph Cathedral hosted the 51st annual Catholic Committee on Scouting Religious Award Ceremony.

Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna, NY hosted a special Mass Sunday, April 6, 2025 honoring adoptive parents, people who were adopted, and even mothers who gave up their children for adoption rather than choose abortion. OLV Basilica is the crown jewel of a multi-faceted ministry founded by the late Father Nelson Baker, whose missions included care for orphans and abandoned babies, and women in crisis pregnancies.

Approximately 200 people, a majority of them teens, prayed, celebrated Mass, and heard inspiring words from Paul J. Kim at the Diocese of Buffalo's annual youth rally, "No Matter What... A Day for Catholic Teens," Sunday, March 30, 2025 at Hilbert College in Hamburg, NY.

Students from 17 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Buffalo took part in the X-STREAM Games, a competition in which students apply elements of STREAM education (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) to their projects and events. The event was held Saturday, March 29, 2025 at St. Joseph Collegiate Institute in Kenmore, NY.

Students from ten Catholic elementary schools within the Diocese of Buffalo converged on Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Orchard Park, NY Friday, March 28, 2025 for the annual 8th Grade Retreat. They prayed, attended Mass, shared their thoughts in group discussions, and enjoyed pizza as they prepare for the significant milestone of graduation.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo, which serves eight counties in Western New York, held its annual HOPE Day on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. It's a day when volunteers call past donors for support, and when corporate dollars are offered up to match donors' pledges.

The Diocese of Buffalo named its new Superintendent of Catholic Schools Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Joleen Dimitroff, currently principal at Cardinal O'Hara High School, will bring more than 35 years of experience, expertise, leadership, and her own Catholic education into her new role, which begins in June.

Buffalo Bishop Michael Fisher celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass during the noon hour March 5, 2025 in St. Joseph Cathedral. This is the homily he delivered. (Audio comes from the St. Joseph Cathedral live stream)

Father Bill Quinlivan, pastor of the churches making up the Catholic Family of South Buffalo, speaks on Ash Wednesday and its signifcance, its popularity, and why Lent should be just as much about "letting in" as about "giving up."

More than 50 boys and girls from throughout the Diocese of Buffalo were honored Saturday, March 1 as the 2025 recipients of the Bishop's Altar Server Award. They were presented with their medals during a Mass celebrated in St. Joseph Cathedral. Bishop Michael Fisher was the principal celebrant, joined by approximately 20 other priests.

The Diocese of Buffalo joins the world in praying for the health of Pope Francis. On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, the weekday noon-hour Mass was offered for the Holy Father, celebrated by Bishop Michael Fisher.

The daily noon-hour Mass celebrated in St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo was offered up for Pope Francis, who remained hospitalized in Gemelli Hospital in Rome Tuesday afternoon, February 25, 2025. This is the homily delivered by Bishop Michael Fisher, reflecting on the pope's health and also the Gospel passage (Mark 9:30-37) in which the apostles debate who among them is the greatest. Jesus Christ tells his disciples that he who would be the greatest would be the least, the servant. Bishop Fisher points out that the Holy Father is the Servant of the Servants.

On what was World Marriage Sunday, Bishop Michael Fisher celebrated Mass February 9, 2025, during which area couples marking wedding anniversaries ranging from 25 to 70 years renewed their vows.

Bishop Michael Fisher traveled nearly 130 miles Thursday, January 30, 2025 to visit two schools located in the more southern regions of the Diocese of Buffalo, as his Catholic Schools Week tour continued.

Bishop Michael Fisher stopped in an elementary school and then a girls' high school in South Buffalo to close out his week of visits to schools within the Diocese of Buffalo for Catholic Schools Week 2025.

On his second of four days of planned visits to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, Bishop Michael Fisher said hello to students at schools in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Grand Island. WNY Catholic Audio followed along.

The students of Holy Family School are returning from a field trip, but their bus is held up by protests outside an abortion clinic. Sister Justine delicately discusses the issue with the students, and shares the story of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a woman who willingly sacrificed her own life to save her baby. (NOTE: We encourage parents to listen to this episode with their children and have their own discussion about this topic. Due to the sensitive nature of this episode, listener discretion is advised.)

Bishop Michael Fisher and an entourage from the Diocese of Buffalo's Education Department visited three schools within the diocese Monday, January 27, 2025 to kick off Catholic Schools Week.

The Diocese of Buffalo celebrated a special Pro-Life Mass Thursday, January 23, 2025 in St. Christopher Church in Tonawanda, NY, coinciding with the Mass and Prayer Service taking place in Washington, DC on the eve of the National March for Life. At the local Mass, a couple who experienced the pain of losing three children spoke of their decision not to abort one of them, even while knowing her severe disabilities would give her a very short life.

The start of a new day at Holy Family School is interrupted by a fire alarm. While the local fire department arrives to investigate the smell of smoke, Sister Justine helps the kids pass the time with the story of St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters.

Father Kareem Smith of the Bronx delivered the homily to the congregation of St. Martin de Porres Church in Buffalo at the parish's annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mass, Sunday, January 19, 2025. His homily addressed King's legacy while also touching on current political undertones and the need to remain vigilant in the quest for social justice, equality, and equity. We fully encourage you to listen to this homily in its entirety.

Trailing 1-0 in their soccer game against rivals Crosstown Academy, the students of Holy Family School take exception to comments by an opponent who suggests her Catholic school counterparts are "soft." Sister Justine gives the halftime pep talk by sharing the story of St. Sebastian, whose persecution and martyrdom shows how courageous and tough many Christians are in order to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

While the students of Holy Family School travel to Auriesville, NY to visit the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs, Sister Justine helps pass time on the bus ride by sharing the story of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. (Notes: The pronunciation of "Iroquois" can be either "eer-oh-koy" or "eer-oh-kwah." The latter is a French pronunciation and, as it was French settlers who were interacting with St. Kateri's village during her time, the producers decided to use the French pronunciation for this episode.)

Some of the best-known saints in the Catholic Church didn't start their lives as Catholics. The students at Holy Family School, including a non-Catholic classmate, learn this when Sister Justine shares the story of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo has set an $8.5 million goal for its 2025 Appeal, which was launched at their headquarters Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Among the speakers was Bishop Michael Fisher, who noted the theme of hope is similar to that of Jubilee 2025. (Apologies for the technical issues with the sound bites within this story.)

Led by Bishop Michael Fisher, the Diocese of Buffalo celebrated a special Mass on the evening of Sunday, December 29, 2024 to mark the start of both the Catholic Church's Year of Jubilee and the diocese's own Year of Healing.

The students of Holy Family School are invited to participate in a family lineage project. One of the classmates, who is adopted, worries she won't be able to contribute. Sister Justine shares the story of St. Martin de Porres, a saint of mixed races who endured rejection and prejudice while growing up, but who loved and was loved by his family of Catholic faith.

As the students of Holy Family School prepare to produce their first-ever video podcast, they learn about St. Clare of Assisi, and how a holy woman who didn't live in the era of television can be its patron saint.

While volunteering at their local St. Vincent de Paul Center, the students of Holy Family School encounter a rude drive-by stranger. Sister Justine tells them the story of St. Vincent de Paul, who while growing up could be a difficult person in his own right, until he learned and better appreciated the power of God's compassion.

When one of the students admits not going to Confession since his First Reconciliation, he worries about what trouble he might be in. Sister Justine shares the story of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska to remind the students that Jesus wants to heal those who seek His Divine Mercy. Created and produced by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.