|
The Vincentian community was honored by Niagara University at its annual President’s Dinner last Wednesday evening. As part of the continuing celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation and in recognition of the dedicated and impactful service of the Vincentians at Niagara since its beginnings in 1856, Fr. James J. Maher, CM, the 26th president of Niagara University, presented us with the Ozanam Medal, one of the highest honors the university can bestow. As Provincial, I accepted the award on behalf of the Province. My remarks, which you can read here, linked the foundation of the Congregation to the present day Vincentian and Catholic mission being lived out at NU.
Fr. Maher also presented the Vincentians with a Certificate of Recognition from New York Governor Kathy Hochul and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Timothy M. Kennedy, the US congressman representing New York's 26th District, which includes Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
It was nice to see that many confreres who had worked at the university attended the event and were able to connect with old friends and colleagues and to feel the appreciation for all they have done and continue to do. Click here to see the Ozanam Medal.
The other honoree that night was Mr. Scott Bieler, president and CEO of West Herr Automotive Group and The Scott Bieler Family Foundation. Fr. Maher presented him with the St. Vincent de Paul Award in recognition of his philanthropy in the Western New York area and especially for the generous gift he and his wife, Kathy, gave to the university, enabling it to open the Bieler Institute of Business Ethics which has transformed the first floor of the university’s Bisgrove Hall into a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advancing ethical leadership and innovation.
Click on the following links to view the award and certificates received: Ozanam Medal, Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, Certificate of Recognition from the State of New York. Click here to see the program.
Solemn Novena
The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal invites you to participate in the nine-day Solemn Novena in honor of Our Blessed Mother. Beginning on Monday, November 17, this year’s Novena theme is “Mary, Our Guide to the Heart of Jesus.” These nine days of prayer lead up to the celebration of the Basilica Shrine’s feast day, the Solemnity of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on Wednesday, November 26th. For a complete schedule of the Solemn Novena, click here.
[We will also have a livestream available. If you don't already, subscribe and view the Basilica Shrine's YouTube channel here.]
Pope Leo’s Digital Encounter with Catholic Youth
You are invited to watch a video by EWTN promoting the Pope Leo Live digital encounter at the National Catholic Youth Conference to be held Friday, November 21 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Please watch the video via EWTN’s YouTube channel here.
Pope Leo XIV’s digital visit to our country has never been accomplished on this scale by a previous pontiff. It will be broadcast exclusively by EWTN across its platforms with Pope Leo appearing live from Rome at 10:15 a.m. for approximately 45 minutes. He will address the more than 15,000 young people at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and then engage directly in personal dialogue with several of them. Millions of people around the world will be watching live.
Please consider sharing this video promoting the digital encounter with your youth groups.
Vocation Videos
Over the last several, weeks we have shared seven vocation videos developed by our Vocation Office. Click here for a list of all the YouTube links to those videos, along with descriptions of each one. Please disseminate them through your social media platforms.
Nuntia
Click here to read the October 2025 Nuntia.
A Post of the Nuntia Express
Click here to read a recent post from the Nuntia Express.
HOOPS OF STEEL: Vincent De Paul’s Closest Friendships by Fr. Robert Maloney, CM
HOOPS OF STEEL has been published on Amazon. This work explores how the friendships of St. Vincent de Paul deeply influenced his life, mission, and commitment to charity. Beyond their collaborations, the book highlights friendship itself: how St. Vincent cultivated lasting bonds that brought him joy, strength, and personal growth. The book combines historical rigor with clarity and narrative warmth, offering a fresh perspective on community, leadership, and holiness in action—and reminding us that great achievements are never reached alone. Click here to see the book on Amazon.
Vincentian Center for Church and Society
The third lecture of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and the University series sponsored by the Vincentian Chair of Social Justice is "The Catholic Intellectual Tradition in an Era of AI." The presentation will be given by Joseph Vukov, PhD, an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Associate Director at the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage, Loyola University in Chicago. It's on Monday, November 17 at 1:50 p.m. in the D'Angelo Center, Room 416, on the Queens Campus. You can register today by clicking here.
More information on the Vincentian Chair of Social Justice Lecture Series can be found on their website.
| 
