News, Events, and Press Releases

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2025

• Clyde native becomes Rochester Diocese’s newest priest - Monday June 16th, 2025
  Bishop Salvatore R. Matano ordained Clyde native Father George Bastedo IV to the priesthood June 14 during a Solemn Mass of Ordination at Rochester’s Sacred Heart Cathedral. During the Mass, Father Bastedo declared his intention to undertake the office of priesthood and promised obedience and respect to Bishop Matano and his successors. At the conclusion ...
• Statement from Bishop Matano regarding Physician-Assisted Suicide - Tuesday June 10th, 2025
  In support with the New York State Catholic Conference’s “Statement on NYS Senate Passage of State-Sanctioned Suicide Bill” It is with great sadness that we have learned that both the State Assembly and the New York State Senate have passed legislation approving Physician-Assisted Suicide. Once again, a majority of members of New York State’s legislators have failed ...
• Joint Publication Notice - Thursday May 15th, 2025
  NOTICE OF HEARINGS TO CONSIDER (I) CONFIRMATION OF THE EIGHTH AMENDED JOINT CHAPTER 11 PLAN OF REORGANIZATION FOR THE DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER AND (II) MOTION TO APPROVE INSURANCE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS, POLICY BUY-BACKS, AND RELATED INJUNCTIVE RELIEF PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT: 1. On March 14, 2025, The Diocese of Rochester (“Diocese”) filed the Disclosure Statement in Support of the Eighth Amended Joint Chapter ...
• The Statement of The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Rochester, upon the Election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV - Thursday May 8th, 2025
  It is with great joy that the Diocese of Rochester joins with the Universal Church in pledging our heartfelt prayers, support and fidelity to our newly elected Holy Father, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, the 266th successor to Saint Peter and the 267th Vicar of Christ on earth. United to the See of Peter by ...
• Statement of the NYS Bishops on State-Sanctioned Suicide Bill - Thursday April 24th, 2025
  “Euthanasia and assisted suicide are a defeat for all. We are called never to abandon those who are suffering, never giving up but caring and loving to restore hope.” – Pope Francis, 2019 On Easter Monday, April 21, Pope Francis ended his earthly journey and entered eternal life. The Holy Father gave us many examples to ...
• The Statement of The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Rochester, upon the Death of His Holiness, Pope Francis - Monday April 21st, 2025
  It is with great sadness, but also with joyful hope in the merits won by Christ’s glorious resurrection, that the Diocese of Rochester joins with the Universal Church in praying for the repose of the soul of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who returned home to the Good Shepherd, the Eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ, on April 21, ...
• Bishop Matano’s Letter to the Faithful regarding Immigration - Thursday January 30th, 2025
  Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Jurisprudence is defined as “The philosophy of law, or the science which treats of the principles of positive law and legal relations… and to choose that rule which, when so applied, will produce the greatest advantage to the community.” (Black’s Law Dictionary, © 1979, p. 767). Based upon this principle, one ...