Legacy of charity: Hal Smith retires after 35 years October 29, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Catholic Charities, Feature, Local News, News When Smith became executive director of Baltimore’s Catholic Charities two years after his arrival, the agency employed 350 people and had a budget of about $6 million. Today, the organization annually helps 200,000 people in 80 programs and employs 2,100. Its budget is about $120 million.
Baltimore City Council targets pro-life pregnancy centers October 22, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and 10 members of the 14-member council are sponsoring a bill that Catholic leaders believe harasses pro-life pregnancy support centers.
Little Sisters of the Poor minister to Maryland elderly for 140 years October 8, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News, Seniors When 87-year-old Alice Jadwigia Armstrong looked up from her hospital bed and saw the smiling face of Sister Lourdes Miranda, she was visibly buoyed by the nun’s presence. Clasping the hand of the Little Sister of the Poor, the white-haired woman seemed transported to the security of her youth.
Cockeysville dig yields insights into Irish life September 24, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News A summer archeological dig near St. Joseph in Cockeysville unearthed brown broken bottles and tea cups, coins, a beer token, buttons and children’s toys – clues into the daily life of Irish immigrants who manned area limestone quarries and worshipped at St. Joseph beginning in the mid-19th century.
Monsignor Bastress awarded Redemptorists’ highest honor September 19, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News On his first day as pastor of the Shrine of St. Alphonsus in Baltimore, Monsignor Arthur Bastress walked down the historic church’s long aisles and knew immediately that his new assignment was going to be something special.
Archbishop O’Brien welcomes 10 Episcopal nuns, priest into Catholic Church September 10, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Vocations A spiritual journey that began seven years ago ended in the sanctuary of a Catonsville convent Sept. 3 when 10 Episcopal nuns and their priest chaplain were received into full communion with the Catholic Church.
10 Episcopal nuns in Archdiocese of Baltimore to join Catholic Church August 27, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Vocations After seven years of prayer and discernment, a community of Episcopal nuns and their chaplain will be received into the Roman Catholic Church during a Sept. 3 Mass celebrated by Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien.
Faith will guide new Catholic Charities head July 29, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Catholic Charities, Local News, News William J. McCarthy Jr. is just getting started Aug. 1 as executive director of Catholic Charities, but his roots in the outreach organization stretch back to high school.
Sulpician formation guides future priests June 25, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Vocations What makes St. Mary’s different from other seminaries is its Sulpician approach to preparing men for the priesthood, according to Sulpician Father Thomas Hurst, president-rector.
Seminarians face challenges in academics and pastoral work June 19, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Vocations Halfway through his first year at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Roland Park, Christopher de Leon looked spent.
Taneytown pastor celebrates 50 years as a priest June 19, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Vocations Monsignor Martin E. Feild’s priesthood has been all about involving more people in the life of the church. Inspired by the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the Catonsville native committed himself to inspiring others to be active participants at Mass and in the wider faith community.
Baltimore’s Deacon Rapisarda and other widowers among 2010 ordinands June 18, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News WASHINGTON – A former NASA engineer, a PlayStation video game developer and widowed deacons are among the 440 men in the ordination class of 2010.