Calling St. Polycarp March 10, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Blog, The Narthex When Marilyn Szewczyk was about to launch a network of pro-life pregnancy centers in Maryland, she turned to St. Polycarp for help. Reasoning that the obscure early Christian martyr didn’t have many people asking for his intercession, Szewczyk figured she’d have easy access to his ear.Lynn Anne Sukeena, one of Szewczyk’s daughters, told me that […]
Cardinal Keeler celebrates 80th birthday March 3, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News “You have been and continue to be a star,” Archbishop Sambi said, “a light of hope, not only for the church, but also for the community at large.”
Cardinal Keeler and the Psychic Reader March 3, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Blog, The Narthex Cardinal William H. Keeler, master of the one-liner, meets with George P. Matysek Jr. (CR Staff/Owen Sweeney III)During a March 2 testimonial at a special celebration of Cardinal William H. Keeler’s upcoming 80th birthday, Richard Berndt told a story that demonstrated why friends know the retired archbishop as a master of
Monsignor Strempeck, hospital chaplain and pastor, dies February 17, 2011By Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries Monsignor Martin R. Strempeck, a much-loved priest and former pastor who devoted much of his ministry to comforting others, died Feb. 8. Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien offered a funeral Mass Feb. 14 at St. Margaret in Bel, the parish where 82-year-old MonsignorStrempeck had retired but remained active in ministry until three months before his death.
Mystery of George Washington’s missing (and recovered) letter to Catholics February 16, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Blog, The Narthex Part of a 1790 letter to Catholics written by President George Washington is shown in this photograph. The letter is housed in the archives of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. (Courtesy Archdiocese of Baltimore) In honor of President’s Day, tomorrow’s issue of The Catholic Review will feature an article on a very valuable letter housed in […]
Pep Perrella got inclusion before it had a name February 16, 2011By Paul McMullen Filed Under: Baltimore Boomer, Blog Pep Perrella is buoyed by Catholic schoolkids he feeds. Was on the phone with my daughter Kate last weekend, and told her that Pep Perella was ailing. “Do you remember Pep?” I asked. “How could I forget his chicken parmigiana?” she said, 3,000 miles and 12 years from the last time she had one of […]
Sargent Shriver: Cardinal Gibbons’ godson remembered January 22, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Blog, The Narthex Sargent Shriver is shown in a Life photograph. The former vice presidential candidate was the godson of Baltimore Cardinal James Gibbons. This week’s cover story in The Catholic Review spotlights a mother and daughter who are planning to jump into the icy Chesapeake Bay at the end of the month to raise money for the Special Olympics. Was […]
St. Michael, Fells Point, faces possible closure January 20, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News Leaders of the Redemptorists and the Archdiocese of Baltimore are considering a plan to close 159-year-old St. Michael in Fells Point and relocate parishioners to Sacred Heart of Jesus in Highlandtown.
Mark Twain’s autobiography renews debate: Was he anti-Christian? January 6, 2011By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Books, News, World News “There is one notable thing about our Christianity: bad, bloody, merciless, money-grabbing and predatory … ours is a terrible religion.”
Westminster school offered support in face of Westboro protesters January 6, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News WESTMINSTER – As the Supreme Court considers a high-profile case involving the Westboro Baptist Church, much media attention has focused on what the Kansas church members did outside St. John parish during Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder’s 2006 funeral.
Remembering a Baltimore culinary classic December 8, 2010By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, The Narthex The founders of Haussner’s, William Henry Haussner and Frances Wilke Haussner, always treated priests with extra kindness, Mrs. Jakowski said. When long lines of waiting customers would stretch along Eastern Avenue – as was often the case – the owners would pluck priests out of the crowd and make sure they and their guests were given priority seating.
Len Bias’ mother speaks of pain and moving on November 30, 2010By Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News Few Maryland sports fans will forget where they were when they heard Len Bias died June 19, 1986. My aunt worked at Leland Memorial Hospital in Riverdale, where Len died. She called my mother to tell her the news. Len was a hero in my hometown. He went to Hyattsville’s public high school, Northwestern, and […]
