Baltimore-based Josephites, zealous promoters of devotion to St. Joseph, elated by year dedicated to the saint March 16, 2021By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Local News, News, Racial Justice, Radio Interview, Saints, Year of St. Joseph “We’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” said Father Fest, a former longtime pastor of St. Veronica in the Cherry Hill section of Baltimore who now serves as pastor of St. Joseph in Alexandria, Va. “St. Joseph is finally getting his due.”
Ten Archdiocese of Baltimore churches designated pilgrimage sites during Year of St. Joseph March 16, 2021By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Year of St. Joseph Archbishop William E. Lori has designated ten churches in the Archdiocese of Baltimore named for St. Joseph as official pilgrimage sites where people can pray and meditate during the Year of St. Joseph that runs through Dec. 8, 2021.
Father Paul Witthauer, remembered for pastoral presence, dies at 87 March 8, 2021By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries Those who knew Father Witthauer said the priest was devoted to his parishioners and had a gift for being present for them. “I think Father Paul just wanted to give people the priesthood,” said Father T. Austin Murphy Jr., a former pastor of Our Lady of Hope and St. Luke in Edgemere.
Father John Lesnick, known for compassionate outreach, dies at 71 March 1, 2021By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries Father Lesnick, remembered by friends and parishioners for his compassion, a heart-felt concern for helping others grow in holiness and a quiet, unassuming ministry, died Feb. 26. He was 71 and had previously suffered from heart problems and prostate cancer. He had led the small Carroll County faith community since 2015.
Archdiocese of Baltimore plans ‘Safe Haven Sunday’ to fight pornography February 25, 2021By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Local News, News Parishes throughout the archdiocese will be encouraged to share pastoral resources for combatting pornography and to open up conversations about the dangers explicit materials pose to individuals, married couples and families.
Thinking of becoming a priest? This retreat is for you February 18, 2021By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Vocations The annual discernment retreat is a chance for potential seminarians to learn more about what it takes to be a priest, meet men who are already in formation and ask questions about the life and ministry of a priest.
Parishioners invited to pray for one seminarian a day beginning Ash Wednesday February 16, 2021By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Vocations Cathy Sitzwohl’s dream for this Lenten season is that Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore take a few minutes to pray every day for each of the 54 seminarians preparing to become priests for the archdiocese.
Change coming to prayer at Mass February 11, 2021By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Divine Worship, Feature, Lent, Local News, News Observant Mass-goers will detect a change in one of the prayers used at Mass beginning Ash Wednesday when priests will begin omitting the word “one” in the concluding doxology of the collect prayers that currently are translated as “…in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.”
Father Thomas Gills, retired Air Force chaplain, recalls ‘powerful ministry’ to wounded and dying January 30, 2021By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, 9/11, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview, Western Vicariate “You’re face-to-face with 19- and 20-year olds who had lost an arm or both arms, a leg or both legs, and writhing in pain,” Father Gills said, “and you would just touch them through prayer and somehow God would work through those prayers to lift them up and give them renewed hope and an optimistic view of the future.”
El Arzobispo Lori alienta vacunarse como “acto de caridad y amor” January 28, 2021By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: En Español Mientras los líderes cívicos esperan expandir el acceso a las vacunas COVID-19 en las próximas semanas y meses, el arzobispo William E. Lori renueva su llamado a que todos en la Arquidiócesis de Baltimore se vacunen como “un acto de caridad y amor”.
Archbishop Lori encourages vaccinations as ‘act of charity and love’ January 28, 2021By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News, Video As civic leaders hope to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks and months, Archbishop William E. Lori is renewing his call for everyone throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore to get vaccinated as “an act of charity and love.”
New children’s book breathes humanity into the stories of the saints January 12, 2021By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Books, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview, Saints Carey Wallace’s new children’s book, “Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace, and Courage,” shows that holy men and women – whose miraculous deeds, charitable works and battles with armies, beasts and demons she chronicles with gusto – were also what Wallace calls “relentlessly human.”
