Renewal underway at Baltimore Basilica May 6, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Feature, Local News, News The campaign includes $3 million for capital projects, $3 million for the Source of All Hope missionary program, $3 million for a capital trust and $1 million for the basilica’s music program, including the establishment of a school of sacred music for children.
Meet the permanent deacons to be ordained May 9 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen May 6, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: deacons, Feature, Local News, News, Vocations Archbishop William E. Lori will ordain 14 men to the permanent diaconate during a 10 a.m. Mass May 9 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. A permanent deacon differs from a transitional deacon in that he is not later ordained to the priesthood.
Pope Leo XIV reshapes Washington, W.Va. leadership; two bishops have Baltimore ties May 1, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, Local News, News A bishop who began his episcopal ministry in the Archdiocese of Baltimore is among those stepping down as Pope Leo XIV announced a set of appointments May 1 affecting the Archdiocese of Washington and the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va. A second bishop with Baltimore ties is also among those affected.
At peace vigil, Archbishop Lori condemns threats of ‘obliterating’ a civilization April 12, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, Local News, News Echoing Pope Leo XIV’s repeated calls for an end to the war in the Middle East, Archbishop William E. Lori insisted during an April 11 prayer vigil that peace is more than the absence of conflict.
Fired Planned Parenthood whistleblower addresses Maryland March for Life April 8, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life On a warm April 6 evening in Annapolis, Mayra Rodriguez – Planned Parenthood’s 2016 Employee of the Year – stood before several hundred participants at the 47th annual Maryland March for Life with a starkly different message. She urged those gathered to confront what she described as the truth about abortion and its consequences.
She sings – and plants make the music March 30, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Environment, Feature, Local News, News, Saints It won’t be anything like the carnivorous alien plant that crooned Motown in “Little Shop of Horrors,” but an upcoming concert at St. Louis in Clarksville promises something almost as unusual: music made with the help of plants.
BMA exhibition highlights how Matisse reimagined the Stations of the Cross March 25, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Feature, Local News, News, Video In spare black-and-white lines – almost graffiti-like in their directness – Matisse grouped all 14 Stations together in an expansive mural more than six feet tall.
Pregnancy center director’s vision offers hope over fear March 23, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life Stories like Franzoni’s are the reason Cindi Ritter spent two decades leading Pregnancy Center North. As executive director, Ritter helped shape the center into a place designed to meet women in their most vulnerable moments – and walk alongside them long after that first appointment. Ritter retired Dec. 31.
New director answers call at Pregnancy Center North March 23, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life Rachel Soto now leads Pregnancy Center North as its executive director, stepping into the role Jan. 1. She succeeds her friend and mentor, Cindi Ritter.
At Maryland conference, more than 800 Catholic men challenged to build ‘heroic friendships’ March 17, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Knights of Columbus, Local News, News Speaking at the Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Maryland Conference, the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus urged men to build faith-filled relationships that help one another live out God’s calling.
Father Norvel, first Black superior general for U.S. men’s religious community, dies at 90 March 12, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Black Catholic Ministry, Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries Josephite Father William Norvel, a forceful voice for Black Catholic identity who spent more than six decades challenging the institutional church to live up to its claim of being universal, died March 8. He was 90.
Yes and no March 12, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Amen, Amen Matysek Commentary, Commentary In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus tells us to let our “yes” mean “yes” and our “no” mean “no,” warning that anything more is from the evil one. Scripture scholars explain that he was condemning the misuse of oaths and calling his followers to live in truth. But I couldn’t help thinking that he was also calling us to something deeper: an integrity of heart.
