George P. Matysek Jr.

George Matysek, a member of the Catholic Review staff since 1997, is managing editor of Catholic Review Media. He oversees news coverage of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is a host of Catholic Review Radio.

George has won more than 125 national and regional journalism and broadcasting awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, the Catholic Media Association, the Associated Church Press and National Right to Life. The Catholic Media Association named him both Editor of the Year and Podcaster of the Year in 2024. He has reported from Guyana, Guatemala, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

A native Baltimorean, George is a graduate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex. He holds a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and a master's degree from UMBC. George, his wife and six children live in Rodgers Forge. He is a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

Spiritual communion helps connect Catholics to Christ

April 2, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News

“It’s a sincere prayer saying that you believe that Jesus is present in the holy sacrament,” Father Poston explained, “and you desire to receive him and love him. But since you can’t, you invite Jesus to come into your heart and soul and be with you.”

In the footsteps of St. Isaac Jogues

April 2, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Amen, Amen Matysek Commentary, Commentary, Coronavirus

We can find solace in knowing that holy people such as St. Isaac Jogues have also been separated from reception of the Blessed Sacrament. Maybe we can find courage and perseverance in their example.

Hospital CEO conducts virtual meeting with Baltimore priests on coronavirus

March 31, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News

Speaking to more than 50 priests of the Archdiocese of Baltimore during a March 31 online presentation, Smyth pointed out that most COVID-19 patients exhibit no symptoms in the first two to five days after they are infected. That’s when the risk of spreading the virus is greatest, he said.

‘God’s perfect plan’

March 30, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Blog, Coronavirus, The Narthex

“We all cried big, floppy tears and sang with broken voices to try and tell him how much he was adored,” Jordan Tippett said.

Courage ministry offers support for those with same-sex attraction

March 10, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News

Courage, an international apostolate of the Catholic Church endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family, emphasizes both the clarity of church teaching on human sexuality and charity to the person coming for help, Monsignor Farmer said.

Beer and pretzels: the ‘official beverage and food’ of Lent

February 28, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Lent, Local News, News

While beer and pretzels might be most closely associated with oom-pah music, polka dancing and Oktoberfests, they have a much older and more spiritual pedigree as the “official beverage and food of Lent,” according to Father William Saunders.

Father George Coyne, Vatican astronomer from Baltimore, dies at 87

February 13, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries, World News

Jesuit Father George V. Coyne, a Baltimore native who led the Vatican Observatory as its director for 28 years, got his start in the field of astronomy as a young student in formation for the priesthood by secretly studying under his blanket, flashlight in hand.

New head of pro-life outreach takes helm as wall separates two sides of moral divide

February 6, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life

One of America’s biggest cultural and moral divides is about to be embodied in a shared wall of two Baltimore buildings with very different missions.

Walters exhibit showcases medieval missal used by St. Francis of Assisi

January 28, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Feature, Local News, News

The same book that inspired St. Francis in 1208 is expected to inspire thousands of others as the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore places it on public display for the first time in 40 years Feb. 1 through May 31.

‘Ed’ Wall, former Catholic Review editor and veteran journalist, dies at 94

January 22, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Journalism, Local News, News, Obituaries

Arthur E. P. “Ed” Wall, a former editor of the Catholic Review from 1965 to 1971 who would later become director and editor-in-chief of what is now Catholic News Service, died Jan. 18 in Orland Park, Ill. He was 94.

Towson University students among thousands inspired at FOCUS conference

January 13, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Campus Ministry, Feature, Local News, News, Young Adult Ministry

A group of students from Towson University were among nearly 9,000 from across the country to attend Fellowship of Catholic University Students’ annual Student Leadership Summit, held at the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona Dec. 30 to Jan. 3.

NDP joins School Sisters of Notre Dame in nudging shoppers to help environment

December 19, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Environment, Feature, Local News, News, Schools

Amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping outside a Giant food store in North Baltimore Dec. 7, a small group of School Sisters of Notre Dame joined teachers and students from Notre Dame Preparatory School in gently nudging shoppers to protect the environment.