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 150 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.

Great Christmas carols you may not have heard

December 24, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Arts & Culture, Christmas, Commentary, Feature, The Narthex

George Matysek picks some of his favorite Christmas carols you may never have heard.

Chalk Talk: Epiphany door blessing is symbol of hope in 2021

December 23, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Christmas, Feature, Local News, News, Schools

The blessing involves taking simple chalk, usually blessed by a parish priest, and scrawling doorways with symbolic numbers and letters – this year, “20+C+M+B+21.”

A pesar de la pandemia, hay formas de celebrar a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

December 11, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: En Español

En un año normal, las celebraciones por Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en su fiesta del 12 de diciembre están marcadas por grandes concentraciones de gente, que incluyen procesiones, recreaciones de la aparición de María a San Juan Diego, cantos, bailes y muchas flores.

Despite pandemic, there are ways to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe

December 10, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Divine Worship, Feature, Hispanic Ministry, Local News, News

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, there are ways of celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

‘Hope in a box’: Former IND students distribute Thanksgiving meals to those in need

November 18, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Christmas, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News, Schools

The Institute of Notre Dame may be closed, but its decades-long tradition of outreach to the community has not ended.

In divided America, Catholics in Baltimore Archdiocese head to church on Election Day

November 3, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, 2020 Election, Feature, Local News, News

At a time when Americans seem deeply divided and polarized, many Catholics in the Archdiocese of Baltimore are praying for peace and unity on Election Day.

Catholic Charities of Baltimore ends international adoption program

October 20, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Catholic Charities, Feature, Local News, News

After more than 75 years helping form families through international adoption, Catholic Charities of Baltimore closed its international adoption program Sept. 30, citing changing circumstances within other countries and a “negative stance” toward international adoption from the American federal government.

St. John Paul II’s historic visit to Baltimore 25 years ago put spotlight on Premier See

October 7, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Baltimore Basilica, Feature, Local News, News, Our Back Pages

The visit of St. John Paul II to Baltimore 25 years ago marked a watershed moment in the history of the first diocese in the United States.

Catonsville Trinitarian lifts up persecuted Catholics in China

September 29, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview, Religious Freedom, World News

Trinitarian Father Stan De Boe recalls meeting a relentless anti-Communist bishop in China who suffered four decades of political imprisonment.

Despite challenges with pandemic, Archdiocese of Baltimore welcomes 12 new seminarians

September 21, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview, Vocations

Despite the coronavirus pandemic that curtailed programs supporting those considering the call to religious life, 12 men have begun their first year of formation to become priests for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Archbishop Lori ‘greatly dismayed’ by court ruling impacting certain immigrants

September 18, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Coronavirus, Feature, Hispanic Ministry, Immigration and Migration, Local News, News

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori said he was “greatly dismayed” by the Sept. 14 decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals siding with President Donald Trump’s plan to end a particular immigration protection status that would have allowed people from six countries that have suffered disasters to remain in the United States.

Patricia Kelly, tireless pro-life advocate and legislative lobbyist, dies at 88

September 8, 2020
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries, Respect Life

Patricia Kelly, a tireless advocate for the pro-life cause whose gentle but persistent lobbying efforts helped secure a ban on physician-assisted suicide in Maryland, died Sept. 4 at Portumna, her family farm in Carroll County.