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.

Major relic of St. John Vianney returning to Archdiocese of Baltimore for veneration

January 9, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Knights of Columbus, Local News, News

At a time of unrest in the Catholic Church and the nation, several priests in the Archdiocese of Baltimore said they hope the upcoming visit of a major relic of a 19th-century priest known for his holiness will inspire genuine change.

Little Sisters of the Poor believe they were robbed after Christmas shopping

November 27, 2018
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News

Apparent Good Samaritans turned out to be nothing of the sort after allegedly stealing Christmas presents from two Little Sisters of the Poor outside the Costco in Columbia Nov. 26.

‘Resilient faith:’ Josephites celebrate 125 years of ministry

November 21, 2018
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Baltimore Basilica, Black Catholic Ministry, Feature, Local News, News, Racial Justice, World News

The Baltimore-based Josephites celebrated their 125th anniversary with a special Mass Nov. 17 at the Baltimore Basilica.

St. John Vianney’s heart will be available for veneration in Baltimore

November 7, 2018
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Feature, Knights of Columbus, Local News, News

The incorrupt heart of one of the Catholic Church’s most beloved saints will be available for public veneration Nov. 10-11 at St. Mary’s Historic Seminary Chapel on Paca Street in Baltimore as part of a national relic tour sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.

Baltimore parish celebrates 150th anniversary of precious icon’s arrival

November 5, 2018
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Feature, Hispanic Ministry, Local News, News, Saints

“This icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help came to accompany her sons and daughters – all of us migrants here, all of us new to this country,” the superior general said.

Baltimore’s religious and civic leaders mourn 11 slain in Pittsburgh

November 2, 2018
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Religious Freedom

On All Souls Day, a day when Catholics and those of other Christian denominations pray for the dead, religious and civic leaders from around Baltimore gathered at the Weinberg Park Heights Jewish Community Center in Baltimore Nov. 2 to remember the 11 people slain at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh nearly one week earlier.

Archbishop Lori meets with priests to hear concerns, offer support

August 31, 2018
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Child & Youth Protection, Feature, Local News, News

Archbishop William E. Lori met with more than 100 priests Aug. 28 at St. Margaret in Bel Air to offer his support and to listen to their concerns approximately two weeks after the release of the Pennsylvania grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse.

New superintendent excited about ‘Year of Service’

August 31, 2018
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools

Encouraging students to reach out to others through community service has always been a critical part of Catholic education. This year, however, helping others is getting even more attention as the Archdiocese of Baltimore has declared the 2018-19 school year a “Year of Service.”

Former Mount St. Joseph teacher accused of abuse

August 23, 2018
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Local News, News

Xaverian Brother Robert Flaherty, a former teacher at Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore, has been removed from active ministry by his religious community following an allegation that he sexually abused a minor in the mid-1980s.

Archdiocesan leader in human resources dies at 75

August 8, 2018
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries

Hired by Archbishop William D. Borders in 1979 as director of personnel services for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Kelly worked for 24 years at the Catholic Center in the field of human resources.

Maryland Catholic Conference opposes Maryland Constitutional Amendment on abortion

August 2, 2018
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life

Jennifer Briemann, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, said lawmakers and voters should be greatly concerned about House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch’s plan to introduce legislation establishing a woman’s “right” to abortion via a Maryland Constitutional Amendment on the 2020 ballot.

Baltimore Basilica launches plan to be ‘radically open’

July 31, 2018
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Feature, Local News, News, Urban Vicariate

Leaders of the Baltimore Basilica are launching a plan to increase the hours the church is open, while simultaneously commissioning “urban missionaries” whose ministry will focus on developing relationships with people on the city’s streets.