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.

Planned pro-life pregnancy center in downtown Baltimore gets boost

November 14, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life

A long-anticipated project to convert a dilapidated building into a pro-life pregnancy resource center right next to Planned Parenthood in downtown Baltimore is getting new life after stalling for more than a year for lack of resources.

Liberty Heights parishioner brings ‘youthful energy’ to outreach

November 4, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Faces of Faith, Feature, Local News, News, Urban Vicariate

“Our church has a lot of power to change the community that we actually live in,” Hall said. “Since we have so much influence, we need to be back in the community, reaching out as best we can.”

Laguna people are example of perseverance in faith, Archbishop Lori says

October 16, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Feature, Local News, News, World News

The native peoples of the Laguna community in New Mexico are a “living example” of perseverance in faith, Archbishop William E. Lori said Oct. 12 during a Mass at a historic 320-year-old mission church.

Children reminded of their power at Rosary Congress

October 8, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Baltimore Basilica, Feature, Local News, News, Schools

“I think you all have more power, and that’s because of the power of prayer,” said Father Boric, speaking Oct. 8 during a special children’s event on the fourth day of the 2019 archdiocesan Rosary Congress.

Archbishop Flynn, former rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, dies at 86

September 26, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries

Monsignor Farmer recalled that Archbishop Flynn often told Mount seminarians that the greatest work they would do as priests would involve the unexpected. That might involve hearing the confession of a stranger on a plane or answering a call in the middle of the night.

Archdiocese welcomes 17 new seminarians, largest group in at least 36 years

September 24, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Local News, News, Vocations

The addition of 17 new seminarians brings the total number studying for the archdiocese to 52.

Sister Paula Marie Phelan, a pioneer in pathology, dies at 105

September 18, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries

Mercy Sister Paula Marie Phelan, a pioneer in pathology who devoted nearly half a century to ministry at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, died Sept. 12. She was 105.

Former Ascension pastor and area high school principal dies at 93

August 28, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries

Father Manuel R. Roman, a native of the U.S. Virgin Islands who was a few weeks shy of his 94th birthday when he died, was pastor of Church of the Ascension in Halethorpe from 1986 to his retirement in June 2005.

Archbishop Lori promotes civility in political, church discourse

August 11, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Feature, Knights of Columbus, Local News, News, World News

In a divided country where discussions of politics and religion seem to grow more coarse and discordant by the day, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori challenged his fellow members of the Knights of Columbus to model civility.

New book highlights 12 historic homilies delivered in times of crisis

June 24, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Books, Commentary, The Narthex

Spanning a time frame from the fourth century to the present, the carefully-selected works show how some of the Church’s greatest clergymen applied the word of God and the teachings of the Church to moments of crisis.

Perfect joy: Sister Celia Ashton makes final profession as Carmelite

May 30, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Local News, News, Vocations

Lying prostrate in the chapel of the Carmelite Monastery in Towson as a throng of family and friends chanted the Litany of the Saints over her, Sister Celia Ashton thought of all the women who came before her and the others who will follow as Carmelite nuns. The special moment was a part of her […]

Spring cleaning with the ‘Trash Bashers’

April 30, 2019
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Amen, Amen Matysek Commentary, Commentary, Feature

The Trash Bashers of St. Mary of the Assumption in Govans take pride in their attempts to beautify York Road.