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.

Mark Pacione, ‘giant’ in youth ministry, dies at 60

December 30, 2014
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries

Mark D. Pacione, a nationally respected leader in youth and young adult ministry, died suddenly Dec. 29.

Living like Father Hipsley

December 22, 2014
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Blog, The Narthex

When Father Milton A. Hipsley Jr. was pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas in Hampden in the 1980s, a visiting priest took note of stacks of unopened correspondence from the Catholic Center that seemed to be accumulating in the rectory. He asked Father Hipsley if he was worried about the unread letters.“I

Monsignor Cook, longtime Cockeysville pastor, set to retire

December 18, 2014
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations

“That’s been my same style as pastor,” said Monsignor Cook, pastor of St. Joseph in Cockeysville for 37 years. “All these people (leading parish ministries) know more about what they’re doing than I do, so they have a freehand to do it. But they’re also accountable.”

Father Hipsley, former Cumberland pastor and prison minister, dies at 76

December 18, 2014
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries, Prison Ministry

Father Milton A. Hipsley Jr., a former longtime pastor and beloved Cumberland-area prison chaplain, died Dec. 17.

Monstrance fished from reservoir centerpiece of new adoration chapel

November 25, 2014
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Local News, News, Urban Vicariate

A man fishing at the Loch Raven Reservoir in north Baltimore County some two decades ago was convinced he had snagged a big fish when his line hooked something substantial.
After reeling in his haul, the angler had no fish. He had, however, caught something even more remarkable: a large Gothic monstrance used by Catholics to hold the Eucharist for worship.