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.

Our Back Pages: Unmasking the mysterious Xavier Rynne

January 11, 2016
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Local News, News, Our Back Pages

Redemptorist Father Francis X. Murphy, the mysterious Vatican insider who used the “Xavier Rynne” pseudonym to publish detailed reports about intrigue at the Second Vatican Council, acknowledged his true identity to readers of the Catholic Review 25 years ago.

Spiritual shapeup: Kickstart your relationship with God in the new year

December 30, 2015
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News

“Nothing is more harmful to the spiritual life than holding back forgiveness to others or not receiving forgiveness for yourself,” Father Buening explained. “Trust God with your weaknesses and difficulties.”

Product of synod may be a deepening of mercy

November 30, 2015
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Local News, News

In emphasizing mercy as the central duty of the church, the pope is affecting the way church leaders and people in the pews are thinking about family life.

Gov. Hogan and Comptroller Franchot volunteer at Our Daily Bread

November 24, 2015
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Catholic Charities, Local News, News

Gov. Lawrence Hogan Jr. and Comptroller Peter Franchot volunteered at Our Daily Bread in Baltimore Nov. 24.

Amen: On the trail with Father Beshoner

October 29, 2015
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Amen, Amen Matysek Commentary, Commentary

After a long hiatus, Father Beshoner recently relaunched Catholic Under the Hood with a seemingly monumental mission: telling the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church from apostolic times to the present.

Anti-Catholic bigotry fails to dampen call to love in Philadelphia

September 27, 2015
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, The Narthex

Faith opens a window to the presence and working of the Spirit. It shows us that, like happiness, holiness is always tied to little gestures.

‘Art in Heaven:’ Archdiocese bids farewell to Monsignor Valenzano

September 11, 2015
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Local News, News, Obituaries

In a final sendoff marked with heartfelt displays of raw emotion, hundreds of people said goodbye to Monsignor Arthur F. Valenzano.

Praise Jesus for Monsignor Valenzano

September 6, 2015
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Blog, The Narthex

When a doctor told Treasa and me two years ago that our unborn baby likely wouldn’t live for more than a day or two after his birth, one of the first people I called was Monsignor Arthur Valenzano.

Monsignor Valenzano, basilica rector who touched the lives of thousands, succumbs to cancer

September 6, 2015
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Local News, News, Obituaries

Monsignor Arthur F. Valenzano, basilica rector and a man described by Archbishop Lori as a priest of “tremendous pastoral love,” died Sept. 5.

Lead post-Vatican II architect dies at 84

July 23, 2015
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Local News, News, Obituaries

William L. Gaudreau, a leading post-Vatican II architect who designed many churches, school buildings and other structures in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, died July 6 of heart failure at the Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care in Baltimore. He was 84.

Monsignor Feild, longtime Taneytown pastor, retires at 82

July 9, 2015
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations

After 20 years as pastor of St. Joseph and 56 years in active ministry as a priest, Monsignor Feild retired July 1 and took up residence at Mercy Ridge Retirement Community in Timonium.

Archbishop Lori ordains eight new deacons for Baltimore archdiocese

May 18, 2015
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: deacons, Local News, News, Vocations

In an ancient gesture, the archbishop laid his hands on their bowed heads – silently conferring the gift of the Holy Spirit. He offered a prayer of ordination, asking God to dedicate each man to the service of the church.