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.

Of haberdasheries and ‘Death Dust’

August 15, 2013
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Amen, Amen Matysek Commentary, Commentary

For years, a tattered and taped copy of the Aug. 30, 1902, issue of The Catholic Mirror has jockeyed for attention on my sometimes-cluttered desk at the Catholic Review.

All in the family: Seminarians include pair of brothers

August 15, 2013
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Local News, News, Vocations

The priesthood is all in the family for two pairs of brothers in the Baltimore archdiocese.

Bishop Gossman, first urban vicar, dies at 83

August 13, 2013
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries

Bishop F. Joseph Gossman, a former auxiliary bishop of Baltimore who served as the archdiocese’s first urban vicar, died Aug. 12.

6-year-old Catonsville ‘saint’ laid to rest

July 6, 2013
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries

Father Christopher Whatley is convinced that believers around the world have a powerful new friend in heaven. Her name is Teresa Bartlinski.

This Priest Appreciation Day, thank priests who change lives

May 29, 2013
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Amen, Amen Matysek Commentary, Commentary

Father Dale Picarella had just finished greeting a mob of parishioners at the end of Mass when I approached him in the sacristy with a special request. Would he visit my mother at Bayview Medical Center in East Baltimore as she was recovering from cancer surgery?

Father Breighner retires, but isn’t slowing down much

April 19, 2013
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Retirement

“Retirement will hopefully give me psychological permission to begin to say no to some things and do a little bit less – maybe beginning by taking a half a day a week off,” the priest said with a laugh.

Good Friday pilgrims pray for life outside Baltimore abortion clinic

March 29, 2013
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Local News, News, Respect Life

Catholics prayed the rosary outside a Planned Parenthood on March 29.

John Harbaugh connects faith, work and family

March 6, 2013
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Local News, News, Sports

Some of the best advice John Harbaugh ever received came on the day Steve Bisciotti hired him as head coach.

Pope Benedict XVI offers lesson in humility

February 21, 2013
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Amen, Amen Matysek Commentary, Commentary

The goodness and humility witnessed by the future Baltimore archbishop were on display for all the world Feb. 11 when Pope Benedict XVI quietly announced in Latin that he would step down due to his advanced age and lack of stamina.

Archbishop Lori reflects on Pope Benedict’s legacy

February 11, 2013
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Vatican

Expressing his appreciation for Pope Benedict XVI following the Feb. 11 announcement of the pope’s upcoming resignation, Archbishop William E. Lori remembered the pontiff as a loving man whose lasting legacy will be his commitment to the new evangelization.“

Harbaugh parents brace for ‘thrill of victory’ and ‘agony of defeat’

January 24, 2013
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Local News, News

When the Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving night in 2011 – and John Harbaugh beat younger brother, Jim, in the first-ever NFL matchup of coaching brothers, Jack Harbaugh peeked into the Ravens’ locker room after the game.

Baltimore archbishop makes house calls to help foster vocations

January 10, 2013
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Vocations

Entering the seminary is not irrevocable, the archbishop said. It’s part of a discernment process to discover whether God is calling them to the priesthood.