Westminster parish marks 40 years of basketball, thanks to veteran volunteers January 26, 2012By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News, Sports WESTMINSTER – Sitting in the bleachers as the repeated booming echoes of bouncing basketballs filled St. John’s gymnasium, Larry Baker and Donald “Bo” Yingling seemed like proud fathers.
Archbishop O’Brien leads Good Friday pro-life walk January 19, 2012By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News, Respect Life As at least seven women entered a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic on Howard Street in Baltimore April 10, about 200 Catholics stood on the opposite side of the street and peacefully prayed for them and their unborn children.
Gov. O’Malley calls for up or down vote on death penalty January 19, 2012By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News Calling the death penalty “an expensive and utterly ineffective tool in deterring violent crime,” Gov. Martin J. O’Malley implored members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee to allow his proposed capital punishment ban to reach the floor for a vote by the full legislative body.
St. Frances Academy dreams of big expansion January 19, 2012By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News Walking along the Johnston Square streets that surround St. Frances Academy in a forgotten corner of East Baltimore, Tom Nealis passed vacant lots overrun with weeds and boarded-up row houses tagged with graffiti.
Ground broken for Pope John Paul II Prayer Garden January 19, 2012By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Local News, News For someone who relished the great outdoors, the late Pope John Paul II would certainly be pleased with the outdoor prayer garden that is being carved out of the corner of Charles and Franklin streets in downtown Baltimore.
Pope John Paul II prayer garden will be center of prayer January 19, 2012By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Local News, News A bustling section of downtown Baltimore is about to get a quiet spot for reflection and meditation when Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien breaks ground April 11 for the long-awaited Pope John Paul II Prayer Garden.
Baby Jesus returns January 19, 2012By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News He once was lost but now is found. The plastic baby Jesus figure that vandals ripped from the outdoor manger of a Timonium Nativity scene last January has been recovered and returned to Gil and Loretta Hoffman.
St. Peter picnic is a hit in Western Maryland January 19, 2012By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News, Western Vicariate MCHENRY – Tightly holding a large waterlogged sponge in his fist, 9-year-old Isaac Fike wound up like Orioles pitcher Erik Bedard and launched the soggy missile towards its target. As other children squealed with delight, Isaac hit his mark on his first try – smack in the face of Father Donald Parson, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle in Oakland. “If you want to go to heaven you’ll stop it,” shouted a smiling Father Parson, his soaked face poking through a cutout hole in a plywood angel figure topped with a halo. Father Michael Triplett, a newly ordained priest recently assigned to the parishes of Western Maryland, quickly jumped to Isaac’s defense.
Former Catholic Review columnist dies at 81 January 2, 2012By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries Paulist Father James McCabe, former director of the Family Life Center in Baltimore and a longtime columnist for The Catholic Review, died Dec. 25, 2011 in Toronto. He was 81 and had been battling cancer.
St. Luke honors longtime pastor at his retirement December 13, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News, Retirement EDGEMERE – Standing at the back of St. Luke Church following a Dec. 11 Mass marking his retirement, Monsignor Joseph S. Lizor Jr. extended both arms to shake hands with the many parishioners who wanted to greet him. Several children gave the 79-year-old pastor homemade cards, while hugs seemed to engulf the vested clergyman faster than he expected.
Christmas stamp features Walters Art Museum treasure by Raphael December 5, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Local News, News A Raphael masterpiece that hangs in the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore is getting national attention this holiday season as the U.S. Postal Service features the “Madonna of the Candelabra” as one of its 2011 Christmas stamps.
Interfaith leaders pledge to defend traditional marriage in Maryland December 1, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News Leaders of a newly-formed pro-marriage coalition came out swinging against efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland – pledging in a Nov. 30 press conference to rally citizens across the state to defeat legislation that would alter the traditional definition of marriage.
