Our Lady of the Butterflies July 14, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Blog, The Narthex An image of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child is made out of African butterfly wings. (CR Staff/George P. Matysek Jr.) One of the great joys of my recent pilgrimage to the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland was meeting Father Anastasio Roggero. The Carmelite priest, who shepherds the Church of Our Lady Victorious […]
Father Hilgartner helps nation’s Catholics prepare for new translation of Roman Missal July 6, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Divine Worship, Local News, News Father Richard B. Hilgartner’s jaw dropped the first time he read bits of a draft of the new English translation of the Roman Missal – the book of liturgical prayers that is scheduled to be introduced in parishes Nov. 27.
‘And with your spirit’: Father Hilgartner previews liturgical change June 24, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Divine Worship, Local News, News The Latin is, “Dominus vobiscum et cum spiritu tuo.” It contains no verb. It’s as much a statement of fact as it is a greeting, Father Hilgartner said.
Archbishop O’Brien ordains 14 permanent deacons May 14, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: deacons, Local News, News The newly ordained men represent the largest class of deacons for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in more than a decade. All married, they hail from as far west as Oakland in Garrett County and they include the president-CEO of a hospital, a scientist, a social worker and a biomedical research manager.
Cumberland town meeting addresses need for parish restructuring May 5, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News CUMBERLAND – In an April 28 town meeting marked by a combination of hopefulness, apprehension and anger, approximately 250 people gathered at St. Mary in Cumberland to ask questions about a proposal to create a new area parish out of five existing ones.
Letters that made a difference April 26, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Blog, The Narthex Father Milton Hipsley holds his rosary at his Mercy Ridge residence in Timonium last year. (CR/Owen Sweeney III) Father Milton Hipsley’s letters started arriving on my desk in the summer of 2009. Very neatly written in all capital letters, the notes always seemed focused on the importance of kindness and of taking time for
Pope John Paul II’s visit to Baltimore touched many lives April 19, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News Jim and Pat McDonnell spent less than a minute in the presence of Pope John Paul II, but it was enough to change their lives.
Clergy shortage, shifting demographics bring need for change April 14, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News “Since I have been working in multiple-parish ministry, I have been struck by the importance of working with a team of people – most of whom, of course, are lay Catholics,” Monsignor Hannon said. “We work together for the good of our parishes and for the good of the archdiocese.”
First blood of the Civil War spilled in Baltimore 150 years ago April 14, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News Days after Confederate forces in South Carolina captured Fort Sumter without any casualties, the first bloodshed in the Civil War happened in Baltimore on April 19, 1861.
Cumberland-area parishes consider uniting into one faith community April 7, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Western Vicariate Cumberland-area parishes currently have two funerals for every baptism. One third of registered parishioners are age 60 or older. The city’s population has declined from 30,000 in 1979 to 20,859 today, while the number of priests serving the five parishes has plummeted from 13 to four – the result of a clergy shortage.
‘The greatest temptation of my life’ March 31, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, The Narthex Dominican Father Carleton Parker Jones calls it the “greatest temptation” of his life.
Ravens’ Matt Birk speaks up for life March 17, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Respect Life, Sports “It seems like our society and media want to push pro-lifers to the side and hope that we would shut our mouths and go away quietly,” said Birk, whose 6’4’’, 310-pound frame struck a distinct figure among the hundreds of marchers who filed through downtown streets. “Let’s not do that.”
