St. Alphonsus honors Baltimore’s spymaster priest March 4, 2010By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News As the Cold War raged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, 1,000 nuns packed secret messages into tubes of toothpaste and bits of candy – smuggling the reports of human rights abuses and church persecution out of Communist-dominated Lithuania.
Pastors say Mayor Dixon leaves strong legacy January 14, 2010By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News City pastors who worked with Mayor Sheila Dixon on issues ranging from homelessness to immigration gave the outgoing mayor generally high marks for her performance in office. Yet, as the 56-year-old mayor prepares to step down Feb. 4 as part of a plea deal in a corruption case, priests throughout the city expressed disappointment in her behavior.
Parishioners, clergy gather to celebrate life of Monsignor Tinder December 17, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries As pallbearers slowly guided Monsignor F. Dennis Tinder’s casket out of Immaculate Conception Church in Towson following his Dec. 12 funeral Mass, approximately 120 priests and deacons united their voices in a final tribute to their brother clergyman. A solemn church bell tolled every few seconds while the white-robed men chanted “Salve Regina” in Latin […]
Soldier killed in Afghanistan is remembered as Renaissance man November 26, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries Christopher J. Coffland, a Baltimore native, was killed by a roadside bomb Nov. 13 in the Wardak province of Afghanistan. The Army reservist, who had joined the military a month before he reached the enlistment age limit of 42, had been in Afghanistan for two weeks working as an intelligence specialist.
Monsignor Armstrong, longtime rector of cathedral, set to retire November 22, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News When Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien referred to the rector of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen as “the indomitable, irrepressible Monsignor Robert Armstrong,” hundreds of parishioners interrupted the archbishop’s Nov. 15 cathedral homily with applause.
Clarksville pastor remembers VMI cadet November 19, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries St. Louis in Clarksville is mourning the loss of John Alexander Evans, a 19-year-old parishioner who died Nov. 7 after completing a 10-mile road march at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington.
City Council advances bill targeting pregnancy centers November 19, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News A bill that would impose new requirements on pro-life pregnancy centers in the city took a step closer to becoming law when the Baltimore City Council passed the measure 12-3 in a preliminary vote Nov. 16. Bill 09-0406 now faces a final vote after Thanksgiving and, if approved, will head to Mayor Sheila Dixon.
Dr. Valenti to step down as superintendent November 12, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News Dr. Ronald J. Valenti is stepping down as superintendent of Catholic schools after nearly 20 years of service in the Division of Schools. He plans to pursue other opportunities in the field of education and will mark his last day as superintendent June 30, 2010.
Legacy of charity: Hal Smith retires after 35 years October 29, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Catholic Charities, Feature, Local News, News When Smith became executive director of Baltimore’s Catholic Charities two years after his arrival, the agency employed 350 people and had a budget of about $6 million. Today, the organization annually helps 200,000 people in 80 programs and employs 2,100. Its budget is about $120 million.
City Council holds hearing on pregnancy center bill October 28, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Respect Life Speaking on behalf of Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, Bishop Denis J. Madden urged the Baltimore City Council to defeat a bill that would fine pregnancy resource centers $500 a day if they fail to post signs saying they don’t offer abortion or contraceptives.
Baltimore City Council targets pro-life pregnancy centers October 22, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and 10 members of the 14-member council are sponsoring a bill that Catholic leaders believe harasses pro-life pregnancy support centers.
Little Sisters of the Poor minister to Maryland elderly for 140 years October 8, 2009By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News, Seniors When 87-year-old Alice Jadwigia Armstrong looked up from her hospital bed and saw the smiling face of Sister Lourdes Miranda, she was visibly buoyed by the nun’s presence. Clasping the hand of the Little Sister of the Poor, the white-haired woman seemed transported to the security of her youth.
