Coronavirus restrictions throw plans for weddings, funerals into disarray March 20, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News From weddings to baptisms to funerals, the coronavirus pandemic and the social distancing precautions that go with it have thrown solemn and celebratory Catholic services into disarray.
Westminster priest thinks outside the box as coronavirus closes the confessional March 19, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News Amid the current coronavirus pandemic that is keeping most people at home and 6 feet apart to prevent the spread of the virus, St. John Church in Westminster has launched a creative solution to deliver the sacrament of reconciliation. Call it curbside confession.
Mercy fast tracks new intensive care ward amid coronavirus crisis March 18, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News Mercy Health Services received approval March 18 from the state of Maryland to add an additional 32-bed inpatient acute care unit to its Baltimore hospital to cope with the growing threat of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
At the forefront of the U.S. response to coronavirus is a devout Baltimore Catholic March 13, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News As Redfield helps lead the federal response to the growing threat of the coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, his pastor and friends say his years of work studying viruses along with his deep Catholic faith will help guide the country through the crisis.
Baltimore seminarian returns from Rome as Marylanders prepare for coronavirus threat March 11, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News Deacon Justin Gough, a Baltimore seminarian studying in Rome, has just returned home after spending the last few weeks amid the serious outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Italy — an experience that has taught him not to panic but also not to underestimate the threat of Covid-19.
New Atlanta archbishop has deep roots in Baltimore March 5, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer, a Conventual Franciscan priest tapped by Pope Francis March 5 to lead the Archdiocese of Atlanta, spent the early years of his ministry in the Baltimore area, serving as a religion teacher, guidance counselor and later principal of Archbishop Curley High School in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Archdiocese to suspend sign of peace, consecrated wine at Masses as coronavirus precautions March 3, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News The Archdiocese of Baltimore is taking several steps this week to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus as more cases are reported in the United States.
What it means to be marked on Ash Wednesday February 26, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Lent, Local News, News Ash Wednesday may be the one day of the year where observant Catholics are most visible to the rest of the public.
A comeback for confession? Baltimore priests working to revive reconciliation February 25, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Feature, Lent, Local News, News Some priests of the Archdiocese of Baltimore are pushing back against empty confessionals in novel ways. It’s time for confession to make a comeback, they say.
Maryland March for Life puts focus on debate over assisted suicide bills February 25, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life Hundreds of people rallied through the streets of Annapolis Feb. 24 for the annual Maryland March for Life, urging more state-level restrictions on abortion and opposing a bill that would make doctor-assisted suicide legal in the state.
Local Catholics are ready to ‘unfriend’ social media for Lent February 18, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Lent, Local News, News More Americans are embracing the concept of a “digital detox” as social media becomes more ubiquitous and at times more harmful; however, others are disconnecting with a distinctly Catholic twist.
How St. Michael the Archangel became the Ministry of Brewing February 5, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Local News, News How did one of Baltimore’s most historic Catholic churches – built in 1852 to serve German immigrants and once led by St. John Neumann – become a brewery?
