Mary gets her crown in Emmitsburg May 5, 2015By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Blog, The Narthex The gleaming gold-leafed statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary that soars over Emmitsburg finally has her May crown.For the first time since the statue was erected a half century ago, the much-loved figure was adorned with a gigantic wreath of silk flowers hoisted 120 feet by a crane during a
Living like Father Hipsley December 22, 2014By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Blog, The Narthex When Father Milton A. Hipsley Jr. was pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas in Hampden in the 1980s, a visiting priest took note of stacks of unopened correspondence from the Catholic Center that seemed to be accumulating in the rectory. He asked Father Hipsley if he was worried about the unread letters.“I
Are they really brothers? November 11, 2013By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window When we adopted our first son, I fielded strangers’ questions about adoption all the time.I assumed that after we adopted our second son, the questions would continue, but I was wrong. When we are out in public, I am so busy keeping my children safe and from damaging their surroundings,
Missing Baby Georgie November 7, 2013By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window For the past few months, ever since my sister and her husband told us they were expecting a baby, my sons have been looking forward to meeting their new cousin.Nothing is more exciting than a new baby, and for our sons, this would be their first cousin living in town,
Remembering a friend October 17, 2013By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Journalism, The Narthex Chris was one of my greatest mentors. I learned more from reading his eloquent prose and sitting next to him at the Catholic Review than I did in any writing course. More than that, he became a friend.
St. Joseph’s Feast Day: A novena a day keeps the job search at bay March 19, 2013By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window When John and I met, we had jobs that were more than 100 miles—and a two-hour drive—apart. So after we became engaged, we both started job hunting.A friend or family member must have mentioned that St. Joseph was the patron of workers, so I began saying a daily novena to
A Valentine’s Day proposal that was—and wasn’t—a surprise February 14, 2013By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window When I say I knew John was going to propose, I’m not boasting about my great detective work.I mean I knew.We had met with Fr. Lawrence Adamczyk that morning about celebrating our wedding.We had reserved the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen and booked the reception site.And John had made reservations
Clarity in Rome confessional February 23, 2012By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Amen, Amen Matysek Commentary, Blog, Commentary The Scala Sancta, “Holy Stairs,” are believed to be the passageway Jesus walked on his way to face Pontius Pilate before the crucifixion. St. Helena, mother of Constantine, brought the staircase to the Eternal City from the Holy Land in the middle of the 4th century.
Absence of Bob Flynn lingers longer than Ravens’ loss to Colts January 13, 2012By Paul McMullen Filed Under: Baltimore Boomer, Blog The last time I saw Bob Flynn was in the summer of 2006, during Baltimore Ravens’ training camp at McDaniel College. Flynn was the men’s basketball coach there, literally had the keys to the gym, but he was like any other fan, excited to see professional athletes honing their craft.Jan. 13 marks the fifth anniversary […]
Serendipitous visit to Bon Secours in West Baltimore December 15, 2011By Paul McMullen Filed Under: Baltimore Boomer, Blog, Commentary On this job, every day is a religious experience. I’ve got an article in the Dec. 15 issue of The Catholic Review on Bon Secours Baltimore Health System. In late September, the health care provider in West Baltimore launched a new branding and mission with an ecumenical prayer service at 31 W. Fulton St., at the Cathedral […]
Community life inspires ‘miracle man’ November 22, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Blog, The Narthex Redemptorist Father John Murray is convinced he’s a walking miracle. After suffering a fall that left him paralyzed from the chest down, the former pastor of St. Mary in Annapolis and St. Wenceslaus in Baltimore began praying for Blessed Francis X. Seelos – a former St. Mary’s pastor – to intercede on his behalf. As noted in this […]
A rare birthday present for St. Joan of Arc November 16, 2011By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Blog, The Narthex Pope Benedict XVI minces no words when he describes the medieval judges who interrogated and sentenced St. Joan of Arc to death 580 years ago. The French clergymen were aligned with St. Joan’s political opponents, the pope said in a Jan. 26 general audience, and they “lacked charity and the humility to see God’s action in […]
