Praise Jesus for Monsignor Valenzano September 6, 2015By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Blog, The Narthex When a doctor told Treasa and me two years ago that our unborn baby likely wouldn’t live for more than a day or two after his birth, one of the first people I called was Monsignor Arthur Valenzano.
Remembering Monsignor Valenzano September 6, 2015By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window As my sister’s matron of honor, I had several responsibilities on the altar at her wedding. I had to adjust the bride’s train on her dress, hold the bouquet, adjust the train again, head down the aisle to bring up the gifts, hand back the bouquet, and adjust the train
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
20 ways to support loved ones as they grieve the loss of a baby June 17, 2014By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window When people lose infants during pregnancy or shortly after birth, no one seems to know how to respond to the couple’s grief while also celebrating the baby’s life. Here are a few ideas.
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 […]
