Bicentennial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s death to be marked with special events Jan. 4 December 22, 2020By Patricia Zapor Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Local News, News It’s not what was intended a year ago, but the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the death of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Jan. 4 could well be bigger than might have been possible before the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed in-person events and made people comfortable with online gatherings.
Holy Family Parish brings Christmas cheer to Baltimore’s northwest suburbs December 21, 2020By Kevin J. Parks Catholic Review Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, Local News, News In a normal Christmas, the charity drive helps about 60 families. With COVID-19 increasing the number of households in need, this year it helped nearly 80, and directed a query from Rockville to local resources in Montgomery County.
RADIO INTERVIEW: Christmas Joy with Father John Catoir December 21, 2020By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Advent, Christmas, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview On the Dec. 20 episode of Catholic Review Radio, Christopher Gunty interviews Father John Catoir, the longtime host of the TV show, “Christopher Closeup.”
Vatican: Without alternatives, current COVID-19 vaccines are morally acceptable December 21, 2020By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican’s doctrinal office said that when alternative vaccines are not available, it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines developed or tested using cell lines originating from aborted fetuses.
New Year’s Eve service at St. Ignatius Parish goes virtual December 21, 2020By Mary K. Tilghman Catholic Review Filed Under: Christmas, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News Prayers, blessings and reflections from Baltimore-area religious and civic leaders, filmed in their own houses of worship and offices, have been gathered, for one last look at 2020 before stepping into 2021.
Frankincense’s future: Ancient gift endangered, risks depletion December 18, 2020By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News A study published last year in the journal, Nature Sustainability, predicted frankincense resin production will be halved in the next 20 years.
Christmas is sign of God’s preferential love for the poor, cardinal says December 18, 2020By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Reaching out to and helping the poor “is to imitate God; it is to make oneself small out of love in order to raise up the other,” the preacher of the papal household told Pope Francis, officials of the Roman Curia and Vatican employees.
Death penalty hits historic low in U.S. ‘despite federal execution spree,’ says report December 17, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News A new report Dec. 16 by the Death Penalty Information Center said the use of capital punishment reached a historic low this year in the United States even with the return of federal executions by the Trump administration.
Netflix to release series illustrating pope’s call for ‘alliance’ of young, old December 17, 2020By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Netflix has announced that in 2021 it will release a documentary series based on “Sharing the Wisdom of Time,” a book in which Pope Francis called for creating “an alliance between the young and old people” by sharing their stories.
UM St. Joseph Medical Center’s staff among the first in nation to receive COVID-19 vaccine December 16, 2020By Tim Swift Catholic Review Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News Working in the Emergency Department at University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Smialkowski was among the first people in the country this week to receive the new vaccine for COVID-19.
Away with the manger? Nativity scene at Vatican generates controversy December 16, 2020By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Christmas, Feature, News, Video, World News The human figures in the Nativity scene are made of rings of ceramic stacked on top of each other. They are cylindrical, not curvy like a natural human form. And the presence of an astronaut and a knight carries the whole thing to another level of untraditional.
Maryland bishops endorse use of Pfizer, Moderna COVID vaccines December 16, 2020By Tim Swift Catholic Review Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life The Maryland Catholic Conference – which represents bishops serving the archdioceses of Baltimore and Washington as well as the diocese of Wilmington, Del. – is recommending that the faithful receive COVID-19 vaccines developed by U.S. pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna when available.