Friars deliver message of love on Baltimore streets August 16, 2007By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Vocations Wearing hooded grey robes cinched at the waist with ropes, nearly a dozen Franciscan Friars of the Renewal marched through the streets of downtown Baltimore Aug. 9 carrying a large crucifix, an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and a papal flag.
Father Parker named to new role August 6, 2007By Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News Father Adam J. Parker, pastor of Church of the Ascension, Halethorpe, has been named vice chancellor for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and will serve as secretary to Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, effective Sept. 17.
Cardinal Keeler honors Basilica’s 100,000th visitor August 3, 2007By Catholic Review Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Local News, News As Rosalie Dohm of Woodbridge, Va. climbed the stairs to the nation’s first cathedral Aug. 2, she thought it was unusual that Cardinal William H. Keeler was personally greeting each of the visitors from her parish tour group. The 66-year-old parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Lakeridge, Va., then found herself in the spotlight when Cardinal Keeler handed her a package and balloons and congratulated her for being the 100,000th visitor to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary since it reopened last November. “I’m dumbfounded,” said Ms. Dohm, who attended the tour with her parish’s Silver Foxes senior citizen group. “I was excited about seeing this place, but wow. What a shock to be told you are the 100,000th visitor since it opened back up to the public.”
Overcoming cancer teaches Westminster pastor lessons on faith August 2, 2007By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News During the many months Monsignor Arthur Valenzano battled leukemia, there was one day the longtime pastor of St. John in Westminster remembers as his absolute worst.
New Josephite priest and leadership team July 6, 2007By Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News Father Godwin Sochukwuma Ani, S.S.J., was ordained on May 19 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Washington D.C.
Outsider is force for change: Cumberland Mayor Fiedler honored by archdiocese June 21, 2007By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Western Vicariate In a small Western Maryland town whose residents pride homegrown leadership, Mayor Lee Fiedler knows he is probably one of the unlikeliest persons to hold Cumberland’s top job at City Hall.
Father Bak, ‘pioneer’ in diaconate, dies June 15, 2007By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries Father Bernard S. Bak, one of the first permanent deacons ordained in the United States who later became a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, died in his Dundalk home June 8. He was 85. A funeral Mass was offered June 11 at St. Casimir in Canton, the parish in which Father Bak grew up and where he served as a deacon after his 1971 ordination. Father Bak also served as a deacon at Christ the King in Dundalk. After his wife of 35 years, Antoinette Stefanowicz, died in 1984, Father Bak petitioned the archdiocese to become a priest. He studied at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Roland Park and was ordained a priest in 1988.
Clarksville parish becoming hub for classical music June 14, 2007By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Local News, News “Down through the centuries the Catholic Church has always been a great patron both of the visual and musical arts,” said Monsignor Luca. “It’s in that spirit we would like to offer these concerts to all the people of our community.”
Former speaker laments ‘divisive’ political climate: Casper Taylor reflects on hard decisions May 31, 2007By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, Maryland General Assembly, News, Western Vicariate Nearly five years after Casper R. Taylor Jr. lost his seat in the House of Delegates and stepped down as Maryland’s longest- serving Speaker of the House of Delegates, the well-known Western Maryland native hasn’t backed away from public policy.
‘Polka capital’ pastor to retire May 24, 2007By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: Local News, News, Retirement Forty-eight years after Archbishop Francis Keough ordained him to the priesthood, Monsignor Parks is preparing to retire July 1. A farewell liturgy will be celebrated at noon on July 8 at Sacred Heart of Mary, with a reception to follow.
St. Ignatius audience enthralled by black Catholic history address May 22, 2007By Catholic Review Staff Filed Under: Local News, News Charles Village resident Mark Kirby found the topic of a St. Ignatius, Baltimore, presentation on the history of black Catholics in Maryland mesmerizing, mainly because he hadn’t examined the race with the religion in a historically relevant manner before. “It’s one of those hidden corners of our history,” the white St. Ignatius parishioner said. “I think it’s an interesting topic – something I’ve always wondered about.” Mr. Kirby was joined by more than 75 other congregants May 21 to hear Dr. Diane Bates Morrow – associate professor of history and African studies at the University of Georgia and an award-winning author of black Catholic history – discuss the early struggles of black Catholics in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and their triumphs today.
Cardinal Keeler ordains nine new deacons May 21, 2007By Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News As nine candidates knelt before Cardinal William H. Keeler May 19, the archbishop of Baltimore placed his hands on each man’s head and ordained them a deacon. Thunderous applause reverberated throughout the packed Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland, during the 10 a.m. Ordination to the Diaconate, after each of the nine candidates completed his four-year odyssey to serve the Archdiocese of Baltimore. All nine men were deemed worthy to administer the sacred ministries in the archdiocese by Father Patrick M. Carrion, director of deacon formation.
