Father Blaine Burkey’s new book aims to get history right July 24, 2026By Katie V. Jones Catholic Review Filed Under: Books, Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate Now 90, the Cumberland native has self-published “The Cumberland Mission,” a 316-page archival study of the Catholic Church’s efforts to minister to Catholics in Western Maryland during the region’s frontier period from 1778 to 1853. Father Burkey said he began writing the book about 20 years ago, drawing on archival research he had accumulated over decades.
New book fills in gaps of history of Mount St. Mary’s July 20, 2026By Katie V. Jones Catholic Review Filed Under: Books, Colleges, Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate For a university founded in 1808, Emmitsburg’s Mount St. Mary’s University has surprisingly few books telling its story. That bothered alumnus John Singleton, Class of 1986, enough that he wrote one himself.
St. Katharine Drexel parishioners close the school year with a gift to eliminate public school lunch debt July 20, 2026By Rita Buettner Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate Feeding the hungry has become an important part of the outreach at St. Katharine Drexel in Frederick. The parish is especially focused on making sure students at Yellow Springs Elementary, which is nearby, have food to eat on the weekend.
The drive that saved his life: Father J. Collin Poston returns to Carroll County parish after brush with death July 14, 2026By Jenna Mattern Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate Father Poston spent two weeks in the hospital, receiving the anointing of the sick multiple times and welcoming visits from friends, family, parishioners, fellow priests and his Pomeranian, Otto. He described the experience as deeply spiritual.
WorkCamp provides ‘God’s blessings’ to central Maryland residents June 24, 2026By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate, Young Adult Ministry More than 65 teens and more than 50 adult leaders converged on Camp Round Meadow in Catoctin Mountain Park for Baltimore WorkCamp, using it as a base as they spread out to nine worksites staffed by 14 crews to provide home repairs for older residents in need of assistance.
Bishop F. Richard Spencer, former Baltimore priest, retires after dedicated service to Archdiocese for U.S. Military Services June 12, 2026By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop F. Richard Spencer, a 75-year-old former priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore who served as auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese for U.S. Military Services since 2010.
National Eucharistic Pilgrimage arrives in Maryland June 10, 2026By Katie V. Jones Catholic Review Filed Under: Eucharist, Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate With the theme, “One Nation Under God,” the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage arrived in the Archdiocese of Baltimore June 9 at the site of the nation’s first monument to George Washington – a stoic stone tower just off the Appalachian Trail in Middletown.
From Queen City to crossroads May 26, 2026By Katie V. Jones OSV News Filed Under: Catholic Charities, Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate The city still bears its old nickname, “Queen City,” and the bones of its former greatness are still visible.
Hagerstown school recognized by Cardinal Newman Society March 9, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools, Western Vicariate St. Mary Catholic School in Hagerstown has been recognized for its Catholic identity and academic excellence by The Cardinal Newman Society.
Speaker and musician Nick De La Torre to lead pre-Lenten mission in Frederick County February 3, 2026By Katie V. Jones Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Lent, Local News, News, Western Vicariate With the theme “Eucharistic Revival,” a two-day pre-Lenten mission at St. John the Evangelist in Frederick will focus on the meaning of the Eucharist and the role it plays in the spiritual life of Catholics as they prepare for Lent.
Westernport experiences a flood of relief January 5, 2026By Katie V. Jones Catholic Review Filed Under: Disaster Relief, Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate Heavy rains May 13 caused Georges Creek to overflow its banks, while the Potomac River was too full to accept the creek’s flow. Within minutes, water rushed down Church Street, flooding everything in its path.
Historic church restored in Frederick County December 12, 2025By Katie V. Jones Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate When Father John Williamson arrived as pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Frederick and St. Joseph on Carrollton Manor in Buckeystown five years ago, the roof of St. Joseph’s historic church was leaking and the steeple was “ready to fall off.”
