New artwork honors hero of Cumberland September 26, 2023By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Feature, Local News, News, Saints, Western Vicariate It took Scott a full year to design and sculpt the nearly three-foot statue of Blessed Seelos, which was erected in March at the Shrine of Ss. Peter in Paul. Blessed Seelos walked the very grounds where his likeness now stands, when he served as pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul and prefect of students at a Redemptorist seminary in Cumberland from 1857 to 1862.
St. Maria Goretti High School faces uncertain future after difficult decision by archdiocese September 21, 2023By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools, Western Vicariate The Archdiocese of Baltimore announced Sept. 21 that it can no longer bridge the gap for operations and will cease providing funds to St. Maria Goretti Regional Catholic High School in Hagerstown at the end of the current academic year.
Perfect harmony: Music internship program helps parishes in Western Maryland September 20, 2023By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Divine Worship, Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate Music interns from Frostburg State University are helping to bring new life to liturgies at Divine Mercy Parish in Western Maryland.
Frederick parish marks 260th anniversary with blessing of ‘new’ windows September 11, 2023By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate A capacity congregation filled St. John the Evangelist Church here Sept. 10 to mark not only the 260th anniversary of the oldest parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, but to celebrate the blessing of newly installed stained-glass windows depicting scenes from Scripture.
Fishy business: Aquaponics lab yields big results at Bishop Walsh September 6, 2023By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools, Western Vicariate Now in its second year, the aquaponics lab at Bishop Walsh School helps students learn science in what school leaders said is a fun and dynamic way.
Filling the food gap: Cumberland food pantry steps up to meet need September 6, 2023By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate In June, St. Anthony Place served 331 people, a 40 percent increase from the same month a year earlier. In July, the pantry served 339 people, also a 40 percent increase from last year.
Capuchin Franciscan Father Benjamin Madden, Cumberland native, dies at 90 August 9, 2023By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries, Western Vicariate A funeral Mass for Capuchin Franciscan Father Benjamin Madden was offered July 21 at the Shrine of Ss. Peter and Paul in Cumberland.
Meet four 2023 Distinctive Scholars July 12, 2023By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools, Western Vicariate The Archdiocese of Baltimore honored the three top-performing graduating seniors from each of the 18 Catholic high schools of the archdiocese during the 31st annual Distinctive Scholars Convocation, March 30 at Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn.
No place like Bill’s Place in Western Maryland July 11, 2023By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Western Vicariate A priest walking into a bar is no joke at Bill’s Place, a remote, log-cabin hangout right in the heart of Western Maryland’s 49,000-acre Green Ridge State Forest.
Historic Cumberland shrine celebrates 175 years June 29, 2023By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Parish Anniversary 2023, Western Vicariate The Shrine of Ss. Peter and Paul is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. For many in Western Maryland, the historic church is a hallowed place of prayer that serves as a physical link to Cumberland’s Catholic past.
Father Edward Hendricks, trailblazer in pastoral planning, will remain in Western Maryland for retirement June 28, 2023By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations, Western Vicariate “It’s so rewarding that people let you into their lives at these key moments – the birth of a child, marriage, illness or death – and it’s the role of the priest to be thankful for that invitation and to walk with them in their journey as far as they want us to walk with them and to recognize we’re probably going to get more out of it than we give,” he said.
Former House Speaker Casper Taylor leaves legacy of faith, service April 27, 2023By Mary Clifford Morrell Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, Maryland Catholic Conference, Maryland General Assembly, News, Obituaries, Western Vicariate Former Speaker of Maryland’s House of Delegates Casper R. Taylor Jr., a frequent supporter of Catholic legislative concerns in state government and a former member of the administrative board of the Maryland Catholic Conference, died April 24. He was 88.