Cardinal O’Malley devotes decades to making ‘present the merciful face of God’ December 26, 2024By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Retirement, Vocations, World News Cardinal O’Malley, who was ordained a priest in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin on Aug. 29, 1970, at the age of 26, has been a key figure at the highest levels of church governance in helping oversee reforms in the wake of the clergy sexual abuse crisis.
Father William Au, pastor of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, is set to retire December 23, 2024By Lisa Harlow Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations Christmas Day will be especially poignant for Father William A. Au, pastor of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart.
Father Demek retires after nearly 50 years as a priest December 23, 2024By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations Father Demek was inspired to become a priest by a seminarian from his home parish, Holy Cross in South Baltimore. “My father ran the altar servers when I was a kid back in the ’50s and so I was an altar server from second grade on.” He was an altar server at the seminarian’s first Mass after ordination.
Father Gills retires after a ministry that took him around the world and around the Archdiocese of Baltimore July 2, 2024By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations, Western Vicariate Whether celebrating Mass on the hood of a Humvee in a war zone or inside a clear-glass church near Deep Creek Lake looking out to the mountains of Western Maryland, Father Thomas Gills sought to convey the same sense of the sacred.
Father Foley, pastor to retired priests, set to retire himself July 2, 2024By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations For the last 12 years, Father William “Bill” Foley has served the 80 or so retired priests in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which also included helping those priests who are about to retire adjust to the changes they can expect. Now, that group includes Father Foley himself as he will retire effective July 1 as the Director of Senior and Retired Priests.
‘Unflappable’ pastor who shepherded major parish projects ready to retire July 2, 2024By Gary Lambrecht Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations, Western Vicariate If you listen to people who work at Church of the Resurrection in Ellicott City and interact with Monsignor John A. Dietzenbach, its pastor since 2009, you hear of a dedicated Catholic who is the picture of work ethic, selflessness, humility, positivity and deep love for his parish and the Holy Trinity.
Approaching retirement, Monsignor Barker reflects on shepherding one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore July 2, 2024By Gerry Jackson Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations “A real pleasure,” says Monsignor Baker about his 43-year priesthood that has taken him from an associate pastor to the archdiocese’s director of vocations and for the last 23 years as pastor of bustling St. Ignatius in Hickory.
Founding pastor of Frederick parish to retire July 1, 2024By Emily Rosenthal Alster Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations, Western Vicariate The legacy of Father Keith Boisvert is tangible, especially on the site of an old farm in Frederick County. After 45 years in the priesthood, Father Boisvert, the founding pastor of St. Katharine Drexel in Frederick, will retire in July 2024.
Brother to teacher to pastor: Father Franken’s long and varied vocation July 1, 2024By Erik Zygmont Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations Father Franken, 75, who will retire as pastor of St. Joan of Arc in Aberdeen effective July 1, enjoyed his work with young people, but the call to the diocesan priesthood was strong.
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.
Father Gregory Rapisarda to continue healthcare ministry in retirement June 28, 2023By Nancy Menefee Jackson Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations Father Rapisarda, who prefers to be called “Father Greg,” is retiring at 75, but he plans to be plenty present.
Father Jack Ward, passionate about canon law, plans for retirement June 26, 2023By Lisa Harlow Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Retirement, Vocations Father John “Jack” Ward, a priest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore for nearly four decades known for his sense of humor and concern for parishioners, will retire on Sept. 30. Currently pastor of Our Lady of the Fields in Millersville, Father Ward has enjoyed a long ministry that includes serving in the Archdiocese of Baltimore […]