• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Bishop Robert Barron
          • George Weigel
          • Question Corner
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Suzanna Molino Singleton
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Paul McMullen
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Father T. Austin Murphy Jr.
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • Subscribe
Father Joseph F. Barr delivers opening remarks to the congregation of Immaculate Conception in Towson

Father Barr sees bright future at Immaculate Conception

Avatar October 5, 2010
By Catholic Review
Filed Under: Local News, News

For Immaculate Conception in Towson, the Oct. 2 installation of Father Joseph F. Barr by Auxiliary Bishop Denis J. Madden signals that the 3,200-family parish is turning a corner.

Parishioners endured a painful 2009. Then-pastor Monsignor F. Dennis Tinder announced the closing of the parish-run Towson Catholic High School in July of that year because of financial issues. In November, the pastor announced he was retiring Dec. 1 due to medical problems. He died three days after his retirement, as it was discovered he was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Father Barr appears to be the right leader at the right time.

“They were suffering,” said Father Barr, 58, of parishioners. “I recognized the pain and the loss, but said, ‘Let’s go forward.’”

It’s a homecoming, as he served as an associate pastor of Immaculate Conception from 1982 to 1988. Some parishioners still show him photos from those days.

Father Barr began his new appointment in July and believes his oath of fidelity to the bishop shows a commitment through good and bad times.

“To see that solidarity between a pastor and a bishop and to understand that a pastor’s authority flows from his bishop is big,” Father Barr said.

Father Barr previously served 15 years as pastor of Holy Family in Davidsonville, a parish he deeply loves. He also had been president of the board of pastors for School of the Incarnation in Gambrills. Holy Family recently completed a 29,000-square foot parish hall filled with classrooms, a nursery and a library. Immaculate Conception has a thriving elementary school.

Father Barr wants the priests of the parish to familiarize themselves with all parish ministries and become partners in those endeavors. Another challenge is to re-strengthen relationships with the medical and nursing facilities, of which there are at least 17, near the parish. Priests will be a visible presence for those separated from the church due to illness and age.

Third, he is part of a group of Catholic pastors along the York Road corridor that is gathering frequently to discuss common concerns and plans. Fourth, he wants to re-establish parish relationships with the Towson Area Ministries Association.

He hopes to develop a long-term master plan to address ministries and facilities, including the future of the Towson Catholic building.

New Asian, African and European families have joined long-standing parishioners thanks to medical, education and information technology jobs. Father Barr has been attending parties thrown by parishioners for new families.

“There’s a great diversity to this parish,” he said. “People shop for a parish. For some, they tell me they’re attracted to the liturgy and the reverence at Mass. It’s more traditional liturgy here. For others, it’s the natural beauty of the church”

Father Barr said he has a love of ministry to share with parishioners.

“I’m so thrilled to be able to bounce from being with elementary school kids to hospice care, to nursing homes and senior citizens to youth groups,” Father Barr said. “That’s what makes me thrive.”

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Catholic Review

Avatar

The Catholic Review is the official publication of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

Latest Local News

RADIO INTERVIEW: How to pick a Bible translation

Homebound, Operation CRS Rice Bowl nonetheless raises awareness of hunger

Father John Lesnick, known for compassionate outreach, dies at 71

Deacon Davis, who served Overlea parish for decades, dies at 84

Archdiocese of Baltimore plans ‘Safe Haven Sunday’ to fight pornography

Latest World News

Bishops address concern over Johnson & Johnson vaccine’s abortion link

COVID-19 bill OK’d without Hyde language to prevent funding of abortion

Gomez: U.S. bishops’ working group set up last November completes work

In interview, pope says he will remain in Rome until death

Health care chaplains in Baltimore and beyond embrace self-care in COVID-19 work

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Bishops address concern over Johnson & Johnson vaccine’s abortion link
  • We need rituals to mourn
  • RADIO INTERVIEW: How to pick a Bible translation
  • Homebound, Operation CRS Rice Bowl nonetheless raises awareness of hunger
  • COVID-19 bill OK’d without Hyde language to prevent funding of abortion
  • Gomez: U.S. bishops’ working group set up last November completes work
  • This Lent, risk prayer
  • Father John Lesnick, known for compassionate outreach, dies at 71
  • In interview, pope says he will remain in Rome until death
  • A Lent full of promise, steak success, cooking with children, and more (7 Quick Takes)

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2021 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED