Recognition serves as affirmation for those from archdiocese selected as ‘Baltimore’s Best’

When Father Brian Nolan heard he had been selected as Baltimore’s best “Clergyperson,” he said the first thing he did was share the news with his parents and have a “chuckle” with them about it.

“You can’t be the best priest without having the best parents,” Father Nolan said jokingly to his parents, Patrick and Marilyn. 

“It made me laugh at first, but I was very humbled and surprised by it,” he said. 

Nolan wasn’t alone as the Archdiocese of Baltimore was well represented in the Baltimore’s Best Readers’ Choice 2023 list published July 16 by the Baltimore Sun.

A few of those selected for recognition from more than 80,000 ballots agreed that it was a tremendous honor as well as affirmation of their work promoting Catholic values.

The Sun presented its “best of” list in 200 categories grouped in Activities & Arts; Home & Garden; Food & Drink; Lifestyles & Shopping; Personal Services; and People & Media.

Those recognized from the archdiocese included:

• Best Clergyperson (all faiths) – Father Brian Nolan, St. Isaac Jogues, Carney (now at St. Ignatius of Loyola in Ijamsville)
• Best Twitter Feed – Catholic Schools @Archbaltschools. Lauren Robinson, director of marketing for the archdiocese, manages the feed.
• Best Private School – Loyola Blakefield, Towson. Honorable mentions: The John Carroll School, Bel Air; Calvert Hall College High School, Towson; Notre Dame Preparatory School, Towson
• Best College/University  – Honorable mention: Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore
• Best School Principal – Charles Stembler, Calvert Hall. Honorable Mentions: School Sister of Notre Dame Patricia McCarron, Notre Dame Preparatory School; Oblate Sister of St. Francis de Sales Susan Louise Eder, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Baynesville

For Father Nolan, the award was affirmation of the great work priests do throughout the archdiocese and the bonds they make with their parishioners. He recently completed a five-year stay as pastor at St. Isaac Jogues in Carney and is now the pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Frederick County.

“The parishioners at St. Isaac Jogues were such a blessing in my life and so special,” Father Nolan said. “I’m very humbled that they thought enough of me to nominate me because there are so many other deserving priests. I miss them but I love my new parish and look forward to building the same kind of relationships.”

Loyola Blakefield was a repeat winner in the Best Private School category. The school’s chief of marketing, Robert Robinson, said the selection was something the Towson school would be celebrating throughout the year.

“It really is a big deal because it affirms our work and mission,” Robinson said. “We are very proud of it. It’s a testament to the men and women who go to work each day and have such a commitment to our goals as a Jesuit institution to educate young men.

“We know what great private school institutions the region has to offer with such great traditions; so this recognition truly is a testament to the faculty, staff and administration who come to work each day and dedicate themselves to spreading our Catholic values.” 

Calvert Hall Principal Charles Stembler said it was all about teamwork as he responded to the recognition he received as the area’s best principal and the honorable mention the school received as one of the region’s top private schools.

“In one sense, the affirmation is nice,” said Stembler, a 1983 graduate of Calvert Hall. “But that’s certainly not why we do what we do. I appreciate it and it’s a great honor, but it wouldn’t be possible without the entire team of dedicated people here at Calvert Hall. It’s affirmation of the great teamwork that we have here.”

St. Frances Academy graduate Angel Reese, who helped lead LSU to an NCAA women’s basketball championship in April, was recognized as the best College Athlete in The Baltimore Sun’s list. Reese, 21, also was the winner of the Best Breakthrough Athlete at ESPN’s ESPY Awards in a nationally televised event July 11 and she had a basketball court named in her honor in Randallstown July 17.

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

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