Sacraments have universal meaning, says Nigerian archbishop
Jul 18 2007
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Such common themes as the nourishing nature of the Eucharist and the cleansing of baptismal waters convey universal meaning to believers of many cultures, a Nigerian archbishop told participants in the 10th National Black Catholic Congress.
Test of faith
Jul 16 2007
Many people ask Father Michael DeAscanis what religious order he is in. “I say I’m not. I’m a diocesan priest, but they don’t know what that means.” Other Catholic verbiage is commonly misused or mixed up, reports the associate pastor of St. Ursula, Parkville. The priest provided The Catholic Review with a sample of eight pairs of misused Catholic terms. See if you can distinguish between each pair of words before checking the answers.
Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien named 15th archbishop of Baltimore
Jul 12 2007
Cardinal William H. Keeler introduced the newly appointed archbishop of Baltimore during a July 12 press conference at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Baltimore.
Earlier in the morning, the Vatican announced the Archdiocese of Baltimore has its 15th leader as Pope Benedict XVI named military Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien to replace Cardinal Keeler as the leader of the nation’s original archdiocese.
The news of the appointment comes 15 months after 76-year-old Cardinal Keeler submitted his letter of resignation to the pope, which is required when bishops reach age 75.
Identical twins ordained to priesthood in Green Bay Diocese
Jul 08 2007
GREEN BAY, Wis. – For the second time in its nearly 140-year history, the Diocese of Green Bay has ordained twins to the priesthood.
Fathers Joel and Ben Sember, 27, were ordained June 30 by Bishop David A. Zubik at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay. Father Andrew Kysely was ordained with them.
To mark the occasion, Bishop Zubik used artifacts from previous bishops of Green Bay, including the crosier of Bishop Joseph Melcher, Green Bay’s first bishop, who served from the founding of the diocese on Dec. 3, 1868, to his death in 1873.
Papal letter to Chinese Catholics seeks to unite divided communities
Jul 02 2007
VATICAN CITY – In a groundbreaking letter to Chinese Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI established new guidelines to favor cooperation between clandestine Catholic communities and those officially registered with the government.
The papal letter strongly criticized the limits placed by the Chinese government on the church’s activities. But on several key issues, including the appointment of bishops, it invited civil authorities to a fresh and serious dialogue.
Catholic Family Expo feeds faith of hundreds
Jul 02 2007
As Gwendolyn Drayton-Forbes strolled through the Baltimore Convention Center with her husband and two sons, the Plainsboro, N.J. resident marveled at the spiritual expertise being presented at the 17th annual Catholic Family Expo.
Vocations camp for boys raises awareness about priesthood
Jun 29 2007
Twelve-year-old Daniel Cohn doesn’t dream about becoming a major league baseball player or a Hollywood movie star. His goal in life is to become a priest and minister with soldiers as a U.S. Army chaplain.
“I want to serve my country and preach about God,” said Daniel, a homeschooled parishioner of St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park. “I want to tell them they’re not there to kill, but to save lives and protect people.”
Daniel was one of 10 boys who attended “Operation Genesis,” a daylong vocations camp sponsored by the archdiocese June 26 at St. John, Westminster.
Four men ordained to the priesthood
Jun 25 2007
When Jesse Bolger was an infant, his musically inclined parents would occasionally place their son in a guitar case on the church altar while they practiced.
On June 23, Barbara and Brian Bolger’s son was once again on the altar – this time being ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Father Bolger, 34, along with Father Michael Foppiano, 27; Father Daniel Goulet, 33; and Father Michael Triplett, 28, was ordained by Bishop W. Francis Malooly, western vicar and vicar general, at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland, in front of hundreds of family members, friends and parishioners.
17th-Annual Catholic Family Expo opens June 27
Jun 14 2007
With a stable of speakers ranging from bishops to an internationally recognized movie star, organizers of the 17th-Annual Catholic Family Expo at the Baltimore Convention Center June 27 to July 1 hope to motivate attendees to return to their parishes inspired to serve God.
Pope: Adults owe youths values that give foundation for their lives
Jun 12 2007
ROME – Adults have a debt to pay to today’s young people; “we owe them real values that will provide them with a foundation for their lives,” Pope Benedict XVI said.
In a June 11 evening address to participants in the Diocese of Rome’s annual pastoral convention, the pope said all Catholic adults have a role to play in addressing the “education emergency” found in Italy and in other developed nations.