Vocations

Public humiliation unnecessary
Nov 18 2011
I was extremely disappointed in the article (CR, Nov. 3) on the resignation of the pastor at Our Lady of the Fields. The Catechism defines detraction as one who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them. While the parish certainly had a right to know about its pastor’s conduct, was it really necessary to humiliate him by publishing it as well?

In Benin, pope to outline church’s pastoral direction in Africa
Nov 18 2011
VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI is making his second trip as pope to Africa, spending three days in Benin and presenting an important document on the future of the church on the continent.

Thanks for Father Polk and all priests
Nov 17 2011
Nov. 10 is the first anniversary of the death of my brother, Father Tom Polk. While I miss him every day I rejoice in the great blessing he was to me. At his viewing my family learned about the many ways Tom ministered to his people and what a blessing he was to them. We met many wonderful people with great stories. Tom loved being a priest and no matter how difficult circumstances were, he was always happy, positive and full of faith.

Two seminarians take different paths to same goal
Nov 09 2011
PORTLAND, Ore. – Two seminarians – a monk and a future diocesan pastor – say their differing paths complement each other.

Colorado nun dies six days shy of 106th birthday
Nov 02 2011
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A religious sister who entered the convent in the era of World War I and Prohibition died just six days shy of her 106th birthday.

Maryknoll called the gift of mission US church has given to world
Nov 01 2011
NEW YORK – Maryknoll is the gift of mission that the church in America gave to the universal church, and will continue to give, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick told more than 1,800 participants at a festive Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Oct. 30.

Fifth-graders talk faith at Notre Dame
Oct 31 2011
An estimated 400 fifth-grade students from Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic schools file into LeClerc Hall on the campus of Notre Dame of Maryland University Oct. 27, and Sister Patricia Dowling just smiled.

Men in Black games get a ‘W’ in promoting vocations
Oct 24 2011
SEVERN – Things didn't start off very well for the Men in Black. At the tip-off of an Oct. 22 basketball game pitting the team of seminarians and priests against Anne Arundel County youths from eight parishes, the black-clad players learned immediately that their younger opponents meant business.

Now we’re cooking: Hickory parishioners savor culinary skill of priest
Oct 19 2011
JARRETTSVILLE – Father Hector Mateus-Ariza knew Dave and Mary Sanborn’s fire alarm was about to sound Oct. 12.

Viviano, brother walk the faith journey together
Oct 14 2011
Mark Viviano jumped into a rental car outside a St. Louis airport May 28 and sped toward the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City, 90 minutes away.

Now the Real Work Begins
Oct 12 2011
It has been one year since I first wrote about the need for a plan that addresses the challenges facing our parishes and seizes opportunities to create more vibrant faith communities in our Archdiocese.

Archdiocese of Baltimore embarks on parish planning process
Oct 12 2011
The Archdiocese of Baltimore has embarked on a comprehensive parish planning process that leaders hope will strengthen the evangelizing mission of the church.

Priests focus on resilience in ministry during enrichment day
Oct 11 2011
MIDDLETOWN – Vincentian Father Sylvester Peterka was attending a priests’ enrichment day focused on resilience in ministry when a text popped up on his phone Oct. 10. One of his senior parishioners was in the hospital and was looking for someone to visit her. That same day, a young man called the pastor looking for counsel. Earlier, Father Peterka had to go to a parish meeting that made him late for the enrichment day.

Spain gathering a powerful experience
Oct 06 2011
“To be rather than to appear to be” is the reality of the identity of the young Vincentian of the 21st century. This was the focus of the Vincentian World Youth Gathering in Madrid, Spain.

The church’s Marines: Maryknollers older, fewer, but still going strong
Oct 02 2011
COCHABAMBA, Bolivia – Their numbers are down, their average age is up, and their last names are as likely to be Vu or Gonzalez as Kelly or O’Brien, but one thing that has not changed about Maryknoll priests and brothers in the past century is their commitment to live and work among the poor in distant lands and unfamiliar cultures.