WASHINGTON – When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hosted a national summit on child welfare, she shined a light on a problem that is all too familiar to officials of Catholic Charities USA. “The numbers are moving in the wrong direction,” said Desmond Brown, director of health and welfare policy at Catholic Charities USA, about...Read More

NEW YORK – Catholics now have the opportunity to participate in the missionary work of the church each time they use a new affinity credit card. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith in New York recently announced the creation of the World Missions Visa credit card. The card will generate funds for the...Read More

Five years ago on graduation day, dumpsters at Loyola College in Maryland, Baltimore, were filled with lamps, Swiffer mops, unopened food, and kitchen supplies. But thanks to the Good Stuff Campaign developed by Loyola’s Center for Community Service and Justice, the college’s dumpsters remained nearly empty and the donation collection bins were full as undergraduates...Read More

The Institute of Notre Dame, Baltimore, inducted five graduates into its Athletic Hall of Fame, May 16. The inductees were Eileen Doyle Wintz ’44 (basketball); C. Karen Dabrowski Gephardt ’67 (basketball, badminton, softball); Mary Ellen Bowers Glorioso ’69 (basketball, badminton, softball); Donna Wiedorfer ’80 (coach – basketball, badminton, lacrosse; and athlete – basketball, badminton, softball);...Read More

VATICAN CITY – Expanding its mission from saving souls to saving the planet, the Vatican is going green. A giant rooftop garden of solar panels will be built next year on top of the Paul VI audience hall, creating enough electricity to heat, cool and light the entire building year-round. “Solar energy will provide all...Read More

Father Thomas R. Hurst, S.S., a 60-year-old Albany native and alumnus of St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Roland Park, has been named the new president-rector of his alma mater. The Provincial Council of the U.S. Province of the Society of St. Sulpice (Sulpicians) announced the new seminary leadership May 25, noting that the appointment...Read More

John Hesterly, a parishioner of St. Patrick in Havre De Grace, has received many honors and awards in his lifetime, but on May 11 he was truly humbled and privileged to accept a Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, Henderson State University in Arkansas. “I was thrilled beyond words,” said Mr. Hesterly. “I’m still...Read More

Growing up on the Eastern Shore, Monsignor James P. Farmer, pastor of St. Ursula in Parkville, learned how to fish at age 2 under the watchful eye of family members. Since then fishing and crabbing have been hobbies he thoroughly enjoys, especially when in the company of others. “Fishing forms great friendships and great memories,”...Read More