Page 1864 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

What started out as a service project for a 14-year-old St. Francis of Assisi, Baltimore, parishioner has developed into a love of stamps and a devotion to a community of retired sisters. When Molly Friedel of Carney was an 11-year-old Girl Scout looking for a service project to earn her “I Live My Faith” religious badge, she turned to the Father Barggraff Council of the Knights of Columbus in Perry Hall, where her father Ken is a member. This branch of the Knights had been collecting postmarked stamps for retired Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius at Villa Sacred Heart in Danville, Pa. since 1994 to help that group meet its financial obligations. “At first it seemed like a way to help the nuns and to help me earn my badge,” said Molly, an eighth grader at Pine Grove Middle School in Carney.

Crossing the Desert

Although Dr. Robert J. Wicks thinks his book “Riding the Dragon” is the most helpful, his latest title, “Crossing the Desert,” is his best written. “Crossing the Desert: Learning to Let Go, See Clearly, and Live Simply” is a spiritual growth book that addresses an emotion many humans experience at some point in their life, feeling lost in the desert of life, under great stress or in spiritual desolation, according to Dr. Wicks, a professor at Loyola College in Maryland, Baltimore.

Mother Seton students learn about law enforcement

Three deputies from the Sheriff’s Department of Frederick County spoke to eighth graders at Mother Seton School, Emmitsburg, about careers in law enforcement. Demonstrations included a tactical vest, an 82-pound K-9 dog named Bayco, and a taser device (stun gun). Discussions included S.W.A.T. officers, handling hostage situations and escorting President George W. Bush to Camp David.

Nativity reaches out to hurricane victims

As Patrick Nolan volunteered to help victims of Hurricane Katrina rebuild, Mississippi resident Karen Parker said something to the teenager that he will remember forever. “You can get bitter or get better,” she told the Church of the Nativity, Timonium, parishioner.

Lithuanian bishops try to keep open American parishes

VILNIUS, Lithuania – Lithuania’s Catholic bishops said they would try to do everything within their authority to help keep open Lithuanian-American churches in the United States. “Lithuanian bishops cannot directly deal with the issues of the parishes that are in the territory of another bishops’ conference, but will seek in their own turn that those parishes are not closed,” said the statement, released after the bishops’ meeting in mid-January.

Catholic colleges urged to partner with poor countries

WASHINGTON – One of the Vatican’s top education officials Feb. 4 urged U.S. Catholic college and university presidents to examine how they can provide “creative and effective support” to Catholic academic institutions in the developing world that are struggling with inadequate resources.

Magic rebounds – Snapping a four-year skid

The smile on Mercy head coach Mary Ella Marion’s face as time expired for the 41st meeting of “The Game”, between Baltimore archrivals Mercy High School and The Institute of Notre Dame said it all. For Marion and her squad it was elation, pride and relief as the Magic upended IND for the second time this season while also ending a four-year skid at this annual gathering Feb. 2 at The Towson Center on the campus of Towson University.

Pope urges young people to express love in unselfish ways

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI urged young people to express love in unselfish ways, looking past social goals of competition and productivity in order to become “witnesses of charity” in the world. He held out Blessed Teresa of Calcutta as an example of a Christian who translated love into concrete action to help the poorest of the poor.

Youth share concerns in Howard

In a recent meeting for PATH, People Acting Together in Howard, some 50 youth and adults in Howard County were encouraged to come and share their thoughts, opinions and questions on issues they believe are plaguing the county. “We are preparing the ground work by getting the youth involved,” said Hector Rodriguez, lead organizer of PATH and a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist, Columbia. PATH’s goal is to be engaged in the things people are interested in including housing, transportation and the young people, said Mr. Rodriguez.

Capital Campaign helps restore historic windows

For almost 50 years the historic windows that were once displayed in the chapel at St. Mary’s Industrial School, Baltimore, have been sitting in storage at Our Lady of Victory, Arbutus. The parishioners and Father Timothy Klunk, pastor, are now in their second year of a capital campaign to restore, preserve and install the priceless windows into a new gathering space for the parish. “We have salvation history stained glass,” said Father Klunk. “They are museum quality.”

Catholic presidential candidates abound

WASHINGTON – On any given day this January, a full 21 months before the 2008 election, it seemed that someone was announcing a presidential exploratory committee or launching his or her campaign for president. And there was a good chance that the candidate was a Catholic. When Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts bowed out of the race for the Democratic nomination Jan. 24, he left nearly a dozen other Catholics – Republicans and Democrats – vying for their party’s nomination, either officially or unofficially.

Chaplain sees humility in Indianapolis Colts