Page 1669 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

WASHINGTON – A quest for a common morality in the world’s diverse cultures can begin with a mother’s smile and her child’s play, Cardinal Angelo Scola of Venice, Italy, said March 27 as The Catholic University of America opened a four-day international symposium, “A Common Morality for the Global Age.”

AOS center welcomes Vatican visitor

When seven young men from China walked into the Apostleship of the Sea International Seafarer Center, Dundalk, March 31, they conveniently provided a live description of precisely what Monsignor John L. FitzGerald was explaining at the moment to his three visitors – including a representative from the Vatican. The AOS director described to his guests the ministry of welcoming seafarers to Baltimore – providing a connection to their Catholicism while in port.

Sister heeded a call that started in eighth grade

He might not text with a cell phone, but God still calls young people to vocations.

Catholic High Cubs hope to finish in top four in 2008

Head Coach Ed Hoffman knows his team and what it’s capable of doing this season in the IAAM B Conference softball league.

Archdiocese to mark bicentennial with special events

Baltimore Catholics have a lot to celebrate this spring. April 8 marks the 200th anniversary of the elevation of the Baltimore diocese to archdiocesan status by Pope Pius VII, and Catholic leaders have planned a host of special events to mark the historic event.

Grantsville parish plans new church

More than a year after a fire severely damaged St. Ann Church in Grantsville, the tiny faith community in Garrett County is moving ahead with plans for a new church. The damaged church, built in 1977, was recently razed to make way for a new building that parish leaders say will be bigger and better than the destroyed one.

MacMillan to lead BSO in his own works

Scottish composer James MacMillan, who is Catholic and a political activist, will lead the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in performing two of his works at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on April 4 to 6.

World now has greater number of Muslims than Catholics

VATICAN CITY – A Vatican official said that, for the first time, the world’s Muslim population is greater than the number of Catholics.

Pope to get ‘official papal skateboard’ from youths

NEW YORK – When Pope Benedict XVI returns to the Vatican, he’ll be toting a gift not generally associated with an 81-year-old pontiff. He’ll take home the “official papal skateboard,” a gift from the youths of New York.

Anxiety grows as Zimbabwe awaits election results

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Anxiety is growing in Zimbabwe, where the results of March 29 elections are not yet known and the opposition has claimed a resounding victory over President Robert Mugabe, church officials say.

The Gaza I Live

Most Americans think of Gaza as a place of suffering and militancy, but the reality is that Gaza is home to some of the most inspiring and creative people in the Middle East. For the past two years, as the area’s representative for Catholic Relief Services, I’ve traveled there as much as I can. I see what the front-page newspaper photos don’t show you: this tiny sliver of land on the Mediterranean is a place of energy and dynamism, of humor and warmth and unbelievable hospitality, of delicious fish and crabs and the romantic fragrance of apple tobacco.

America must play even-handedly to stop cycle of violence