Page 1850 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

It is hoop-heaven this coming week as the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association will wrap-up their boys’ basketball tourney Feb. 23 with the A Conference tipping off at 7 p.m. at Gilman School, Baltimore, while the B and C Conference finals will begin at 6:30 p.m. at The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Log on to the MIAA web site www.miaasports.com for updated information.

Cardinal urges House to close loophole

WASHINGTON – The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities is urging the House to amend legislation forbidding discrimination on the basis of genetic information to include unborn children, unimplanted embryos and those in the process of being adopted as “family members” under the bill.

Cardinal Stafford urges building reconciliation networks

BOSTON – Catholics should build networks of reconciliation to nurture and support one another, U.S. Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, head of the Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary, said during a visit to Boston. The cardinal, a former auxiliary bishop of Baltimore, spoke about penance and reconciliation at St. John’s Seminary, addressing lay people Feb. 3 and priests Feb. 5. The Apostolic Penitentiary is a Vatican court that deals with indulgences, matters of conscience and the lifting of certain excommunications and other censures that are reserved to the Holy See.

Nashville bishop supports mayor’s veto

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Saying that “we don’t need a law to tell us what language we are already speaking,” Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell vetoed a bill that would have required city agencies and officials to communicate in English “except when required by federal law or when necessary to protect or promote public health, safety or welfare.” Bishop David R. Choby of Nashville, who stood with Purcell as he made the veto announcement Feb. 12, said the city is “noted for its friendliness and its willingness to welcome those who are new to the area.” “The characteristics of kindness, for which this city has developed a national recognition, can also be called Christian charity,” the bishop said.

Who are these modern day Knights?

Most people know the Knights of Columbus as the men who stand outside church in October handing out tootsie rolls or the men who march in local Independence Day parades dressed in capes and feather hats, but the Knights are so much more. Along with doing charitable works, these men are husbands, fathers and employees, ranging from servicemen to priests. “We have members from all walks of life from truck drivers to bankers and beyond,” said Brian O’Connor, Maryland state Knights of Columbus public relations chair, who mentioned that even President George W. Bush’s tailor is a knight in the Archdiocese of Washington.

Catholics converge on Annapolis

ANNAPOLIS – Making their voices heard in the state capital, nearly 600 Catholics converged on Annapolis Feb. 19 to spend their Presidents Day holiday learning about important legislative issues and lobbying lawmakers on prolife, social justice and educational concerns. Sponsored by the Maryland Catholic Conference, the event began with legislative briefings at St. Mary’s High School, Annapolis, before parishioners from all across Maryland shuttled to state office buildings to talk with the lawmakers. The day ended with a legislative reception with Bishop Denis J. Madden, urban vicar, and Bishop Martin D. Holley, auxiliary bishop of Washington.

Conference calls for healing

How does faith call us to bring hope and healing to the world? Discuss this topic March 12-16 at Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, when they host the third annual Callings Conference: Bearers of Hope and Healing. Callings is a program for the theological exploration of Christian vocation.

Pope says life involves recognizing fragility

ROME – The Christian life is a journey that involves moving forward each day, recognizing one’s fragility, overcoming obstacles and continually refocusing on God and his love, Pope Benedict XVI told Rome diocesan seminarians. The fact that Jesus repeatedly had to scold his apostles for their lack of faith and understanding “shows that none of us have reached the heights of this great ‘yes’“ to the Lord, the pope told the 120 seminarians during a Feb. 17 visit at the Rome seminary.

U.S. woman answers call in war-torn Uganda

SAN DIEGO – Uganda seems to emit a siren call to visitors, prompting them to stay or to return home and become activists for the people of that war-torn nation. Katie Bradel heard the call on a visit to Uganda in March 2005, during a planned three-month trip. Today, almost two years later, she remains in Uganda, helping train volunteers with an organization called Invisible Children. “People there have so little, but they have so much joy,” she told The Southern Cross, newspaper of the San Diego Diocese. “They are the most welcoming people I’ve ever met. They live each day relying on God to provide.”

Boonsboro church braces for growth

St. James in Boonsboro is a little faith community with big dreams. After spending most of its 139-year history as a mission of other churches in the region, the growing Washington County church is taking steps many hope will lead to full-fledged parish status. Fueled by a housing boom in the region that pastoral leaders say could nearly double the church registry to about 700 families or more within a decade, St. James has recently begun renting a house across the street from the church to provide a parish office and space for religious education and diaconal ministry. It’s the first time St. James has had its own office space.

Anti-smoking crusade up for final vote

St. Francis of Assisi, Baltimore, parishioner and Baltimore City Council Vice President Bob Curran extinguished his last cigarette in 1998, and by the end of this year he would like to see all bars and restaurants in Baltimore become smoke-free zones. The 56-year-old Northwood resident is lobbying to get the eight votes he needs for passage of his city smoking-ban legislation when the bill comes up for a final vote at the Feb. 26 City Council meeting.

O’Malley uses Catholics