Page 1865 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Amid the media hype at Super Bowl XLI Feb. 4 in Miami, at least eight players and coaches from the Chicago Bears were expected to spend about 30 minutes on bended knee the morning of game day as Scalabrinian Father Nick Marro, Bears chaplain, celebrated Mass at the players’ hotel. While his homilies obviously reflect the Gospel of the day, he said, he also considers who is in the congregation.

Cardinal Keeler honored for faith outreach efforts

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers honored Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore Jan. 30 for his extensive contributions to ecumenical and interreligious relations.

Gov. O’Malley hosts Catholic educators at mansion

ANNAPOLIS – Standing inside the governor’s mansion he has occupied for less than three weeks, Gov. Martin J. O’Malley told a group of Catholic educators he never would have pursued a career in public service were it not for his own Catholic education.

Vatican denies laicization to Paraguayan bishop

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican turned down a laicization request from a Paraguayan bishop who wants to run for president and suspended the bishop from exercising his priestly ministry. Bishop Fernando Lugo Mendez of San Pedro, Paraguay, 57, had announced Dec. 25 that he would ask the Vatican to return him to the status of a layman so he could run for president.

President Bush cites efforts of Catholic teen

WASHINGTON – At the National Prayer Breakfast Feb. 1, President George W. Bush cited a Pennsylvania Catholic teenager who started an outreach to poor and homeless people in memory of her favorite priest, the late Franciscan Father Mychal Judge.

Priest accused of attempted murder is captured

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas priest accused of attempted murder and sexual assault on a parish employee was captured near Phoenix Feb. 1 after a six-day manhunt across several states. Father George Chaanine, 52, has been charged with attempted murder with a deadly weapon, sexual assault, kidnapping and other charges in connection with an alleged attack Jan. 26 on Michaelina Bellamy, an employee at Our Lady of Las Vegas Parish where Father Chaanine was administrator. He also faces federal charges of fleeing to avoid prosecution.

Illegal immigration should not be tolerated

“Bishops Address Public Policy” (CR, Jan 25) is among a number of articles that distort the real issues. These articles tout “earned legalization,” the “death” of illegal aliens attempting to enter our country and sending the wrong signal to the international community. These one-sided articles distorted the total picture of illegal aliens. It failed to mention the death and violence committed by illegal aliens who are currently in prison today convicted of murder, rape, etc. against U.S. citizens, the negative impact illegal aliens have on our citizen’s job opportunities, schools, health care, and other social programs.

The Time is Now for the John Carroll Patriots

Young , hungry and on the move; the John Carroll, Bel Air, Patriots boys basketball team is making its mark on the hardwoods in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association’s B Conference. After a tumultuous 0-25 record during the 2004-2005 season, head coach Tony Martin came on board the following season, offering a promising future for the Pats program. True to his word, Martin’s inaugural year, the 2005-2006 season, yielded a 15-22 finish; the tide was turning.

Thoughts on the March for Life

On Jan. 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down two decisions that wiped out all existing state laws limiting abortion and made it nearly impossible to enact any new abortion-limiting legislation. Through its decisions in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, the Court made abortion available to any woman for any reason at any point in her pregnancy. It also removed the abortion debate from the public forum. Fast-forward to Jan. 22, 2007. On that day more than 100,000 people went to Washington in the cold and snow to give a voice to the voiceless in the annual March for Life.

Priest serves as Toronto’s second poet laureate

TORONTO – The second person ever to serve as poet laureate for Toronto is also the first Catholic priest to hold the title. It’s an opportune pulpit for Father Pier Giorgio Di Cicco, 57, a priest-poet-philosopher who is now spreading ideas about how individuals, government officials and even business leaders can make cities and communities more livable as they give more thought to the “poetry” of their lives.

Lobby night is Feb. 19

Maryland Catholics are urged to rally at Lobby Night in Annapolis Feb., 19, Presidents’ Day, to learn about important public-policy initiatives and meet their elected state officials. The 23rd annual Lobby Night, sponsored by the Maryland Catholic Conference, will begin at 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s School, Marian Hall, with issue briefings. The briefings will also be offered in special sessions for youths and Spanish-speaking constituents. They will acquaint participants with proposals on the following:

Wedding favors run the creative gamut