Page 1758 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

Wielding a pair of oversized scissors, a smiling Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien snipped a golden dedication ribbon with one decisive cut Oct. 7 – officially dedicating a brand-new $3.6 million parish center at Holy Family Catholic Community in Middletown and marking the first of what is likely to be many dedication ceremonies as Baltimore’s 15th archbishop.

Our Lady’s Center now rebuilt

The fire that destroyed Our Lady’s Center in Ellicott City in 2001 obviously didn’t touch the heart of the popular spiritual center and gift shop.

Catholic Family Foundation gives $1 million for endeavors

Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien’s one-week anniversary as leader of the Archdiocese of Baltimore set off on a positive note Oct. 8, as the Catholic Family Foundation announced it was distributing $1 million for local Catholic endeavors, the largest contribution in its nine-year history.

Vatican official says religions must be free for peace

The only way to ensure that religions contribute to peace rather than violence is to guarantee religious freedom and promote religious education so believers understand that peace and harmony are at the core of every religion, the Vatican’s foreign minister said.

Virginia priest starts homes for unwed mothers

Providing homes for unwed mothers is a necessary outreach for the pro-life movement, said Father Stefan Starzynski, a priest of the Arlington Diocese who has started two homes for unwed mothers.

Archbishop O’Brien visits Western Maryland

In a whirlwind tour that took him to the westernmost reaches of his new archdiocese, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien visited 18 parishes and schools in Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties Oct. 4-7, the first pastoral visits the prelate has made since his Oct. 1 installation as Baltimore’s 15th archbishop.

Propagation of the Faith office gets new name

Quick: What exactly does the Society for the Propagation of the Faith do? If you stuttered for a minute or two, you’re not the only one.

Catholic Charities board member J.P. ‘Blase’ Cooke dies

Longtime board member of Catholic Charities and generous contributor for the Archdiocese of Baltimore Joseph Peter “Blase” Cooke died Oct. 2 at his Glenwood home. The 60-year-old St. Louis, Clarksville, parishioner and married father of three sons had carcinoid cancer.

Sociologist says good news outweighs bad

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate honored sociologist James D. Davidson of Purdue University in Indiana and Monsignor Francis J. Maniscalco, former U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops spokesman, for their contributions to church research.

Catholic center works to clean up sports

A Catholic sports association has partnered with a once-scandal-plagued Italian soccer team in an effort to help clean up sports.

Clearing quake debris still the main focus in Peru

PISCO, Peru – Six weeks after an earthquake flattened 80 percent of the adobe brick homes in Pisco, the town on the Pacific coast 140 miles south of Lima, had only recently started to rumble consistently with the more welcome sound of heavy equipment hauling away tons of rubble.

Experts warn of immigration scam