Page 1858 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

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

Excellent job emphasizing the well attended 34th Annual March for Life in Washington, DC, which was all but ignored by much of the media (CR, Feb. 8). However, the front page featured a photo of Gov. Martin J. O’Malley and three Catholic sisters in honor of Catholic Schools Week. In the accompanying article, the governor, sisters, school administrators, and the Maryland Catholic Conference exchange praises to one another.

Pray for politicians’ courage

An Irish Catholic governor (CR, Feb. 8), a Polish Catholic U.S. senator, an Italian Catholic Speaker of the U.S. House . . . all Catholic educated, and all pro-abortion. To be sure, Catholic education emphasizes social conscientiousness. Even in the 1950s at Ss. Philip and James, we knew what it meant to be socially responsible. It was from the pulpit, and Monsignor John J. Duggan that I received the “life” message. On an annual basis, long before “Roe v. Wade,” Monsignor Duggan told the following story:

Conference calls for healing

MCC supports criminal reporting bill

Mary Ellen Russell, deputy directory for education and family life with the Maryland Catholic Conference, called on state lawmakers to pass a bill that would require nonpublic school administrators to be informed when one of their students has been arrested for a violent or sexual crime and when such a student from another school transfers to their school.

Why Catholic? Journey through the Catechism

At the turn of the New Year, there was much excitement around my home. It seems that TIME magazine had declared me their Person of the Year. And, God bless them, TIME did the same for you. And you. And you as well.

Texan artist directs students in painting mural