Page 1861 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

To support the operations of the Franciscan Youth Center, Baltimore, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation donated $150,000 throughout this past year. The Franciscan Youth Center offers after-school and summer programs to elementary and middle school children and youth.

Bishop bucks Vatican on marriage

MEXICO CITY – A Mexican bishop is bucking Vatican orders to erase a phrase in his pastoral plan that notes the desire among his indigenous communities that married permanent deacons be ordained priests. The phrase is not fanning the hopes of a married priesthood, but simply reporting the feelings of many indigenous Catholics, said Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel of San Cristobal de Las Casas in Mexico’s Chiapas state.

The Joy of Football

As half the nation eagerly awaits the kickoff of the Super Bowl, the other half looks on in wonderment at what could be so enthralling about grown men running up and down a field carrying an oblong ball. Football fans who cannot articulate why they feel such passion for the game may retreat to their television sets feeling a vague sense of guilt that, perhaps, they are wasting their time. However, no guilt is called for, because watching sports satisfies a vital human need.

Lake Shore parish spreads winter relief

At the age of 22, Jason Bamburg had his own Baltimore City business called Jay’s Rental until he got “caught up in the wrong group” and lost it all, he said. He is now homeless, jobless and waiting to see if he can move to Louisiana to be with his family while still on parole. Mr. Bamburg is just one of the men who spent a week at the Our Lady of the Chesapeake, Lake Shore, winter relief shelter, sponsored by the Arundel House of Hope, an organization that provides housing and supportive services to the homeless and poor in Anne Arundel County. “I heard some people say this is the best place they have been,” said Mr. Bamburg, who is now 26.

Divvying up chores can lead to wedded bliss

Brian and Laurie Henderson have a simple rule when it comes to divvying up household chores: if one doesn’t like a certain task, the other will take care of it. After 17 years of marriage, it’s worked so well that the parishioners of St. John in Westminster are convinced their commitment to domestic decorum has strengthened their marriage. “My husband hated the feel of raw meat, so I took care of meat cutting,” Mrs. Henderson explained with a laugh.

Decisions on dying: Italian case shows complexity

VATICAN CITY – The death of an Italian muscular dystrophy patient who had his respirator disconnected is fueling a complex and significant discussion among top church officials. Piergiorgio Welby, who was paralyzed and kept alive by a breathing machine for nine years, pleaded for months for the device to be turned off. He said medical technology was only artificially postponing his death. In late December, a physician granted his request, and Mr. Welby died shortly afterward.

Expanding and improvements at St. Ignatius

For the last decade St. Ignatius, Hickory, has had a vision for expansion in a rapidly growing parish and community. In 2001 the parish’s new church, positioned on the property so the old church would still be prominent, was dedicated and in late spring of this year the $7.5 million loan will be paid off. Monsignor James Barker, pastor, and the parishioners of St. Ignatius are now developing and planning for new construction, refurbishing and renovations in the next 10 years.

Congress starting from scratch on making new policy

WASHINGTON – The previous Congress never got to vote on a full-scale rewrite of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Some in the Republican-run House had hoped for a vote during the post-election lame-duck session, but the shift of power to the Democrats scuttled that possibility. Now, with Democrats in charge, what could a new telecommunications bill look like? There is the possibility of including language guaranteeing equal access to the Internet by content providers, a concept known as “net neutrality.”

Committee’s work is to be faithful defender of life

PHILADELPHIA – The priorities of the U.S. bishops’ Committee for Pro-Life Activities today are “the priorities we’ve had for years, along with new challenges to life, “ said Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, who is now chairman of the committee. “We are simply trying to be faithful defenders of life at this juncture in the history of the U.S. and the world,” said the cardinal.

Knights of Fatima awards

The Knights of Columbus Council #10137 held their annual Police Officer and Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony on Jan. 27 at Our Lady of Fatima, Baltimore.

Armenian Catholics in Iraq get new archbishop

VATICAN CITY – For the first time in more than five years, the tiny Armenian Catholic community in Iraq has its own archbishop. The Vatican announced Jan. 26 that Pope Benedict XVI had given his assent to the Armenian Catholic bishops’ election of Father Emmanuel Dabbaghian, 73, as the Armenian Catholic archbishop of Baghdad. The post had been vacant since the October 2001 retirement of Archbishop Paul Coussa at the age of 84.

Humorous wedding stories