Page 1798 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

ROME – Pope Benedict XVI announced a special jubilee year dedicated to St. Paul, saying the church needs modern Christians who will imitate the apostle’s missionary energy and spirit of sacrifice. The pope said the Pauline year will run from June 28, 2008, to June 29, 2009, to mark the approximately 2,000th anniversary of the saint’s birth. He made the announcement while presiding over a vespers service at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome June 28, the eve of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, patron saints of Rome.

Papal letter to Chinese Catholics seeks to unite divided communities

VATICAN CITY – In a groundbreaking letter to Chinese Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI established new guidelines to favor cooperation between clandestine Catholic communities and those officially registered with the government. The papal letter strongly criticized the limits placed by the Chinese government on the church’s activities. But on several key issues, including the appointment of bishops, it invited civil authorities to a fresh and serious dialogue.

Catholic Family Expo feeds faith of hundreds

As Gwendolyn Drayton-Forbes strolled through the Baltimore Convention Center with her husband and two sons, the Plainsboro, N.J. resident marveled at the spiritual expertise being presented at the 17th annual Catholic Family Expo.

Bishops, church groups set pay scale for priceless priests

Men enter the priesthood not for fame or fortune but because they hear God calling them to serve his flock. However, the question remains “what does an archdiocesan priest make?” A priest’s salary can range anywhere from a little more than $18,000 to more than $31,000 depending on length of service, whether they are a pastor or associate pastor or if they are involved in a special ministry, according to the compensation guidelines of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Former Notre Dame president teaches in Ghana

When Sister Kathleen Feeley, S.S.N.D., was an English professor and president of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, getting around the leafy Baltimore campus involved little more than a leisurely stroll from the convent.

Dealing with depression

As a child, St. Mary, Annapolis, parishioner Therese Borchard struggled with anxiety. As an adult, the married mother of two is living with depression. It wasn’t until Mrs. Borchard stopped drinking in college that she realized there was a bigger problem in her life – depression.

Cardinal Keeler’s sister Helen dies

A funeral Mass for Helen Keeler, sister of Cardinal William H. Keeler, was offered July 4 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Toronto. Ms. Keeler died June 28 of cancer. She was 60.

Latino Night at Oriole Park to benefit Hispanic Apostolate

The Baltimore Orioles have teamed up with Catholic Charities’ Hispanic Apostolate/Immigration Legal Services to celebrate the 6th-Annual Noche Latina at 3:35 p.m. July 14. Festivities will take place in the Bullpen Picnic Grove before the 4:35 p.m. game, when the Baltimore Orioles take on the Chicago White Sox.

Catholic leaders find president’s health care proposals disappointing

WASHINGTON – Calling the failure to provide health insurance for every child in the nation “a glaring moral failure,” the president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association said President George W. Bush’s opposition to the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program was “profoundly” disappointing.

Youths beautify Baltimore

The temperature in Baltimore City was 85 degrees and rising and the humidity was even worse the week of July 24-29. However, 32 youths from St. William of York, Baltimore; St. Mark, Catonsville; and Resurrection of Our Lord, Laurel, braved the heat to participate in BASE Camp, Baltimore-Act-Serve-Evangelize. The young people donned T-shirts and gloves as they worked to clear weeds away from empty lots in an effort to beautify the streets of Baltimore. According to Sarah Councill, 16, some young people conducted tree surveys, determining if trees were dead, still growing, or if more trees needed to be planted in a certain area.

Vocations camp for boys raises awareness about priesthood

Twelve-year-old Daniel Cohn doesn’t dream about becoming a major league baseball player or a Hollywood movie star. His goal in life is to become a priest and minister with soldiers as a U.S. Army chaplain. “I want to serve my country and preach about God,” said Daniel, a homeschooled parishioner of St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park. “I want to tell them they’re not there to kill, but to save lives and protect people.” Daniel was one of 10 boys who attended “Operation Genesis,” a daylong vocations camp sponsored by the archdiocese June 26 at St. John, Westminster.

Institute focuses on need to invite young people to be church leaders