Page 1801 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

MINDANAO, Philippines – Analiza Litohon puts on a good spread for her family: string beans, cabbage, sweet potatoes, cassava, eggplant, black beans, spring onions. All of it she grows in her own vegetable garden next to the home she shares with her husband, Julito, and their three young children, ages 1 to 4.

Four men ordained to the priesthood

When Jesse Bolger was an infant, his musically inclined parents would occasionally place their son in a guitar case on the church altar while they practiced. On June 23, Barbara and Brian Bolger’s son was once again on the altar – this time being ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Father Bolger, 34, along with Father Michael Foppiano, 27; Father Daniel Goulet, 33; and Father Michael Triplett, 28, was ordained by Bishop W. Francis Malooly, western vicar and vicar general, at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland, in front of hundreds of family members, friends and parishioners.

Work camp is labor of love for archdiocesan youths

The playground across the street from St. Martin’s church, Baltimore, was overgrown with weeds, the swings were broken, glass lay strewn all over the ground and many of the benches were damaged until a group of youth from the Baltimore/ Appalachia Work Camp arrived the week of June 17-22. A total of 160 youth and adult volunteers spent two weeks at 36 different sites around Baltimore and in the Appalachia area of West Virginia, doing manual labor for those who need help.

Cardinal Keeler discharged from hospital

UPDATED Following his June 25 release from The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Cardinal William H. Keeler is back at his downtown residence and will undergo outpatient rehabilitation at Mercy Medical Center, according to archdiocesan spokesman Sean Caine. Although the cardinal’s seven-day hospital stay following a June 18 surgery to drain an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid from his brain prevented the 76-year-old archbishop from attending the June 23 ordination of four priests, he was able to send an audio greeting to the men. He was also able to send a message to those receiving papal honors at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland, June 24.

St. Agnes’ young adults discover Christ

A crowd of some 60 young adults between the ages of 18-35 stood to sing “All Creatures of our God and King” in the St. Agnes, Catonsville, cafeteria, June 19 as part of the six-week program “Discovering Christ,” which is run by ChristLife, a Catholic ministry for evangelization.

Exhibit shows Isaac Newton’s fascination with religious writings

JERUSALEM – A new exhibit of never-displayed manuscripts written by Isaac Newton reveals the scientist’s fascination with theology and apocalyptic and biblical writings. Best known as the rational 17th-century mathematician and physicist who discovered the notion of gravity, Newton is considered one of the foremost scientific intellects of all time. “During that period religion and science were often connected with each other,” said Yemima Ben Menachem, curator of the exhibit and philosophy professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where the papers are on display. “Most of the great scientists of the 17th century were religious in different ways. Newton was also a very religious man.”

Movie producer hopes Baltimore sees message of redemption

Participants in the June 28-July 1 Catholic Family Expo in Baltimore will be among the first to preview the much anticipated movie “Bella” during a June 30 screening at the Baltimore Convention Center at 7 p.m. The producer and the movie’s lead actor – both of whom are featured speakers at the expo – will also be on hand to discuss how their shared Catholic ideology shaped their professional alliance.

Kirk Gaddy honored for volunteerism

Even as he works full-time as principal of St. Katharine School in East Baltimore, Dr. Kirk Gaddy makes sure he also carves out a minimum of 25 hours every month for volunteer service in his community.

Poll finds support for raising tobacco tax to fund health care

WASHINGTON – Regardless of their age, gender, race, party affiliation or socioeconomic status, Americans support a 75-cent-per-pack increase in the federal tobacco tax to fund health care coverage for the nation’s uninsured children, according to a new poll.

Former Olympian takes on new challenge as priest

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – More than a decade ago Joseph Fitzgerald was balancing his work as a youth minister at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Lindenhurst with membership on the men’s national handball team that represented the U.S. at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Polish officials investigate report that ex-nuns threaten suicide

WARSAW, Poland – Polish justice officials have ordered an investigation after a national newspaper claimed a group of defrocked Catholic nuns threatened to commit mass suicide.

Maryland pastoral letter on sick and dying sparks interest