Page 1618 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

A funeral Mass for Sister Mary Alice Ashton, O.S.F. (formerly Sister Robert Ann), was offered June 19 at St. Anthony of Padua and Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Baltimore. Monsignor Joseph L. Luca, pastor of St. Louis, Clarksville, officiated.

St. Agnes Hospital names nurse of the year

During National Nurses’ Week, St. Agnes Hospital has named Angela Keppley, R.N., its 2008 Nurse of the Year. Ms. Keppley is a nurse in one of the hospital’s medical/surgical units and a parishioner of St. Clement, Lansdowne.

As rebels launch new attacks, CRS sends foreign staff out of Chad

N’DJAMENA, Chad – As rebel troops raced across the desert in what some fear might be a repeat of February’s assault on the Chadian capital, aid workers prepared for the worst.

Australian bishops urge lapsed Catholics to return

PERTH, Australia – The Australian bishops have undertaken a nationwide newspaper advertising blitz, inviting lapsed Catholics to return and asking for forgiveness for any hurt the church caused individuals in the past.

Boy Scouts remembered for helping others, loving life

OMAHA, Neb. – Amid a crowd of friends, family, Boy Scouts and Boy Scout leaders, Bryan and Arnell Petrzilka leaned over and kissed their 13-year-old son, Ben, whose body lay in a casket at Mary Our Queen Church in Omaha.

Facing death enriches trust in God

In last week’s column I shared my ‘near-death’ experience from pulmonary embolisms – blood clots that broke off from a larger clot in my leg and traveled to my lungs. As I explained last week, a blood clot in the leg is known as DVT – Deep Vein Thrombosis. Two hundred thousand people die each year in the U.S. from blood clots – more than die of AIDS and breast cancer combined.

Father Brian Rafferty

Kayaking helps keep priest afloat

Father Brian Rafferty has a motor that won’t stop and the arms to match. After celebrating two early morning Masses at Our Lady of the Chesapeake, Lake Shore, on a sweltering June morning, the pastor was ready for more.

Fat no more: Bariatric surgeries prevail when diets fail

Ann Veilleux isn’t worried about her size 16 clothing going out of style. That’s because soon, the 50-year-old nurse will be buying smaller sizes.

Family fun day invigorates families of children with disabilities

Even before the first Family Fun Day was over, William Fleming was planning the next one. The coordinator of catechesis for persons with developmental disabilities for the Archdiocese of Baltimore was so pleased with the turnout of more than 80 people at the Monsignor O’Dwyer Retreat House, Sparks, he knew he and volunteer Debbi Dempsay, a parishioner of St. Joseph, Fullerton, would have to plan another event.

Father Martin’s Ashley helps people to heal with dignity

The sun rises over the Chesapeake Bay, offering hopeful rays each morning to patients meditating on the lawn by the chapel at Father Martin’s Ashley.

A New Pentecost, A New Evangelization… The Challenge of Pope Benedict

Our role at the Catholic Center, where the offices for the central services of the Archdiocese are located, is to provide the support that will allow the outstanding work of our parishes, schools and other institutions to continue for the benefit of those we serve. I have been extremely impressed by the dedication of the fine people who show up at 320 Cathedral Street each day striving to serve God by supporting the many valuable ministries of this Archdiocese. Seeking to better understand the efficiency and effectiveness of this support, as well as to bring a sense of definition and clarity to our local Church called “Archdiocese,” led me to commission a study of the daily operations. The Mission Study, which involved interviews with dozens of people at the Catholic Center, as well as individuals from parishes, schools, and other institutions, indicated several areas for improvement. Most notably, communication, both among the various departments within the Catholic Center and with the institutions we support, as well as clearly defined expectations for success are chief among them.

Deacon James Awalt dies