Page 1770 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – They’ve traveled a great distance to open doors and touch hearts, one person at a time. Sister Faustine of Jesus and Sister Jeanne Marie, from the Community of the Apostolic Sisters of St. John in Burgundy, France, recently arrived in Montclair to serve as Catholic campus ministers at Montclair State University’s Newman Center. Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark, the archdiocese in which the university is located, invited the sisters to serve in the archdiocese several months ago.

Bridesmaid dresses take on a new look, new role

Once, the most dreaded question was, “Will you be my bridesmaid?” After all, only a good friend would buy an unflattering, expensive, formal dress, wear it once in front of everyone and then never wear it again. But a trend that’s emerged in the past few years means that bridesmaids actually might be able to wear the dress again. And once they’re done with the dress, they can donate it to the Priceless Gown Project, which matches the dress with girls in Baltimore City who can’t afford a prom dress.

Christianity not just legacy of Europe, but way to future

VIENNA, Austria – Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Austria for a three-day pilgrimage, saying Christianity was not just the legacy of Europe’s past but “the way to the future.” The pope stepped off his chartered Alitalia jet Sept. 7 in heavy rain at the Vienna airport, where he was welcomed by Austrian President Heinz Fischer, who quickly ushered the pontiff into a hangar.

2,000 pay tribute to Cardinal Keeler

In a sign of deep affection for the man who has served as the fatherly face of the Archdiocese of Baltimore for 18 years, nearly 2,000 people gathered in the Baltimore Convention Center Sept. 6 to honor the long ministry of Cardinal William H. Keeler. Coming from all over the archdiocese – including the westernmost reaches of Garrett County, Central Maryland, the Baltimore metropolitan area, Harford County and the southern tip of Anne Arundel County – priests, sisters, deacons, brothers and lay people extolled their spiritual shepherd’s leadership and commitment to his faith.

Friends honor Cardinal Keeler

As Monsignor Thomas Kujovsky witnessed nearly 2,000 well-wishers pour into the Baltimore Convention Center Sept. 6 to pay tribute to his high school classmate – Cardinal William H. Keeler – his observation about the retiring 14th Archbishop of Baltimore is beloved was confirmed. “This sort of says it all,” said the retired Monsignor Kujovsky, who graduated with Cardinal Keeler from Lebanon Catholic High School in Lebanon, Pa. in 1948.

Pope strongly urges Europe not to deny its values

VIENNA, Austria – Before an audience of Austrian political leaders and international diplomats, Pope Benedict XVI urged Europe to not to jettison its Christian values – especially when it comes to the rights of the unborn and the dying. The pope made the remarks Sept. 7 in an ornate reception hall of Vienna’s Hofburg Palace, which was packed with government officials, legislators, ambassadors and representatives to U.N. and other agencies.

Omaha archbishop voices support for Creighton

OMAHA, Neb. – The relationship between the Archdiocese of Omaha and Creighton University remains strong, despite some media accounts that called the cancellation of a speaker at Creighton part of a “growing rift” between the university and the archdiocese.

Church to help Nicaraguans rebuild after Felix

BLUEFIELDS, Nicaragua – Thousands of people living in Nicaragua’s remote northeast lost everything to the winds of Hurricane Felix, but a bishop in the affected area said the church would accompany them as they rebuild. “The winds and flooding have destroyed a lot. People will have to start with nothing. And since flooding has destroyed the rice harvest, they won’t have anything to eat as they begin to rebuild,” said Bishop Pablo Schmitz Simon of Bluefields. “We’ll respond to Hurricane Felix as we did in 1988 when Hurricane Joan devastated Bluefields. This one hit Puerto Cabezas, destroying 80 percent of the town, and the church will respond by helping the people rebuild their lives again,” Bishop Schmitz told Catholic News Service.

Pope meets Israeli president

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy – Pope Benedict XVI met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and expressed hope that new diplomatic moves can bring peace in the Middle East. After 60 years of suffering endured by the peoples of the region, it is imperative to make “every effort” to find a just settlement, the Vatican said after the Sept. 6 meeting.

New e-mail scam targets Catholics, church institutions

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – A new spam scam targeting Catholics and church institutions promises recipients that they are among 100 people worldwide chosen at random to receive $650,000 from the Catholic Church in Italy “for your own personal, educational and business development.”

100-year-old parishioner looks forward to the future

Following a special Mass at St. Gregory the Great, Baltimore, in honor of her 100th birthday, Ella Byrd told well-wishers she may have lived through a century of history, but looks forward to events in the future that one day will be deemed historic. “As I look back, I see that we’ve made a lot of progress in making things fair and equal,” said the sprightly Sandtown-Winchester resident, who turned 100 Aug. 24. “But more needs to be done. I told my friends I’m starting my next 100 years now and can’t wait to see where we go from here.” When Ms. Byrd was born in the summer of 1907, women in the United States didn’t have the right to vote and the civil rights movement wouldn’t take place for the next 50 years.

Father Richard Timothy Sadlier, S.S.J. dies