Page 1496 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

He sat at the kitchen table, held her hands in his and gazed into her eyes.

Education meetings begin with sobering statistics

Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien delivered sobering statistics of declining enrollment in Catholic schools Feb. 10 during a consultation meeting with more than 100 parish priests and pastoral life directors.

Vatican conference will give intelligent design critical study

VATICAN CITY – An upcoming Vatican-sponsored conference on evolution will include critical study of the theory of intelligent design, which, organizers said, represents poor theology and science.

Australian archbishop pledges church’s support to wildfire victims

CANBERRA, Australia – The head of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference said the Catholic Church would lend both spiritual and practical support to families victimized by a series of wildfires that left more than 180 dead in Victoria state.

Hospitals won’t comply with unjust laws and won’t close, bishop says

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Catholic Health Association’s board of trustees recently reaffirmed its opposition to any attempts by Congress or President Barack Obama to broaden abortion access and its commitment to keep Catholic hospitals open, Bishop Robert N. Lynch of St. Petersburg said in a Feb. 6 blog entry.

Father John Nissel, S.J.

A funeral Mass for Jesuit Father John Nissel, a Baltimore native who served as a missionary in Japan, was held Jan. 28 at St. Ignatius Church on the campus of Sophia University in Tokyo. A memorial service will be held March 21 at 10 a.m. at St. Agnes Church in Catonsville. Father Nissel died Jan. 25. He was 83.

Father Charles Riepe, Harford leader, dies at 75

Father Charles K. Riepe always viewed life as a constant education – for himself and others.

Catholics celebrate life of Mother Lange

Every day, Deacon B. Curtis Turner glances at the image of Mother Mary Lange hanging on his wall at St. Frances Academy in East Baltimore and offers a prayer.

Vatican says Englaro’s death must lead to better ways to protect life

VATICAN CITY – The Feb. 9 death of Eluana Englaro after nutrition and hydration were withheld should lead Italian citizens and their government to find more effective ways to protect and promote human life, said the Vatican spokesman.

Pope appeals for improved protection, support for sick children

VATICAN CITY – Countless sick and suffering children are in urgent need of help and protection, Pope Benedict XVI said.

People, Places, Things

Three Mother Seton School, Emmitsburg, middle school students, Matthew Benjamin, Robin Wivell and Mitchell Swope are among dozens of students selected to participate in the Celebration of the Arts 2009 March 23 at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore. Middle and high school students from the Archdiocese of Baltimore gifted in art, dance, drama and music will showcase their talents in an evening performance and display. Doors open at 6 p.m. to view art displays, and the performance begins at 7:30 p.m.

Stewardship could use new model