Page 1519 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

Christians, Jews and Muslims will come together at St. Ignatius, Baltimore, for its 16th annual New Year’s Eve interfaith service.

Vatican hopes Obama will foster peace, concern for poor, cardinal says

ROME – The Vatican is concerned about President-elect Barack Obama’s positions on the family and on the unborn, but it looks forward with hope to his presidency fostering more attention to the poor and easing violence around the globe, said retired Cardinal Pio Laghi.

Year in Review: Catholic officials help victims of violence, global crises in 2008

WASHINGTON – Catholic Church officials continued to advocate for and work to help victims of violence and the global food and economic crises in 2008.

Year in Review: Financial woes leave millions wondering how far down economy can go

WASHINGTON – History likely will frame 2008 as the year America overcame lingering questions about racism as the country elected its first African-American president in Barack Obama.

Church appeals to rebels, government for lives of displaced Congolese

KIWANJA, Congo – As the rains fall in eastern Congo, Luisa Riziki huddles inside a tent she cobbled together out of bent branches and plastic sheeting, her four children gathered at her side on the bare ground.

Parishes give in many ways at Christmas

Monsignor Damien Nalepa, the pastor at St. Gregory the Great, sees the best in humanity – and the Archdiocese of Baltimore – every Christmas season.

To reach young, church must explain core beliefs, official says

VATICAN CITY – If the church wants to reach young people today, it must avoid the temptation to “fudge” on core Catholic beliefs in an effort to make them more agreeable to contemporary tastes, a Vatican official said.

Year in Review: U.S. Catholics receive strong dose of encouragement from pope’s visit

WASHINGTON – U.S. Catholics were repeatedly encouraged to find renewed hope in Christ during Pope Benedict XVI’s April 15-20 visit to the United States.

Archdiocese to open house of discernment

In a move to provide more support to men considering priestly vocations, the Archdiocese of Baltimore is transforming the second floor of St. Matthew’s rectory in Northwood into a house of discernment.

Year in Review: Presidential election caps dramatic year; economy a major issue

WASHINGTON – The election of Sen. Barack Obama as president Nov. 4 climaxed a dramatic political year in which the faltering economy ultimately steered voters’ decisions.

Pope gives Curia treats, heavy 2008 analysis to chew on for Christmas

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI gave his Roman Curia officials the traditional bottle of “spumante” and panettone cake for Christmas, and he added a gift they can chew on for days: a seven-page speech on the Holy Spirit’s presence in the church events of 2008.

Father Vasquez named St. Lawrence pastor