Page 1781 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. – In late July, carloads of curious Catholics caravanned north from their church to a mosque in the next county. Three dozen Catholics who regularly attend Mass at the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement’s Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison accepted a Muslim visitor’s invitation to attend services at Masjid Al-Noor, his mosque in Wappingers Falls.

Bishop Pelotte moved to Houston hospital to be near his brother

WASHINGTON – Bishop Donald E. Pelotte of Gallup, N.M., has been moved to a Houston hospital closer to where his brother lives, after spending more than two weeks in a Phoenix hospital recovering from injuries he said he sustained in a fall at his home July 22. In an Aug. 9 posting on the diocesan Web site, Deacon Timoteo Lujan, chancellor, said Bishop Pelotte was transferred the day before to Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center for ongoing treatment of traumatic head injuries.

Struggle by indigenous to regain land in Brazil is deadly serious

DOURADOS, Brazil – In Brazil, the struggle by indigenous people to regain their right to the land once inhabited by their ancestors is deadly serious. Ortiz Lopes, a member of the Guarani Kaiowa indigenous group who was murdered by a gunman July 8, was the 20th Guarani leader killed so far this year in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, according to the Catholic Church’s Indigenous Missionary Council, known by its Portuguese acronym as CIMI.

Faith-based investors say proposed rule could gut rights

WASHINGTON – In the 10 years since John Wilson joined Christian Brothers Investment Services, the number of shareholder resolutions filed by the socially responsible investment firm has decreased and the number of resolutions withdrawn after being introduced has increased.

Why the flip side of the coin?

It was with heartfelt anguish that I read the cartoon (CR, July 26).

God: Trinity or personal savior

I was watching EWTN’s “Journey Home” program last night (July 30, 2007) featuring a panel of three former Pentecostal preachers who had converted to Catholicism. After much praise of Pentecostal individuals and depth of devotion, they went on to present their criticisms.

Missionaries of Charity embrace the poor and sick

On a sweltering August morning, Matthew Walinsky leaves the sanctuary of the AIDS hospice at St. Wenceslaus, Baltimore, where he resides, to volunteer around the corner at the Missionaries of Charity summer Bible camp. Though he appears robust, the 50-year-old former altar boy from St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Pasadena, suffers from a host of AIDS-related health problems that make the vigorous unpaid volunteer sessions a taxing labor of love. “The sisters have been so good to me and have set such a great example of the amount of work we can all do if we have the will, that I’m more than happy to help out,” said Mr. Walinsky, referring to the six Missionaries of Charity who run several free programs in the community.

Group hopes education helps undercut violence in Darfur

NYALA, Sudan – An ecumenical relief organization working in Sudan’s Darfur region is hoping to undercut violence by educating displaced people about human rights and peace. For instance, the organization – Darfur Emergency Response Operation – has helped displaced women build more efficient cooking stoves, lessening the number of trips they have to make out of the camps to forage for firewood – journeys that often result in rape by Arab militia members. After police failed to respond to the women’s complaints about rape, the ecumenical organization began educating women about their rights, while training local paralegal committees to accompany the women when they go to the police to report the assaults.

Pope’s meeting with priest does not affect Jewish relations

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI’s brief encounter with a Polish priest accused of anti-Semitism does not indicate any change in the Vatican’s position concerning Catholic-Jewish relations, the Vatican said in a written statement.

Sainthood candidate seen as excellent model for today

WASHINGTON – Father Michael J. McGivney, an American parish priest and founder of the Knights of Columbus in 19th-century Connecticut, would be a model saint for today, according to the Knights’ supreme chaplain.

Gambrills and Annapolis parishioners donate hair

Sitting on a booster seat in the Signatures hair salon in Annapolis, 4-year-old Caitlin Guenther watched herself stoically in the mirror as Patti Linkins gathered the girl’s lush, long locks into a pony tail and raised a pair of scissors. In a series of assertive snips, the hair stylist clipped 10-inches off the brunette’s soft hair – gently raising the freed pony tail like a trophy Aug. 8. At the sight of her missing hair, Caitlin let down her guard and shed a few tears while her older sister held her hand and family members and other onlookers applauded and snapped photos. After a few minutes and some hugs from Julie Guenther, her mother, Caitlin was all smiles. Swaying back and forth while Mrs. Guenther sang “I Feel Pretty,” Caitlin twirled her clipped hair between her fingers.

Monsignor McGovern celebrates 40th jubilee