Page 1796 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

Jeanine Nkurunziza fled her home in Burundi, Africa, in 1994 after war tore the country apart. She has experienced many hard times since she came to Maryland so many years ago but she has never lost her faith, said Joann Blewett, executive director of Harford Habitat for Humanity.

Vatican budget closes with surplus; Peter’s Pence up $42 million

VATICAN CITY – Despite a serious drop in the value of the U.S. dollar, the Vatican’s 2006 budget closed with a surplus of more than $3.2 million, said Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani, head of the Vatican’s general accounting office.

Catholic lay leader says China will continue to elect, ordain bishops

HONG KONG – A Catholic lay leader from Beijing said China will continue to “self-elect and self-ordain” bishops.

CRS clinic in Zambia helps orphans affected by HIV/AIDS

WASHINGTON – Nearly two years ago in the southern African nation of Zambia, Natasha Kangwa became an orphan and was diagnosed with HIV.

Cheevers Camp focuses on the fundamentals of the game

Where else would Jeff Cheevers be on a steaming hot day in June, but in a sweltering gymnasium full of kids, basketballs and whistles. Cheevers, the athletic director and head basketball coach for The Cardinal Gibbons School, Baltimore, loves hoops and he loves kids, as evidenced in his first year of rolling out the Jeff Cheevers Basketball Camp for kids ages 7-17. Cheevers has a gentle way about him that draws in kids of all ages, which led Cheevers to be named the 2007 Baltimore Catholic League’s Coach of the Year.

Pope says he plans to attend World Youth Day 2008 in Australia

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI announced that he planned to attend World Youth Day celebrations in Australia in July 2008, and he encouraged young people to prepare for “this marvelous celebration of the faith.” Speaking at the end of his general audience July 4, the pope confirmed hopes that he would make the 10,000-mile journey from Rome to Sydney for the international assembly with hundreds of thousands of youths. “One year from now we will meet at World Youth Day in Sydney!” the pope told a group of young people in Rome for a planning session. The pope tentatively was scheduled to arrive in Sydney July 17, 2008, for four days of ceremonies.

NBC’s Hansen addresses Catholic educators on online dangers

NEWTON, Mass. – Like Catholic educators, Chris Hansen of the “To Catch a Predator” segments on “Dateline NBC” seeks to inform young people. Raising awareness and debunking myths about sexual predators have been the aims of the 11 reports he has worked on thus far, he said.

At national conference, young adults renew commitment to church

SAN DIEGO – About 500 Catholics flocked to the San Diego Marriott Del Mar June 29-July 1 for a full schedule of educational, spiritual and social programming specifically designed for single Catholics.

Sarah’s Hope expands homeless services

Sarah’s Hope Outreach Center, a homeless shelter in Rosedale operated by St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, has expanded its services to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

St. Frances Peace Camp instills nonviolent values

As 8-year-old Darrell Truesdale scampers down the corridors of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore on a recent summer morning, the inner-city youth prepares for a lesson about Mahatma Gandhi, the slain political and spiritual leader of India who advocated nonviolent solutions. The session is part of a forceful curriculum at the school’s summer-long Peace Camp, designed to teach Baltimore’s children how to rebuke the violence plaguing city streets. Though it’s the third year St. Frances Academy has offered a free, six-week, all-day camp, this is the first summer it has a “peace” theme.

Articles hold different viewpoints

In “Two anniversaries of political consequence,” (CR, June 21), George Weigel uses the attack by Israel of Egypt, Syria and Jordan in 1967 as a justification for preemptive war as a legitimate part of foreign policy.

Mother, daughter create magic on Mercy team