Page 1883 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

On a recent frigid December weekday, Tina Tekirian of Frederick slipped out of her laboratory at the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine in downtown Baltimore, walked the few blocks to Shrine of St. Jude and settled into a pew shortly before the noon Mass was set to begin. With a workplace identification card dangling in front of her warm purple sweater, the neuroscientist and parishioner of St. John the Evangelist, Frederick was deep in prayer as the priest made his way to the altar.

Celebrating culture at Our Lady of Guadalupe

Dressed as the Indian peasant St. Juan Diego, who was visited by the Blessed Virgin Mary nearly 500 years ago, 2-year-old Brian Balbuena of Westminster helped several hundred Maryland Hispanics celebrate the annual Mass for Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 10 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland.

Vatican officials say they found St. Paul’s tomb in Roman basilica

After years of archaeological work, Vatican officials announced they have identified the tomb of St. Paul beneath the Rome basilica dedicated to the apostle.

Kidnappers release two Chaldean Catholic priests in Iraq

The kidnapped rector of the Chaldean Catholic seminary and a kidnapped parish priest in Baghdad, Iraq, have been released. The Rome-based AsiaNews agency reported Dec. 11 the reasons for the priest’s abduction and release were still unknown, but it said the rector’s health “was fine.”

St. Vincent volunteer encourages gift giving

Full of energy and with the gift of gab, St. Joseph, Cockeysville, parishioner Geri Olsen is the perfect volunteer for St. Vincent Center in Timonium.

In the blink of an eye, the 65-year-old can start up a conversation with someone and have them making a donation to St. Vincent, a 70¬ bed residential facility for abused children with serious behavioral, psychiatric and/ or emotional problems.

“No matter where I am I just find I’m able to come into giving to St. Vincent’s,” said Mrs. Olsen. “I just think it’s a great cause. I’m always looking for new people who are interested.”

Pope says Christians are urged to become immaculate in love like Mary

All Christians are called to become “holy and immaculate in love,” just as Mary was, Pope Benedict XVI said. The pope celebrated the Dec. 8 feast of the Immaculate Conception by reciting the Angelus prayer at the Vatican and by making an afternoon visit to a Marian monument in the center of Rome.

During his afternoon visit, the pope blessed a large basket of pink roses set at the foot of a column topped by a statue of Mary. The statue commemorates Pope Pius IX’s proclamation in 1854 that Mary was conceived free of original sin.

Vatican officials gauge life span, geographic reach of Turkey visit

Buoyed by Pope Benedict XVI’s successful visit to Turkey, Vatican officials began trying to gauge its long-term effect on ecumenical and Catholic-Muslim dialogue in other parts of the world. Would the rave reviews and upbeat headlines carry over into coming weeks and months? And in the case of Islam, would the pope’s outreach to a Muslim population on the edge of Europe make a similar impact in Arab and East Asian countries?

Christian dalits fast in India’s capital to protest for equal rights

Catholic laypeople have been fasting in India’s capital for nearly two weeks to end discrimination against Christian dalits, or low castes without equal rights.Franklin Thomas, coordinator of the National Council of Dalit Christians, spoke to Catholic News Service about the hunger protest. The activists are reigniting the demand for Christian rights while the Indian Parliament is in its winter session.

The graffiti is on the wall

Maryland citizens may drive by walls, buildings, bridges and other graffiti-covered structures every day and not think twice about the spray-painted messages. But for the Anne Arundel County Police Department, “the graffiti is on the wall” when it comes to area gangs.

St. Michael’s Creative Corner instills love of reading in the young

Maria “Gladys” Garcia believes the key to a good educational foundation can be found between the colorful covers of books, and she has found a corner in St. Michael’s Church where she can join other parents who read to their children.

Vivacious St. Mary’s minister shares special connection with teens

For Ginny Dauses, the 2,000 minutes included in her cell phone plan just aren’t enough. After all, the St. Mary High School, Annapolis, campus minister is constantly fielding calls from young people who want to say hello, see how she is doing, talk about their problems or ask what is on the schedule for the new God Uniting Students program.

Catholic Digest partners with National Council of Catholic Women