Page 1783 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

WASHINGTON – Every so often, you may have an opinion about some issue. You know in your heart that it’s so, but you rarely have the material to back up your belief – or suspicion, as the case may be.

St. Paul-Minneapolis Catholics responds to bridge collapse

WASHINGTON – Upon hearing of the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, priests from the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis traveled to the scene, as well as to nearby hospitals and medical centers, to see how they could help victims of the tragedy and their families. Although Dennis McGrath, archdiocesan spokesman, said that travel between the two cities has been “virtually impossible” since the disaster, the archdiocese held two noon prayer services Aug. 2 – one in St. Paul at the Cathedral of St. Paul and the other at St. Olaf Catholic Church in Minneapolis.

Parish checkups measure ‘how Holy Spirit is guiding us’

WEST BABYLON, N.Y. – Seven Long Island parishes are giving themselves a spiritual checkup – conducting surveys to find out how actively engaged their parishioners are.

Northern Irish Catholics relieved British military have left

BELFAST, Northern Ireland – A Belfast-based Passionist priest said Northern Irish Catholics feel “joy and relief” that British military operations in the region have come to an end. Father Aidan Troy, known for his mediation role in the 2001 Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School dispute when Protestant protesters blocked access to the school, told Catholic News Service he hopes that “children in the North will never again have to witness the spectacle of armed troops patrolling the streets.” In the Catholic community, “there (have been) obviously mixed feelings. But we’re overwhelmingly relieved that operations have come to an end,” said the priest at Holy Cross Parish in the working-class Ardoyne suburb of Belfast. Father Troy said he hoped that the end of Operation Banner would mark the end of “a very sad chapter in the history of Ireland.”

New service ministry aims to continue where St. Joseph left off

GARY, Ind. – While little is known of the quiet, gentle man who served as the protector and human father of Jesus, the image of Joseph as a carpenter invokes creative thoughts of how he might have served his God and neighbors. With this fatherly saint as inspiration, St. John the Evangelist Parish in St. John has launched a new endeavor – the St. Joseph the Carpenter ministry. Defined in their mission statement as a diverse group of people in service to the less fortunate, the group vows to help “restore the dignity of our brothers and sisters in Christ through love, compassion and home-repair assistance.”

Supporters pray for beatification of Father Solanus Casey

DETROIT – Donald Veryser, a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in suburban Grosse Pointe Woods, was among the many supporters of Capuchin Father Solanus Casey’s cause for sainthood who came to St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit July 28-29 to pray for his beatification.

Priest experiences warmth of friend’s homeland

People have been asking Father Mark Bialek the meaning of the yellow, blue and red fabric bracelet on his wrist.

Curley names vice president of operations

Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore has named John Kogler its vice president of operations. He will have the primary responsibility of overseeing the daily operations in the school and on the 33-acre campus.

Audit finds problems with San Diego parishes’ accounting

WASHINGTON – While much of an audit of the finances of the San Diego Diocese showed recordkeeping was above-board, it found some cases of parishes moving tens of thousands of dollars around at the time of bankruptcy filing – in ways that apparently violated diocesan policies.

Faith-based efforts to aid homeless

WASHINGTON – The mission of Eva’s Village is to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and treat the addicted.

Pope prays for scouts

VATICAN CITY – Greeting an international group of Scouts on the 100th anniversary of Scouting, Pope Benedict XVI prayed that the movement would continue to promote “human, spiritual and civil formation in every country of the world.”

Orioles’ staffer ends 47-year-home-game streak