Page 1807 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

ROME – U.S. President George W. Bush praised the Catholic lay Community of Sant’Egidio for being part of an “international army of compassion” that helps the poor.

Immigration bill stalled, not dead, backers say

WASHINGTON – With the June 7 failure of a procedural vote intended to bring the bill to a vote, the Senate’s attempt to pass comprehensive immigration reform will go back behind the scenes, though the bill’s backers in both parties vowed to bring it to the floor again.

Father Bak, ‘pioneer’ in diaconate, dies

George P. Matysek Jr.

Local News, News, Obituaries

Father Bernard S. Bak, one of the first permanent deacons ordained in the United States who later became a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, died in his Dundalk home June 8. He was 85. A funeral Mass was offered June 11 at St. Casimir in Canton, the parish in which Father Bak grew up and where he served as a deacon after his 1971 ordination. Father Bak also served as a deacon at Christ the King in Dundalk. After his wife of 35 years, Antoinette Stefanowicz, died in 1984, Father Bak petitioned the archdiocese to become a priest. He studied at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Roland Park and was ordained a priest in 1988.

Childhood obesity: A growing problem in the U.S.

About 15 percent of children living in the United States between the ages of 10 and 18 can be classified as obese, said Dr. Robert Ancona, the head of pediatrics at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson.

College of Notre Dame launches program in Panama

College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Baltimore, now offers its master of arts in teaching program in Panama.

Pope, Bush discuss wide range of issues, including Christians in Iraq

UPDATED VATICAN CITY – Meeting for the first time, Pope Benedict XVI and U.S. President George W. Bush spoke about the precarious situation of Christians in Iraq and a wide range of other foreign policy and moral issues. The pope and president looked relaxed as they greeted each other and spoke briefly before reporters before their 35-minute private encounter June 9. Bush later held a separate 40-minute meeting with the Vatican’s top foreign policy officials.

Papal patience causes chafing among some Vatican bureaucrats, media

VATICAN CITY – More than two years into his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI has proven to be a very patient decision-maker – so patient that even some of his Vatican bureaucrats are chafing a little.

Monsignor Auer celebrates 50 years as a priest

For 50 years Monsignor John Auer has served as a priest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, been an inspiration to others and helped parishes achieve their goals.

Blog aims to educate public on preparing for possible pandemic

WASHINGTON – What do the founder of eBay, the U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services and a Mercy nun/ethicist have in common?

Doctor offers tips for playground safety

When Dr. Maria Brown takes her 2-year-old daughter to the playground, she makes sure she’s right behind her when the toddler climbs onto the slide or tests out the swings. “Things happen really quickly,” warned Dr. Brown, a pediatrician at St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, and a parishioner of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Baltimore. “A lot of moms will stand 30 or 40 feet away, she said. “There’s nothing you can do at that distance if there’s an accident or something goes wrong.”

Honoree represents many at St. Vincent de Paul

As William Bryant made his way to the Homeland campus of Loyola College in Maryland June 5, he had more to be proud of than the honor St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore was about to bestow on him. The formerly drug-addicted homeless man moved into his own apartment earlier in the day, marking the first time the 52-year-old Frederick Ozanam House graduate has had a residence he could call his own in 25 years. After receiving his New Life Award from the organization that oversaw his rehabilitation program at the Frederick Ozanam House in Fells Point, Mr. Bryant knew he would have to arrive at his new West Baltimore apartment early, in order to get enough rest to make it to his new job as the front-desk receptionist at the Beans & Bread homeless resource center.

Early Catholic schoolgirl embroidery on display