VATICAN CITY – Rarely is a general audience talk interrupted by spontaneous applause, and Pope Benedict XVI seemed as surprised as anyone when the clapping began in the Vatican’s audience hall. The pope had been talking about the church’s early times, and he set aside his text to drive home a point: The apostles and...Read More

When Betty Williams enters St. Bernardine Feb. 11, she will be sporting a red outfit and she’s encouraging her fellow parishioners to do the same. The fashion statement is not in honor of St. Valentine’s Day, but to raise awareness about the importance of cardiovascular care and the risk factors related to heart disease.Read More

The Knights of Columbus of St. Lawrence Martyr, Jessup, will hold a Valentine Dance in the parish center on Feb. 17 from 8 p.m. until midnight.Read More

The next session of Why Catholic?, the adult faith formation program based on the church’s catechism and scriptures, will correspond with the season of Lent and for most parishes the small groups will meet starting Feb. 18.Read More

This year Stella Maris’ highest form of praise, the Mercy Spirit Award, went to Stephanie Gramling and Phyllistine Davis. The award is given to two employees who live the values of the Sisters of Mercy. Nominees must demonstrate four of the seven core values of the Mercy Health Services, including respect, hospitality, mercy/justice, excellence, empowerment,...Read More

MEXICO CITY – Whenever the freight train rolls into town, Father Alejandro Solalinde and his team of pastors know it’s going to be a long night. The freight trains, loaded with hundreds of Central American migrants heading north to the United States, stop in Father Solalinde’s town of Ixtepec, an important rail junction in southern...Read More

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers honored Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore Jan. 30 for his extensive contributions to ecumenical and interreligious relations.Read More

ANNAPOLIS – Standing inside the governor’s mansion he has occupied for less than three weeks, Gov. Martin J. O’Malley told a group of Catholic educators he never would have pursued a career in public service were it not for his own Catholic education.Read More