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Church must take sin seriously but stress God’s mercy

VATICAN CITY – The Catholic Church must take sin seriously, but it must do so like Jesus did, by emphasizing God’s mercy and trust in the sinner’s ability to change, said the preacher of the papal household. In criticizing the Pharisees, “Jesus does not deny that sin and sinners exist,” said Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, offering a Lenten reflection March 30 to Pope Benedict XVI and top Vatican officials. But Jesus “was more severe” toward those who “condemned the sinners than toward the sinners themselves,” the preacher said.

Vatican to begin broadcasting papal events in HD

VATICAN CITY – Keeping in step with the fast pace of communications technology, the Vatican television center is to begin broadcasting in high definition. The first papal event to be aired using the new format will be a special April 15 Mass celebrating Pope Benedict XVI’s April 16 birthday. “We’ve realized that if we want to continue to do a good job of broadcasting footage of the pope to other television stations, we have to be ready for the day” when high definition is expected to become the norm in television broadcasting, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman and head of the Vatican television center, or CTV.

Mount St. Mary’s professor wins $63,000 on ‘Jeopardy!’

As he sits on the blue couch in his Walkersville home watching “Jeopardy! America’s favorite quiz show,” Scott Weiss knows most of the answers. “Being in front of everyone on the planet on TV on the show – that’s a different kind of thing!” said the assistant professor in the department of mathematics and computer science at Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, who was a recent contestant on “Jeopardy!” The 36-year-old garnered winnings of $63,000 over four rounds.

Archdiocese Receives Allegations of Abuse

In the past week, the Archdiocese of Baltimore learned of two allegations of sexual abuse of a minor against Monsignor Richard E. Smith, 67, pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ellicott City. The alleged abuse occurred in mid-late 1960s while Richard Smith was a priest at Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help […]

NDP names new principal

Laurie A. Jones, principal of Battle Grove Elementary School in Dundalk, has been named the new principal of Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson effective July 1. Ms. Jones, a parishioner of Ss. Philip and James in Baltimore, succeeds Clare Pitz. Ms. Jones said she learned about the position in an advertisement in The Catholic Review and was impressed by NDP’s mission to form highly educated, well-rounded young women.

Father Fessio dismissed as provost of Ave Maria

UPDATED NAPLES, Fla. – A day after he was asked to resign his post as provost and leave the campus March 21, Jesuit Father Joseph Fessio agreed to continue to have a role at Ave Maria University, including teaching and serving as a theologian in residence. A statement sent the evening of March 22 by the university’s public relations firm said Father Fessio accepted the school’s offer that he continue his relationship with Ave Maria in a nonadministrative capacity. The university’s March 21 announcement that Father Fessio had been asked to resign as provost cited “irreconcilable differences over administrative policies and practices.”

Close scores highlight CWV Championships

On March 10, Calvert Hall College High School, Towson, hosted the 48th Annual Monsignor Hugh J. Monaghan Post 736 of the Catholic War Veterans Basketball Championships. According to league administrator Leo Fenzel, each game was exciting with a number of games coming down to the wire. In the Cub league (fifth grades and below), the School of the Cathedral, Homeland, Green team netted 10 of its 14 foul shot attempts to defeat St. Ursula, Parkville, 24 -19. St. Ursula’s junior team (sixth graders) turned back a tough St. Pius X, Rodgers Forge, squad 25-19 as Darryle Edwards scored a team-high 17 points.

Bishop Malooly dedicates Sykesville parish center

The space that once served as the second church for St. Joseph in Sykesville has been transformed into an office complex to meet the administrative needs of a fast-growing parish of more than 3,000 registered families. Bishop W. Francis Malooly, western vicar, blessed and dedicated the Chaminade Parish Center following a March 18 liturgy. The center is named after Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, the founder of the Marianist order of priests and brothers who have staffed the parish since 1981.

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