Congress XIII participants can take heart from the consecrated men and women who for decades courageously spoke truth to power as they called for the inclusion of the cultural contributions of Black Catholics to the Catholic Church during those troubling times before the Baltimore-based National Black Catholic Congress Inc. (NBCC) was established.

We hope the Catholic media personnel who come to Charm City this month will find the support they need to continue this important work.

More than 500 people joined the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil at their local parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, a culmination of months of preparation for the sacraments of initiation, confirmation and reception into full communion with the church.

If you’re skeptical about the power of prayer in fostering religious vocations, consider the extraordinary example of Elizabeth Louisa Rolls Vaughan.

Those of us who value the service of law enforcement should constantly pray for their strength in discerning how best to respond to troubling situations, some of which could be life threatening.

Throughout her life, Sister Thea pioneered the rights of African Americans in the Catholic Church and refused to accept the racial injustices she witnessed within her community.

As angels revealed the birth of the Messiah to the shepherds, representing the nation of Israel; the star revealed Christ to the Gentiles, represented by these magi from another land.

Perhaps, if we are excited enough as a faith community, someone else may get curious and that person may be drawn to Christ.

On this year’s All Soul’s Day, as we hold the names of Baltimore’s murder victims in our prayers and our hearts, I humbly ask: What more can we do together?

There is beauty and power in proclaiming our beliefs together in community worship.