Shouts and laughter filled a large hall at St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park July 9 as more than 100 teenage boys threw themselves into a high-energy group game – just one part of a week designed to inspire deeper faith and lasting friendships. The occasion was Quo Vadis, a four-day summer vocations camp for young men hosted by the seminarians of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Vocations
Study: Devotion to Mary has significant impact on discerning, sustaining vocations
Devotion to Mary is a significant factor in discerning and sustaining the call to priestly and religious life, according to a new study.
Loyola University Maryland graduate ordained Jesuit priest
Jonathan Pennacchia, a 2014 graduate of Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, was ordained a Jesuit priest June 14 at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City.
Excitement and pride abound at ordination of five priests for Archdiocese of Baltimore
Joy, excitement and pride permeated the air during the long-awaited priestly ordination of five men during a June 21 Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.
Need for more Catholic Army chaplains to serve military flock as great as ever, say two priests
It’s a question often asked about Catholic chaplains serving in the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services: Are there enough of them for the estimated 250,000 Catholics — 25 percent percent of the U.S. armed forces — serving worldwide?
Deacon O’Donnell’s ‘normal’ faith life led to priestly vocation
Deacon Thomas P. O’Donnell started attending daily Mass more often, going to confession and eucharistic adoration and reading more about the faith. All this led to a deepening of his life.
Deacon Alex Mwebaze is happy to call Maryland home
Deacon Mwebaze, along with five other deacons, will be ordained as priests June 21 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, marking the culmination of his journey to priesthood.
For Deacon Shiadrik Mokum, the priesthood is all about community
Deacon Shiadrik Mokum says all his life “community” has been his major focus.
The Cameroon native sees his journey to the priesthood, which he will complete with his ordination in June at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, as a natural progression of his devotion to community life.
Prodigal son to priest
In the eyes of the world, Deacon James “Jamie” Lancelotta is the unlikeliest candidate for the priesthood.
Over 20,000 permanent deacons serve church, but death, retirement bring overall number down
The nation’s Catholic permanent deacons were estimated to number more than 20,000 in 2024 — but “as is the case with priests in the United States, there are not enough new permanent deacons being ordained to make up for the numbers who are retiring from active ministry and dying each year,” according to a new report.
Future priest from Congo has a heart of service
Faith has been a vibrant part of Deacon Ilanga’s 46 years of life. It all began in his childhood with his mother bringing him and his eight siblings – five sisters and three brothers – to daily and Sunday Masses as a family. With the church being a five-minute walk from home, Deacon Ilanga was also involved in ministries such as singing in the choir and being an altar server.
Pope’s brother says even as a baby, future pontiff had a spiritual ‘air’ about him
In an interview with OSV News, Louis Prevost said that it was more than just Robert being “the baby of the family. … There was an air about him. I mean the spirit coming out of his physical body as he grew older.”