During his time at Holy Spirit, Father Joseph Simmons oversaw the building of a new church (dedicated in 1988) and the construction of a $1.9 million parish center after a fire destroyed the original one Dec. 16, 2009.

As he prepares for retirement, Monsignor Carl Cummings said he has been gratified to help people join the Catholic faith – or return to it in the sacrament of penance.

The Catholic Review spotlights four of Archdiocese of Baltimore’s distinctive scholars from the region’s 18 Catholic high schools.

“I’ve never wanted to be anything else but a parish priest,” said Father Ruane, 78. “I’ve enjoyed being with people during significant transitions in their lives – mostly through administering the sacraments, visiting the sick, preaching and teaching.”

Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic high school graduation by the numbers.

“The church has a beautiful vision of the dignity of human life from conception until natural death,” Archbishop Lori said.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore temporarily closed June 24 on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion

Leaders in the pro-life movement in Maryland welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 24 ruling striking down the Roe v. Wade decision that had made abortion legal for the last half century, but they cautioned there remains much work to build a culture of life.

The spirit of the Second Vatican Council that called for renewal of church life and wider church engagement with the world continues today, inviting the faithful to serve the common good, Cardinal Peter Turkson, a Vatican official, told a national priests’ assembly.

After much discernment and with the blessing of Archbishop William E. Lori, Father Boric will leave the archdiocese this summer to become a postulant with the Hermits of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel