Cheri Blomquist, author of Before Austen Comes Aesop, discusses the importance of encouraging children to read and offers some tips for selecting books.

“The Hispanic ministry at church feels like family,” said Jesus Urrutua. “It fills me up with incredible joy to see them all happy and together.”

A 65-year-old woman is expected to survive critical injuries suffered in a Sept. 15 fire at St. Luke’s Place, a senior housing community run by Catholic Charities of Baltimore, according to a Sept. 16 news release by the Baltimore County Fire Department.

This edition of Names & Numbers highlights good news in our Catholic schools.

Sister Laurine, who served as guidance counselor, 1972-73, and director of religious education, 1973-78, at St. Clement I, Lansdowne, died Sept. 6 at Mother Theodore Hall, St. Mary-of-the-Woods in Indiana.

Women from across the Archdiocese of Baltimore and throughout Maryland will gather once again for this year’s conference, set for Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Joseph in Fullerton.

The program, which had 25 students from nine foreign nations for the 2020-21 school year, furthers the school’s mission, according to its website, “to develop students who will embrace opportunities and excel as leaders in our global society.”

Father Steven Roth, vocations director for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, talks with Rick Balog, parish manager at St. Isaac Jogues in Carney, about how seminarians serve at his parish.

“Aware of the many divisions in our world and in our nation, perhaps remembering 9/11 will prompt us, through God’s grace, to a renewed commitment to building up the unity of the human family,” Archbishop Lori said.

After receiving his earlier phone message, Mr. McNeal’s family had to endure three days of terrible uncertainty, of not knowing whether their son was dead or alive.