Monsignor Arthur W. Bastress, longtime pastor of the National Shrine of St. Alphonsus Liguori in Baltimore, died July 16. He was 93 and had celebrated 69 years as a priest; he was looking forward to 70.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore Department of Catholic Schools shared a draft plan with parents July 16 for the reopening of schools for in-person instruction for the 2020-21 school year. It has faculty and staff returning to campuses Aug. 24, and students returning classrooms Aug. 31.

“You need to be kind to people,” Deacon Crowley said. “A priest has to come off as relatable. The days are gone where people will listen to a priest and view him as someone with authority just because he is a priest. If you come off as cruel, judgmental, harsh, legalistic or unrelatable, people today will just write you off.”

Dom Damico and Josh Ward both face difficult jobs this fall, ones made even tougher by the coronavirus pandemic.

“She’s one of those people who gave her life to help the Hispanic community,” said Dr. Ivan Garcia, who worked alongside Pereda on the Hispanic Pastoral Council and served as its president.

Lack of clean water is a matter of life and death in the developing world, and to those experiencing homelessness. From Baltimore to India, fortunately, someone is doing something about it.

Ascension Saint Agnes in Baltimore has named veteran healthcare executive Ed Lovern as its new president and CEO.

While COVID-19 forced churches to cancel public liturgies, Contreras’ parish of 12 years seems to have strengthened its community connections.

Alisha Jordan has been named as the new principal of Mother Mary Lange Catholic School, the first new Catholic school in Baltimore City in nearly 60 years. 

Sister Maryla Farfour, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died June 20 in Scranton, Pa. She was 96.