Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori welcomed Pope Francis’ May 9 document clarifying and revising norms and procedures for holding bishops and religious superiors accountable in protecting minors as well as in protecting members of religious orders and seminarians from abuse.
“I welcome his motu proprio, ‘Vos Estis Lux Mundi’(‘You Are the Light of the World’), which creates new church law establishing uniform and universal requirements for allegations of child sexual abuse, as well as for those who abuse their authority, including bishops,” Archbishop Lori said.

The competition brought 38 middle school-age students from across the archdiocese – all winners of separate spelling bees at their respective schools – to Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Ellicott City.

Archbishop William E. Lori will ordain four men to the transitional diaconate May 11 during a 10 a.m. Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore.

Notre Dame Mission Volunteers-AmeriCorps is a partnership between Notre Dame Mission Volunteers, a program of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and AmeriCorps, a network of U.S. service programs.

Bishop Adam J. Parker and Monsignor James W. Hannon added their presence to prayers for the Tri-Towns community affected by the impending closure of one of Western Maryland’s largest employers.

The seventh Hildreth sibling is set to graduate from Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Ellicott City.

“I just feel like they deserve to have sacraments and a relationship with Jesus like everyone else,” said Michele Poligardo, the CCASTA administrator for religious education. “These students with special needs are encountering Jesus through their teens (mentors) and through the acceptance and love they find in this program, and that’s what religious education should be – a way for our students to encounter a loving, forgiving God.”

A funeral Mass was offered April 27 at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, Pa., for Sister Mildred McCloskey, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Sister Joan Bocklet, a vowed member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for 66 years who spent a combined 17 years serving schools in East Baltimore, Rodgers Forge and Ellicott City, died at Villa Assumpta in Baltimore April 17.

One of the most important lessons of Christianity that Becky Egan Hogg tries to convey to her religion students at Mercy High School in Baltimore is God’s unconditional love.