Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore and around the world will mark the beginning of Advent Dec. 2 when the four-week period of preparation for the coming of Christ begins. It also marks the start of a new liturgical year in the Catholic Church.

This installment of Names & Numbers is dedicated to recently released books that have a link to the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

As their 5-year-old son battles a rare condition with polio-like symptoms, a Taneytown family finds strength in faith and support from family and friends.

“How Can We Pray?” was written by Zachary Stachowski, director of music ministry at St. Ignatius of Loyola in Ijamsville, moved by the anger he felt immediately after the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report on clergy sexual abuse was released in mid-August.

John Graziano died Nov. 13 in a T-38 Talon crash at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas. He was 28, and a beloved member of the Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Apparent Good Samaritans turned out to be nothing of the sort after allegedly stealing Christmas presents from two Little Sisters of the Poor outside the Costco in Columbia Nov. 26.

The perpetual adoration chapel at Immaculate Conception in Towson is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

By the time Father James D. Proffitt finally put his feet up Nov. 10, he’d presided at a funeral and a wedding, baptized three babies, heard confessions for an hour, presided at the Saturday vigil Mass and administered the anointing of the sick.

The Baltimore-based Josephites celebrated their 125th anniversary with a special Mass Nov. 17 at the Baltimore Basilica.

Archbishop William E. Lori, who served as a consultant to the committee drafting the pastoral, said the pastoral is “most welcome” in the archdiocese. He said the archdiocese is putting together a dialogue process for which the pastoral will be a great help.