UMBC’s history-making appearance in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament included a sixth man from Archbishop Spalding High School and a coach who’s an Annapolis parishioner.

Presenters at a workshop for parish and archdiocesan leaders regarding “The Catholic Church and Gender Identity” emphasized the need to take every case individually in order to provide pastoral care.

Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore will have a special opportunity to go to confession on a Day of Reconcilation, scheduled for March 19.

“(The future priest) must have the ability to see where mercy is needed and the healthy zeal to make himself readily available to apply the healing balm of God’s mercy with the love of a genuine father and pastor,” Archbishop Pierre said.

A funeral Mass was offered March 10 for Sister of Mercy Mary Madonna Gies at the Villa in Timonium. A Baltimore native who spent most of her ministry teaching in area schools, she died March 7 at age 89 after 72 years as a Sister of Mercy.

The era of “blue laws” restricted most business operations on Sunday. In the city, that meant Major League Baseball and National Football League games could not start before 2:05 p.m.

Catholic and Lutheran leaders came together for a service at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore marking the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

Silently and reverently, students from Maryvale Preparatory School pressed red flags into the ground outside their school as the names of victims of last month’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., were read during a March 14 prayer service.

Father Charles Canterna shared the powerful story of the conversion of a a convicted murderer who was the last person to be executed in Maryland.

In the midst of a wintry mix and cold temperatures, faithful Marylanders marched in Annapolis for the state’s March for Life March 12.