Sylvia “Cookie” Harris, one of the leading pro-life advocates in Maryland and a longtime parishioner of St. Joseph in Cockeysville, died suddenly Aug. 28, a few days before what would have been her 58th birthday.

James B. Sellinger says a heart attack while working as an IBM executive was his “wake-up call.”

Dundalk resident Bernadette Gietka was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and aspiring playwright working four part-time jobs in June 2003 when she won the $183 million jackpot from the Mega Millions interstate lottery game. She chose the cash payout option of $112.8 million, taking home $76 million after taxes. Her win was the fourth largest in state history, a windfall both for Gietka and the charitable causes she championed.

Gently wielding a thin bamboo skewer tipped with a bit of rolled cotton, Nancy R. Pollak gingerly dabbed the painting of Jesus.

”St. Clare’s summer girls’ dance camp, which ran June 23-27, attracted 24 participants ages 5 to 12 this year. The popular event was designed not only to teach girls ballet, jazz and modern dance techniques, but to strengthen faith.

It wasn’t until Mariellen Kemp attended a public high school that she recognized how important her Catholic faith was to her – and that she was not as involved at her parish as she wanted to be.

Looking back at Bishop Rozanski’s years at Mount Carmel, Ball and others who knew the future bishop said there were early signs that he was something special.

Alfred and Jean Rozanski, parents of Bishop Rozanski, say their son always wanted to be a parish priest.

Ned Conklin was 8 when he first considered becoming a priest. The notion returned every five years, but he repeatedly dismissed the idea.

John Romanowsky’s life revolves around his Catholic faith. “It gives meaning to every detail in my life,” he said. “It is what has guided me.” Romanowsky, 44, is the new executive director of the Department of Evangelization for the Baltimore archdiocese. He succeeds Paulist Father John E. Hurley July 1.