Poland, one of Europe most Catholic nations, is facing new challenge in the practice of the faith as more people turn to Western secularization.

Every year, more than 1 million pilgrims from around the globe travel to the Czech Republic, praying in front of the Infant of Prague. They carry on a practice that stretches back hundreds of years.

Father Richard B. Hilgartner’s jaw dropped the first time he read bits of a draft of the new English translation of the Roman Missal – the book of liturgical prayers that is scheduled to be introduced in parishes Nov. 27.

The Latin is, “Dominus vobiscum et cum spiritu tuo.” It contains no verb. It’s as much a statement of fact as it is a greeting, Father Hilgartner said.

Appreciation for the building’s namesake continues to grow at Charles R. Uncles Senior Plaza.

The story of Our Lady of the Chesapeake, Lake Shore, can’t be told without Father Walter J. Paulits. The founding pastor of the Anne Arundel County parish, however, would not have sought such credit.

Molly Ann Pais has it all. She is less than a month away from graduating from The John Carroll School in Bel Air, has been a star defensive player on one of Baltimore’s top girls high school lacrosse teams and boasts a 3.95 grade point average.

The newly ordained men represent the largest class of deacons for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in more than a decade. All married, they hail from as far west as Oakland in Garrett County and they include the president-CEO of a hospital, a scientist, a social worker and a biomedical research manager.

CUMBERLAND – In an April 28 town meeting marked by a combination of hopefulness, apprehension and anger, approximately 250 people gathered at St. Mary in Cumberland to ask questions about a proposal to create a new area parish out of five existing ones.

Jim and Pat McDonnell spent less than a minute in the presence of Pope John Paul II, but it was enough to change their lives.