Jesuit Father John R. Donahue, a noted professor at two Baltimore universities, died Oct. 28. The Baltimore native and Loyola Blakefield graduate was 91.

In a world where noise seems to reign supreme, what’s the value of silence? How do we make room for silence in our lives? And how can silence help us in our spiritual journey? George Matysek talks about it with Dominican Father Dominic Koester.

Pastors throughout the city and several nearby communities in Baltimore County have been working on the difficult task of creating new parish communities as part of the Seek the City to Come pastoral plan announced May 22 that reduces the number of parishes in those areas from 61 to 23 and reduces the number of worship sites from 59 to 30.

With another divisive presidential election on the horizon Nov. 5, there’s never a better time to turn to prayer.

Sulpician Monsignor Fredrik Hansen, who also serves as assistant professor of pastoral studies at St. Mary’s Seminary, said he’s excited to return home and that his time in Baltimore has served him well.

The Catholic bishops of Maryland commemorated the 160th anniversary of Maryland Emancipation Day, affirming the dignity of every human person and noting that slavery was dehumanizing, reducing human beings to mere property.

The Baltimore CCHD committee chairperson said the Nov. 16-17 collection in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore is a vital funding source for the local Catholic Campaign for Human Development chapter.

Natural burial – or green burial, as it is sometimes called – is done without embalming, and uses either a biodegradable shroud only, made of cotton, linen, hemp, wool or other natural fibers, or a shroud and a biodegradable casket, made of bamboo or soft woods such as pine or bark.

Catholics of the Archdiocese of Baltimore will get a couple more chances to venerate and learn about one of their faith’s more modern and fascinating saints when churches in Towson and Glyndon display the relics of St. Padre Pio.

Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with Holy Cross Father David Guffey, national director and head of production at Family Theater Productions about the work it produces, and about a new film that will begin airing in November on PBS stations, “Playing Like a Girl: The House that Rob Built.”