Deaf Catholics from across the country stood side by side, hands raised in prayer, signing in unison – worshiping in their own language at the first-ever Deaf Eucharistic Congress.

Pope Francis has named Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., as the new bishop of the Diocese of Providence, R.I. The appointment was publicized in Washington April 8 by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Three-time Olympian and Hall of Fame gymnast Dominique Dawes headlined the WOW – Women of the World Festival Baltimore held April 5 at the Rita Rossi Colwell Center in downtown Baltimore. Hosted for a third year by Notre Dame of Maryland University, the event highlighted the achievements of women and girls while examining the challenges confronting them.

Redemptorist Father John Barron “Harry” Harrison, a former pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ellicott City and St. Joseph in Odenton who was remembered for his pastoral care of parishioners, died March 31. He was 84. 

Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, which fights the use of the death penalty and works toward restorative justice solutions. She says that the church’s opposition, clearly defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, focuses on the inherent human dignity of every human, and notes that we need to do a better job of educating Catholics and others about the issues surrounding capital punishment.

The parishioners of St. Ignatius in Hickory are both in their propaedeutic year – their first year of seminary formation – with Mark, 23, stationed at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and Ben, 28, assigned to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg.

For the first time in its history, the International Council General Society of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (CGI), met in the United States the week of March 31.

The standout point guard for the Toronto Raptors announced the establishment of the Quickley Family Foundation in a March 25 ceremony at his high school alma mater, The John Carroll School in Bel Air.

The Maryland House passed a bill April 3 that makes significant changes to the Child Victims Act, lowering the limits for future lawsuits for sexual abuse of a minor and limiting the civil damages to each claimant, rather than each incident of alleged abuse. The bill now moves to the Maryland Senate for action before the session ends April 7.

Shawn Pourifarsi joined UMBC’s Catholic Retrievers as a freshman and began Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) sessions his sophomore year. Now, he and eight others are preparing to enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.