Xaverian Brother Thomas Murphy, who ministered to the poor for several years in Baltimore, died Dec. 12. He was 95.

Jesuit Father James O’Brien, a Baltimore resident and former teacher at what is now Loyola Blakefield, died Dec. 23. He was 96.

Father Thomas Ryan, a Pittsburgh native whose nearly 50 years of ministry in the Archdiocese of Baltimore was highlighted by chaplain posts at Archbishop Spalding High School and Johns Hopkins University, died of cancer Jan. 2. He was 79.

Jesuit Father Francis M. O’Connor, who served at St. Ignatius in Baltimore and was a former rector at what is now Loyola University Maryland, died Dec. 23. He was 99.

A funeral Mass for Redemptorist Father Andrew W. Carr was offered Dec. 11 at Sacred Heart of Jesus-Sagrado Corazón de Jesús in Highlandtown. Father Carr, whose last assignment was at Sacred Heart of Jesus, died Dec. 7 at the St. John Neumann Community at Stella Maris in Timonium. He was 94.

Agnes Welch, a devout member of St. Edward Parish and former member of the Baltimore City Council from West Baltimore, died Dec. 26 at the age of 99 at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Robert Wittman, who grew up in Baltimore’s Hamilton neighborhood and received the sacraments at nearby St. Dominic Church and his grade school education at the former parish school, has recovered countless artifacts and pieces of art, including works by Rembrandt, Goya, Manet and Rodin.

Check out the most-read local stories and commentaries on CatholicReview.org for 2023.

The Sisters of Life and Knights of Columbus announced Dec. 21 that they will be teaming up for a second year to host Life Fest in conjunction with the National March for Life in Washington in January.

What is the meaning of the Incarnation and the significance of Christmas? Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talked with Father Tyler Kline about how we take the message of Christmas and apply it to our lives every day, not just during the Christmas season.