The Church in Maryland

Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Edgewater is celebrating 50 years since it was officially established as a parish in 1976. Originally led by Redemptorists, the parish transitioned to leadership by archdiocesan priests in 1996.

The parish is now part of the Pastorate of Our Lady, which it joined with Our Lady of Sorrows in West River in 2018. Father Michael Triplett, who has served as pastor for two years, noted that between three weekend Masses, approximately 450 to 500 people attend. The church also celebrates a weekend Mass in Spanish to serve its growing Hispanic community.

The community's history dates back to 1939 when it functioned as a mission church for St. Mary in Annapolis. After celebrating Mass at various locations including Cape St. Rose and local restaurants, the parish opened its first church building in 1952 in Woodland Beach. It celebrated its first Mass at its current location on Easter Sunday in 1980. Today, the parish operates a weekly food pantry and maintains a Respect Life committee.

Bishops from Mexico, the United States, and Canada met in Cuernavaca, Mexico, from August 30 to September 4 to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation across North America. According to a joint statement, the participants addressed shared challenges including migration, evangelization, and maintaining human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence.

The bishops noted that while the three nations have different histories, millions of Catholics across these borders share the same faith and belong to one Church. They stated that national borders should not act as barriers between hearts. Migration was a primary topic of discussion, with the bishops agreeing it is a common challenge for all three countries. They reviewed the experiences of migrants in their home countries, during transit, and upon reaching their destinations.

The meeting included Bishop Ramón Castro Castro, president of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference, and Bishop Pierre Goudreault, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Representing the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was Vice President Bishop Daniel E. Flores. Other attendees included Bishop Óscar Cantú, who leads the USCCB subcommittee on Hispanic and Latino affairs, and Bishop Eugenio Lira Rugarcía, who heads the human mobility ministry for the Mexican bishops.

Archbishop William E. Lori dedicated the renovated St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fulton, Maryland, on September 17, 2026.

During the dedication ceremony, Archbishop Lori noted that the blessing of the worship space coincided with the 800th anniversary of the passing of St. Francis of Assisi. In his homily, the archbishop referenced the saint's history of rebuilding the abandoned church at San Damiano to highlight the significance of the renovation.

Pope Leo XIV has repealed the salary cuts for cardinals and senior Vatican officials that were originally introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The papal decree, which the Pope signed earlier in September, was published on Sept. 14.

The decision ends measures established by Pope Francis in March 2021 through the decree A Sustainable Future. Those measures included a 10% salary reduction for cardinals serving in the Curia, an 8% reduction for heads and secretaries of dicasteries, and a general 3% reduction for other employees.

In his motu proprio, Pope Leo XIV noted that while the previous salary containment measures were necessary to address the pandemic, the Holy See and Vatican City State can now ensure economic sustainability through different means. He stated that he made the decision after consulting the Secretariat for the Economy. These provisions had previously undergone a partial amendment in June 2025.

Loyola University Maryland is expanding its financial aid programs for students entering in fall 2027 to increase affordability for eligible families. The Baltimore-based Jesuit university will guarantee at least $40,000 annually for qualifying graduates of Catholic high schools in the United States and abroad through a new program called the Catholic High School Commitment. This scholarship and grant package provides a minimum of $160,000 over four years for students who meet renewal requirements.

The university also announced it will provide full tuition coverage for qualifying Maryland students who demonstrate significant financial need. Eric Nichols, vice president for enrollment management, said these initiatives recognize the investment families have made in Catholic education and aim to make continuing that education at Loyola more financially accessible. The programs are intended to give families more certainty regarding college costs during the admissions process.

Villanova University will present the first Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal to Cardinal Michael Czerny, the former prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Villanova University president Father Peter M. Donohue announced the award during a press conference at the Vatican on September 14.

The biennial award honors leaders who advance ecological responsibility, sustainability, and integral human development. Villanova University, the alma mater of Pope Leo XIV, established the medal and uses a Sustainability Leadership Council to assess nominees through a rigorous process.

The announcement coincided with details regarding the upcoming Villanova International Sustainability Conference, which takes place in Rome from October 12 to 15. Father Donohue was joined at the press conference by Manuela Priesemuth-Payan, the university's faculty director of ethics and social responsibility, and Alessandro Gisotti, the editorial vice director of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication. Augustinian Father Joseph Farrell, the prior general of the Augustinian order, also attended.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Edgewater is celebrating 50 years since it was officially established as a parish in 1976. The parish was originally founded under the leadership of the Redemptorists, but archdiocesan priests took over leadership of the community in 1996.

The parish's history began in 1939 as a mission church of St. Mary in Annapolis. Before opening its first church building in 1952 at 211 Mayo Road in Woodland Beach, the community held Masses at Cape St. Rose, the Old Woodland Beach House, and Old Lou’s Woodland Beach Restaurant. The parish celebrated its first Mass at its current location on Easter Sunday in 1980.

Today, Our Lady of Perpetual Help is part of the Pastorate of Our Lady, which it joined in 2018 alongside Our Lady of Sorrows in West River. Pastor Michael Triplett reported that between 450 and 500 people attend the three weekend Masses, which include one service celebrated in Spanish for the local Hispanic community. The parish also operates a weekly food pantry and a Respect Life committee.

Sister Jude Andrew Link reflects on the life of Fulton Sheen, noting how his commitment to daily prayer shaped his teaching on virtue. Writing for the Catholic Review, Sister Link observes that Sheen's beatification indicates the Church recognizes him as a man of heroic virtue.

Sheen maintained a daily Holy Hour, a promise he made on the day of his ordination. Sister Link explains that this discipline allowed Sheen to move beyond academic study to a personal knowledge of Christ through prayer. This spiritual foundation informed his preaching and writing.

Sheen's dedication to his daily prayer sometimes required significant effort. In his writing, Treasure in Clay, he described facing periods of spiritual dryness and even once climbing out of a church window into a coal bin after being accidentally locked inside to ensure he kept his appointment with God.

Archbishop William E. Lori addressed the themes of self-centeredness and isolation during a homily for the St. Andrew Mass and dinner on September 12, 2026.

Lori spoke about how modern culture encourages a focus on the self through the concept of self-invention, where individuals feel they can reinvent their identities at will. He also noted a disconnection paradox, stating that increased digital connectivity often leads to greater isolation and loneliness. According to Lori, this isolation causes people to focus on themselves due to a lack of healthy relationships and friendships.

Referencing St. Paul, Lori noted that Christians do not live for themselves because they belong to the Lord.

Archbishop William E. Lori honored first responders and victims of the September 11 attacks during a Blue Mass at Saint Joseph Monastery in Irvington on September 13, 2026.

During his homily, Archbishop Lori recalled the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, mourning the nearly 3,000 people killed and recognizing the courage of firefighters, police, and medical teams. He specifically noted the sacrifices of those who died rescuing victims and those who later died from inhaling toxic air at Ground Zero.

The Archbishop also recognized several local individuals for their service and sacrifice. He honored Baltimore County Police Detective Paul Hoke, who died while working overtime on New Year’s Eve, and Anne Arundel Fire Department Engineman Steven P. Ambrozewicz, who died from occupation-related cancer. He also commended a Maryland State trooper, Nicolas Warren, for saving a choking child, a sheriff’s deputy for saving an autistic child from drowning, and two St. Mary’s County firefighters who rescued a driver from a burning vehicle. He concluded by remembering World War II veteran 1st Lt. Walter R.

Archbishop William E. Lori spoke about the history and spiritual meaning of the name of Mary during a homily at the Basilica of the Assumption on September 12, 2026.

During the Holy Name of Mary Solemn Lauds, Archbishop Lori noted that scholars assign various meanings to Mary's name, including beautiful or beloved. He also mentioned that her name has come to mean star of the sea due to an error in an ancient manuscript.

The Archbishop explained that calling upon Mary provides hope, comfort, and strength. He noted that Pope Innocent IX instituted the feast day of the Holy Name of Mary in 1683 following a victory in Vienna, and Saint John Paul II later restored the feast. Archbishop Lori stated that experiencing Mary's maternal love draws believers closer to Christ.

Archbishop William E. Lori led an evening of vespers at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore on September 8, 2026, to celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and support priestly vocations in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

During the event, Archbishop Lori spoke about the importance of Mary's openness to God's will. He noted that her ability to accept the Annunciation was shaped by the example of her parents, Joachim and Anne, who lived according to the Law and the Prophets. He described Mary as being well-practiced in saying yes to God through her spirit of surrender to divine providence.

Rita Buettner writes for the Catholic Review that parents often sit in the front row during Mass to help their children feel closer to God.

Taina Fernandez, a student at Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, aims to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

Fernandez is an elite athlete who became the first girl to win a wrestling title against boys in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association. She is currently preparing for her senior year at the high school.

The Institute of Notre Dame Alumnae Association established scholarship endowments totaling $50,000 at Mercy High School in Baltimore and Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville to support incoming students with family ties to the former Institute of Notre Dame.

Mount St. Joseph High School in Irvington inducted 12 alumni into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Sept. 11 as part of the school's 150th anniversary celebration.

Deacon Wayne Matthews, a longtime leader in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, died August 28 at age 81. His ministry strengthened parish life and expanded outreach programs throughout Western Maryland.

Pope Leo XIV granted honors to 21 members of the clergy, religious, and laity during a ceremony at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 12.

Archbishop William E. Lori presented the papal honors to the recipients from the Archdiocese of Baltimore during morning prayer. The ceremony took place amidst applause from friends and family.

The Catholic Review hosted its second annual festival to highlight the stories of candidates for canonization.

Stephen Peroutka is encouraging Catholic business executives to join Legatus, an international organization for leaders seeking to act as ambassadors for Christ.

Peroutka acknowledges that Catholic executives often manage busy schedules and already participate in various business and civic organizations. Despite these existing commitments, he invites them to consider the mission of Legatus.

Rita Buettner writes that Mary understands the full range of human joy and sorrow, allowing her to accompany people through the various experiences of life.