Twenty-five years ago this past October, a man unknown to most of the world stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He was introduced as Pope John Paul II. He said he came to us “from a far country.” Soon afterwards, at the Eucharist inaugurating his papal ministry, he called us to...Read More

Hello. This is Cardinal Keeler, and for the next five minutes I would like to address matters of importance to all of us, and especially appropriate to this Good Shepherd Sunday. In recent months we have heard a great deal about some priests who have betrayed their call to holiness through the crime and sin...Read More

In our scripture readings this weekend we heard the story of the man cured of blindness. He spoke the words, “I was blind but now I see.” With that gift of sight came the ability to see the beauty of creation, but also the ugliness that sin afflicts upon our world. This week we also...Read More

The prayers that the Christians offered in Assisi today reflected the words of Jesus we have heard now from the Gospel according to St. Luke. They are not easy words to read or to hear, because they call for attitudes and actions that run counter to our human inclinations. How does one respond to the...Read More

To Archbishop Justin Rigali, a dear friend of many years and a great shepherd in the Church, I express my thanks for the personal invitation to be with you today. It is a grace to be able to reflect with you on the life of the Church in a critical moment of our nation’s history...Read More

The readings from the word of God illumine our reflections this morning. They bring the balm of the Lord’s healing power to the pain of loss felt by Father Hotchkin’s family and friends. The latter include his close collaborators in Washington and also bishops and ecumenical officers in dioceses across the country. For nearly three...Read More

Our America celebrates its heritage of religious freedom. In the Archdiocese of Baltimore we can also rejoice in remembering that religious freedom in the English-speaking world had its beginnings in Maryland with the Catholic colonists in their Assembly’s Acts of Toleration of 1639 and 1649. That freedom, offered to all the colonists who lived here...Read More

With gratitude and joy I acknowledge the new gift of Pope John Paul II to the Archdiocese of Baltimore in the appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Bishop-elect W. Francis Malooly. Bishop Malooly has served with great distinction and dedication as Vicar General and Chancellor for the past eleven years and, earlier, in a number of...Read More