The beach is a place full of wonder. The ocean is magnificent, powerful, and moving with a rhythm all its own.

The beach is a place full of wonder. The ocean is magnificent, powerful, and moving with a rhythm all its own.

As you recall, that reading pertains to the last leg of the Israelites’ journey out of Egypt, through the desert, and into the promised land, that land flowing with milk and honey. We see how once again God parted the waters so that the Ark of the Covenant, borne by the priests, could precede the people as they entered that land God swore he would give to Abraham’s descendants.

Whatever happens, darkness at the break of 2:48 p.m. Aug. 21 is going to be another grand moment with creation.

Sister M. Evelyn Howard taught at St. Agnes School in Catonsville from 1984 to 1991.

And what fruit can we expect once the seed of God’s Word is planted in the fertile soil of our hearts? None other than the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services has released an emotion-filled video as a way of starting a conversation about the world’s orphanages.

Bishop Denis J. Madden, urban vicar and auxiliary bishop emeritus of Baltimore, will lead a prayer walk for peace Aug. 30 at St. Ambrose, 4502 Park Heights Ave. in Park Heights.

“Give us the courage to excise from our midst anger, violence, hatred and bigotry, and the underlying sin of racism that is still so prevalent in our midst,” Archbishop Lori prayed.

If we start sharing stories of heroic virtue and courage, we are bound to inspire religious vocations.

It forced me to recognize that racism is real, not just under hoods, but in so many large structural ways and in small daily encounters we take for granted. And I realized that I do not know how to respond to racism, even when I am confronted by it.

State Catholic Conference directors from 36 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, gathered July 31-Aug. 2 in Maryland’s capital city to discuss a variety of common concerns to those who assist local bishops with public policy.

Archbishop William E. Lori will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a holy day of obligation, with a special 12:10 p.m. Mass Aug. 15 at the Baltimore Basilica.
