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Today we thank God that he has brought you to this step along the path of your preparation for Diaconal ministry.

Lent is a season of grace in which to rededicate ourselves to that noble task by entrusting the whole of our lives to Christ our God.

Like the saints of Baltimore, you, our jubilarians, have set your sights, not on earthly power, money, pleasure, or success – but rather on the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of Mercy, which Jesus came to inaugurate in our midst.

Threats to human dignity are all around us: from war and destruction in Ukraine and the relentless pace of murder in Baltimore City, to the chronically homeless spending cold winter nights sleeping on streets and the impact of the sin of racism on the lives of children and families of color.

No one understands our challenges better than Mary who stood beneath the Cross.

Let me renew my warmest welcome to all of you who have come together in this Cathedral Church for the Rite of Election.

This afternoon, we gather in remembrance of a shared history. We gather to remember the formerly enslaved who are buried here – formerly enslaved because the Lord in his love has set them free – from the shackles unjustly placed upon them.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to God for the charism of Fr. Giussani, and to express to all of you who share in that charism what a gift you are to the Church throughout the world, and here in this area.

Today, I want to thank all the healthcare professional who are taking part in this Mass for your expertise, your devoted service, and your strong faith.