Sister Mary Laurentilla Back, S.S.N.D., dies at 93 Catholic schools are building for the future Stories that tell the U.S. Catholic story Pope Leo meets Lebanese president; Vatican concerned over border deal implementation ‘Prayer is our number one weapon’ against Russian aggression, says papal nuncio to Ukraine Local News Sister Mary Laurentilla Back, S.S.N.D., dies at 93 Catholic Review Staff August 22, 2026 An 11 a.m. funeral Mass for School Sister of Notre Dame Mary Laurentilla Back will be offered Aug. 25 at the chapel at Stella Maris in Timonium. Sister Mary Laurentilla died Aug. 10. She was 93. Catholic schools are building for the future Jay Sorgi August 21, 2026 Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Baltimore are investing in new classrooms, athletic facilities, gathering spaces and student commons designed to strengthen academics, faith formation and community life. Here are some examples of the larger projects underway. New associate eastern vicar appointed to succeed Monsignor O’Connor Catholic Review Staff August 20, 2026 Conventual Franciscan Father Donald Grzymski will succeed Monsignor Jay O’Connor as eastern vicar of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, with the transition set to take place next year, Archbishop William E. Lori announced Aug. 18. Josephites elect new superior general George P. Matysek Jr. August 20, 2026 After several years as the order’s vicar general, Father Bomberger, 82, was elected in late July to succeed the late Bishop John H. Ricard as leader of the society. He will serve the remainder of Bishop Ricard’s term, which ends in June 2027, when a new superior general will be elected. More Local News World News Pope Leo meets Lebanese president; Vatican concerned over border deal implementation Junno Arocho Esteves August 21, 2026 Pope Leo XIV met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as the Vatican expressed concerns over stalled efforts to implement a U.S.-backed border agreement between Lebanon and Israel. ‘Prayer is our number one weapon’ against Russian aggression, says papal nuncio to Ukraine Gina Christian August 21, 2026 As Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine — which continues attacks launched in 2014 — nears its fifth year, OSV News sat down Aug. 12 with Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, papal nuncio to Ukraine, for a reflection on faith and prayer amid relentless conflict. Conversion of heart needed to end wars, heal Earth, pope says Junno Arocho Esteves August 20, 2026 The social and ecological devastation wrought by war represents not just a political failure, but a moral crisis rooted in a divided heart in need of conversion, Pope Leo XIV said. Colombia: Bogotá archdiocese launches ‘spiritual first aid’ mission to quake-hit cities Junno Arocho Esteves August 20, 2026 Dozens of clergy from the Archdiocese of Bogotá embarked on a five-day pastoral mission to cities in Colombia devastated by the Aug. 10 earthquake. More World News Commentary A journey toward Christ and vocation Gryffen Atkinson August 22, 2026 Leaving Quo Vadis, I felt a calling and a mission. For several years, I had been discerning a vocation to the priesthood, but that call often seemed to come more from my mind than from my heart. Through this retreat and the experiences I encountered there, that changed Addiction doesn’t have to be the final word Timothy A. McCarthy August 21, 2026 My work taught me that recovery often begins only when accountability and hope exist together. Sometimes treatment was enough. Sometimes the prospect of jail provides the wake-up call that makes a person willing to enter treatment. In either case, the crucial step was a willingness to change. Stories that tell the U.S. Catholic story George Weigel August 21, 2026 Fiction can often convey the human texture of a time and place better than scholarly works of history. Herewith, and in honor of the national semiquincentennial, some novels that help tell the Catholic story in these United States through a fictional lens. A blessing on the road Rita Buettner August 19, 2026 I was surprised. I’ve never had a car pause there so I could enter that stretch of road before. Everyone is always in a hurry. The abnormal abortion Katie Yoder August 19, 2026 At the end of every March for Life I see them: Dozens of women in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington holding up signs that read, “I Regret My Abortion.” They share their stories each year with tens of thousands of pro-life marchers — and writers like me. They talk about the pain abortion inflicts on women. They give faces and names to an issue. More Commentary Featured Video On July 29, 2026, The Hillbilly Thomists entered the event hall at Ss. Philip and James in Charles Village to a sellout crowd of more than 500. The event saw families, fans old and new, and people of all ages come together for a night of worship and fun.
Sister Mary Laurentilla Back, S.S.N.D., dies at 93 Catholic Review Staff August 22, 2026 An 11 a.m. funeral Mass for School Sister of Notre Dame Mary Laurentilla Back will be offered Aug. 25 at the chapel at Stella Maris in Timonium. Sister Mary Laurentilla died Aug. 10. She was 93.
Catholic schools are building for the future Jay Sorgi August 21, 2026 Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Baltimore are investing in new classrooms, athletic facilities, gathering spaces and student commons designed to strengthen academics, faith formation and community life. Here are some examples of the larger projects underway.
New associate eastern vicar appointed to succeed Monsignor O’Connor Catholic Review Staff August 20, 2026 Conventual Franciscan Father Donald Grzymski will succeed Monsignor Jay O’Connor as eastern vicar of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, with the transition set to take place next year, Archbishop William E. Lori announced Aug. 18.
Josephites elect new superior general George P. Matysek Jr. August 20, 2026 After several years as the order’s vicar general, Father Bomberger, 82, was elected in late July to succeed the late Bishop John H. Ricard as leader of the society. He will serve the remainder of Bishop Ricard’s term, which ends in June 2027, when a new superior general will be elected.
Pope Leo meets Lebanese president; Vatican concerned over border deal implementation Junno Arocho Esteves August 21, 2026 Pope Leo XIV met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as the Vatican expressed concerns over stalled efforts to implement a U.S.-backed border agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
‘Prayer is our number one weapon’ against Russian aggression, says papal nuncio to Ukraine Gina Christian August 21, 2026 As Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine — which continues attacks launched in 2014 — nears its fifth year, OSV News sat down Aug. 12 with Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, papal nuncio to Ukraine, for a reflection on faith and prayer amid relentless conflict.
Conversion of heart needed to end wars, heal Earth, pope says Junno Arocho Esteves August 20, 2026 The social and ecological devastation wrought by war represents not just a political failure, but a moral crisis rooted in a divided heart in need of conversion, Pope Leo XIV said.
Colombia: Bogotá archdiocese launches ‘spiritual first aid’ mission to quake-hit cities Junno Arocho Esteves August 20, 2026 Dozens of clergy from the Archdiocese of Bogotá embarked on a five-day pastoral mission to cities in Colombia devastated by the Aug. 10 earthquake.
A journey toward Christ and vocation Gryffen Atkinson August 22, 2026 Leaving Quo Vadis, I felt a calling and a mission. For several years, I had been discerning a vocation to the priesthood, but that call often seemed to come more from my mind than from my heart. Through this retreat and the experiences I encountered there, that changed
Addiction doesn’t have to be the final word Timothy A. McCarthy August 21, 2026 My work taught me that recovery often begins only when accountability and hope exist together. Sometimes treatment was enough. Sometimes the prospect of jail provides the wake-up call that makes a person willing to enter treatment. In either case, the crucial step was a willingness to change.
Stories that tell the U.S. Catholic story George Weigel August 21, 2026 Fiction can often convey the human texture of a time and place better than scholarly works of history. Herewith, and in honor of the national semiquincentennial, some novels that help tell the Catholic story in these United States through a fictional lens.
A blessing on the road Rita Buettner August 19, 2026 I was surprised. I’ve never had a car pause there so I could enter that stretch of road before. Everyone is always in a hurry.
The abnormal abortion Katie Yoder August 19, 2026 At the end of every March for Life I see them: Dozens of women in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington holding up signs that read, “I Regret My Abortion.” They share their stories each year with tens of thousands of pro-life marchers — and writers like me. They talk about the pain abortion inflicts on women. They give faces and names to an issue.
