Feb. 2, 2022 | Annapolis, MD

Catholic Schools Week

This is Catholic Schools Week, the annual celebration of Catholic schools across the United States. Here in Maryland, nearly 46,000 students attend 141 Catholic schools (from early learning to high school) across the state.

Advocating for our school parents and schools is a priority of the Maryland Catholic Conference. This includes parent choice through the BOOST Scholarship Program, funding support for school safety and nursing, respecting religious conscience, Maryland 529 savings accounts for K-12 savers, and textbook and technology funding.

Last year, the State authorized $10 million for low-income families to choose a school that best meets their children’s needs, with scholarships for elementary and high schools through the BOOST Scholarship Program. Awards amounts vary based on elementary vs. high school since high school tuition generally is higher. Students with special needs also receive scholarships for double the base amount.

Explore our Catholic schools:

• Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools
• Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools
• Diocese of Wilmington Catholic Schools

Deacon Darryl Kelley Leads Our Prayer

Deacon Kelley is a former State Delegate (District 26)

Deacon Darryl Kelley, from St. Philip the Apostle in Camp Springs, Md., is an attorney who also volunteers his time with the Archdiocesan Legal Network. He previously served as State Delegate for District 26. We welcome him as he leads us in prayer for his former colleagues and for all state lawmakers as they carry out their duties.

His parish school, St. Philip the Apostle School, is one of more than 140 proud Maryland Catholic schools celebrating Catholic Schools Week.

The prayer text (English and Spanish) and links to all prayers for this session are online.

Support for New Parents, Human Trafficking, and Immigration this Week

Nearly 1,250 bills had been introduced in the General Assembly as of Monday morning. Hearings are in full swing (you can watch them online), and the Conference will be providing testimony on 17 pieces of legislation. These include

• Sales tax exemptions for diapers and baby products, which will provide some financial relief to lower income parents.
• Record keeping and training requirements for innkeepers to identify and report suspected human trafficking.
• Establish the Access to Counsel in Immigration Proceedings Program, with funding, so immigrants would have access to legal counsel in hearings. Both SB 129 and HB 114 will have hearings this week.
• Establish Juneteenth National Holiday as a state legal and employee holiday.
• Ensure parents will be notified if their child is charged with a crime and that children are afforded the right to an attorney in police interrogation. The Senate hearing was last week; this week the Child Interrogation Protection Act will be heard in the House.

Two Weeks to Catholic Advocacy Day! 

The countdown begins! The statewide virtual Catholic Advocacy Day is just two weeks away! Thank you to everyone who has been sharing the link for our Catholic Advocacy Network.

Please continue inviting your friends and parishioners to join you for Catholic Advocacy Day. We have lots of information on our website – www.mdcatholic.org – and follow us on social media (@mdcatholic on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) for updates.

Just a few minutes of your time can have a big impact. We’ll draft the alerts. All you have to do is click, sign and hit send, and your emails will go directly to your legislators.

Of Note

World Day for Consecrated Life: This special day of prayer for consecrated men and women religious is Feb. 2 (and celebrated in parishes next weekend).

Here in Maryland, many consecrated religious serve in our parishes, health care, education, and other ministries. This past fall, our staff visited Sacred Heart Home in Hyattsville, a top-rated nursing home that opened in 1926. A new nursing home, now under construction, is expected to open later this year.

Sacred Heart and St. Joseph, Catonsville, are both under the care of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, who participate in Christ's healing ministry by providing quality long-term health care for the elderly. 

Sisters at Sacred Heart Home, Hyattsville

Time to Care Act Webinar: Catholic Charities of Baltimore and the Catholic Labor Network are hosting a one-hour webinar on “Paid Family Leave and the Catholic Church,” on Feb. 7, 3 p.m. Register here.

This week: Groundhog Day has its roots in Candelmas Day, plus the Winter Olympics start this week. St. Sebastian is the patron saint of athletes.

Recipe for the week: As Black History Month kicks off, we are sharing this blog post about the influence of Black Marylanders, many of whom were enslaved, on foods in St. Mary’s County.

We need you!

The General Assembly is in session. The more people in our network, the stronger our voice!  Network members will get Catholic Advocacy Day and other alerts throughout the legislative session. Sign up below or, if you prefer text, text CATHOLIC to 1-443-764-8765 (you will be asked a couple of follow up questions). Thank you!

The Maryland Catholic Conference is the public policy entity for the Maryland Catholic Church, including the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Archdiocese of Washington, and Diocese of Wilmington.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US!

Jan. 26, 2022 | Annapolis, MD

Pregnancy Support, Youth Justice, Tax Exemptions, among Bill Hearings this Week 

The Maryland General Assembly has a full week of hearings scheduled. The Maryland Catholic Conference will be providing testimony on more than 15 bills in the House or Senate. Among them:

• Protection for pregnant college students, and new mothers, so they can continue their studies, and a requirement that institutions of higher education have a written policy on pregnancy discrimination awareness. HB 164 was introduced by Del. Anne Healey (D-22).
• Setting the minimum age for marriage at 17. SB 29/HB 83 is an important step to protect teens and reduce human trafficking.
• Authorizing a state income tax exemption for persons with a permanent physical disability of $1,000 per year (SB 235).
• Providing an exemption from energy and property taxes for community solar programs that meet certain requirements, including reduced cost energy for lower-income households (SB 264).
• Ensuring parents are notified if their children are going to be interrogated and that children will be afforded their constitutional right to counsel and be read their Miranda rights in a manner commensurate with their development age (SB 53)
• Ending the automatic charging of youth, ages 14-17, as adults so cases begin in the juvenile court system. Juvenile judges would have discretion to waive cases to the adult system (SB 165).

Last week, the Conference also testified in support of state income tax credits for disabled veterans, Marylanders who are 100 years old or above, and for energy efficient upgrades to homes.

Education funding in Governor's proposed budget

Our staff also combed through the proposed 2022-23 budget that Governor Larry Hogan submitted to the General Assembly. Among the proposed budget items that now are before the General Assembly:

• $10 million for BOOST scholarships for students from low-income families
• $2.5 million for nursing at non-public schools
• $6 million for the textbook and technology program
• $3.5 million allocated for school security at nonpublic schools
• $3.5 million for the DeGrange Nonpublic Aging Schools Program

Join Catholic Advocacy Day (Virtually) Feb. 16 

With many critical pieces of legislation in front of the General Assembly, we need you more than ever for this year’s Virtual Catholic Advocacy Day, which will be held Feb. 16.

The Maryland Catholic Conference will provide action alerts on three issues – on respect for life, education and youth justice, and social and economic justice – and all you have to do is click, sign and send.

Visit our Catholic Advocacy Day page to sign up, learn more and please invite your friends and parishioners to be part of Catholic Advocacy Day in Maryland! 

Pray with Sr. John Elizabeth!

Our lawmakers need our prayers! Spend one minute in prayer for our elected officials as they consider laws that will impact our state. Sr. John Elizabeth Callaghan, OSFS, is this week’s prayer leader. Sr. John Elizabeth is principal of Mount Aviat Academy in Childs, Md. (District 35), and a member of the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales. Thank you, Sister, for representing more than 140 Catholic schools across Maryland as we prepare for Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 30-Feb. 5).

The prayer text (English and Spanish) and links to all prayers for this session are online.

Of Note

Catholic Schools Week is almost here

The annual celebration of Catholic schools in Maryland and across the nation is Jan. 30-Feb. 5. If you are thinking about a Catholic pre-K – grade 8 school for your children (or grandchildren), this is the time to visit an open house to choose the best school for your children, and apply for next fall.

• Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools
• Archdiocese of Washington Catholic School Open Houses
• Diocese of Wilmington Catholic Schools

Time to Care Act Webinar

Catholic Charities of Baltimore and the Catholic Labor Network are hosting a one-hour webinar on “Paid Family Leave and the Catholic Church,” on Feb. 7, 3 p.m. Register here.

Prayers for Ukraine

Pope Francis has asked for a Day of Prayer for Peace in Ukraine today, Jan. 26. Most Catholics in Ukraine are eastern-rite and Maryland is home to four Ukrainian Catholic parishes.

From Caritas International: “We have all witnessed high-level meetings between officials in attempts to de-escalate the situation and return to a path of diplomacy,” said Tetiana Stawnychy, president of Caritas Ukraine. “And we wholeheartedly hope and pray that these efforts will succeed.” 

Global Child Thrive Act Anniversary

Catholic Relief Services is marking the first anniversary of the Global Child Thrive Act (GCTA) this week. This law directs the U.S. government to integrate early childhood development (ECD) interventions, such as early learning programs, age-appropriate mental stimulation for children, and interactive caregiving practices, into U.S. foreign assistance programs that serve vulnerable children and their families.

Events for Life Recap

Last week, Catholics across Maryland and the U.S. observed the anniversary of Roe v. Wade with prayer and a peaceful presence. Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori delivered a beautiful homily for the National Vigil Mass for Life on Jan. 20. The next morning, the Archdiocese of Washington held its popular Youth Rally and March for Life, with a small in-person group and a global audience via livestreaming. Enjoy the event here, including Mass with Cardinal Wilton Gregory.  

Recipe for the week: To mark the Day of Prayer for Peace in Ukraine, here is a Ukrainian borscht recipe.

We need you!

The General Assembly is in session. The more people in our network, the stronger our voice!  Network members will get Catholic Advocacy Day and other alerts throughout the legislative session. Sign up below or, if you prefer text, text CATHOLIC to 1-443-764-8765 (you will be asked a couple of follow up questions). Thank you!

The Maryland Catholic Conference is the public policy entity for the Maryland Catholic Church, including the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Archdiocese of Washington, and Diocese of Wilmington.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US!