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Ph. 410.547.8496
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| | JULY IS DEVOTED TO
the Precious Blood of Jesus | |
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6 NABRE
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Five things you need to know about devotion to the Precious Blood
By Christina Guzman | The Catholic Weekly
In the month of July the church asks us to foster our devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus.
This devotion began at the foot of the cross with the Blessed Mother and continued throughout the early church into the current day.
| | Litany of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ | Catholic Prayers | | Congratulations to newly-consecrated Bishop Robert P. Boxie III and Bishop Gary R. Studniewski! | | |
'This is the day that the Lord has made': Robert Boxie III consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
By Nate Tinner-Williams | Black Catholic Messenger
Thousands of Catholics filled the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday for the consecration of two new Auxiliary Bishops of Washington, including Robert Boxie III, the first new African-American Catholic prelate in nearly 10 years.
Officially the youngest Catholic bishop in the United States or the Western Hemisphere, the 45-year-old former Howard University chaplain was consecrated alongside Gary Studniewski, a local parish pastor and former military chaplain.
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Pictured is Bishop Robert P. Boxie III, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.
| The 45-year-old Louisiana native and former HBCU chaplain is the youngest Catholic bishop in the United States and the entire Western Hemisphere. | | |
During a prayer service on July 6, 2026 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., for Bishop-elect Robert P. Boxie III on the eve of his episcopal ordination the next day as an auxiliary bishop of Washington, the bishop-elect at left joins the congregation in applauding his parents, Robert Boxie Jr. and Roxanne Boxie, and his sister, Robyn. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada) | |
In his new ministry, Bishop Boxie drawing on his roots of faith and experiences as a parish priest and university chaplain
By Mark Zimmermann | Catholic Standard
When Bishop Robert P. Boxie III was ordained as an auxiliary bishop of Washington on July 7, 2026 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, he was once again in church with his family.
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Evening of Prayer for Bishop-Elect Robert P. Boxie III
Watch the recorded Prayer Service held in honor of Bishop-Elect Robert Boxie III. This service was held at St. Augustine Catholic Church (Washington, D.C.) on July 6, 2026.
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Episcopal Ordination of Most Reverend Gary Studniewski and Most Reverend Robert Boxie
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington celebrated the Episcopal Ordination of Most Reverend Gary Studniewski and Most Reverend Robert Boxie on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
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Retired U.S. Army Chaplain Named Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
Archdiocese for the Military Services Website
Father Gary R. Studniewski, CH, COL, USA (Ret.), has been named an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV. The appointment was announced on Friday, May 1.
At a news conference with Washington Archbishop Robert Cardinal McElroy, Bishop-elect Studniewski recounted how he discerned a priestly vocation during his army service in the Nation’s Capital, entered seminary after 10 years on active duty as an artillery officer, and upon priestly ordination, was released by James Cardinal Hickey, then Archbishop of Washington, for further military service as an army chaplain with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS).
| | “Time and time again throughout my priesthood the Lord has called me. Sometimes I don’t understand His call, and ‘why you’re asking me to do this,’ but I always say ‘yes,’ and then the grace follows. | | Most Reverend J. Mark Spalding, Bishop of Nashville, holds up the bull of appointment from the Holy Father during his episcopal ordination and installation as the 12th bishop of Nashville on Feb. 2, 2018. This will be one of the first key elements of the episcopal ordination and installation of Most Reverend Mark Beckman, Bishop-elect of Knoxville, on Friday, July 26. File photo by Rick Musacchio. | | |
What to Expect at an Episcopal Ordination
By Katie Peterson | Nashville Catholic
On Friday, July 26, Most Reverend Mark Beckman will officially be ordained and installed as the Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville. With his episcopal ordination comes several rituals and prayers not yet experienced during that of a presbyteral ordination.
“It is an entirely different experience,” said Father John Hammond, vicar general and judicial vicar for the Diocese of Nashville and pastor of St. Patrick Church in South Nashville.
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Key moments of an episcopal ordination
Denver Catholic Staff
The Ordination Mass for a bishop can be a lengthy liturgy, and if you don’t know what is going on, you can miss out on a lot of rich symbolism and meaning behind the various moments of the rite.
Here’s a brief summary of the key moments of an episcopal ordination.
Procession: Over 160 priests, bishops and one cardinal will process into the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, beginning at 12:15 pm, and the procession will take approximately 15 minutes. As a side note, the 54-person choir, directed by Dr. Mark Lawlor, represents various parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Denver, and includes many seminarians.
| | Still taken from the video of the Ordination Mass for Bishop Robert Boxie III and Bishop Gary Studniewski | | | Photo of Pope Leo XIV by Argentina.gob.ar, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons | | |
Most U.S. Catholics view Pope Leo favorably; many think Trump has been too critical of him
By Gregory A. Smith | PEW Research Center
About eight-in-ten U.S. Catholics (78%) have a favorable view of Pope Leo XIV, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. That’s down slightly from summer 2025, when 84% of U.S. Catholics expressed a favorable opinion of the American-born pope.
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Fr. Bryan Massingale receives lifetime achievement award from Catholic Theological Society of America
By Nate Tinner-Williams | Black Catholic Messenger
Fr Bryan Massingale, a leading American theologian and professor at Fordham University, won the John Courtney Murray Award in June from the Catholic Theological Society of America, marking just the second time a Black person has received the nation’s most prestigious Catholic academic honor.
| | The noted Black Catholic theologian, an advocate on racial justice and LGBTQ+ issues, is the second Black person to receive the prestigious honor. | | Ansel Augustine D.Min. receives two distinguished honors | | Dr. Ansel Augustine receives the 2026 Servant of God Thea Bowman Heritage Building Award | | | |
"Praying With Our Feet", written by Dr. Ansel Augustine, receives 2nd Place in the 2026 CMA Book Awards
In Praying with Our Feet, Dr. Ansel Augustine, who champions the needs of the overlooked and the underserved, takes us on a transformative journey rooted in faith, action, and the undeniable call to justice.
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Pope Leo shares meal with vulnerable guests at Castel Gandolfo
By Paulina Guzik | OSV News
ROME (OSV News) — Under the Italian sun of Lake Albano and the shade of Castel Gandolfo’s Borgo Laudato si’ trees, Pope Leo XIV enjoyed lunch with people experiencing social vulnerability.
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Heal My People
Dr. Bobby Price
Dr. Bobby Price is a certified plant-based nutritionist, exercise physiologist, and Doctor of Pharmacy. He has extensive clinical experience in the hospital setting, one on one patient contact in community pharmacy, and health care regulatory experience with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Click here to visit the website: https://drbobbyprice.com/
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The Knowledge Doc
Dr. Eric Berg DC
With over 47,000,000 followers worldwide, Dr. Eric Berg DC spreads the truth about getting healthy and losing weight. Dr. Berg DC, age 61, specializes in Healthy Keto® and Intermittent Fasting. He is the director of Dr. Berg's Nutritionals and a best-selling Amazon author. Click here to visit the website: https://shop.drberg.com/
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Full Body Toning Workout
Brandon Palmer
My goal is simple: make health and fitness easier, more personalized, and more effective for everybody.
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More Than Fitness. It’s a Movement.
Jasmine Mays Fitness
We help women lose weight, tone their bodies, and build a lifestyle they love, without counting, fasting, or giving up their favorite foods. This is your season to stop starting over and start thriving.
Jasmine Mays also hosts the podcast, Saved & Single: you can find episodes by clicking the Find Podcasts button. Click here to visit the website: https://www.jasminemaysfitness.com/
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Heatwave: Fat-Loss Challenge
Juice & Toya
We are personal trainers and content creators out of Los Angeles, CA. Our mission is to promote fitness in a way that's fun, easy to follow, and achievable for all levels. Whether you're a dynamic athlete, or a beginner who needs structure, we're here to help you build a better version of yourself. Click here to visit the website: https://www.onebodyla.com/
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A Ministry of Transformation
R.C. Blakes Ministries
Founded by R.C. and Lisa Blakes, R.C. Blakes Ministries is a global empowerment ministry devoted to emotional healing, spiritual formation, and practical life transformation.
Rooted in the authority of God’s Word, the ministry exists to restore broken identities, cultivate healthy relationships, strengthen families, and equip people to live with wisdom, purpose, and spiritual maturity. Click here to visit the website: https://www.rcblakes.com/
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The 5 Love Languages
Gary Chapman, Ph.D.
Gary Demonte Chapman is an American author, radio talk show host, and Baptist minister. Chapman is most noted for his The Five Love Languages series regarding human relationships. Order the book by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4fgwkub
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Video Message By Fr. Andrew McNair "HOLISTIC"
Office of Black Catholic Ministry ©2026
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"The Examen" Examination of Conscience
This is a free resource from Fr. Cedric Pisegna's Live With Passion website.
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July 16th is the Feast Day of
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
5 Things to Know About Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and the Brown Scapular
What’s that thing you’re always wearing?” And so began another discussion of the Brown Scapular that hangs around my neck. This time it was while visiting New Orleans with my sister. A city suffused with Catholicism plus voodoo shops, gris-gris, and the like was, perhaps, the perfect place to explain the two small pieces of brown wool on a cord that I always wear. The Brown Scapular is neither a good luck charm, talisman, amulet, nor gris-gris. It is a sacramental—a symbol of devotion and yoke of obedience to Our Lady of Mount Carmel whose feast we celebrate on July 16.
| | | Sr. Mary Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB Holy Card available from the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles | | |
RECOMMENDED READING:
The Life of Sr. Mary Wilhelmina
By The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles
This biography introduces Sister Mary Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB, the foundress of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles, whose life of humility, faith, and surrender to God’s will led her to establish a traditional religious community devoted to prayer and the Latin Mass. Her story includes her experience as a Black Catholic during times of racial tension, the founding of a monastic community faithful to tradition, and the remarkable discovery of her incorrupt body after death, offering readers a powerful testimony to fidelity and devotion.
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Making Missionary Disciples:
How to Live the Method Modeled by the Master
By Curtis Martin
In Making Missionary Disciples, Curtis Martin, founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), explores how to build a vibrant culture of faithfulness and fruitfulness. He doesn’t just remind us how every disciple is called on a mission to share the love and truth of Jesus Christ. He gives us practical ways to do this in our ordinary daily lives.
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St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer
By Cliff Ermatinger (Editor)
How can I pray better?
How do I know God hears my prayers?
How can I 'pray always,' as Jesus commands?
Why must I ask for things God already knows I need?
Such were the questions that perplexed a young North African man, Augustine Aurelius (354-430), whose intense yearning for God led him into a profound and lifelong encounter with Christ in prayer.
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Envisioning the Congregation, Practicing the Gospel: A Guide for Pastors and Lay Leaders
By John W. Stewart (Author)
Seasoned pastor and practical theologian John Stewart presents and explains five biblically mandated, foundational practices for being and nurturing the church: fellowship, discipleship, witness, service, and worship. Stewart argues that these five practices are normative, indispensable, and doable for congregations that seek to remain faithful to their risen Lord, and he offers memorable, achievable models of ways they are already being used in current mainline congregations.
| | | Join Bishop Erik T. Pohlmeier, member off the USCCB Committee on Evangelization & Catechesis, Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Catechism, and leaders from across the country for an engaging webinar that explores how Catechetical Sunday can become far more than a single day of recognition. | | | | | |
September 9: Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Priest
National Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities
St. Peter Claver was a Jesuit missionary from Spain who, in the 1600s, served and ministered to captured and enslaved Africans as they were taken off the slave ships landing in South America. St. Peter Claver desired to offer his life as “a slave of the slaves.”
The U.S. Catholic bishops suggest that parishes “could use the National Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities, which falls on the feast of St. Peter Claver (September 9), to organize activities that foster community, dialogue, and reconciliation. These encounters will help open our minds and hearts more fully and continue the healing needed in our communities and our nation.”
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WORD OF THE DAY:
Integrity
Integrity refers to the quality of being honest, ethical, and morally strong, even when no one is watching. It also means maintaining unity and wholeness in character, values, and actions.
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