Archbishop William E. Lori will bestow honors from Pope Leo XIV upon 21 members of the Baltimore community and surrounding area on Saturday, Sept. 12, during Morning Prayer at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Baltimore. The Papal Honors will be conferred upon both lay people and clergy for their service to the Catholic Church and community. “Through their lives and ministry, the honorees for pontifical orders and medals have made significant contributions to the life and mission of the Church,” Lori said. “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV bestows these highly distinguished honors in recognition of their devoted service to Catholic health care and mental health treatment, their commitment to charity and justice for the most vulnerable and marginalized, their efforts to build vibrant communities of faith, and the many other ways they have revealed the love of Christ to their neighbors.” There are two categories of honors to be bestowed in this ceremony: Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice (“For Church and Pope”) and the Benemerenti Medal. The first is available to both clergy and lay members for great service to the Catholic Church. The second is a distinction for exceptional accomplishments and service available to both Catholics and non-Catholics. Among those who will receive the Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice are Reverend Edward S. Hendricks, a priest for 49 years who founded Divine Mercy Parish in Western Maryland; Sister Mary Seton, M.C. who has served the poor with the Missionaries of Charity since 1984, and Deacon William P. Nairn, ordained as a deacon in 1982 and serving at St. Ann Catholic Church in Hagerstown until he retired in 2023. Lay people who will receive the honor include Dr. Barbara D. Nazelrod, who served as president of the Catholic High School of Baltimore for 25 years and is also an alum, and Dr. A. “Skipp” Sanders, a retired educator, racial justice advocate, and a longtime parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul in Baltimore. Benemerenti Medal recipients will include Dr. Nancy Grasmick, former Maryland State Superintendent of Schools and longtime educational advocate for all children; Timothy J. Regan, president and chief executive officer of Whiting-Turner Contracting Company who is a philanthropist devoting significant resources to underserved communities; Judge Ellen M. Heller who served as a longtime member of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Independent Lay Review Board guiding compliance with Child and Youth Protection Policies and Procedures (and the Board’s first Jewish Member), and Sean L. Callahan, who is president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, the far-reaching humanitarian organization. Lori was ordained to the priesthood in 1977 and was named the 16th Archbishop of Baltimore in March 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. He was installed at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen on May 16, 2012. He is chancellor and chairman on the board of St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, chancellor of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, and past chairman of the board of trustees of The Catholic University of America. The honors will be bestowed at the 10 a.m. Morning Prayer service at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. “Their example inspires others to live the Gospel with courage, compassion and joy,” Lori said. “The Archdiocese of Baltimore remains profoundly grateful for their faithful service.” See the full list of honorees on the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s website. ...read more read less