Pope Francis prayed that Advent would be a time of spiritual renewal to build up a civilization of love.

Dressed in bright green, white and red garb – the same colors of the Mexican flag – a group of young people and adults danced up the central aisle of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen Dec. 7 during the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Smiles and laughter filled St. Agnes School’s gymnasium as children in grades pre-K-8 arrived in waves to receive free winter coats and greet Archbishop William E. Lori the morning of Dec. 9.

Delegates from the Archdiocese of Baltimore were among those from 18 countries attending the Nov. 11-17 XII Continental Encuentro of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in Zaragoza, El Salvador.

Baltimore’s Catholic community and the Mangione family have been shaken by news that Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old grandson of Nicholas and Mary Mangione, was arrested Dec. 9 and charged with the Dec. 4 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.