Baltimore Archdiocese celebrates 200 years of meeting challenges

Published: 2008-04-15

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- When Bishop John Carroll took possession of what was then the Diocese of Baltimore in December 1790, America's first Catholic bishop faced daunting challenges. But, in his 25 years as spiritual shepherd, among numerous other accomplishments, Archbishop Carroll founded three colleges and two seminaries, cared for a Catholic population that doubled in size and strongly promoted the foundation of many religious orders, according to Baltimore Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien. In an April 13 celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Baltimore diocese being named an archdiocese, Archbishop O'Brien said there are numerous challenges that Catholics face today that are no less daunting than those of two centuries ago. But just as Catholics persevered then with faith and prayer, so too do believers today. The bicentennial Mass was celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, the country's first Catholic cathedral established by Archbishop Carroll and restored by Cardinal William H. Keeler, retired archbishop of Baltimore.

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