J.M.J.
February 18, 2026
Dear Baltimore Guild Members, Friends, and Colleagues in Health Care,
I offer my warmest greetings and commitment to serve you in joy-filled Faith along with my fellow officers and board members of the Baltimore Guild – Catholic Medical Association (BG-CMA) as we begin this 2026 year.
“Jesus said. . .’You are the salt of the earth. . . You are the light of the world. . .’” Matt.5:13-16A. My thoughts turn to this Gospel passage as I reflect on why we may each have been drawn to the Guild and the CMA. Jesus encourages us to be that flavorful salt and bright light of faithfulness and witness, yet He knows our salt needs proper application and our light needs charging. Following the example of Jesus the Divine Healer, we can season well and re-charge our light.
The Guild, and the larger CMA, offer an uplifting community in Faith for all health care professions. We offer opportunities to worship together, participate in spiritual retreats and be further formed in the understanding and application of Catholic bioethics in practice. In turn, we educate and support our aspiring and new physicians and health care colleagues and the communities we serve, on life affirming care.
The Guild began this year with a virtual Board and Membership meeting on January 6 and will come together for Mass and fellowship breakfast on Saturday, February 21, in Cockeysville. Plans are underway for a Spring activity with Mass, fellowship, and witness in practice. We also are supporting efforts of Catholic medical students at both Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland schools of medicine. An early summer activity is under consideration and the White (coat) Mass followed by luncheon/speaker in October plus a one-day retreat in December are also in planning.
Guild activities are open to all who sign up for them, but we need a strong and sustaining/ renewing membership to reliably offer these activities. Member engagement helps develop Guild leadership and shapes activities that uphold the principles of the Catholic faith in the science and practice of medicine. A strong membership and program give the BG-CMA voice and visibility in our Faith and Health Care communities.
To join the BG-CMA or renew your annual membership if you have not yet done so for 2026, please go to our website https://bg-cma.org and click on “Register” tab for options. We encourage electronic registration. Dues are nominal and medical students can join for free. We also encourage you to check out national CMA programs, resources and news updates at www.cathmed.org.
Thank you for your support, participation and your prayers!
Sincerely,
Shirley Reddoch, MD
BG-CMA, President 2026-2027
For the past several years, we have sent all event/activity announcements and their updates via email from BaltGuildCMA@gmail.com. If you still wish to receive these communications, please alert us with updates to your email address. As most members are now joining or renewing membership online and signing up for activities electronically, we will be limiting our twice-yearly print mail (USPS) to those who have responded to those mailings — this annual president’s letter/membership renewal reminder and the White Mass announcement/luncheon registration option– via USPS mail. All those who have received print mail should also be receiving the other email announcements from the Guild.