News Briefs

Three people were killed and more than 50 injured as thousands packed St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt, on March 18 and 19 to pay their respects to Pope Shenouda III, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, who died on March 17. • Ken Hackett, who retired in December after 18 years as president of Catholic Relief Services, will receive the University of Notre Dame’s 2012 Laetare Medal during commencement ceremonies on May 20. • Archbishop Robert J. Carlson of St. Louis, Mo., said the archdiocese planned to appeal a March 15 ruling that affirmed St. Stanislaus Parish Corporation’s control over parish property and assets. • The Conference of Major Superiors of Men announced on March 19 that Abbot Giles Hayes of St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, N.J., had resigned as president for health reasons, to be replaced by Thomas H. Smolich, S.J., now the vice president • The Rev. Edward Flanagan was declared a “servant of God” during a Mass on March 17 at Immaculate Conception Church at Boys Town, as the Archdiocese of Omaha formally opened the cause for sainthood of the founder of the home for troubled youths.