Special Masses to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States of America will be on July 5 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle and on July 4 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, July 5 at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, 1725 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.
Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, archbishop of Washington, will serve as the principal celebrant and homilist for this liturgy, which will honor the nation’s founding.
The Mass will include prayers of thanksgiving for this nation’s founding principles and to renew a shared commitment to the promise of liberty and justice for all.
A livestream of the Mass will be available at https://www.youtube.com/live/t...
On Independence Day, Saturday July 4, a Mass of Thanksgiving will be offered by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop emeritus of Washington, at 12:10 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Avenue, N.E. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the new apostolic nuncio to the United States is scheduled to concelebrate.
Prior to the Mass, a choral prelude titled "With Freedom's Holy Light" will be performed by the Choir of the Basilica beginning at 11:30 a.m.
The Choral Prelude and Mass of Thanksgiving will be livestreamed at www.nationalshrine.org/mass.
