Cardinal to lead pilgrimage honoring Our Lady

By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer

In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Cardinal Justin Rigali is leading a Saturday, Nov. 6 pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
The Cardinal will serve as the principal celebrant at the 3 p.m. Mass at the Basilica and crown a statue of the Blessed Mother.
The statue to be crowned is from St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Church, a worship site of St. Paul Parish in South Philadelphia.
“It’s very important for us to make this pilgrimage to the Shrine with our Cardinal Archbishop in our belief that Mary was conceived without original sin,” said Father Louis P. Bellopede, pastor of St. Paul Parish and pilgrimage committee member.
“This is what our dogma professes and what we believe as Catholics. This is very historic — 150 years.”
To date, 25 of the Archdiocese’s 275 parishes have registered for the pilgrimage. Interested pilgrims should contact their parishes regarding participation and transportation needs.
The schedule of the day’s events begins with a noon welcome by Msgr. Walter R. Rossi, director of pilgrimages for the Basilica.
The sacrament of reconciliation will be available from noon until 2:30 p.m.
A sacred music concert by the Archdiocesan Boy Choir and other music groups will be held from 12:15 p.m. to 12:50 p.m.
A tour of the Basilica will be provided from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The procession and reading of the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception is scheduled from 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
The rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is Msgr. Michael J. Bransfield, a Philadelphia priest ordained in 1971.
In 1847, Pope Pius IX named Mary, under the title of her Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States.
For more information on the pilgrimage, call the Archdiocese’s Office for Special Projects at (215) 587-3519.
For more information on the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, check out the Web site www.nationalshrine.com or call (202) 526-8300.

CS&T Staff writer Christie L. Chicoine can be reached at (215) 587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.