April 13 at Villanova University
Plans for Bicentennial Mass underway
By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer
VILLANOVA — Plans are in place for the closing liturgy of the archdiocesan
Bicentennial, which Cardinal Justin Rigali will celebrate at 4 p.m. Sunday,
April 13 at the Villanova University Pavilion in Villanova.
The procession begins at 3:40 p.m. Those planning to attend are asked
to be in their seats by 3:30 p.m.
The role of the family will be highlighted at the Mass, which will be
broadcast in live streaming video on the archdiocesan Web site, www.archphila.org.
Those in attendance as well as those watching remotely will have an opportunity
to recommit themselves to service to God and to the Church.
A limited number of tickets to the Mass are available through the parishes
of the Archdiocese and through the Office for the Bicentennial. [See end
of story for information about how to request tickets.]
Following the theme of family, Paul and Karen Quinn of St. Francis De
Sales Parish in Lenni — with their six adopted children and one
foster child — are scheduled to carry the gifts in the offertory
procession. Paul Quinn is a candidate for the permanent diaconate.
“It’s an honor,” Karen Quinn said of her family’s
role at the Mass. “We’ll be part of a great celebration —
200 years, that’s a long time.”
She and her husband will be accompanied by their multiracial, adopted
children, Jamie, 24; Kristine, Monica and Gregory, all 14; Teresa, 10,
and Denzel, 6, as well as their 5-month-old foster-daughter. They are
foster and adoptive parents through Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese.
The Church, and attending Mass together, are family priorities for the
Quinns.
“We strongly believe in family,” Quinn said. “These
children are a joy to have. The Catholic message is, you need to help
as much as you can when you can. Even if it’s only one person at
a time, it’s one person more that you’re helping.”
At press time, five cardinals and 30 archbishops and bishops were scheduled
to attend the closing Mass, as were approximately 300 priests of the Archdiocese.
The ethnic diversity of the Archdiocese will be evident throughout the
Mass, beginning with a procession that includes colorful banners representing
the countries of origin of the thousands of immigrant Catholics of the
Archdiocese.
After the liturgy — in true Philadelphia fashion — Tastykakes
and soft pretzels will be distributed as Catholics strut home to the sounds
of a local string band.
“As the Church continues to celebrate the Easter season, our Bicentennial
celebration lends itself to that, because it’s an opportunity for
the Church to be young and to be new and to grow into the future,”
said Father Joseph C. McLoone, chairman of the archdiocesan Bicentennial.
“As the Cardinal has so oftentimes said during the year, it’s
not only a time to look back and to give thanks to God for all that was,
but to recommit ourselves to serving all the people of God in the name
of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord,” Father McLoone added.
The year 1808 was a pivotal time for the Church in America. On April 8
that year, Pope Pius VII established Baltimore as the first Archdiocese
in the United States, and created dioceses in Boston, New York, Bardstown,
Ky. and Philadelphia.
At the time, the geographical area of the Diocese of Philadelphia included
all of Pennsylvania, Delaware and the southern half of New Jersey. Eleven
dioceses now serve this area. In Pennsylvania, there are eight dioceses.
In next week’s issue of the CS&T, read about how the Archdiocese
is celebrating its actual anniversary day, April 8.
For more information about the Bicentennial, visit the archdiocesan Web
site, www.archphila.org.
To request tickets for the Bicentennial’s closing Mass, contact
your parish or Father Joseph C. McLoone, the Bicentennial chairman, at
(215) 587-5634 or e-mail him at frjmcloo@adphila.org.
CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215)
587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.
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