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Bishop Michael Burbidge will celebrate the Opening Mass for the Holy Year 2025 on Sunday, January 5 at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, VA.The Mass celebrates the opening of the Holy Year 2025—the only official liturgy to open the Holy Year taking place within the diocese.
What else is notable about this Mass? You can expect unique opening rites:
(1) The “collectio” (gathering), with an introduction to the rite spoken by the Bishop, an opening prayer, proclamation of the Gospel, and the reading of an excerpt from the Bull of Indiction.
(2) “The Pilgrimage” into the cathedral. Everyone who is present for the opening will walk in procession (as “Pilgrims of Hope”) with the bishop to the entrance of the cathedral.
This part is led by the Holy Year Cross, used by the cathedral at the passion liturgy on Good Friday for many years and venerated by the faithful.
At the entrance, the Bishop takes the Cross and holds it up for all to see as he says a special invocation – “Hail, Cross of Christ, our only hope.”
The Cross that is used will be displayed in the Cathedral throughout the entire Holy Year for the veneration of the faithful. As Pope Francis teaches, “The content of the bread broken is the cross of Jesus, his sacrifice of obedience out of love for the Father.”
The next part of the entrance is the Commemoration of Baptism, which includes the blessing of water and the sprinkling rite. After the Bishop blesses the water, he goes throughout the cathedral to sprinkle the people. Then the procession continues to the sanctuary in the usual way.
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Learn more about the Holy Year 2025:
arlingtondiocese.org/holy-year-2025
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Cathedral of St. Thomas More, 3901 Cathedral Ln, Arlington, VA 22203-3600, United States,Arlington, Virginia
