Additional Tickets Available at 5 p.m. today at www.nationalshrine.org/mass-registration
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is pleased to announce that the capacity of the congregation allowed in the Great Upper Church will increase from its current cap of 250 people to 1,000 people for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday.
Monsignor Walter Rossi, Rector of the Basilica, stated, “I am grateful to the Mayor’s Office for accepting this request which allows more of the faithful to participate in the most sacred days of the Church year.”
The ticketing system implemented by the Basilica for the Christmas season has remained in place and advance registration is required for the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter, and all Solemnities.
Additional tickets for the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter will be made available today, March 25, at 5 p.m. To register please visit www.nationalshrine.org/mass-registration. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, with a 10-person ticket limit per registration.
The Basilica’s 2021 Holy Week and Easter schedule is as follows:
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
4:30 pm (Vigil), 9 am, 12 noon* (Schola, Livestreamed), 2:30 pm (Spanish, Livestreamed) and 4:30 pm
*12 noon Solemn Mass: Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Celebrant & Homilist
Holy Thursday
5:30 pm A Choral Meditation: Jesu, the Very Thought of Thee (Livestreamed)
6 pm Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Livestreamed)
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Celebrant & Homilist
Good Friday
2 pm Organ Prelude: A Meditation on the Passion of Christ (Livestreamed)
2:30 pm A Choral Meditation: Hear, O God, My Prayer (Livestreamed)
3 pm Solemn Celebration of the Passion of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Livestreamed)
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Presider
Monsignor Walter Rossi, Rector of the Basilica, Celebrant & Homilist
Holy Saturday
8 pm The Solemn Easter Vigil (Livestreamed)
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Celebrant & Homilist
Easter Sunday – The Solemnity of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
7:30 am (Crypt Church), 9 am, 12 noon* (Schola, Livestreamed), 2:30 pm (Spanish, Livestreamed), 4:30 pm
*12 noon Solemn Mass: Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, Celebrant & Homilist
For those unable to attend in person, the 12 noon and 2:30 pm (Spanish) Masses of Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, and the Liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, will be livestreamed at www.nationalshrine.org/mass.
The Basilica continues to operate with an adjusted schedule and operations due to the coronavirus pandemic and continued restrictions. However, of special note, while Confessions are currently heard Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 11 am, the Basilica is adding two hours of Confession Monday through Thursday of Holy Week from 2 pm to 4 pm.
For additional information, please visit www.nationalshrine.org.
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