ASIANS FOR MARY: A Pilgrimage by the Asian & Pacific Catholics in Metro Washington D.C.
Washington D.C.: On May 9, 2009 Asian and Pacific Catholics in the Washington Metro area will celebrate the seventh annual pilgrimage to The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to honor Our Lady of the 13 Asian and Pacific ethnic groups.
Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Church in Arlington was involved with the planning and organization of this event for the last seven years. Our Lady of Vietnam Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland also joined this annual celebration. Cecil Motus, director of the Office for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees US Conference of Catholic Bishops is the organizer. Every year she was able to bring together thousands of Catholics from Maryland, DC and Virginia to the shrine in May.
The Vietnamese Catholic Youth Organization “Thanh Sinh Công” from Holy Martyrs of Vietnam participated as members of the organizing committee this year.
This year the event will be presided by Most Reverend Martin D. Holley, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington.
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| Most Reverend Martin D. Holley |
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| Vietnamese Dancers in Traditional Costumes |
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| National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception |
The program will be as follows:
Saturday, May 9, 2008: 12:00 noon to 3:30 pm
Location: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC 20017
12:00 Noon Procession
Welcome Liturgical Music & Dance — Indonesian Catholic Community & Rumah Gadang, USA
Procession of Images, Icons, and Banners of Mary
- Our Lady of Antipolo (Philippines)
- Our Lady of Bandel (West Bengal,India)
- Our Lady of Burma
- Our Lady of Cambodia
- Our Lady of Fatima (Filipino Ministry)
- Our Lady of Indonesia
- Our Lady of Japan
- Our Lady of Korea
- Our Lady of Lanka (Sri Lanka)
- Our Lady of Laos
- Our Lady of Lavang (Vietnam)
- Our Lady of Pakistan
- Our Lady of Vailankanni (India)
St. Andrew Kim Korean Youth Drummers: Ms. Rosa Park, Director
St. Andrew Kim (Korean) Catholic Church Youth Orchestra: Ms. Jennifer Seo, Conductor
Indonesian Catholic Community & Rumah Gadang, USA
Bangali Catholic Community
Indian American Catholic Community
1:15 PM Welcome Remarks: Rev. Joseph T. Holcomb, Director of Pilgrimages
1:20 PM Rosary
Sign of the Cross and Apostles Creed
Our Father
Three Hail Marys
Glory Be
First Luminous Mystery – The Baptism of Jesus
Led by the Burmese community (Our Father and Glory Be in Burmese, Hail Marys in English)
Second Luminous Mystery – The Wedding at Cana
Led by the Vietnamese community (Our Father and Glory Be in Vietnamese, Hail Marys in English)
Third Luminous Mystery – The Proclamation of the Kingdom
Led by the Sri Lankan community (Our Father and Glory Be in Sinhala, Hail Marys in English)
Fourth Luminous Mystery – The Transfiguration
Led by the Filipino community of Richmond Diocese (Our Father and Glory Be in Tagalog, Hail Marys in English)
Fifth Luminous Mystery – The Institution of the Eucharist
Led by the Pakistani community (Our Father and Glory Be in Urdu, Hail Marys in English)
Hail Holy Queen
Short interlude of instrumental music by the Korean Children’s Orchestra
2:00 pm Holy Mass: Bishop Martin Holley, Celebrant and Homilist
Concelebrating Priests:
- Rev. Michio Akao, SVD
- Rev. Marianus Pale Hera, SVD
- Rev. Pho Quoc Luan, O.P.
- Rev. Ngo Van Thich, O.P.
- Rev. Rejimon Varghese, SVD
- Rev. Nguyen Duc Vuong, O.P.