Federation of Vietnamese Catholics in USA: Pilgrimage at the Basilica of National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: June 18-20, 2009

Washington D.C. April 22, 2009: The Second Annual Pilgrimage of the Vietnamese Catholic Federation in USA will be organized at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, from June 18 to 20, 2009 in Washington D.C.

This year the presiding prelate will be Archbishop Pierre Nguyen Van Tot, Vatican Ambassador to Costa Rica.

The preliminary events include two excursions for visitors from out-of-state: A visit by bus to Luray Cavern, Virginia on Tuesday June 16, and a bus tour in Washington DC on Wednesday June 17.

The various workshops on Thursday June 18 and Friday June 19 will be presented by several prominent speakers: Rev. Nguyen Khac Hy, Rev. Vu The Toan, Rev. Hoang Tat Thang, and Rev. Nguyen Thanh Binh. A youth workshop will be conducted by Sister Phuong Nhi and others.

There will be a reception at Harvest Moon Restaurant in Falls Church, Virginia on Friday evening.

On Saturday, the program will start at 11:30 PM. Due to a 9:30 AM Ordination Mass celebrated by Archbishop Donald Wuerl, this year the Marian Procession will not go around the circle in front of the basilica.

The event will end at 2:00 PM so that those pilgrims who want to return home on the same day could catch a flight out of DC.

Below is the detailed program for June 16 – June 20, 2009

Theme: “With St. Paul, We Come to Our Lady of Lavang to Tell Jesus’ Story”

Tuesday: June 16/6/09

10:00 am to 6:00 pm: excursion to Luray Cavern, Virginia, 2 hours by bus. Bus ticket $30.00/person. Bus will leave at Holy Martyrs of Vietnam. Lunch on your own. Luray Cavern admission ticket $18.00, ($13.00 for group more than 20 persons)

Wednesday: June 17/6/09

10:00 am to 6:00 pm: Sightseeing in Washington DC: White House, Pentagon, US Congress, Washington Monument….. Bus ticket: $30.00, lunch on your own.

Thursday: June 18, 2009

• Morning: Free time (Sight-seeing in DC)
• 3:00 pm: Registration in Crypt Church
• 6:00 pm: Opening Mass: Presiding: Rev Nguyen Duc Vuong, Vice President Vietnamese Catholics Federation in USA. Homily: Rev. Nguyen Thanh Chau, President Vietnamese Catholics Federation in USA, South-Eastern Region
• 7:30 pm: Seminar: Topic: “St. Paul and the Gentiles”: Rev. Nguyen Khac Hy (Crypt Church)
• 8:30 pm: Adoration of the Eucharist, Confession, Candle and Eucharistic Procession, Veneration of the Relics of Martyrs: Presiding: Rev Dinh Ngoc Que, President Vietnamese Catholics Federation in USA, South-Western Region

Friday, June 19, 2009

• 10:00 am -12:00 pm: Meeting and Sharing with the Annuncio Archbishop Peter Nguyen Van Tot. Facilitator: Rev. Tran Cong Nghi, President, Vietcatholic Network
• 12:00 – 3:00 pm: Lunch and free time.
• 3:30 pm – 5:45 pm: Group workshops, topic: "St. Paul and the Families:"
• - Adults: Rev. Vu The Toan, SJ
• - Young Adults (18-35): Rev. Hoang Tat Thang & Nguyen Thanh Binh
• - Youth (under 17): Sr. Phuong Nhi and other sisters
• 6:00 pm: Mass, presiding: Rev. Nguyen Thanh Liem, President Vietnamese Catholics Federation in USA
• 7:15 pm: Transportation to Harvest Moon Restaurant in Falls Church, VA.
• 8:00 pm: Banquet at Harvest Moon Restaurant

Saturday, June 20, 2009

• 11:30 am: Assembly and Rehearsal for Choral and Dance performances
• 12:30 pm: Solemn Mass: Archbishop Peter Nguyen Van Tot (Presiding and Preaching)
• 14:00 pm: Benediction and Closing