Sunday, November 21, 2010
BASILICA INAUGURATION OF ST. PATRICK'S OLD CATHEDRAL
BASILICA INAUGURATION OF SAINT PATRICK'S OLD
CATHEDRAL
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| NY Archbishop Timothy Dolan will lead the Vespers Service |
The Inauguration of the Basilica of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral in lower
Manhattan will take place at a vespers service on Sunday, December 5th
at 4 p.m.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan will preside, and the participating clergy will
include the pastor of the Basilica, Msgr. Donald Sakano.
The former cathedral was officially designated a basilica this year on March 17th,
the feast day of it's patron, by Pope Benedict XVI. It is the first
church in the Archdiocese of New York to be honored with the title.
Archbishop Dolan had announced that he would seek the basilica designation for
the cathedral when he celebrated its bicentennial Mass on June 7, 2009.
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| St. Patrick's Old Cathedral Celebrates 200 Years |
A basilica is a church to which certain privileges and
responsibilities are attached. It holds special celebrations on feasts
which underscore the role of the Holy See in the world today. It has the
right to display the coat of arms of the Pope who made it a basilica, as well
as its own coat of arms.
It also has the right to use and display two symbols rooted in the papal
court. The Tintinnabulum, a
bell that was used to alert people to the approach of the Holy Father during
papal street processions, and the Ombrellino,
an elaborate umbrella used to protect the pope from inclement weather.
St. Patrick's was built in 1809, and stands on the corner of Prince and Mott
Streets in the Little Italy section of NYC. It was the seat of New York's
Bishops until the current St. Patrick's Cathedral was dedicated in 1879.
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| St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in New York City |
The Ancient Order of Hibernians shares a rich history with the basilica. In
April of 1844, Archbishop John Hughes called upon the men of the AOH to defend
the cathedral against throngs of No-Nothing mobs whose intention was to burn
the cathedral to the ground. It remains a very proud and defining moment
in the history of the AOH to this very day.
Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians have been invited to take part in
the inaugural ceremonies on December 5th. All officers and members
are encouraged to attend. Dark conservative suits and tri-colored AOH
sashes will be the order of the day. If you require any additional
information, please contact Division President Kevin Ellis.
