memorial day mass

Bishop Celebrates Memorial Day Mass in Fairfax

HERALD Staff Report
(From the Issue of 5/31/07) memorial day

FAIRFAX — Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde was the celebrant and homilist at the annual “Memorial Mass for the Dead” at Fairfax Memorial Park. The Memorial Day event also marked the cemetery’s 50th anniversary.
Many Arlington Diocesan priests are buried at the Fairfax cemetery, including Msgr. James W. McMurtrie, Msgr. Justin D. McClunn, Msgr. John A. O’Connell and Msgr. Richard J. Burke. There also is a large number of Missionhurst priests interred there.
In his homily, the bishop asked the congregation to especially remember all the U.S. military personnel who have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country.
Father Terry Specht, administrator of Holy Spirit Church in Annandale, and Father John Baptist Vuong Duc Nguyen, O.P., pastor of Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Church in Arlington, concelebrated the Mass.
Frank Sowa and Ray Walsh were the lectors. Music was provided by Rose Berns and Sean Bledsoe-Berns. Fairfax Memorial Park sponsored an anniversary picnic following the liturgy.