Three days after the dedication of the new altar of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge welcomed cathedral parishioners and pilgrims alike to a Sept. 8 Mass in thanksgiving for the completion of the cathedral’s renovations.
Bishop Burbidge greeted pilgrims young and old at the doors of the cathedral just before Mass. In his homily, he told the faithful that the 33 bishops and cardinals who concelebrated the Sept. 5 Mass of Dedication praised the beauty of the renovated cathedral. “But in all sincerity to me, it looks even more beautiful today, because you gathered together as the body of Christ to offer praise to God, to hear his Word, to receive the body and blood of the Son, and to go forth and nourish in loving service of one another,” Bishop Burbidge said.
He reminded the faithful of a quote from St. Teresa of Kolkata on the importance of beauty in places of worship. Commenting on how the poor often couldn’t gain access to grand facilities like concert halls, sports stadiums and athletic facilities, she had said, “Don’t take the sacred away from the poor … the doors of the sacred are always open to them.”
“My hope and prayer is that we always welcome all of God’s people through these doors, where they will encounter, as we do today, the living God in Word and Sacrament,” Bishop Burbidge said.
Before the closing prayer, Father Patrick L. Posey, rector of the cathedral, thanked all who supported the Sunday Mass. “Bishop Burbidge, thank you for this Mass of thanksgiving and for the vision you had, not just renovating this sacred place, but truly transforming this cathedral to be a place that truly lifts our hearts and minds to God,” he said.
Parishioners enjoyed a reception after Mass in Burke Hall, where Bishop Burbidge blessed the cathedral’s new gift shop, “Gifts for All Seasons: Keeping More in our hearts and home.” Items for sale ranged from guardian angel-themed rattles and swaddles for infants to Catholic-branded coffee and mugs to custom-made rosaries. The gift shop also boasted a donation-based coffee bar.
Benjamin Paczak, a parishioner of the cathedral, said he hopes newcomers will appreciate the cathedral’s enhanced beauty. “I hope they will experience a reverence for the cathedral (and) the Diocese of Arlington, and they will look around at all the little things — from the big rose window to every little saint statue.”
Parishioners had to practice quite a bit of patience in waiting for the renovations to be completed, according to cathedral parishioner May Resbicio. “But I think everyone was just so excited about how everything was going to turn out,” she said. “I was just so amazed and inspired by the beauty of it.”
Aviva Lund, a parishioner in the Archdiocese of Washington, sojourned to Arlington to see the new renovations. “I heard about the renovations, and so honestly I just wanted to come and see it,” she said. “I just felt so close to Christ … I think today, for those who do not yet know Christ, I would hope that something like this helps them understand how attractive and how beautiful he is, how much he loves them. And in a Mass like this, you can’t help but wonder, where does this come from? You sense this deep love of the Lord, and you just want to say, ‘Yes,’ a resounding ‘Yes.’ ”
Find Out More
“Gifts for All Seasons” hours are:
Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Saturday: 4-6 p.m.
Sunday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
And by appointment.
This coverage has been updated.
