With hundreds of worshippers, dozens of priests and Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde in attendance, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated Solemn Vespers with Exposition and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament Inaugurating the Diocesan Golden Jubilee Year Nov. 26. The celebration took place at St. Michael Church in Annandale on the solemnity of Christ the King.
Solemn vespers is the evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, a series of prayers marking the hours of the day. Together with Bishop Burbidge, the faithful participated in the hymns, psalms, readings and intercessions.
In his homily, Bishop Burbidge described the two preparatory years preceding the jubilee year, with the themes “Remember” and “Rejoice.” In Year One, he said, “We implemented many initiatives to invite all the faithful to full and active participation at Mass and invited parishioners to spend quiet and peaceful time in Eucharistic adoration.”
Year Two encouraged the faithful to imitate Mary’s example, Bishop Burbidge said. “One of the most powerful ways we honor Christ the King is to honor his Mother and join her in saying, ‘My spirit rejoices in God my Savior,’ ” he said.
The jubilee year’s theme “Renew” invites all to participate in the new evangelization, Bishop Burbidge said. “We need to increase in our diocese some of the best practices that we are seeing in our parishes: going out in twos door-to-door to the homes of our parishioners; fostering small groups; inviting some entities and individuals with an expertise in evangelization to assist our parish communities; and enhancing and enriching faith formation at every level with the intention of not just informing but also inspiring,” he said.
Renewal is also personal, Bishop Burbidge added. “The best way to invite others back to the Lord is in and through our example and witness. Therefore, dear friends, renew tonight the promise to live in a manner worthy of the calling you have received; renew the commitment to holiness, faithfulness, integrity of life, kindness and humble service; and renew your ‘yes’ to live proudly the faith we profess,” he said.
Bishop Burbidge blessed the faithful with the Blessed Sacrament. After Benediction, the faithful celebrated the new jubilee year with a reception at the adjacent St. Michael School.
Moon Kim, a parishioner of St. Paul Chung Church in Fairfax, said that the jubilee year’s theme should be a reminder for Catholics to transform their lives. “Many Catholics nowadays, they just get too comfortable. They go to Mass on Sundays, and that’s about it, but they do not do any active evangelization. So ‘Renew’ means we have to reprogram ourselves,” he said.
This story has been updated.
