The Fourth of July came early for parishioners of the Arlington diocese.
Some 3,500 Catholics and their families celebrated the nation’s 250th anniversary at the annual Diocesan Festival at the Clarke County Fairgrounds in Berryville June 13. With the theme “Faith + Freedom,” the festival featured a Marian procession, Vigil Mass, food, rides, multicultural dances, bounce inflatables, petting zoo and a massive fireworks display.
“This festival is really a small gift to you, thanking you for what a precious way you live out your faith each and every day,” Bishop Michael F. Burbidge said at the start of Mass.
As Catholics prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, “we remember in a special way those in the military throughout the years who offered the ultimate sacrifice: their lives to safeguard and to protect our freedom,” Bishop Burbidge said in his homily. “We pray for them and their eternal peace at this Mass.”
As Catholics celebrate the freedom to live the faith, remember that faith is ultimately a “pure gift given to us by God and to be strengthened every day,” he said.
U.S. bishops consecrated the country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus during their spring meeting in Orlando, Fla., June 11. “We were reminded why we make this act of consecration,” Bishop Burbidge said. “We heard these words: ‘We consecrate our nation not because it is perfect, but because it is beloved by God.’ ” Festival Massgoers also participated in this consecration. “We will do that within this Mass, reconsecrating our diocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” he said.
Our nation will only be peaceful and united when we follow God’s plan, Bishop Burbidge concluded. “We entrust to the heart of Christ our achievements and failures, our hopes and our anxieties, our present challenges and our future aspirations. We ask him to heal what is wounded, strengthen what is good, and guide us toward a future marked by justice, peace, freedom and respect for the dignity of every human person.”
Soon, the field was dotted with red umbrellas as priests distributed Communion. Before the final blessing, Bishop Burbidge led all in a prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Following Mass, festival-goers indulged in free hot dogs, tacos, empanadas and ice cream. Children ran off toward amusement rides, a rock climbing tower and inflatable obstacle courses and slides. Youths from different parishes began pickup soccer and football matches, or lined up for face painting. Animal lovers of all ages visited an alpaca, mini donkey, calf and two goats at the petting zoo.
Adults seeking a festive beverage were able to purchase wine from Catholic-owned Rappahannock Cellars at the St. Isidore’s Vineyard and beer from Lost Barrel Brewery at the St. Benedict Beer Garden.
Coffee lovers satisfied their cravings with an iced coffee from Taste and See Coffee and wandered among Catholic vendors, who sold goods from faith-inspired apparel to water bottle stickers to home decor and Catholic coloring books.
The festival was also a tour stop for Catholic Charities USA’s traveling exhibit, “People of Hope: Faith-Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors.” The exhibit shared the stories of the men, women and children assisted by Catholic Charities employees and staff across the country.
Families gathered back at the stage for several multicultural performances. Vietnamese percussionists drummed and clashed cymbals in rhythm, as dancers, dressed as three large lions with puppeteered heads, performed a dance. They then ran into the crowd to greet the children, who petted the friendly lion heads.
Salvadoran dances followed. As the youngest dancers, dressed as cheerleaders, waved their pom-poms, older girls and women twirled their folkloric skirts in a high-energy performance.
Parishioners came from near and far for the festival. Holly and Paul Smith, parishioners of St. Francis de Sales Church in Purcellville, said they enjoyed the multicultural aspects of the festival. “It seemed like a good, family-friendly event,” Paul said. “We’ve never been before and wanted to give it a try.”
For other attendees, including father of six Ryan Drury, a parishioner of Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville, the festival is an annual family event. “We’ve been to the last several and it’s kind of become a tradition,” he said. “It’s good to get outside of the parish and see the larger diocese come together and pray.”
Two concerts sent festival energy rocketing sky-high. Dominican-born singer-songwriter Jon Carlo performed a rousing set, followed by Celtic-rock band Scythian, which is set to go on hiatus this year. Adults and children alike gathered in front of the stage to sing and dance.
As the sun dipped behind the hills, Scythian led festivalgoers in a chorus of the “Salve Regina,” and Bishop Burbidge returned to the stage to give a final blessing. As the stage cleared, the sky erupted into color with a 15-minute-long fireworks display.
Amanda Goncalves, who entered the church at Easter and is a parishioner of Precious Blood Church in Culpeper, said she was struck by the outpouring of faith from Catholics around the diocese. “There’s just this beautiful tradition in the Catholic Church,” she said. Coming from a Protestant background, Goncalves said that Catholics were often mistaken as “a sullen people.”
“But then you come to something like this and find out that that’s not the case at all,” she said, watching her two daughters climb off a ride. “There’s just so much joy, and it’s abundant, and you can feel it in the air.”
