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Diocese of Richmond opens bicentennial year

Special To The Catholic Herald

Bishop Barry C. Knestout of the Diocese of Richmond celebrates Mass inaugurating the diocese’s bicentennial year at Sacred Heart Church in Norfolk Jan. 18. MICHAEL MICKLE, CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF RICHMOND | COURTESY

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Catholics gather for Mass inaugurating the diocese’s bicentennial year at Sacred Heart Church in Norfolk Jan. 18. MICHAEL MICKLE, CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF RICHMOND | COURTESY

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The Catholic Diocese of Richmond inaugurated its bicentennial
year Jan. 18-19 with diocesan-wide Masses commemorating the arrival of Bishop Patrick
Kelly, first bishop of Richmond, in Virginia. Bishop Barry C. Knestout, 13th
bishop of Richmond, celebrated a Mass recognizing the Catholic presence in the
diocese’s Eastern vicariate at Sacred Heart Church in Norfolk Jan. 18. 

“As we begin this yearlong celebration of our diocese, it is
important to reflect on the circumstances which surrounded the founding of this
local church of Richmond,” said Bishop Knestout. “When we remember that not
only are we the seventh diocese in the entire nation to reach this milestone of
200 years, but that we overcame so much adversity even among ourselves to get
here, it is great cause for celebration. I am very much looking forward to
spending the coming year with the faithful and taking part in the special
events our task force has put together.”

A letter from Bishop Knestout to the faithful was read at Masses
throughout the diocese during the opening weekend of the bicentennial year,
along with special prayers, readings and a bicentennial hymn.

During the Mass in Norfolk, Bishop Knestout used a historic
chalice and crozier. The chalice belonged to Bishop Augustine van de Vyver (1889-1911).
The crozier belonged to Bishop Walter F. Sullivan (1974-2003). 

The bicentennial planning task force has organized special events
to mark the 200th anniversary of the diocese of Richmond. Later this year,
Bishop Knestout will celebrate additional Masses to recognize the Catholic
presence in the diocese’s Central (July 11) and Western (Sept. 26) vicariates.
He will also lead a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore May 9, since the diocese was
formed from the Archdiocese of Baltimore. An Octave of Service, beginning on
the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660), the patron of the Diocese of Richmond, will be held Sept. 27-Oct. 4. Clergy, religious and
laity from parishes, schools and campus ministries will gather at the Greater
Richmond Convention Center Nov. 6-7 for the Diocese of Richmond’s first ever
Eucharistic Congress. The event will bring together people in a diocese that
covers 33,000 square miles to celebrate the real presence of Christ in the
Eucharist.

Find out more

Go to 2020.richmonddiocese.org

 

 

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