WASHINGTON (7News) — A spokesperson for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception says between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, more than 15,000 people attended masses at the Northeast Washington church – the largest attendance since before the COVID pandemic.
In addition, starting early Christmas morning volunteers packed and delivered about 1800 meals to people who had requested them.
The noon mass on Wednesday was one of several standing-room-only masses held at the National Shrine. Spokesperson Jacquelyn Hayes said masses that are standing room only include more than 3500 people.
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In a brief homily Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the Archbishop of Washington, told the thousands who assembled at the noon Christmas mass not to be afraid of the way the meaning of Christmas can change their lives.
“Our hearts want to believe that we can reach out and touch divinity. But we are fearful we are afraid of what this day means for us,” Gregory said. “Christmas is meant to comfort us, to save us, to encourage us.”
Gregory expanded on his words after the mass in an interview with 7News.
“For many of us, it takes us back to a childlike faith, an acceptance of the gifts that God gives us, which are far more important than the gifts that we may give to each other,” Gregory said. “I really encourage our people – all people – to return to that innocence, that openness, that hopefulness that gives joy and meaning to life.”
We asked Gregory how people can continue to let the meaning of Christmas impact them even after the holiday season is over.
“What we need to do is to realize that faith is a day by day by day adventure,” he said. “You have to promise that tomorrow I’ll try, and if I fail, the next day I’ll try again.”
Cardinal Gregory spoke to a standing-room-only crowd in the upper level of the National Shrine; early in the morning, large crowds of volunteers had gathered in the church’s lower level to pack and deliver about 1800 meals.
7News spoke to Valencia Camp, director of special events for the National Shrine ahead of the event. Watch below:
Valencia Camp, the National Shrine’s Director of Special Events, says about 30 volunteers served inside the church, while about 75 drivers volunteered to deliver the meals. The meals included a large turkey dinner as well as a Christmas ornament and a prayer card.
Camp said both individuals and places like senior living communities ask for the meals.
“Members of the community contact us and ask, ‘Will you deliver a Christmas dinner to me?’” Camp said. “We don’t choose them. They choose us.”
Many of the meals go to DC residents, but some are delivered to Maryland and Virginia as well.
Camp says the effort is a way to show people that they are loved.
“There are recipients today who will not have anyone else speak to them aside from the driver or the runner who delivers the meal,” she said, adding that some of the recipients would also not have anything to eat if they didn’t receive the meal.
The effort to deliver the meals did not just involve members of the Catholic Church – Camp said volunteers from the Jewish Community Center and St. Albans Episcopal Church also helped.