From Thursday, Nov. 19, Plenary Mass of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops celebrating the close of the Jubilee Year of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, America's Catholic Church. Archbishop of Washington DC Donald Wuerl, chief celebrant. Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston, former director/rector of the Basilica from 1986-2005, homilist.
Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, read the letter from Pope John XXIII addressed to the bishops of the United States (read then by the Most Reverend Egidio Vagnozzi, Apostolic Delegate to the United States) on the occasion of the dedication of the National Shrine on November 20, 1959. Cardinal Seán O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, concelebrated the Mass with over 40 bishops from across the United States.