Brethren, last week I had the grace to visit and share with two unique Catholic communities in Norfolk, Virginia, and I came out from both most edified. The first of these communities calls home the Basilica of St. Mary’s of the Immaculate Conception. Here’s a little bit of their story:
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is located in downtown Norfolk. It is the oldest parish community in the Catholic Diocese of Richmond and often referred to as "The Mother Church of Tidewater Virginia." It came into existence in 1791 as St. Patrick's Church which was two years before the establishment of the United States hierarchy and twenty-nine years before the institution of the Richmond Diocese. Its first parishioners were French Catholics, compelled to abandon their native land by the French Revolution. In a matter of years, it received some of the earliest Irish Catholic immigrants to the United States.
The original church was built in 1842, but was destroyed by fire in 1856 rendering the building dysfunctional for use as a church. In 1858, the present church building was erected. It was dedicated to Mary of the Immaculate Conception, and was the first church to bear the name after the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX.
African American Catholics began attending St. Mary in 1886 where a portion of the choir loft was reserved for them. Subsequently, in 1889 the Josephites began coming from Richmond and by September of that year, St. Joseph's Black Catholic parish was founded with the Josephites serving as priests; their mission was to serve the spiritual needs of the Black community. Seventy-two years later, 1961, St. Joseph's was merged with St. Mary. On November 1, 1989, the newly renovated/restored edifice was rededicated with the Most Reverend Pio Laghi, D.D., Apostolic Pro-Nuncio serving as the Principal Celebrant of the Rededication Mass. Today St.Mary is a vibrant, predominately African-American worship community offering numerous ministries and outreach programs.
On December 8, 1991, the Church of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception became a Minor Basilica. The date also marked the 200th Anniversary of the church. The official proclamation was read by Apostolic Pro-Nuncio, Archbishop Agostino Ciacciavillan who also served as the principal celebrant of the Liturgy. Being named a minor basilica is an honor given by the Pope. It becomes a place of pilgrimage and is an honorary title recognizing the distinguished nature of St. Mary. There are 33 other minor basilicas in the United States, St Mary is the only one in the Commonwealth of Virginia. December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, is the main celebration at the Basilica.
I must confess that I was a bit apprehensive when I attended Mass here because my previous experience on African-American “inculturation” of the liturgy back in the early 1990s was, well, “ersatz”. Back then I got to see a mutilated liturgy presided by a celebrant dressed as a mufti, where every part of the Mass was up for reinterpretation except for the canon – otherwise, it wouldn’t have been a Mass.
What I saw a this Basilica was something very different. The Liturgy was BY THE BOOK, the homily was connected with the texts and, was PROFOUND, and the Gospel Choir never called attention to itself through song and movement. Their behavior was appropriately dignified and still uniquely African-American, although, I must say, choir members and worshippers were an across-the-board representation of not only African Americans, but also Hispanics, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Irish, etc. I came out most impressed at the loving care that the worshippers had for each other and for their beautiful Basilica.
The other community I wish to thank is the Spirit of God prayer group that meets every Wednesday at 7 PM at Christ the King Catholic Church, also in Norfolk. It’s been years, perhaps more than 10 years that I’ve attended a charismatic prayer meeting. The brethren there were also very welcoming and very patient with the multitude of prayer requests I saddled them with. I also want to thank specially the group’s leader, Mr. Steve Cys, for his warm welcome, and also all the attendants who, for what I heard, are active participants in multiple church ministries. I was particularly impressed by the welcome they gave to the impeding Perpetual Adoration during Lent at their church. This is encouraging to me, to see fellow charismatics in loving pursuit of the Face of God in contemplation.
If you are ever in Norfolk, I encourage you to visit both communities. I think you will come out of the visit edified and confirmed in your Catholic faith.