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Cardinal Wuerl dedicates Trinity Dome

Elizabeth A. Elliott | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

The Trinity Dome is dedicated at the Basilica of the national Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Dec. 8. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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The Immaculate Conception in the Trinity Dome is dedicated at the Basilica of the national Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Dec. 8. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Incense rises during the dedication of the Trinity Dome. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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The Basilica of the National Shrine of
the Immaculate Conception, which will mark its 100th anniversary in 2020, celebrated its patronal feast day, the Solemnity of
the Immaculate Conception, with the dedication of the Trinity Dome Mosaic, one
of the largest mosaic installations of its kind in the world.

Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl dedicated the dome Dec.
8. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde
concelebrated, along with several priests, bishops and archbishops. Cardinal
Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, represented
Pope Francis as a special envoy from the Vatican for the dedication.

“It is such an honor to serve a diocese so close to the
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception,” said Bishop
Burbidge. “The completion of the Trinity Dome is a testament to the generosity
of the faithful and sponsors who contributed the funds needed to bring this
beautiful mosaic to fruition and also to the dedicated leadership of Cardinal
Donald Wuerl, Monsignor Walter Rossi and all those associated with the Basilica
Shrine. For countless generations, the faithful will come and pray in this
beautiful space and when they look up to God, they will be inspired by an
amazing mosaic reflecting the sacredness and majesty of our faith.”

 

Before the dome was dedicated, Cardinal Farrell read aloud a
letter and greetings from Pope Francis on the occasion.

“In your (Cardinal Farrell’s) address, you will exhort all
those present to give thanks for all the benefits received from the merciful
God, and exhort them as well to the diligent observance of His commandments,
most especially as regards the promotion and defense of human life and the
dignity of the person,” the statement reads in part.

The Trinity Dome Mosaic, which marks the completion of the basilica, covers more than 18,300 feet of the
interior surface of the central and is the largest dome of the Basilica. It is
composed of more than 14 million pieces of Venetian glass, more than 1,000
color variations.

The mosaic work was done at the Travisanutto Giovanni Mosaic
Company in Spilimbergo, Italy. It was shipped to the shrine in 30,000 sections
that together weighed 24 tons. The mosaic depicts the Trinity, Mary and 13 saints associated
with the United States. These include Sts. Juan Diego, Kateri Tekakwitha,
Teresa of Kolkata, Francis Cabrini, John Paul II and Junipero Serra. The
beginning and the end of Nicene Creed encircles the base of the dome and the
four evangelists are pictured along with angels.

Cardinal Wuerl said the mosaic reflects the diversity of
Catholics in the pews. “All we have to do is look out across the thousands of
people gathered for Mass and we see the face of the world,” he said.

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