Archbishop William E. Lori will be joined by Edwin Cardinal O’Brien, former Archbishop of Baltimore, Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston, Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M., Cap. of Philadelphia, and several bishops from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region for a Mass celebrating the 225th anniversary of the establishment of the Archdiocese as the first Catholic diocese in the United States. The Mass will take place Sunday, November 2nd at 3pm at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.
Approximately 2,000 people are expected to attend the Mass, including hundreds of priests, religious sisters, deacons, and representatives of the more than 150 parishes and 70 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. Also attending will be heads of Catholic hospitals, seminaries, colleges and universities, and local Catholic organizations. The Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus, based in New Haven, CT, will also be present for the Mass. Archbishop Lori is Supreme Chaplain for the Knights and its Founder, Father Michael McGivney, was ordained to the priesthood at the Baltimore Basilica.
On November 6, 1789, Pope Pius VI established the Diocese of Baltimore as the first Catholic diocese in the United States. At the time of its creation, the Diocese encompassed all 13 original states until the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, when approximately 850,000 square miles were added to it. John Carroll, a Sulpician priest and native Marylander, was named its first bishop at the time of the Diocese’s founding. In 1808, the Diocese was elevated to an Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Bardstown (KY), Boston, New York, and Philadelphia were formed.
EWTN will broadcast the Mass live.