The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception will join with Pope Francis and Marian shrines from around the world on Saturday, May 30, at 11:30 a.m. in praying for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary during this time of international concern over the coronavirus pandemic.
Msgr. Walter Rossi, rector of the National Shrine, and the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, will pray the rosary in the Great Upper Church at the same time the pope leads the rosary from the Lourdes Grotto inside the Vatican Gardens in Rome.
Because the National Shrine remains closed to the public as part of the effort to halt the spread of COVID-19, the rosary will be livestreamed at www.nationalshrine.org, and on the National Shrine’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
The livestream will also be transmitted to the Vatican. Live video from St. Peter’s Basilica, the National Shrine and other participating Marian shrines from around the world – including Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal and Guadalupe in Mexico – will be sequentially shown onscreen in the Vatican Gardens for the Holy Father to see and will be broadcast worldwide to connect the faithful participating around the globe in this prayerful effort.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception continues to remain closed to the public until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic, under the directives of the District of Columbia and guidance by the Archdiocese of Washington.
Closed to the public since March 17, the priests of the National Shrine continues to offer Mass each day for the intentions of the faithful and for all who have been affected by the coronavirus, especially those who have died.
The National Shrine livestreams Mass each Sunday at noon, followed by Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, recitation of the Rosary at 2:30 p.m., recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m., and concluding with Benediction at 3:15 p.m. This livestream has tens of thousands of viewers each week.
