New Year's Day at the Basilica

We heard the last of the batch of New Year's Day masses in the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in NE Washington, DC. Although it was the day's last mass, the upper church was still a full house to hear the 4:30pm batch.

When mass started the sun was still shining but afterwards it was already dark. It was great to see the shrine's bell tower illuminated majestically.

Happy New Year!!! I welcome 2015 with faith and hope that everything will be better and brighter than the last.

Basilica Bell Tower

Day 116

1 January 2015

Blessed John Paul II

Today marks the beatification of this generation's most-loved Pope. Karol Wojtyla from his Polish roots, Pope John Paul II was officially proclaimed by Vatican as a blessed one, and now lay people can officially pray to him. It is only just a matter of time that he will be cannonized. 

Pope John Paul II was close to his Asian brethren. He visited the Philippines twice, and one of his two visits was to grace the World Youth Day in 1996, held at the Quirino Grandstand. Too bad I was not there to see him, but those who did felt like they were showered with love, grace, joy, and abundant blessings. Some of the reporters even got teary-eyed when the Pope Mobile passed by their location. This was how strong his presence was felt during his visit in the Philippines, and I'm sure the same feeling was felt by the people he visited. 

Blessed John Paul II, pray for us.