For "Mary's House," the Big 5-0

As noted in yesterday's wrap-up feed, this afternoon's seen much of the bench heading to the capital for tonight's Golden Jubilee Mass of Washington's Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, whose Great Upper Church was dedicated a half-century ago tomorrow.

With DC Archbishop Donald Wuerl on as celebrant, Bishop Michael Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston (the revered former rector whose skill-set arguably saved the place) giving the homily, two cardinals concelebrating and all the rest, on-demand video of the evening liturgy is available through CatholicTV.

North America's largest Catholic church and one of its most beloved, "Mary's House" attracts over a million visitors annually, counting as its parishioners all 64 million American Catholics.

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