WASHINGTON (CNS): The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington collected and donated nearly half a million US dollars to assist the restoration and rebuilding efforts of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, which was extensively damaged in a fire two years ago [Sunday Examiner, 21 April 2019].
The donation was made on September 16 during a Mass celebrated by Wilton Cardinal Gregory of Washington in the national shrine’s Crypt Church.
Cardinal Gregory called the gift to “our sisters and brothers in France” for the cathedral’s repair “an expression of our deep affection and support as they continue the restoration of Notre Dame de Paris.”
The cardinal said, “Our local response [to the blaze] in the United States of America was to join millions of people in pledging to help to restore this world treasure.”
Cardinal Gregory, who as archbishop of Washington is chairperson of the national shrine’s board of trustees, was the principal celebrant of the Mass. Concelebrants included Monsignor Patrick Chauvet, archpriest and rector of Notre Dame Cathedral; Monsignor Walter Rossi, rector of the national shrine in Washington; and Monsignor Vito Buonanno, the shrine’s director of pilgrimages.
Noting that the Notre Dame Cathedral “has welcomed countless millions of people for centuries—some have actually been saints while others were great sinners,” Cardinal Gregory said, “May our gift assist the people of Paris in restoring a place of prayer and beauty for those who visit that world famous shrine in the centuries that will follow.”
Among those in attendance were Phillip Etienne, France’s ambassador to the United States; Michael Picaud, president of the Friends of Notre Dame de Paris, the organisation raising funds for the cathedral’s restoration; and parishioners from St. Louis of France Parish, the French-speaking parish in the Archdiocese of Washington.
During the Mass, prayers were offered for the benefactors and donors to the cathedral restoration effort. At the end of the Mass, Monsignor Rossi and Cardinal Gregory presented a $465,000 [HK$3.62 million] check to Monsignor Chauvet. Monsignor Rossi said the money was raised “thanks to the great generosity of people throughout the United States and beyond.”
“On Monday of Holy Week 2019, fire ravaged Notre Dame and caused significant damage to this venerable cathedral,” Monsignor Rossi explained prior to presenting the check. “That very day the national shrine began a campaign to help restore the cathedral, which was then supported by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and dioceses throughout the United States.”
The shrine’s fundraising effort to restore Notre Dame began when more than 2,000 people attended an organ concert it hosted less than two weeks after the fire.
The national shrine also created a special online collection to raise funds in support of the restoration effort.
Speaking in French, Monsignor Chauvet said he was “particularly touched” by the donation that “will be of great help to Notre Dame.”
Noting the difficulties in traveling during this time of Covid-19, he said that “nothing will separate us from our American friends because love is stronger than the pandemic.”
The monsignor said, “I would like to thank all of the faithful here because we see the generosity of the American people. After this fire, Notre Dame is no longer Notre Dame de Paris, but Notre Dame of the World.”
