One of Marianist high schools travelled down to D.C. a day early and toured the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
A few years ago, a youth Mass was initiated for the day of the march. This youth Mass has been held at the Capitol One Arena, which is a large convention center in Washington.
The Center holds about 20,000. It is an extraordinary venue because they traditionally put all the seminarians down on the main arena and the young people are sitting on the benches around them. Many bishops and priests concelebrate at the Mass. It is an extraordinary event with young people. I call it tantamount to a mini World Youth Day because the young people are exposed to the witness of thousands and thousands of their peers.
More than 27,000 young people secured tickets for the morning concert, pep rally and Mass, according to the Archdiocese of Washington.
The Capitol One Arena event was part pep rally, part rock concert, with entire sections of worshipers standing up to cheer wildly for their local leaders as the names of bishops and archbishops on the platform were announced.
