The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. will hold a fundraising concert on the night of April 26 to contribute towards the restoration work of The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.
Although the concert is free and open to all, donations are welcome to benefit the rehabilitation of the 850-year old Notre Dame which was damaged in a devastating fire on April 15, completely destroying its wooden roof.
Titled “Together with Notre Dame de Paris,” the event is organized by the Basilica and the Embassy of France in the United States, the Friends of Notre-Dame, and the French-American Cultural Foundation.
Earlier, on the evening the fire ravaged the Notre Dame, the Archdiocese of Washington had also started an online fundraising effort to support the rebuilding of the church.
The apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl last week also announced a donation of $25,000 from the archdiocese for the cathedral.
According to a report in the Catholic Standard, the rector of the National Shrine, Monsignor Walter R. Rossi, last week said that Basilica was launching a fundraising effort “because, like the National Shrine, Notre Dame is dedicated to Our Lady, and so she is our older sister, and family helps family when there is a tragedy. We’re reaching out to help as best as we can.”
The Friday night concert will feature Johann Vexo, organist at Notre Dame, who will be accompanied by the Choir of Basilica. He was playing in the Paris Cathedral when the fire started.
The concert will be broadcast live on EWTN.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is known as the largest Catholic Church in the United States and one of the ten largest in the world.
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