More than 2,000 Society members, clergy, friends and donors gathered in New York City's Cathedral of Saint Patrick on Sunday, October 30, to celebrate the centennial of the Maryknoll Society, better-known as the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. The celebration gave thanks for all Maryknollers, benefactors and friends past and present who have helped proclaim the Gospel to all nations.
(click on the pictures to enlarge them and to see the captions)
The principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass of Thanksgiving was His Eminence Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of the Washington Archdiocese. Many Maryknoll priests and other guest priests concelebrated the Mass. Altar servers were Maryknoll Brother candidates and seminarians. The Mass was broadcast live worldwide to allow all Catholics to join the celebration of Maryknoll's centennial—The Gift of Mission – The Maryknoll Journey.
The Mass for the centennial year (Missas ad Gentes - Mass to the Peoples) was composed specifically for Maryknoll by Father Jan Michael Joncas, liturgical theologian and composer of contemporary Catholic music that includes On Eagle's Wings. The musicians and the Maryknoll Choir is composed of Maryknoll Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Lay Missioners, employees, neighbors and friends.
The celebration began with a procession of flags, led by the U.S. and Papal flags, from all the countries served by the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers during its first 100 years. The procession of flags was followed by the processional cross, carried during all major liturgical celebrations, that was created for Maryknoll during 2000. The back of the cross contains relics of the Maryknoll Society Founders -- Bishop James A. Walsh and Father Thomas F. Price -- and of Mother Mary Joseph, the Foundress of the Maryknoll Sisters' Congregation. The cross also contains relics of Maryknoll Brother Aloysius Moliner and Maryknoll Lay Missioner Joseph Honerkamp. Placed together, the relics call to mind the shared goal of all the Maryknoll entities to proclaim the Gospel to all people.
Among the special guests participating in the Mass were the people representing the various lands served by Maryknoll. They offered the Prayers of the Faithful in their native languages of Hakka, English, Quechua, Spanish, Swahili and Taiwanese. The Presentation of the Gifts included rice that represented Asia, corn from the Americas, cassava from Africa and the intentions of Maryknoll benefactors.
There were a number of Maryknoll Affiliates at the mass, too. Almost the entire Maryknoll Affiliate Board was there since they had just finished their Board Meeting held at the Maryknoll Lay Missioners. Rosa Beatriz Castañeda de Larios (Guatemala) and Victor Maqque (Puno and South Bend) both read prayers of the faithful. Jack Connell and Fred Goddard were flag bearers. Many Maryknoll Affiliates from the New York area were in attendance.
