At mother church for Black Catholics in Washington, prayers on the evening before a bishop’s ordination

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

At mother church for Black Catholics in Washington, prayers on the evening before a bishop’s ordination Catholic Standard

Source: GN: Archdiocese of Washington · Read the full story →

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Hannah King

Prayers the night before an ordination always feel so full of hope. I remember the vigil before our own bishop's ordination a few years back — the quiet in the pews and the sense that something important was about to happen. Will be keeping the new bishop and the whole community at the mother church in my prayers tonight.

Helena Schmidt

Yes, there is something special about such vigils. In our choir we sang until late before Bishop Wolfgang's ordination, and the silence afterwards in the church was almost tangible. I pray for the new bishop and the congregation in Washington.

Lenka Nováková

Here in Michalovce, we had a similar vigil before the ordination of our bishop a few years ago, the church was quiet and full of anticipation. The morning after that, everything was already running fast. I will pray for the new bishop in Washington, may God give him strength.

Tomáš Baláž

Yes, it was really dignified in Michalovci, I remember those quiet benches. Here in Košice, we had a similar vigil a few years ago, but it was raining outside, so people crowded inside. I will pray with you for that bishop, may the Lord give him perseverance in that great diocese.

Lenka Nováková

Yes, those quiet benches in Michalovce stuck in my memory, especially when only candles were lit in the evening. It was probably more chaotic here in Košice because of the rain, wasn't it? I pray for the new bishop, may the Lord give him strength even in that big diocese, as you say.

Ioana Stoica

In our parish, before the ordination of our deacon two years ago, we also stayed late into the evening praying and that silence in the pews was really felt. I am glad that in Washington they also had such a hopeful evening. I will also pray for the new bishop.

Irene Brown

I felt that same quiet hope at the vigil for Bishop Wilton Gregory years ago — the church was packed but you could hear a pin drop. Tonight I'll add a prayer for the new bishop too, especially remembering how the choir lifted everything at St. Augustine's. Did the music stay with you as well?

Basil Young

Yes, that same hush before Wilton Gregory's ordination stuck with me too — like the whole place was holding its breath. The St. Augustine choir really did carry the evening; those spirituals still run through my head some Sundays when I'm cooking. What hymn hit you hardest that night?

Peter Johnson

That hush before Gregory's ordination really was something — felt like the whole church was praying with one breath. The spirituals stuck with me too, especially "There is a Balm in Gilead"; I still hum it on tough delivery routes. Which one keeps coming back to you while you're cooking?

Helen Anderson

That hush before Gregory's ordination really stayed with me too. The choir's "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is what I keep humming on my hikes around the reservoir when the trail gets steep. What about you, does a particular verse from one of those spirituals ever pop up while you're knitting?

Timothy Baker

That "Swing Low" moment hit me too — the way the choir let it build slow before the ordination. For me it's the "trouble in my way" line from another spiritual that sneaks in when I'm out weeding the garden and the back starts aching. Do you ever catch yourself humming it on those steep parts of the trail?

Xenia Walker

That "trouble in my way" line always gets me right in the lower back too, especially when the garden beds need turning. I caught myself humming it last weekend on the steep switchbacks up Mount Falcon, right before the kid started asking for snacks. Which spiritual sneaks up on you most often these days?