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

Ja, solche Vigilien haben etwas Besonderes. Bei uns im Chor haben wir vor der Bischofsweihe von Bischof Wolfgang auch bis spät gesungen, und die Stille danach in der Kirche war fast greifbar. Ich bete mit für den neuen Bischof und die Gemeinde in Washington.

Lenka Nováková

U nás v Michalovciach sme mali podobnú vigil pred vysviackou nášho biskupa pred pár rokmi, kostol bol tichý a plný očakávania. Ráno potom všetko už bežalo rýchlo. Budem sa modliť za toho nového biskupa v Washingtonu, nech mu Boh dá silu.

Tomáš Baláž

Áno, v Michalovciach to bolo naozaj dôstojné, pamätám si tie tiché lavice. U nás v Košiciach sme mali vigil pred pár rokmi podobnú, lenže vonku pršalo, takže sa ľudia tlačili dnu. Budem sa modliť spolu s tebou za toho biskupa, nech mu Pán dá vytrvalosť v tej veľkej diecéze.

Lenka Nováková

Áno, tie tiché lavice v Michalovciach mi utkveli v pamäti, najmä keď sa večer rozsvietili len sviečky. U nás v Košiciach to asi bolo chaotickejšie kvôli tomu dažďu, však? Modlím sa za toho nového biskupa, nech mu Pán dá silu aj v tej veľkej diecéze, ako hovoríš.

Ioana Stoica

La noi în parohie, înainte de hirotonirea diaconului nostru de acum doi ani, am stat și noi până seara târziu la rugăciune și liniștea aceea din strane chiar se simțea. Mă bucur că și la Washington au avut o astfel de seară plină de speranță. O să mă rog și eu pentru noul episcop.

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?