Yankee Stadium Mass to mark bicentennials of four U.S. archdioceses

Published: 2008-04-14

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The April 20 Mass at Yankee Stadium will mark the bicentennials of the archdioceses of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville, Ky., which was founded as Bardstown, Ky. The four dioceses, before being named archdioceses, were erected in 1808 from the Baltimore Diocese, the nation's first diocese, which became an archdiocese that year. The coats of arms of the five archdioceses will be displayed in right, left and center fields at the stadium. Their archbishops are scheduled to be concelebrants at the Mass; they are: Cardinal Edward M. Egan of New York, Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston, Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., and Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien of Baltimore. The New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville archdioceses have been marking their bicentennials with yearlong celebrations including special liturgies, youth gatherings and programs of spiritual renewal.

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