The 2024 Lighting of the Basilica Christmas Tree and Lessons & Carols

Please click here to see the 2024 Christmas and New Year’s Mass schedule, along with the parish’s holiday closing times. Click here to see Advent confession times.

Sunday evening, December 15, was full of Christmas cheer at the Basilica as Father Edward Hathaway, our Rector, and our parochial vicars, Father Joseph Townsend and Father James Searby, led a blessing before the lighting of the Christmas tree in the parish courtyard. Father Hathaway, Father Searby and Fiona Pacious, a junior at James Madison University and a parishioner, then led those gathered in singing several Christmas carols. Special thanks go to our Office of Religious Education, the OCIA team and our American Heritage Girls troop for helping provide finger food, refreshments and for decorating the tree. Click below to watch the video:

Following that, David Elliott, the Basilica’s Music Director, led Advent Lessons & Carols in the Basilica with help from the Schola Cantorum, the Basilica of Saint Mary School Choir, and the Basilica Choristers. Click here to watch the video: