The January field trip will take place on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

 

   The Basilica is located at 400 Michigan Avenue, N.E. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic church in the United States and North America and one of the ten largest churches in the world. The Basilica has over 70 chapels and oratories that relate to the peoples, cultures and traditions that are the tapestry of the Catholic faith and represent a montage of the United States. Nationalities represented by the chapels are African, Austrian, Byzantine-Ruthenian, Chinese, Cuban, Czech, Filipino, French, German, Guamanian,

Indian, Irish, Italian, Korean, Latin American, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, and Vietnamese. The art, the architecture and history and heritage of the Basilica will be breath-taking.

   There is an Upper Church and Lower Crypt Church where will have access. We will be allowed to use our

tripods, but no flash. We will be permitted to access the Crypt Church between 9:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. They ask that no more than two of us be there at a time. We are scheduled to visit the Basilica from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. It is wheelchair accessible. Free parking for visitors; the main parking lot can be accessed via Harewood Road, and the handicapped parking is available east of the front circle.

   There is no charge for this trip but donations are always appreciated, I would like to recommend $10 -$15 as a thank-you. They would also like to see some of our photos; photos cannot be used commercially.

   Please let me know if you will be attending so I can have a count. I may be reached at jlcum453@gmail.com or 240-461-2914. Please visit the website at:           http://www.nationalshrine.com

   -- Jeanine Cummins, Field Trip Leader