WATERBURY — Auxiliary Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt will celebrate the Second Annual Mountaintop Mass at Holy Land USA on April 28, honoring the life and legacy of Venerable Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus and Waterbury native.
Co-sponsored by the Holy Land Foundation and the Knights of Columbus, the Mass will be held rain or shine at 3 p.m. on Divine Mercy Sunday
Father James Sullivan, pastor of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury and organizer of the event, said he expects the crowds to exceed those at last year’s Mass, which attracted more than 1,000 people from across the state to the former religious theme park. The park is known for its 60-foot illuminated cross, which can be seen for miles from Route 8 and Interstate-84.
Archbishop Blair concelebrated the first Mass last year with 13 priests and three deacons on a stage that had a large banner proclaiming, “Welcome to Holy Land USA.” The mountaintop offers a view of the places where Father McGivney was born, baptized, educated and buried for 92 years until his remains were moved to the Church of St. Mary in New Haven, where he began the Knights of Columbus.
The Mountaintop Mass will begin at 3 p.m. Praise and worship by the Christian group Hands and Feet will start at 1:30 p.m., followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 2:30 p.m. There will be shuttles to the event along with refreshments, tents and seating. For further information, go to www.holylandwaterbury.org.