Christmas

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The Catholic archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, greets the choir as meals are provided to church attendees after Mass on Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A processional makes its way to the altar as Catholic Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl (below) celebrates Mass for more than 3,500 — including Chidubem Nwabineli (right), 6, and his sister, Chinemelum, 8, of Bowie — on Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl departs after leading a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl sings along with a choir as meals are given out to church attendees following Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl departs after leading a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Pat Beronio of Martinsville, NJ. looks up at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception after Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl leads a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Church attendees get a look at a Christmas manger scene before Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl leads a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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The Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl, right, begins the Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, left, sings along with his wife Callista, right, as she and the rest of the The Basilica Choir makes their way to the main altar for the start of Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A congregation of 4,000 fill the main church as Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl leads the Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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The Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl begins the Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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The shadow of Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl can be seen as he joins a processional for the Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A processional makes its way to the main altar as the Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl leads a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Rachel Acol, of Hyattsville, Md., prays before the Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Chidubem Nwabineli, 6, of Bowie, Md., right, checks out the reindeer antlers his sister, Chinemelum, 8, wears as they wait for Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl to lead a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A church attendant closes her eyes in prayer as Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, celebrates the Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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The Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl, center, follows a processional to the main altar at the start of the Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Jasmine Garcia, 6, of Bladensburg, Md., plays with a santa hat as she and other church goers wait for Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl to lead a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day . (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A processional begins as the Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl leads a congregation of 4,000 in Solemn Mass of Christmas Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, December 25, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)