National Shrine

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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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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)

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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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Thurifer Lloyd Norwood leads the opening precession with the thurible during the closing mass of the Fortnight of Freedom at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C., Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (Ryan M.L. Young/The Washington Times)

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Seen from a tower at the Washington National Cathedral, the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery is seen being carried piggyback on a modified Boeing 747, above the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.,Tuesday, April 17, 2012, as it makes it's way to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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Seen from a tower at the Washington National Cathedral, the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery is seen being carried piggyback on a modified Boeing 747, above the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.,Tuesday, April 17, 2012, as it makes it's way to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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Hilary Unaegbu of Bowie kneels in prayer, during the Easter Sunday Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl celebrates Easter Sunday Mass at the National Shrine - asking, "What does 'Alleluia' mean?" (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)