WASHINGTON DC – Showcall, Inc., an event production company based in Maryland, was selected to produce the first Mass that Pope Francis celebrated in the U.S. when he visited Washington DC Sept. 23. The planning committee that selected Showcall included the Archdiocese of Washington, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and The Catholic University of America.
More details from Showcall (www.showcallusa.com):
The Mass on September 23 was celebrated on the east portico of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the University Mall of The Catholic University of America where the Holy Father canonized (the last step in the process that declares someone a saint) Blessed Junipero Serra. This was the first canonization on U.S. soil.
The Holy Father’s visit to Washington included an arrival at Joint Base Andrews, a welcoming ceremony at the White House, a prayer with bishops of the United States at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle, the Mass of Canonization at the basilica, an address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress and a visit to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington.
Showcall, Inc. provided stage and set design, site layout, audio visual production, creation and production of a morning show, power generation & distribution, event infrastructure elements and overall event planning and execution.
“When we produced Pope Benedict XVI’s Mass at Nationals Park in 2008, it was our firm’s proudest moment,” said A. Blayne Candy, co-founder and senior partner of Showcall, Inc. “We walked away from that experience with volumes of information that we didn’t think we would have the chance to use again. The opportunity and responsibility to leverage that knowledge base to produce Pope Francis’ Mass where he will canonize Fr. Junipero Serra is one we do not take lightly. We are honored and grateful to be a part of this historic visit and look forward to the arrival of the Holy Father to Washington.”
“Producing a papal Mass is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that incredibly, we are being blessed with twice! Our firm has had the distinct privilege of producing some of this country’s highest profile events including international summits and memorial dedications, but the visit of the Holy Father is an event that is simply unmatched. Further, as a practicing Catholic, I feel deeply blessed and honored to be involved in this papal visit,” said Ajay R. Patil, co-founder and senior partner of Showcall, Inc.
