Saturday began bright and early at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine with a visit of 53 midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy. They headed to the retreat room after Mass to learn about Mother Cabrini. En route they passed 65 OCIA candidates from St. Vincent Ferrer, a local parish run by the Dominican Friars, who were heading from the retreat room into the chapel for their first experience of Adoration. The candidates later had a talk about Mother Cabrini and their own Mass.
That Mass ran a bit long, which made for some tricky logistics. A private mariachi Mass was scheduled at 1:00 pm in honor of Nuestra Señora del Rosario and people were already arriving. Fortunately, the priest for that Mass was delayed. The OCIA candidates finished their lunch just as the Spanish Mass ended. That meant that with a bit of scurrying by Shrine staff all the trash cans were emptied, leftovers stored, and many trays of Mexican food set out. A brass band arrived at the end of the Mass to lead the attendees in procession through the neighborhood, then they returned to the parking lot to dance joyously.