The Cardinal, Archbishops, Bishops and representatives of different Conferences of Bishops of Europe, including members of COMECE in Brussels, arrived in Gibraltar and were accommodated to their satisfaction. The Cardinal was welcomed at the Convent by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Richard and Lady Luce. A giant marquee, to seat four thousand people was erected near the Shrine at the Europa Point cricket grounds as the venue for the celebration. The whole area was flanked by a whole range of masts flying the flags of the Countries in Europe. An impressive choir under the baton of Father Mark Miles accompanied the Liturgical ceremony with exquisite singing.

There was a festive atmosphere as the people walked in to take their seats. Cardinal Josef Tomko presided the Concelebrated Mass proper to Our Lady of Europe. Because of the variety of representatives from different European countries the basic parts of the Liturgy were recited in Latin. The Bidding prayers and Scriptural readings were read in French, English and Spanish. To initiate the proceedings, the message from the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II was read by Cardinal Tomko. Its reading was followed by a deafening warm applause by the congregation.

The first scripture readings were read out by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Richard Luce and by the Chief Minister, The Hon. Peter Caruana Q.C.

Once the Cardinal ended his address, part of it in Spanish for the benefit of the Spanish visitors, the Offertory Procession began with First Holy Communicants carrying the gifts to the Altar. Besides the bread and wine, they brought forward a most beautiful golden Chalice, donated by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, for the Shrine.

The Concelebrated Mass went smoothly with a most devout and attentive congregation. When the time for the distribution of Holy Communion arrived, twenty five priests and Ministers of the Eucharist were sent to different points of the marquee to facilitate the distribution of Holy Communion.

Finally after the final prayer a procession was formed, led by the altar servers with the processional cross, in which the Cardinal and the prelates marched towards the Shrine for the Enthronement and Crowning of the statue of Our Lady of Europe. As the procession to the Shrine advanced the choir and congregation sang a hymn to Our Lady composed by Francis Victor. It was most emotive.

Once inside the restricted space in the Shrine, the Cardinal crowned the Statues, placed them in the niche and he read allowed the prayer of Consecration kneeling before the ancient Crowned Statue.