Dominican House of Studies - chapel

Where: Dominican House of Studies, 487 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017

When: Sunday, August 29, 2010.

Web: The Dominican House of Studies website is here.  http://www.dhs.edu/. 

The Dominican House of Studies (DHS) is home to The Priory of the Immaculate Conception (the Dominican friars), the pontifical theology faculty, and the student body (mainly those in training to become Dominican priests, but others as well).  DHS opens up its daily Mass to the outside community.  We attended 11:15am Mass there on Sunday, August 29th, 2010.

The Mass was celebrated by about 12 Dominican friars.  The congregation was composed of about 35 Dominican students and about 10 outsiders like us.  The Mass was held in the wood-panelled, somewhat dark, but beautiful chapel.  Unlike churches, where the seats usually face the altar, the seats in the chapel faced each other across a central aisle.  The rows were almost in bleacher format - the front row was at ground level, with each of three rows behind it slightly higher up.  The Dominicans sat toward the front - the rest of us sat at the back.  As first timers, we could not discern if this was custom or an enforced practice.

A Dominican organist provided accompaniment for the singing of hymns.  The Mass followed the standard rite, including a sign of the peace.  The chief celebrant gave a homily based from the day's readings - in essence, God invites us (as the host) to Mass, just as a person might invite the poor to a meal - He knows we cannot repay the invite - instead, He wants us there in His company.  Our challenge is to lovingly accept His invite.

The procedure for receiving the Eucharist was a little different from usual.  Two of the priests walked down the aisle to the end furthest from the altar; simultaneously, the congregation filed down the rows to form a queue.  After receiving the Eucharist, congregants walked to the altar, where two more priests offered the Chalice.  Some people chose to recieve just the Eucharist and returned to their seats.

The setting and the congregation made this a richer experience than some masses at local churches.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

When: August 27th, 2010.

Church of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus

Where: 6001 13th St NW, Washington DC 20011.

When: August 13, 2010.

Web: The church's own website is here; the ADW listing is here:

We attended the Vigil Mass at this wonderfully situated church in Brightwood neighborhood of Northwest DC.  The congregation was about fifty strong, mainly older black women.  A priest celebrated the Mass with the assistance of a deacon, a cantor, a pianist, and a couple of Eucharistic ministers and readers.  The Mass followed the standard rite.  Both the host and wine were offered for Holy Communion.  The cantor sang accompanied with piano; the choir sings at the Sunday morning services.

The deacon gave the homily centered on the readings.  He used a simile to compare Mary, through her role as Jesus' mother, to the Ark of the Covenant, as the vessel that held the ten commandments.  He noted that we value both of them, not only for what/who they were, but for what they did.

Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Where: Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 3630 Quesada St NW, 20015.

When: Sunday, August 1, 2010.

Web: Blessed Sacrament's website is here; the ADW listing is here.

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We attended 10:30am Mass at this church in Chevy Chase (just inside the DC-Maryland border).  The church building itself is beautiful, almost picture-postcard perfect.  There was a very large congregation present for Mass - about 350.  It was wonderful to be part of a full church.  The congregation was of mixed age but overwhelmingly white - reflecting accurately the local population.  There were some Hispanics and blacks as well. 

The single priest was assisted by a cantor, an organist, two readers, and a team of eucharistic ministers.  The Mass itself was of conventional structure.  The priest's homily was on the topic of earthly wealth and treasure - perhaps appropriate for the congregation of this (very) wealthy neighborhood.  We noted from the church bulletin the numerous social/outreach ministries that the parish offers.   It is good to see faith in action like this.