Where: Dominican House of Studies, 487 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017When: Sunday, August 29, 2010.
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.