Sep 12, 2010

St Benedict the Moor

Where: 320 21st St NE, Washington DC 20002.

When: September 12th, 2010.

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

We attended 10am Mass at this church located in the Kingman Park neighborhood, not far from RFK Stadium.  The congregation was about two hundred, almost exclusively black.  There was a notable absence of children and young adults, which the priest referenced in his homily.

The priest celebrated Mass with the assistance of two altar servers, a pianist, and two Eucharistic ministers.  There was no deacon.  The Mass followed the standard rite.  The priest gave an insighful homily on forgiveness, based on the parable of the prodigal son.  He referenced The Color Purple to reach his audience better.  He also focused on the need for parishoners to evangelize, esp. to get young people to return to the church.