St Anselm's Abbey

Where: St Anselm's Abbey, 4501 South Dakota Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017

When: Sunday, October 17, 2010

Web: St Anselm's website is here.

We attended 10:00am Mass here on a bright fall Sunday morning.  St Anselm's Abbey is home to Benedictine monks, at least some of whom teach in the attached boys' school.  The Abbey sits on 40 acres of somewhat secluded woodland; the actual chapel itself is an original structure (1920s) and quite small.

As with the Dominicans some weeks ago, the chapel is divided into two: the upper portion in which the monks sat (facing each other in those seats the name of which I cannot remember); and the lower portion in which the congregation sat.  There were about twenty visitors for Mass, which was about two-thirds of the seating capacity.  Sixteen monks - most of them elderly - were there as well, included the celebrant.

Before Mass started, a monk invited us to bring the gifts to the altar.  The gifts were located on a small table at the front of the pew section.  We noticed that, when people arrived, they transferred hosts from one plate to another; perhaps to ensure that just the right amount were used during the Mass.  We have not seen this practice any where else in Washington, or, to our recollection, any where else.

The Mass followed the conventional rite.  The celebrant was aided by an organist; another monk led the singing.  Two monks joined the lead celebrant for the consecration of the gifts.  The lead celebrant gave a lengthy and wide-ranging homily that touched upon the power of prayer.

For communion, people lined up in the center aisle and walked forward to the lead celebrant; and either side on the way back down were the two co-celebrants with the wine.  There was no collection; but there was a place to leave a donation near the main door.

St Francis Xavier

Where: 2800 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC, 20020.

When: Sunday, October 9th, 2010.

Web: The parish's website is located here; the ADW listing is here.

We attended 11am Mass at this church in the Anacostia neighborhood of the city, just across the river from the main part of DC.  A single priest celebrated Mass, with an altar server, a Eucharistic Minister, a pianist, and a four-strong choir.  The congregation was about fifty strong; this included about ten people visiting for the first memorial anniversary of a sister from the nearby St Francis Xavier school.  It appeared as well that some parishoners were dissuaded from attending by the major roadworks directly outside the church.

The Mass followed the conventional rite; of note, though, was the priest facing the Tabernacle during the introductory prayers from a position below the sanctuary.  We hadn't noticed that in DC before.  His homily weaved references to today's Gospel to the life of the departed sister and to other congregants - our need to give thanks to God for His innumerable blessings to us. 

Our Lady Queen of the Americas

Where: Our Lady, Queen of the Americas, 2200 California St NW, Washington DC 20008.

When: Saturday, October 2nd, 2010.

Web: The parish's website is located here; the ADW listing is here.

We attended the 5:30pm Vigil Mass at this largely Hispanic parish in Northwest Washington DC.  The chapel in which Mass was celebrated was on the second floor of a large school-like building.  We got the impression that there are several Hispanic and immigrant related services provided in the building.  Most Masses are in Spanish - but this Vigil Mass was in English.

The priest celebrated Mass with the assistance of two readers.  As is common for Vigil Masses, there was no choir or musical accompaniment.  The congregation was about 20; mostly middle-aged men and women there by themselves. 

The Mass followed the conventional rite.  Of note was the priest's homily on today's Gospel, in which the parable of the mustard seed was mentioned.  The priest noted that this was his favorite parable as a child; but that, at the seminary, a nun told him that the English interpretation was terrible.  We are not to have faith "like" a mustard seed (small) but "as" a mustard seed (tenacious, growing, and visible in difficult circumstances).  Also of note was the lack of wine for the Eucharist and the lack of an actual collection (there was a basket at the chapel door).