St Vincent de Paul

Where: St Vincent de Paul, 14 M St SE, Washington, DC 20003

When: Sunday, June 3rd, 2012.

Web: The parish's website is here.

We attended 8:00am Mass at this small parish church in the Waterfront/Navy Yard area of southeast DC.  It sits amidst a greatly-changed neighborhood, with the Nationals ballpark and several office/condo/apartment complexes nearby. 

A single priest celebrated Mass (which, despite the early time, is the only one the parish has on Sunday.  There is an Ethiopian rite Mass at 10:30am), with the assistance of a deacon, an alter server, two readers, a pianist, a choir of about seven, and a few ushers.  Only the host was offered for Communion.  The Mass followed the standard rite.  The priest focused his homily on the feast of the Holy Trinity.  He noted that one way to view the Trinity is as an expression of the various relationships between God the Father, His Son Jesus, and His Holy Spirit.  He went on to suggest that right relationships between us are the only things we can take with us when we die - from them we can hope to enter heaven and be in an eternal relationship with God.  The absence of those relationships, he suggested, was hell.

The congregation numbered about fifity and was comprised overwhelmingly of black residents of the neighborhood.

St Teresa of Avila

Where: St Teresa of Avila church, 1244 V St SE, Washington, DC 20020

When: Sunday, May 27th, 2012.

Web: The parish's website is here.

We attended the 9:30am Mass on Pentacost Sunday at this parish church in the Anacostia neighborhood.  There was a large congregation at the Mass - the church was about four-fifths full - mainly comprised of local people.  There were a few attendees from other parts of the city and beyond.  The congregation was overwhelmingly black, and included all ages.

A lone priest celebrated Mass with the assistance of a deacon and numerous servers, readers, musicians, singers, and liturgical dancers.  This was the parish's 'contemporary Gospel' Mass; there were numerous hymns and songs throughout the vibrant and energetic service.  The congregation was tremendously engaged and involved throughout the service.  The singing, a baptism, and a lengthy sermon on the fruits, gifts, and ultimate purpose of the Holy Spirit made this the longest Mass in our journey across the city so far (it started at 9:35am and ended at 12:10pm).

St Luke

Where: St Luke's, 4925 East Capitol St Se, Washington, DC 20019.

When: Sunday, April 1, 2012.

Web: The St Luke's parish website is here.

We attended 8:30am Mass at this parish church in the Glendale neighborhood in the southeast of the city.  The congregation for this first Mass of Palm Sunday was about eighty strong - aside from us, exclusively black.  The congregation was middle-aged and elderly.  A single priest celebrated Mass, with the assistance of a cantor, pianist, two altar servers, and two readers. 

The priest gave an introductory homily and blessed the palms before Mass formally started.  The priest, readers, and congregation participated in reading the lengthy gospel of Mark reading.  The priest's (main) homily focused on Peter, Judas, and Pontius Pilate - three characters from the gospel that made their own choices to disown Jesus.  We, too, have the choice to accept or reject Jesus in our own lives.  The rest of the Mass followed the Standard Rite.

Chapel of St Thomas More, Georgetown University Law Center

Where: Chapel of St Thomas More, Georgetown Law Center, 600 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
When: Sunday, March 25th, 2012.

Web: The website for Georgetown's campus ministry is here.

We attended the 11am Mass at this small (multi-faith) chapel in the basement of a Georgetown Law campus building.  A single priest celebrated Mass, assisted by a pianist, a nun, and two readers.  Students formed the bulk of the congregation of 24.  The Mass followed the standard rite.  We were seated for the Liturgy of the Word; we stood around the altar in a semi-circle for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  Both the host and wine were offered for Holy Communion.  The priest focused his homily on the need to use our life in service of others, as commanded by today's Gospel reading.

East Inpatient Tower Chapel at National Children's Medical Center

Where: East Inpatient Tower Chapel, National Children's Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010.

When: Thursday, March 15th 2012.

Web: The hospital's pastoral care webpage is here.

We attended midday Mass in one of the NCMC's two chapels.  This chapel is the smaller of the two and serves the inpatient wing of the hospital.  Basically it is a small utility room, with space for about twelve people.  At this Mass, a single priest celebrated; the congregation was seven people.  Except for us, all were staff.

The Mass followed the standard rite.  One of the congregation served as lector.  The priest focused his short homily on the gift of conscience; and how without it, man is degraded.  Both the host and wine were offered for Holy Communion.

Caldwell Chapel, Catholic University of America

Where: Caldwell Chapel, Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20064.

When: Monday, March 12th, 2012.

Web: The University's Catholic ministry page is here.

We attended Monday evening Mass at this chapel on the CUA campus.  A single priest celebrated Mass, assisted by a reader, an extraordinary Eucharistic minister, and an altar server.  Both the host and wine were offered for Holy Communion.  There was no music.  The congregation was about sixty, almost filling the small but beautiful old chapel.

The Mass followed the standard rite.  Before he began the Mass, the priest noted that the Mass was being offered in remembrance of several deceased CUA alumni/staff; he mentioned them by name.  Later, in his homily, the priest noted that God is present with us even in times of great difficulty, such as bereavement.  We have to take that leap of faith to believe that, even in the midst of suffering, doubt, and anger, God is there for us.

St Patrick's

Where: St Patrick's, 619 10th St NW, Washington DC, 20001.

When: Monday, February 20th, 2012.

Web: The church's website is located here. 

We attended midday Mass on Presidents' Day at this historic downtown church.  A single priest celebrated Mass, with the assistance of a lector.  The Mass followed the standard rite.  Due to the holiday, there was no singing and the congregation was small - about forty.

St Joseph's Seminary

Where: St Joseph's Seminary, 1200 Varnum St NE, Washington, DC 20017.

When: Saturday, January 14th, 2012.

Web: The seminary's webpage is here.

We attended the 4pm Mass at this seminary for the Josephite Order.  There were about twenty seminarians, laity, and religious at the Mass, held in a beautiful chapel within the main building.  The chief celebrant was assisted by several religious and seminarians; they recited various prayers (particular to the order, perhaps) before and during Mass itself.  The homily was directed at the seminarians; the priest reminded them that their seminary life, while sometimes lonely, gave them time to comtemplate and get to know God, and thus enable them to be better priests. 

Howard University Hospital chapel

Where: Howard University Hospital chapel, 2041 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20060

When: January 8th, 2012

Web: The HUH chaplain's page is here.

We attended the 11:00am Sunday Mass at this city center hospital, on the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.  A lone priest celebrated Mass for the four-strong congregation.  The Mass followed the standard rite.  The priest used his CD player to add some music to the Mass.  He focused his homily on the Epiphany story; in particular he told us a parable of a notional fourth wise man who, though trying hard, fails repeatedly to meet up with the first three.  Throughout his journey, he repeatedly encountered people in distress - rather than use his riches to fund his journey, he gave them away to help those in need.  Upon entering heaven, the wise man was apologetic to God for not completing the journey;p but God told him that, through his kindness to others, he had indeed found God.


 God rewarded him for his faithfulness.

Our Lady Queen of Peace

Where: Our Lady Queen of Peace church, 3800 Ely Place SE, Washington, DC 20019.

When: Sunday, December 18th, 2011.

Web: The parish has no website.  This is its listing on parishes.org

We attended 10:30am Mass at this parish church in the Fort Dupont area of the city. A single priest celebrated Mass, aided by a deacon, 15 choiristers, 2-3 band members, 9 altar servers, and 4 eucharistic ministers.  This was one of the largest retinues we've seen at a regular Sunday Mass in the district.  The congregation of about 150 was exclusively black and trended older and female.

The Mass followed the standard rite.  Both the host and wine were offered for communion.  The priest gave communion to some infirm people in their seats before everyone else.  The deacon gave the homily - from a prepared text - that used various quotations from Scripture and Advent reading themes to remind us that God is always with us.  This, the deacon told us, was the meaning of Christmas.