Mar 15, 2012

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.