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.

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.

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.

St Augustine

Where: St Augustine, 1421 V St NW, Washington, DC 20009.

When: Sunday, 27th November, 2011.

Web: The parish website is here.


We attended 10am Mass on November 27th - the first Sunday of Advent and date of the first official use of the new missal translation.  St Augustine's church, located in the Shaw neighborhood of the city, was well prepared for the new translation - the congregation did not miss a beat with the new responses and prayers.  Also, the church provided an Advent package for all congregants that included materials on the new translation and varioues Advent materials.

A single priest celebrated Mass, assisted by a deacon, two readers, four eucharistic ministers, a cantor, organist, pianist, and several choiristers.  Both the host and wine was offered for Communion.  The congregation was mostly black - as one would expect in the first city church established for African Americans - but contained several white people, perhaps reflecting the changing neighborhood population.  We heard the priest give a lengthy homily on the meaning of Advent; he called on us all to invest daily in our relationship with God.  He also linked Advent - the beginning of the Church's liturgial season - to the new translation, asking us to make use of it to deepen our understanding of our faith.

Church of the Immaculate Conception

Where: Church of the Immaculate Conception, 1315 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

When: Sunday, November 20th, 2011.

Web: The parish's website is here.

We attended the 6pm Latin Mass (Novus Ordo) at this small parish in the Shaw neighborhood, just north of the Washington Convention Center.  A single priest celebrated the Mass, with the assistance of a lector/eucharistic minister and organist.  Though the bulk of the Mass was in Latin, the hymns, readings, and homily were all in English.  The priest used the homily to explain the history and meaning of today's feast, Christ the King, and to preach against the narcissistic individuality so pervasive today.  The Eucharist was offered in both bread and wine forms to the congregation of about thirty people.

Georgetown University Hospital chapel

Where: Georgetown University Hospital chapel, 3800 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007.

When: Sunday, October 9th, 2011.

Web: The hospital's pastoral care website page is here.

We attended midday Mass at what is the main chapel in this Catholic hospital.  The small chapel was quite full - we estimated the congregation at 75.  Several people were standing at the back.  Most of the congregation were white; ages were mixed.  Notably most people were in 'civilian' clothes - we saw very few in hospital scrubs.  We think that the chapel serves as a convenient Mass location for the neighborhoods surrounding the hospital.

A lone priest celebrated Mass, unaided by anyone.  For the first time in a long while, we heard a priest read all three readings - he did not ask for a lector.  Though the Gospel reading was Jesus' parable of the wedding feast, the priest focused his homily on joy.  He posited that being mirthful and happy on earth is good preparation for heaven, which is joy itself.  He read an extract from a book called "Between Heaven and Mirth", which illustrated his points.

Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church

Where: Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church, 7142 Alaska Ave NW, Washington, DC 20012

When: Sunday, October 2nd, 2011.

Web: The church's website is here.

We attended the 11:00am divine liturgy at the only Maronite church within the district.  The Maronite Church is in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.  The Maronite divine liturgy has essentially the same structure and focus as the Roman Catholic standard rite, or so it seemed to us.  A single priest led the liturgy, aided by two deacons and accompanied by several other (robed) servers that had prepared the altar before the liturgy's beginning.  The priest began the service at the church's entrance - seemingly to welcome a baby's first visit to the church (we thought wrongly that there would be a baptism).  He returned to the altar area, began a lengthy series of prayers (some in English, others in Syriac), aided by a wonderful choir. 

This led to the readings - one from the New Testament (read by what we think was a lay person) and one from the Gospel (read by the priest).  Deacons translated both readings into Syriac.  The priest's homily asked us all not to be fearful of God's love - and to live life as if our Master could return at any moment.  He gave several examples of how we let fear restrict us in our daily lives.

The Communion rite followed.  Communion was by intincture - the priest and deacons dipped the bread into the wine as each person came up to receive (solely by mouth - we saw no one take it by hand). 

The church was quite full - we estimate the congregation at about 125.  The congregation appeared overwhelmingly Lebanese.  There was a good mix of old and young, including several families with young children.  We were very happy to experience worship in this unique and ancient branch of the Catholic Church.

Main Chapel at Children's National Medical Center

Where: Main Chapel at Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington DC

When: Saturday, September 3rd, 2011

Web: The hospital's pastoral care page is located here.

We attended the 4pm Vigil mass in the hospital's main chapel.  The chapel is in fact a multi-faith room, with materials from other religions on display.  It is much smaller and less overtly Catholic than chapels at the nearby Washington Hospital Center and Veterans' Hospital.

A lone priest celebrated Mass for the congregation of five people.  He asked a member of the congregation to serve as lector (no one volunteered to be cantor).  The Mass followed the standard rite.  The priest offered both bread and wine for the Eucharist.  He focused his homily on the concept of a watchman.  We are to watch over our own and others' faith, something increasingly hard to do in today's secular society, he said. 

Chapel at Convent of Oblate Sisters of the Most Holy Eucharist

Where: Chapel at Convent of Divine Providence, Oblate Sisters of the Most Holy Eucharist, 2907 Ellicott Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008

When: Friday, July 15th, 2011.

Web: The OSSE does not have a website.  This website gives a basic overview of the order.  The ADW directory gives their contact details.

We attended the regular 7:30pm Friday Mass at this convent in the leafy Forest Hills neighborhood of the city.  The Oblate Sisters are a small contemplative order from Mexico with convents in Massachusetts as well as DC. The surprisingly large wooden-finish chapel (with space for about sixty people) sits at the edge of the convent's property.

The priest was assisted by two altar servers, a reader, a eucharistic minister, and various people in the twenty-strong congregation who sang hymns and said intercessory prayers.  The priest focused his homily on God's love for each one of us and of how our love of Him should be greater than our love of the law or anything else.  He spoke of how the sacraments were instruments of God's love for us.  The Mass followed the standard rite.  Both the host and wine were offered for Communion.

St Margaret's Episcopal Church

Where: St Margaret's Episcopal Church, 1820 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

When: Sunday, April 17, 2011

Web: The Dignity/Washington website is located here.

We attended the regular Sunday evening Mass organised by the Dignity/Washington group and held at St Margaret's Episcopal Church just north of Dupont Circle.  This is the only regularly-scheduled Catholic Mass in the District organized by and largely for gay Catholics.

Today was Palm Sunday.  Before the Mass started, the priest and congregation gathered in the hall just outside the church entrance to bless a new crucifix and to bless the palms.  We then processed around the pews to our seats.  A single priest celebrated Mass, assisted by a pianist, organist, several readers, a choir of about seven, and an altar server.  The Mass followed the standard rite, with the appropriate deviations for Palm Sunday.

The priest chose to read the long form of today's Gospel, which described Jesus' Passion from the time of the Last Supper to just before His Resurrection.  Because of its length, five members of the congregation assisted the priest with the reading; each read the lines of a particular person (Judas, Pontious Pilate, etc.)  The group read the Gospel very clearly and with great passion.  The priest gave a brief homily beforehand; he noted adriotly that many of us who would have cheered Jesus into Jerusalem with our palms would also have betrayed him in the garden. 

The congregation was about fifty strong - mainly white, middle-aged men.  There were some women and some younger people too.  Most seemed to be members of the Dignity/Washington group (they wore name badges). 

Church of the Annunciation

Where: Church of the Annunciation, 3810 Massechusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016

When: Wednesday, March 9th, 2011.

Web: The parish's ADW listing is here; its own website is here.


We attended the 7:30pm Ash Wednesday Mass at the church in the Cathedral Heights/Cleveland Park area of DC.  The church was packed with congregants for this Mass at which ashes are blessed and administered to people.  Though not a Holy Day of Obligation, many Catholics attend Ash Wednesday Mass to receive the ashes and, perhaps in some cases, from a mistaken belief that it is a Holy Day.  In any case, it was wonderful to have the church full.  The congregation was largely white, though with many minorities.

A single priest celebrated Mass with the assistance of a cantor, organist, two readers, and altar server.  The Mass followed the standard rite, with the addition of the blessing and administration of the Ashes.  In his homily, the priest asked us not to make Lent solely an internal spiritual journey, but to share it with others.  In particular, he called us to invite someone back to church during the next 40 days.  This was a challenging but worthy note on which to begin the Lenten season.

Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel, Howard University

Where: Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel, 2365 6th St NW, Washington DC


When: Sunday, March 6th, 2011.


Web: Howard University's campus ministry website is located here.

We attended the weekly 10am Mass at the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel on the Howard University campus.  The college's chapter of the Newman Society organizes the weekly mass for the (seemingly small) Catholic community on campus.

There were about 18 people at this particular mass, including a sister and a six-member choir/band.  Because of the small number, the sister directed us all to sit on stage near the altar.  We were all very close together!  The mass followed the conventional rite.  We sang many parts of the mass, including the Profession of Faith and the Our Father.  The priest gave a homily about Jesus' command to act out our faith in all aspects of our life, be it at college, work, or elsewhere.

Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart

Where: Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart, Georgetown University, 3700 O St NW, Washington

, DC 20057

When: Sunday, February 20th, 2011.

Web: Georgetown University's Catholic campus ministry page is located here.

We attended 12:30pm mass at the main Georgetown University chapel.  This was one of seven Sunday masses at the chapel.  The congregation was about one hundred strong; in our opinion, a mix of faculty, students, and visitors like us.

A lone priest celebrated Mass with the assistance of four eucharistic ministers, two readers, and a five-strong choir.  The Mass followed the standard rite.  The priest gave brief introductions to the first and second readings (the first time we've come across this practice).  His homily focused on Jesus' command to reject violence and revenge - especially the difficulty of doing this in our lives.  He noted that even if the world obeyed the law that Jesus' command succeeded - an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth - the world would be a better place than it is now.

St Gabriel

Where: St Gabriel's Church, 26 Grant Circle NW, Washington, DC 20011.

When: Sunday, February 13th, 2011.

Web: The ADW listing for St Gabriel's is here; the parish's own website is here.

We attended 11am Mass at this lovely church in the Petworth neighborhood in Northwest DC.  We arrived at the church a little early, just in time to hear a group recite the Rosary and the Litany of Mary.  This is the first church we've seen do that before a Sunday Mass.  Obviously some parishoners were in the church early for this; about 125 people were in attendance for Mass.  The congregation was mostly black (and older), but with quite a few Hispanics and a couple of white people as well. 

A lone priest celebrated Mass with a deacon, five altar servers, two readers, two eucharistic ministers, three cantors, and a four-person band.  The Mass followed the standard Rite.  The priest gave a homily on the central importance of the ten commandments.  The priest summarized portions of his homily in Spanish.

Chapel of the Incarnation, Washington Hospital Center

Where: Chapel of the Incarnation, Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving St NW, Washington DC, 20010.

When: Sunday, January 2nd, 2011.

Web: The website for the WHC chaplaincy service is located here.

We attended the daily 12:00pm Mass at the chapel in the Washington Hospital Center.  This little chapel seats about twenty; the congregation of mainly hospital staff was about that number.  The hospital chaplain celebrated the Mass with the assitance of a pastoral sister, who prepared the chapel, led the Angelus before Mass, led the singing of hymns (with a harmonica), and served as eucharistic minister.  She asked a member of the congregation to read both readings and the responsorial psalm.  

The Mass followed the standard rite.  Both the host and wine were offered for Holy Communion.
As today is the feast of the Epiphany, the priest focused his homily on firstly explaining the manifestation of Jesus to the magi (it announced Jesus to the gentiles and it ended man's dependance on the stars for guidance) and secondly reminding us that we were to be 'stars' guiding each other through life.

St. Josemaría Escrivá Chapel at Catholic Information Center

Where: St. Josemaría Escrivá Chapel at Catholic Information Center, 1501 K St NW, Washington DC, 20005.

When: December 31st, 2010.

Web: The CIC website is located here.

We attended the regular 12:05pm weekday Mass at the CIC.  The CIC is located in the heart of downtown Washington; it has a bookstore and chapel, and serves as a base for various Catholic groups and meetings. 

The core of the CIC is its 84-seat chapel, named in honor of St. Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opes Dei, the group that currently operates the CIC.  Given that it was a holiday today, only a dozen or so people were in the congregation.  A single priest celebrated Mass with one assistant who served as lector and alter server.  The Mass followed the standard rite, though had only one reading before the Gospel.  Only the host was offered for Holy Communion.  The priest gave a homily on the appropriateness of reviewing God's blessings in 2010 at the end of the year.  We sang hymns at the opening and closing of the Mass.  Mass was preceded by a recitation of the Angelus and followed by a recitation of the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel.

Chapel at Veterans' Medical Center

Where: Chapel at Veterans' Medical Center, 50 Irving St NW, Washington, DC 20422.

When: Sunday, December 26th, 2010.

Web: The chaplain's page of the VA Medical Center's website is here.

We attended the daily 11:30am Mass at the Veterans' Medical Center; one of the many hospitals in DC to offer scheuled masses to patients, staff, visitors, and the general public.  The Medical Center has a lovely chapel on the 3rd floor, shared by all faiths and denominations. 

The hospital's resident chaplain celebrated Mass.  The congregation was four people; two patients and us (a fifth person, possibly a staff member on a short break, attended for a while too).  We heard from one of the patients that a rumor had spread that today's Mass was cancelled due to the chaplain being sick - we deduced from this that the congregation is usually larger.

The priest led us in singing an opening hymn.  The service followed the standard rite.  He gave a homily on the feast of the Holy Family; he told of his own period of homelessness (as a recently-arrived Filipino priest in the US) and how his grandparents strengthened his faith and, ultimately, led him to discern his vocation when he was just ten.  He also reminded us that Christmas is a sixteen-day celebration that starts with Christmas Day.

The host was offered for communion.  At the end of Mass, just before dismissal, the priest led us in a series of prayers including four Hail Marys.  The ready participation of the two patients in these prayers led us to believe that this is standard practice here.

St Stephen Martyr

Where: St Stephen Martyr, 2436 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037

When: Sunday, December 19th, 2010.

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

We attended 5:30pm Mass at this church in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of DC (note: not the 5:30pm Vigil Mass - St Stephen's has a late Mass on Sunday, most likely to accommodate the GWU students).

A single priest celebrated the Mass, with the assitance of two lectors and an altar server.  There was neither a cantor nor a music group.  The Mass followed the standard rite.  The priest focused his homily on the dream-like interactions God had with Joseph, Isaiah, and Ahaz, noting the different responses of each. 

The large congregation was quite mixed, both racially and in age.

Epiphany

Where: 2712 Dumbarton St NW, Washington, DC 20007

When: Saturday, November 20th, 2010.

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

We attended the Vigil Mass at this small church just off the busy streets of Georgetown.  A single priest celebrated Mass, with the assistance of a cantor (who served as pianist and organist), three altar servers, and a lector.  The congregation was about fifty - mainly white and older, but with a few younger couples in attendance too. 

The Mass followed the standard rite.  As this Sunday was the feast of Christ the King, the priest focused his homily on the origins of the feast and, more importantly, what it means.  He explained that while earthly kings have temporal power on earth, Christ's power is supernatural and superior to all.  Those who realise this will align their lives to His.