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.

St Vincent's chapel, Catholic University of America

Where: St Vincen't chapel, Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20064 (the chapel is located near the CUA-side enterance to Brookland Metro station, just off John McCormack road)

When: February 6th, 2011.

Web: The CUA campus ministry site is located here.

After a vacation break, and cause to attend the Basilica a couple of times during January, today we returned to our pilgrimage around DC churches and chapels.  Today we attended the 11am Mass at St Vincent's chapel, one of three such chapels on the Catholic University of America campus that offer Mass. 

A single priest - we think from a monastic order - celebrated Mass with the assistance of two altar servers, two cantors, a pianist, two readers, and five eucharistic ministers.  The Mass followed the traditional rite.  The priest focused his homily on today's Gospel reading, in which Jesus commanded us to make our faith known to the world.  The priest reiterated Jesus' message, asking us to share our faith with others by living overtly Christian lives.

The congregation was, as one might expect, overwhelmingly young students.  Almost all of the hundred or so in attendance were white.  There appeared to be slightly more females than males.  It was encouraging for us to see so many young people attend Mass on a beautiful spring morning.