Our Lady of Victory

Where: 4835 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington DC 20007.

When: September 19th, 2010.

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

We attended 10:30am Mass at this church located in the Palisades community in Northwest DC.  This pretty church was about three-quarters full, with quite a lot of families with young children (today was Catechumen's Day, at which the Church recognizes and blesses teachers; this may explain the young attendance).  The congregation was overwhelmingly white, though there were some blacks and Hispanics there as well.  This church has a weekly Mass for the Croatian community.

The priest celebrated Mass with the assistance of an organist, choir, Eucharistic ministers.  The Mass followed the standard rite.  Two notable aspects were (i) two women collecting, and (ii) the choir coming down from the loft for Holy Communion and returning to there afterwards.  This is the first time we've seen a choir relocate during a Mass.

The priest gave a homily on the topic of wealth, based on the Luke's Gospel of serving either God or mammon.

St Benedict the Moor

Where: 320 21st St NE, Washington DC 20002.

When: September 12th, 2010.

Web: The church's own website is here; the ADW listing is here.

We attended 10am Mass at this church located in the Kingman Park neighborhood, not far from RFK Stadium.  The congregation was about two hundred, almost exclusively black.  There was a notable absence of children and young adults, which the priest referenced in his homily.

The priest celebrated Mass with the assistance of two altar servers, a pianist, and two Eucharistic ministers.  There was no deacon.  The Mass followed the standard rite.  The priest gave an insighful homily on forgiveness, based on the parable of the prodigal son.  He referenced The Color Purple to reach his audience better.  He also focused on the need for parishoners to evangelize, esp. to get young people to return to the church.

Dominican House of Studies - chapel

Where: Dominican House of Studies, 487 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017

When: Sunday, August 29, 2010.

Web: The Dominican House of Studies website is here.  http://www.dhs.edu/. 

The Dominican House of Studies (DHS) is home to The Priory of the Immaculate Conception (the Dominican friars), the pontifical theology faculty, and the student body (mainly those in training to become Dominican priests, but others as well).  DHS opens up its daily Mass to the outside community.  We attended 11:15am Mass there on Sunday, August 29th, 2010.

The Mass was celebrated by about 12 Dominican friars.  The congregation was composed of about 35 Dominican students and about 10 outsiders like us.  The Mass was held in the wood-panelled, somewhat dark, but beautiful chapel.  Unlike churches, where the seats usually face the altar, the seats in the chapel faced each other across a central aisle.  The rows were almost in bleacher format - the front row was at ground level, with each of three rows behind it slightly higher up.  The Dominicans sat toward the front - the rest of us sat at the back.  As first timers, we could not discern if this was custom or an enforced practice.

A Dominican organist provided accompaniment for the singing of hymns.  The Mass followed the standard rite, including a sign of the peace.  The chief celebrant gave a homily based from the day's readings - in essence, God invites us (as the host) to Mass, just as a person might invite the poor to a meal - He knows we cannot repay the invite - instead, He wants us there in His company.  Our challenge is to lovingly accept His invite.

The procedure for receiving the Eucharist was a little different from usual.  Two of the priests walked down the aisle to the end furthest from the altar; simultaneously, the congregation filed down the rows to form a queue.  After receiving the Eucharist, congregants walked to the altar, where two more priests offered the Chalice.  Some people chose to recieve just the Eucharist and returned to their seats.

The setting and the congregation made this a richer experience than some masses at local churches.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

When: August 27th, 2010.

Church of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus

Where: 6001 13th St NW, Washington DC 20011.

When: August 13, 2010.

Web: The church's own website is here; the ADW listing is here:

We attended the Vigil Mass at this wonderfully situated church in Brightwood neighborhood of Northwest DC.  The congregation was about fifty strong, mainly older black women.  A priest celebrated the Mass with the assistance of a deacon, a cantor, a pianist, and a couple of Eucharistic ministers and readers.  The Mass followed the standard rite.  Both the host and wine were offered for Holy Communion.  The cantor sang accompanied with piano; the choir sings at the Sunday morning services.

The deacon gave the homily centered on the readings.  He used a simile to compare Mary, through her role as Jesus' mother, to the Ark of the Covenant, as the vessel that held the ten commandments.  He noted that we value both of them, not only for what/who they were, but for what they did.

Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Where: Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 3630 Quesada St NW, 20015.

When: Sunday, August 1, 2010.

Web: Blessed Sacrament's website is here; the ADW listing is here.

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We attended 10:30am Mass at this church in Chevy Chase (just inside the DC-Maryland border).  The church building itself is beautiful, almost picture-postcard perfect.  There was a very large congregation present for Mass - about 350.  It was wonderful to be part of a full church.  The congregation was of mixed age but overwhelmingly white - reflecting accurately the local population.  There were some Hispanics and blacks as well. 

The single priest was assisted by a cantor, an organist, two readers, and a team of eucharistic ministers.  The Mass itself was of conventional structure.  The priest's homily was on the topic of earthly wealth and treasure - perhaps appropriate for the congregation of this (very) wealthy neighborhood.  We noted from the church bulletin the numerous social/outreach ministries that the parish offers.   It is good to see faith in action like this.

Holy Redeemer

Where: Holy Redeemer, 206 New York Ave NW, 20001.

When: Sunday, July 25th.

Web: Holy Redeemer's own website is here; the ADW listing is here.

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We attended 12:00pm Mass at this inner-city church.  There were only eight of us (including the priest); another congregant told us that most people attend 9am Mass and that the priest keeps the midday Mass for those who cannot make the early one.  This was by far the smallest congregation for a regular Sunday Mass of which we've been part in DC.

The priest was assisted by a reader and a pianist; he led the singing himself.  The Mass followed the conventional structure.  The priest gave a lengthy homily on the dual nature of intercession - prayer and action.  He engaged us in his homily, even asking questions and listening to our answers.  The rather intimate setting allowed this to work. 

The congregation came together for the Our Father and sign of peace.  We were invited to participate in the offering of gifts (pretty much everybody participated in this).  After Mass was over, the priest greeted us at the door and wished us well.

Holy Trinity

Where: 3513 N St NW, DC, 20007

When: Sunday, July 18th, 2010.

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

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We attended 1:15pm Mass on Sunday, July 18th. This church is located in the quiet narrow streets of Georgetown, not far from the bustle of its downtown area. The church building is large and imposing from the front; inside, however, it had cool, clear classic lines. Its ornate architecture was blunted by pastel paintwork; there was a notable absence of statues or anything ornate (quite the contrast with last week's Italian church).

A single priest (an American visiting from Rome) celebrated Mass with the assistance of a cantor, two readers, one altar helper, and two extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. The Mass structure itself was conventional - the only noteworthy aspect was the introductory request by the cantor to introduce ourselves to our neighbors. We estimate that the congregation was about ninety; overwhelmingly white, young to middle-aged, with a sprinking of older people.

Church of the Holy Rosary

Where: 595 3rd St NW, DC, 20001.

When: Sunday, July 11th, 2010.

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

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We attended midday Mass on Sunday, July 11th. This lovely inner city church is more widely known as the "Italian church" at Judiciary Square. The church building certainly has the Italian feel about it. This was especially so inside; the main chapel was adorned with statues.

A single priest celebrated Mass; he was aided by one layperson, who directed singing, read the two readings, and assisted with preparation for the Eucharist. The Mass itself was pretty standard. The collection took place as the Eucharist preparations were ongoing; the sign of peace took place after the Our Father; in other words, everything was the way one would expect it.

We estimated the congregation to be about sixty people; mainly white (perhaps of Italian descent?) though other ethnic groups were present as well. There was a good mix of young and old; singles, couples, and families.

St Aloysius

Where: 19 I St NW, DC, 20001 (facing 900 North Capitol St NW)

When: Sunday, July 4th, 2010.

Web: The ADW listing is here; the church's own website is here.

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We attended the 8am service here on July 4th. St. Aloysius is attached to the Gonzaga Catholic School run by the Jesuits on the 800 block of North Capitol Street (technically the church is located on 19 I St NW - but it faces onto North Capitol). The Mass was celebrated in the 'lower church' (the basement); we'll leave the historic main church for another day.

On this Indepdence Day morning, about twenty-five of us showed up for the early Mass. A very joyous Jesuit priest celebrated Mass; he began by encouraging us all to move closer to the front of the church. He also led the singing, chanted, and spoke to us afterwards. The Mass itself was slightly unusual because of the placement of the sign of the peace. Usually performed after the Our Father, this time is was done at the end of the Liturgy of the Word and before the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Pretty much everybody greeted each other, even us guests. Toward the end of Mass, the priest invited us to introduce ourselves briefly (along with the other guests); the congregation applauded us.

The other unusual aspect of Mass was the process for receiving Holy Communion. Most commonly started from the front of the church, the priest instructed us (for the guests' benefit - I think regulars know the score) to come up two at a time from the rear, return to our pew and kneel until everyone had received, and then stand. The priest said that this was the Church's instruction "since 1969"; we do not know the particular directive to which he refers. This was the first time either of us had heard or seen of this particular practice.

The congregation was mixed; some black, some white; some elderly, some middle-aged; mostly locals and a few visitors (perhaps on their way to or from Union Station).