Pope John Paul II Cultural Center

Where: Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, 3900 Harewood Road NE, Washington DC, 20017

When: Saturday, April 30th, 2011.

Web: The center's website is here.

We attended Mass at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, not far from the National Shrine and CUA campus.  The Center was in the midst of a weekend of events to coincide with the beatification of Pope John Paul II.  This included this evening's Mass, which served as the Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday.

The Mass was held in the beautiful atrium at the Center, overlooking the pool and meadow.  There were about eighty in the congregation - including a large Polish contingent.  A single priest celebrated Mass, assisted by an altar server, two readers, and two cantors, one of whom played the piano.  The Mass followed the standard rite, though there was a special prayer for Pope John Paul II's case for sainthood at the end.  The priest told us an amusing anecdote of concelebrating Mass with John Paul in 1999; for the most part, however, he centered his homily on today's Gospel reading.  He spoke of Jesus's divine mercy toward the apostles; instead of upbraiding them for abandoning Him at the cross, he gave them His peace, gave them the power to forgive sins on His behalf, and told them to found the Church.  The priest asked how many of us had abandoned Jesus, and were in need of His divine mercy?

Holy Name

Where: Holy Name Catholic Church, 920 11th St NE, Washington, DC 20002.

When: Sunday, April 24th 2011.

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

We attended the 11:00am Easter Sunday Mass at this church in the Atlas District.  A single priest celebrated the service, assisted by an altar server, two lectors, an eight-member choir/band, and two Eucharistic ministers.  The congregation was large, about a hundred; hard to know if this was a regular number or a larger turn out for Easter.  The congregation was largely black, though with some Hispanic and white members as well.  Notably for a gospel choir, there were two white singers.

The Mass followed the standard rite, though augmented by a baptism after the homily.  Both the host and wine were offered for Holy Communion.  The priest focused his homily on the distinctive nature of Christ's death and resurrection, noting that they make Christianity unique amongst world religions.  He referred to St Ignatius' writings on the resurrection, especially his description of Christ's first meeting with His mother, Mary, after the resurrection.  The priest opined that Mary was not present at the tomb - perhaps contrary to what one would expect - because she understood and had abolsute faith in Scripture.  The priest ended his homily by noting that we are required to keep the Sabbath holy and attend Mass - but that it just the minimum requirement, we are expected to live our faith as well.

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). 

Chapel at Providence Hospital

Where: Chapel at Providence hospital, 1150 Varnum St NE, Washington, DC 20017.

When: Sunday, April 3rd, 2011.

Web: The hospital's chaplaincy page is located here.

We attended 12:00pm Mass at this Catholic-run hospital in the Brentwood area of Northeast DC.  A single priest celebrated Mass with the assistance of a reader and a pianist/cantor.  The congregation was about 25 or 30 strong - certainly some hospital staff but possibly some people from the neighborhood too.

The Mass followed the standard rite.  The priest focused his homily on the gospel, in which Jesus performed the miracle of making a blind man see.  The priest explained how Jesus cured his physical and spiritual blindness; and that, without the light that God is in our lives, we too would be blind.  He reminded us to share that light with others - we are not to keep it to ourselves.

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.

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.

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.