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1John5918
I find myself in DC this weekend staying in a hotel rather than a religious institution, so I looked up mass on the internet to see where I could go on Sunday. I was rather surprised to find that the first two downtown parishes which turned up online (St Mary Mother of God and St Matthew the Apostle) both offered Latin masses every Sunday. I travel widely and, while I know that there are parishes which have the odd Latin mass, I think this is the first time I have come across it so obviously. Incidentally, in England a church called St Mary would almost certainly be Anglican; English Catholics tend not to use "saint" with Mary, preferring grander titles (Blessed Virgin Mary, etc).
The last few days I have been at a conference on peacebuilding at Catholic University. The first day we had mass at USCCB, in their simple but rather beautiful modern chapel, presided by a Colombian archbishop. The next two days we had mass in an older chapel in one of the university buildings, presided by priests from Burundi and Philippines respectively. Quiet, simple, rather contemplative masses, which suits me fine.
The last few days I have been at a conference on peacebuilding at Catholic University. The first day we had mass at USCCB, in their simple but rather beautiful modern chapel, presided by a Colombian archbishop. The next two days we had mass in an older chapel in one of the university buildings, presided by priests from Burundi and Philippines respectively. Quiet, simple, rather contemplative masses, which suits me fine.
2John5918
This morning I decided to go to St Matthew's Cathedral, about 18 blocks straight down N Street. My US colleagues think that's rather too far to walk, but I found it a pleasant enough 40 minute stroll. Halfway there I came across another Catholic church, Immaculate Conception, which I hadn't found online, but their 8.30 am mass was something to do with "St Luke's Ordinariate" which sounded a bit strange to me, so I persevered and soon reached St Matthew's.
It's a pleasant enough cathedral, with lots of marble, mosaic and gold leaf, and a nice organ. Singing was reasonably good, led by a cantor with a beautiful voice. We had all the music in front of us, which I find useful when singing hymns, responses and parts of the mass which I don't know; it's far easier when you have the notes in front of you. We sang "Faith of Our Fathers". I don't think I've heard that sung at mass since I was a teenager! As an English Catholic, brought up on stories of Thomas More, Margaret Clitherow, John Fisher, Anne Line, Robert Southwell and other English martyrs, and attending a grammar school (high school) named after Edmund Campion, that hymn was part of our heritage. Today they sang it to a different tune, and they had changed quite a lot of the words in the second and subsequent verses, but it was still nostalgic. The mass was finished in just under an hour. I was greeted when I arrived in the church, and shook hands with two priests as I left.
There were things I didn't particularly enjoy. I think I've said before that I often find mass in the USA to be a bit too slick and polished. Last Sunday I was at mass at the Consolata Shrine in Nairobi, which was a little less polished, and our masses in South Sudan are usually even messier. The homily too, although competent enough and only seven minutes long, also felt more like a rather soulless performance. The lectors wore albs, with stole-like things around their necks, which I dislike intensely; it's a lay ministry and ministers should dress like, er, laity. Mind you that's not unique to the USA; I even see it in Nairobi. Refreshingly the extraordinary ministers of the eucharist were not dressed like clerical wannabes, and I received communion from a confident and reverent young woman halfway down the main aisle.
It's a pleasant enough cathedral, with lots of marble, mosaic and gold leaf, and a nice organ. Singing was reasonably good, led by a cantor with a beautiful voice. We had all the music in front of us, which I find useful when singing hymns, responses and parts of the mass which I don't know; it's far easier when you have the notes in front of you. We sang "Faith of Our Fathers". I don't think I've heard that sung at mass since I was a teenager! As an English Catholic, brought up on stories of Thomas More, Margaret Clitherow, John Fisher, Anne Line, Robert Southwell and other English martyrs, and attending a grammar school (high school) named after Edmund Campion, that hymn was part of our heritage. Today they sang it to a different tune, and they had changed quite a lot of the words in the second and subsequent verses, but it was still nostalgic. The mass was finished in just under an hour. I was greeted when I arrived in the church, and shook hands with two priests as I left.
There were things I didn't particularly enjoy. I think I've said before that I often find mass in the USA to be a bit too slick and polished. Last Sunday I was at mass at the Consolata Shrine in Nairobi, which was a little less polished, and our masses in South Sudan are usually even messier. The homily too, although competent enough and only seven minutes long, also felt more like a rather soulless performance. The lectors wore albs, with stole-like things around their necks, which I dislike intensely; it's a lay ministry and ministers should dress like, er, laity. Mind you that's not unique to the USA; I even see it in Nairobi. Refreshingly the extraordinary ministers of the eucharist were not dressed like clerical wannabes, and I received communion from a confident and reverent young woman halfway down the main aisle.
3Crypto-Willobie
Don't they offer mass at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception right there by campus? I thought they did when I went to CU, but that was in the early 70s, so things may well have changed.
We sang Faith of Our Fathers at my mother's funeral mass in the DC suburbs just a few months ago -- probably the US variant melody though.
We sang Faith of Our Fathers at my mother's funeral mass in the DC suburbs just a few months ago -- probably the US variant melody though.
4John5918
Yes, there is mass at the National Shrine right by CU, which is where I was last week for a conference, but since yesterday I'm in a hotel in downtown DC and I was looking for something within walking distance, particularly as the Red Line out to CU is being repaired at the moment, causing delays. This afternoon I walked to Chinatown and discovered yet another nearby church, Holy Redeemer, which I also hadn't found online.
5Crypto-Willobie
Ah!
6John5918
This morning I went to Holy Redeemer, just ten minutes walk from my hotel, and my faith in US Catholicism has been restored!
Mass wasn't slick and polished but delightfully messy. The music wasn't concert-standard but it was fun and people joined in. The homily wasn't a performance but was well-delivered, relevant, animated, from the heart, based on the day's scripture readings, and managed to be both encouraging and challenging. At 30 minutes it was too long, but at least I can still remember it. Lay ministers were dressed as laity, not pseudo-clergy. There was a sense of community, albeit in a relatively small congregation. I was welcomed warmly at the door, the priest came over to have a chat with me before mass started, and several other parishioners came over to greet me. I really got a sense of lay involvement in the life if the parish. The mass started slightly late and was still going (but just about to finish) 90 minutes later, but I had to leave after communion as I was on my way to the airport to catch a flight.
There were other very interesting features which I liked but, aware of the right-wing Catholic vigilantes who prowl the internet looking for things to complain about in any manifestations of Catholicism which don't match their own, I will say no more on that score.
Mass wasn't slick and polished but delightfully messy. The music wasn't concert-standard but it was fun and people joined in. The homily wasn't a performance but was well-delivered, relevant, animated, from the heart, based on the day's scripture readings, and managed to be both encouraging and challenging. At 30 minutes it was too long, but at least I can still remember it. Lay ministers were dressed as laity, not pseudo-clergy. There was a sense of community, albeit in a relatively small congregation. I was welcomed warmly at the door, the priest came over to have a chat with me before mass started, and several other parishioners came over to greet me. I really got a sense of lay involvement in the life if the parish. The mass started slightly late and was still going (but just about to finish) 90 minutes later, but I had to leave after communion as I was on my way to the airport to catch a flight.
There were other very interesting features which I liked but, aware of the right-wing Catholic vigilantes who prowl the internet looking for things to complain about in any manifestations of Catholicism which don't match their own, I will say no more on that score.
7timspalding
This morning I decided to go to St Matthew's Cathedral, about 18 blocks straight down N Street.
My old church! I lived a block away, on Scott Circle.
It's a pleasant enough cathedral
Ow. It's gorgeous! The mosaics particularly. I feel like you went to the Louvre and found the carpets passable! :)
The mass was finished in just under an hour.
Ew.
There were other very interesting features which I liked but, aware of the right-wing Catholic vigilantes who prowl the internet looking for things to complain about in any manifestations of Catholicism which don't match their own, I will say no more on that score.
Liturgical hula-hoop? :)
My old church! I lived a block away, on Scott Circle.
It's a pleasant enough cathedral
Ow. It's gorgeous! The mosaics particularly. I feel like you went to the Louvre and found the carpets passable! :)
The mass was finished in just under an hour.
Ew.
There were other very interesting features which I liked but, aware of the right-wing Catholic vigilantes who prowl the internet looking for things to complain about in any manifestations of Catholicism which don't match their own, I will say no more on that score.
Liturgical hula-hoop? :)
8LesMiserables
>6 John5918:
There were other very interesting features which I liked but, aware of the right-wing Catholic vigilantes who prowl the internet looking for things to complain about in any manifestations of Catholicism which don't match their own, I will say no more on that score.
Charity.
There were other very interesting features which I liked but, aware of the right-wing Catholic vigilantes who prowl the internet looking for things to complain about in any manifestations of Catholicism which don't match their own, I will say no more on that score.
Charity.
10LesMiserables
>9 John5918:
John, there really was no need to say it at all. It only leads to a spirit that is wanting in charity. That is what I briefly pointed to.
I have no doubt you are a well meaning and good Christian, but I am surprised at how you finished post #6.
And I am a sinner too, so I accept your rebuke when it comes and I'll work on my own conduct.
John, there really was no need to say it at all. It only leads to a spirit that is wanting in charity. That is what I briefly pointed to.
I have no doubt you are a well meaning and good Christian, but I am surprised at how you finished post #6.
And I am a sinner too, so I accept your rebuke when it comes and I'll work on my own conduct.
11John5918
>10 LesMiserables:
Well, the ending to >6 John5918: is based on personal experience and the experience of colleagues. I could have said more, but that would indeed have been lacking in charity, so I confined myself simply to stating the fact to explain why I was not more forthcoming about the beautiful liturgy to which I was referring. I am not aware of any rebuke that you might be expecting from me; I certainly am not rebuking you.
Well, the ending to >6 John5918: is based on personal experience and the experience of colleagues. I could have said more, but that would indeed have been lacking in charity, so I confined myself simply to stating the fact to explain why I was not more forthcoming about the beautiful liturgy to which I was referring. I am not aware of any rebuke that you might be expecting from me; I certainly am not rebuking you.
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