Daily Mass in the DC Area

[GenZPapist]

Hi Everyone!

I am a senior in high school and will be attending Catholic University in DC in the fall. I have attended Daily Mass every day since freshman year at my Catholic High School, which was a very traditional Novus Ordo (ad orientem, communion rail, etc.). I know that I probably won’t be able to find something like that, but does anyone know of any churches relatively close to the University (walking distance, as I won’t have a car) where I can find a more traditional-style Daily Mass? I was planning on attending the Dominican House for Sunday Mass, but their Daily Mass is at 7:00 AM, which, though doable, is probably not the ideal time for a college student . If anyone has any suggestions for where I can find a reverent Mass or a Daily Mass slightly later in the day, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you so much!

 

[midori]

Aren’t you, like, right across the street from the Basilica?

I’ve been a few times. There are Masses said in different chapels, in different languages. I’m sure one of them has a good chance of being traditional-style. Have you checked the Mass schedule to see if there’s anything that fits your preferences? Not all of the Masses are official, and some are done with permission, but aren’t widely advertised. See what word-of-mouth brings you.

 

[GenZPapist]

Thank you so much! I knew about the Basilica, of course, but some of the liturgies I had attended were kinda … blah. I’ll be sure to explore, and I’ll also tuck that handy link you sent me away for future reference- I didn’t know such a thing existed.

 

[Wm777]

Thank you so much! I knew about the Basilica, of course, but some of the liturgies I had attended were kinda … blah. I’ll be sure to explore, and I’ll also tuck that handy link you sent me away for future reference- I didn’t know such a thing existed.

Not sure exactly what you’re seeking, but it sounds like you’re looking in the wrong place.

The short answer is - go the Franciscan Monastery… It sounds like you want something accessible and “different” to do… The Franciscan Monastery is definitely a very unique place, they’ll be local to where you will be, and they offer regular daily services…

But for the long answer…

It sounds like you’re looking to the South Side of DC - towards the Shrine and CUA, which you’re saying you find “blah”.

But - there’s also the North Side of DC to consider - Georgetown is a Catholic School with Chapels; Holy Trinity is right next door; and there is also St Matthews Cathedral (just to name a few)…

More central to the downtown area you could go to St Patricks or St Peters up on Capital Hill.

It sounds like you think the South Side conservatives are boring, which is going to make attending CUA a bit of a challenge… They tend to be more conservative, more liturgically correct and a bit grumpier on the South Side.

If you’re looking for something more liberal and “different”, then Georgetown on the North Side would probably be more to your liking, although it’s all still basically the same mass. They tend to be nicer, I think, but it’s hard to get them to commit to much.

I’ve lectored at th Shrine for over a decade, and I’m also very familiar with CUA, as well as many of the surrounding religious houses. The Shrine is probably one of the BEST places you can hear a homily. The reason is, they are extremely liturgically correct, and - with all the surrounding religious houses (including the USCCB), as well as EWTN and national television stations that cover their work - they are under intense scrutiny to speak to the highest standards.

I dont want to discourage you, but - if you think the Basilica is blase - then you may find CUA even more “blah”. My thought is, something or someone might have poo-pah’ed something you were hoping for, and it left you a bit disappointed.

I’m not sure how to direct you, but I would hazard a guess to say most people on this site would probably love to have opportunity to go to the Shrine for mass every day.