Student Perspectives on Neighborhood Mass Options
Image Courtesy of Our Sunday Visitor
By Anthony Curioso
The Catholic University of America offers five weekday Mass times through Campus Ministry, one on Saturdays and four on Sundays. Additionally, students can easily access Masses at nearby locations like the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land, the Dominican House of Studies (DHS), and St. Anthony of Padua. With so many options, which Mass times and locations do students prefer?
Sunday 9:00 a.m. Traditional Latin High Mass at the Franciscan Monastery
Last fall, I joined an informal group that eats, prays, and attends Mass together. We meet at Centennial Village at 8:15 a.m. on Sundays to walk to the 9 a.m. Traditional Latin Mass. Few other CUA students attend this Mass, possibly because they don’t know about it, but locals from Brookland are regularly present there.
Sophomore mathematics major Joseph Baranoski II shared why he attends the Latin Mass with this group.
“I love the 9 a.m. Mass at the Franciscan Monastery because the Traditional Latin Mass is as good as Mass can get,” Baranoski said.
Masses at the DHS
Over the years, many CUA students have attended Mass or the Liturgy of the Hours at the DHS. I have sometimes joined my friends in prayer at these Masses or the Liturgy of the Hours, but I sometimes wish I could go there more frequently.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. Latin Novus Ordo Mass in St. Paul Chapel (in Caldwell Hall)
I have only been to this Mass time once because of accessibility constraints in the St. Paul Chapel, but I hope to attend it again after the ongoing renovation project concludes.
Verity Pendergast, a freshman English major, commented on her preference for the 9:00 a.m. Mass.
“I prefer to attend Mass earlier in the morning on Sundays,” Pendergast said. “The 9:00 a.m. Mass in St. Paul Chapel is a great way to expose oneself to the Latin language first thing in the morning.”
Sunday 11:00 a.m. Mass in St. Vincent de Paul Chapel with Traditional Hymns
I have been a Hall Security Assistant with the Office of Residence Life since my sophomore year at CUA. I work occasional Saturday nights until 3 a.m., but on some Sundays, when I didn’t work the night before, I would attend the 11 a.m. Mass. This Mass features traditional hymns like “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name” and “Adoro te devote,” led by a cantor or the CUA schola with organ accompaniment.
Sunday Masses at the Basilica
I tend not to attend many Masses at the Basilica because although it’s a beautiful shrine to Our Lady, the sound echoes so much in there that I need to be at the extreme front of either the Upper Church or Crypt Church to hear anything and be an active participant in the Mass.
Sunday 9:00 p.m. Mass in St. Vincent de Paul Chapel with Contemporary Worship Music
I prefer the 9 p.m. Sunday Mass because the music reminds me of the Arch Street Band at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston. I enjoy singing along with them and appreciate similar experiences at Mass on campus. It’s no surprise this Mass is popular, as the music attracts many attendees.
Caitlin Farley, a freshman politics major, commented on her enjoyment of the 9 p.m. Sunday Mass.
“I prefer to go to the 9 p.m. Mass on Sundays because I love its praise and worship style,” Farley said.
Masses at St. Anthony of Padua
Last Easter, CUA students entering the Church through OCIA received their Sacraments at the St. Anthony of Padua Parish Easter Vigil. St. Anthony of Padua is also a popular Campus Ministry weekly service site.
Weekday 5:10 p.m. Mass in St. Vincent de Paul Chapel
5:10 p.m. appears to be the most popular Daily Mass time. During my time at CUA and before I started coming here, Campus Ministry held several Memorial Masses for deceased students and faculty at the 5:10 p.m. Mass on weekdays, likely due to higher attendance at that Mass time.
Michael Ellison, a senior philosophy major, shared why he prefers to attend the 5:10 p.m. Mass over other Daily Mass times.
“5:10 p.m. is the perfect time for a Mass because people can get out of class, go to Mass, and then go to dinner immediately afterward,” Ellison said.
Weekday 10:00 p.m. Mass in St. Vincent de Paul Chapel
Many CUA students prefer the 5:10 p.m. Daily Mass, but the 10:00 p.m. Mass is also popular.
Whether CUA students are early birds or night owls, swamped with classes or have lots of free time, there will almost always be a convenient Mass time for them to attend on or off campus on a given day.
