Can someone recommend a Catholic church for me in Springfield/Alexandria/Arlington?

[Anonymous]

I love nativity. It is really what you are looking for. different masses have different vibes and make sure you attend at least one Mass with Fr. Martin before you make up your mind.

Keep in mind that Fr. martin will have a force retirement in the next year or two, so the vibe might change. But, you are just looking for this year.

Fr. Martin grew up in a multi-religion background and became catholic - so he will totally get where you are coming from. The vibe at the church follows that.

[Anonymous]

I have an advent wreath with stars of david below each candle - It would be great of a multi-denomination family! (long story as to how I got it)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stopped going to Blessed Sacrament the day the priest called the Affordable Health Care act "the work of Satan" and the congregation applauded. No joke.

At least he wasn't hiding.

You've got to know that most priests are thinking the same thing but not expressing it.

Don't fool yourself. There is no such thing as a liberal parish.

I'm surprised at this. Blessed Sacrament in Alexandria? When I was young and living in "the city" my husband used to joke that the incense was pot the place was so liberal. I remember a very active AIDS ministry and immigrate outreach.

[Anonymous]

I'm a non-Catholic married to a Catholic and I do in fact attend mass pretty often - at least once a month. Perhaps my perspective would be relevant since we've looked around for a place that works for the whole family. We've tried out a few places:

-St Mary's in Old Town is full of kids and young families. No one will side eye you if your kid makes a peep. People seem friendly but there also seem to be a lot of drop-ins.
-Blessed Sacrament seems to have a lot of mom's group activities so in that sense it has what you're looking for, but I also was a little taken aback by some of the priest's comments about protestants. I'm not protestant or Christian even but this is the only church in which I've heard a priest speak ill of members of another faith. It was pretty off putting so I understand what the other PPs are saying. I would not feel comfortable sending my child to Sunday school there.
-St Rita's is friendly and kind. Kids and young families are also plentiful and the school's play yard is open to parishioners during non-school hours so you can let your son run around after mass for some extra fun.
-St Joseph's in Old Town is very friendly and they have a new priest. The prior priest was not able to concentrate with any noise so children were not welcome in the mass. But he's since retired and there's a new guy who has changed the rules and welcomes children. I don't think word has spread really so you might not see too many young families there yet, but I'm sure soon enough they'll fill in. They have a gospel choir and a lively community. It's a Josephite church so it's aiming to minister to African Americans but it's very welcoming of all and the congregation is diverse. It's the only church I've seen around here that has a deacon. I think that's pretty cool.

[Anonymous]

+1 Nativity

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stopped going to Blessed Sacrament the day the priest called the Affordable Health Care act "the work of Satan" and the congregation applauded. No joke.

At least he wasn't hiding.

You've got to know that most priests are thinking the same thing but not expressing it.

Don't fool yourself. There is no such thing as a liberal parish.

Well, you'd be wrong. You must not know many actual priests. I do, Mai ly Jesuits and Franciscan, and none of them would say something like that. Quite the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stopped going to Blessed Sacrament the day the priest called the Affordable Health Care act "the work of Satan" and the congregation applauded. No joke.

At least he wasn't hiding.

You've got to know that most priests are thinking the same thing but not expressing it.

Don't fool yourself. There is no such thing as a liberal parish.

Well, you'd be wrong. You must not know many actual priests. I do, Mai ly Jesuits and Franciscan, and none of them would say something like that. Quite the opposite.

Absolutely. One, I don't believe most priests believe this let alone say this. Two, depending on the order (as pp said Jesuits are an example) there is a tremendous lean to liberal social policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my new years resolutions is to start going to church again. I just need help finding a church and would appreciate any recommendations.

Here's what I'm working with:

-My husband is Jewish and is actually pretty anti-Catholic. We have agreed to raise our son Catholic and he is good about not saying anything negative but will NOT participate in anything, go to mass, etc. So I need a church where I won't feel weird about going alone. This is probably my #1 criteria.

-I know that the Diocese of Arlington is one of the most conservative in the country and I am hoping for a church whose members are not so over the top that I will feel uncomfortable about not having a strong background in Catholic doctrine, a Jewish husband etc. It doesn't have to be "Catholic Lite," necessarily, or even liberal, but I am also not looking to be judged.

-I would love a church with lots of community events, maybe a school, or an active mother's group. My son is 2 years old and I'd love to just be involved with something that would help us meet other moms and kids.

-A dedicated children's mass would be great.

Any recommendations? Thank you!

So you hate catholics but want to raise your son Catholic? Do you hate your son?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my new years resolutions is to start going to church again. I just need help finding a church and would appreciate any recommendations.

Here's what I'm working with:

-My husband is Jewish and is actually pretty anti-Catholic. We have agreed to raise our son Catholic and he is good about not saying anything negative but will NOT participate in anything, go to mass, etc. So I need a church where I won't feel weird about going alone. This is probably my #1 criteria.

-I know that the Diocese of Arlington is one of the most conservative in the country and I am hoping for a church whose members are not so over the top that I will feel uncomfortable about not having a strong background in Catholic doctrine, a Jewish husband etc. It doesn't have to be "Catholic Lite," necessarily, or even liberal, but I am also not looking to be judged.

-I would love a church with lots of community events, maybe a school, or an active mother's group. My son is 2 years old and I'd love to just be involved with something that would help us meet other moms and kids.

-A dedicated children's mass would be great.

Any recommendations? Thank you!

So you hate catholics but want to raise your son Catholic? Do you hate your son?

You can't read.

Her Jewish husband[b] is anti Catholic religion. Not OP. She is fine with Catholic, even non-liberal Catholics and wants to get back into her religion with her child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my new years resolutions is to start going to church again. I just need help finding a church and would appreciate any recommendations.

Here's what I'm working with:

-My husband is Jewish and is actually pretty anti-Catholic. We have agreed to raise our son Catholic and he is good about not saying anything negative but will NOT participate in anything, go to mass, etc. So I need a church where I won't feel weird about going alone. This is probably my #1 criteria.

-I know that the Diocese of Arlington is one of the most conservative in the country and I am hoping for a church whose members are not so over the top that I will feel uncomfortable about not having a strong background in Catholic doctrine, a Jewish husband etc. It doesn't have to be "Catholic Lite," necessarily, or even liberal, but I am also not looking to be judged.

-I would love a church with lots of community events, maybe a school, or an active mother's group. My son is 2 years old and I'd love to just be involved with something that would help us meet other moms and kids.

-A dedicated children's mass would be great.

Any recommendations? Thank you!

So you hate catholics but want to raise your son Catholic? Do you hate your son?

You can't read.

Her Jewish husband[b] is anti Catholic religion. Not OP. She is fine with Catholic, even non-liberal Catholics and wants to get back into her religion with her child.

So your husband hates you and your child?

I don't get the point of marrying someone who hates your religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my new years resolutions is to start going to church again. I just need help finding a church and would appreciate any recommendations.

Here's what I'm working with:

-My husband is Jewish and is actually pretty anti-Catholic. We have agreed to raise our son Catholic and he is good about not saying anything negative but will NOT participate in anything, go to mass, etc. So I need a church where I won't feel weird about going alone. This is probably my #1 criteria.

-I know that the Diocese of Arlington is one of the most conservative in the country and I am hoping for a church whose members are not so over the top that I will feel uncomfortable about not having a strong background in Catholic doctrine, a Jewish husband etc. It doesn't have to be "Catholic Lite," necessarily, or even liberal, but I am also not looking to be judged.

-I would love a church with lots of community events, maybe a school, or an active mother's group. My son is 2 years old and I'd love to just be involved with something that would help us meet other moms and kids.

-A dedicated children's mass would be great.

Any recommendations? Thank you!

So you hate catholics but want to raise your son Catholic? Do you hate your son?

You can't read.

Her Jewish husband[b] is anti Catholic religion. Not OP. She is fine with Catholic, even non-liberal Catholics and wants to get back into her religion with her child.

So your husband hates you and your child?

I don't get the point of marrying someone who hates your religion.

Sorry for being so angry I just hate when people say they are ANTI this or that. Anyways I hope you and your son are able to help your husband become catholic.

[Anonymous]

OP - I certainly did not mean to say that my husband hates Catholics, he does not hate Catholics. He thinks that there is a lot of hypocrisy in the religion and in general is not a fan of organized religion to begin with. He is not observant himself. He grew up in a very Catholic area and had a bad experience with kids making fun of him for being Jewish - it all stems from there.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Nativity sounds good, my only concern is location - we are a 20 minute drive. I think that may be too far to really get involved in the community.. no? St. Mary's is the closest to us out of all of these.. St. Rita's also sounds great but we are pushing the 20 minute mark, and my experience with Blessed Sacrament has been that the parishioners are pretty over the top. I actually had started going there and stopped because I felt so out of place.

Does anyone have any experience with St. Louis in Alexandria?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stopped going to Blessed Sacrament the day the priest called the Affordable Health Care act "the work of Satan" and the congregation applauded. No joke.

I don't understand the level of stupidity that brings someone to that conclusion.

The same level that brings someone to say that donating $ to charity is a sin unless you are donating to the church first. WHAT???? Yes, I heard that there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - I certainly did not mean to say that my husband hates Catholics, he does not hate Catholics. He thinks that there is a lot of hypocrisy in the religion and in general is not a fan of organized religion to begin with. He is not observant himself. He grew up in a very Catholic area and had a bad experience with kids making fun of him for being Jewish - it all stems from there.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Nativity sounds good, my only concern is location - we are a 20 minute drive. I think that may be too far to really get involved in the community.. no? St. Mary's is the closest to us out of all of these.. St. Rita's also sounds great but we are pushing the 20 minute mark, and my experience with Blessed Sacrament has been that the parishioners are pretty over the top. I actually had started going there and stopped because I felt so out of place.

Does anyone have any experience with St. Louis in Alexandria?

If you can't find anything closer to your house, do check out Holy Trinity. Mount Vernon based Holy Trinity parishoner here - I actually am curious about St Louis too, because it would be much less of a drive and I hate parking in Georgetown. (Stupid reason to pick a church but you have to be practical.) Hopefully someone will reply.

[Anonymous]

Well, the Jews can be just as bad to each other.

Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and Hasidic

Why do you think there are so many different synagogues out there? You won't see the Reform mixing with the Orthodox anytime soon.

Anonymous wrote:OP - I certainly did not mean to say that my husband hates Catholics, he does not hate Catholics. He thinks that there is a lot of hypocrisy in the religion and in general is not a fan of organized religion to begin with. He is not observant himself. He grew up in a very Catholic area and had a bad experience with kids making fun of him for being Jewish - it all stems from there.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Nativity sounds good, my only concern is location - we are a 20 minute drive. I think that may be too far to really get involved in the community.. no? St. Mary's is the closest to us out of all of these.. St. Rita's also sounds great but we are pushing the 20 minute mark, and my experience with Blessed Sacrament has been that the parishioners are pretty over the top. I actually had started going there and stopped because I felt so out of place.

Does anyone have any experience with St. Louis in Alexandria?