s/o diverse Catholic Church in DC Proper w/ focus on children

[Anonymous]

Good morning! I'm a Washingtonian Catholic who currently attends a "black" Catholic Church. More and more I've found the sermon's to be more and more racial, as long time parishioners feel more and more threatened by gentrification in the city. I won't say where I go to Church, so as not to strike a discussion on that, but it's been polarizing and creating what I feel is anti-Christian racial tension. There's also been a lot of political discussion that I feel is anti-Christian. So, I'm looking for a new Church home. I know that all Churches come with their caveats and am not expecting something that meets my every demand. But, I am expecting a Church that fulfills the Christian promise of us valuing every one of God's children and does not make politics the focus. Also, my children's religious upbringing is important, so I'm looking for something that has a lot of children's programs. Essentially, I'd like something diverse, ie not all African American or all white. Dies this exist in DC? As I'm not interested in leaving the city for services, please don't urge me to your church outside of DC's borders. If that means I get no feedback, so be it. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

How is St. Anthony's (in NE) these days?

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't say there is a focus on children but St. Matthews Cathedral near Dupont is certainly diverse (racially and otherwise).

[Anonymous]

OP, when you say you want children's programs does that mean you want a church with a school? My church, Annunciation, is quite diverse racially and across age groups. It has a school and a catechism program, but nothing much else I know of for children. Personally, I do not find the monsignor very riveting. St. Ann's is nearby and has a school that is quite diverse, but I don't know if that is true of the parish.

[Anonymous]

Sacred Heart at 16th & Park Rd NW. Very diverse and very kid friendly.

[Anonymous]

Holy Trinity in Gtown. not sure how diverse it is, but it's pretty liberal as far as Catholic Churches go. very focused on kids.

[Anonymous]

im sure they are all focused on kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy Trinity in Gtown. not sure how diverse it is, but it's pretty liberal as far as Catholic Churches go. very focused on kids.

Definitely not diverse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:im sure they are all focused on kids

St Matthews unfortunately really had no childrens programs. No education, no playground, just Mass.

Holy Trinity very focused on children, very liberal, but not diverse. But I believe it would be welcoming to OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good morning! I'm a Washingtonian Catholic who currently attends a "black" Catholic Church. More and more I've found the sermon's to be more and more racial, as long time parishioners feel more and more threatened by gentrification in the city. I won't say where I go to Church, so as not to strike a discussion on that, but it's been polarizing and creating what I feel is anti-Christian racial tension. There's also been a lot of political discussion that I feel is anti-Christian. So, I'm looking for a new Church home. I know that all Churches come with their caveats and am not expecting something that meets my every demand. But, I am expecting a Church that fulfills the Christian promise of us valuing every one of God's children and does not make politics the focus. Also, my children's religious upbringing is important, so I'm looking for something that has a lot of children's programs. Essentially, I'd like something diverse, ie not all African American or all white. Dies this exist in DC? As I'm not interested in leaving the city for services, please don't urge me to your church outside of DC's borders. If that means I get no feedback, so be it. Thank you!

If "DC Proper" means "Washington", why not say so? As EB White admonishes, in writing "omit needless words."

[Anonymous]

St. Augustine. I think its on V St. Unless that's the church you were talking about.

[Anonymous]

OK I guess I will be the first to call you out for your rejection of a church for its "racial" tone? In case you didn't notice, gentrification is real and a legitimate source of worry for your neighbors and fellow parishioners. You seem to think that diversity is some kind of flower arrangement for your aesthetic benefit. But when those colored ones start sticking out you decide that they are "racial" and not the pretty diversity you claim to want. I am just kind of shocked that you don't understand that the social justice mission of the church can legitimately focus on the situation of the neighborhood and its own parishioners. Or does being "liberal" to you mean only caring about poor people halfway across the world, where they can't interfere with your notions of genteel diversity and liberalness that demands nothing from you personally? To you, it's all fine and well to be liberal and seek diversity ... Until you start getting confronted with, you know, actual black people with actual problems in your actual neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good morning! I'm a Washingtonian Catholic who currently attends a "black" Catholic Church. More and more I've found the sermon's to be more and more racial, as long time parishioners feel more and more threatened by gentrification in the city. I won't say where I go to Church, so as not to strike a discussion on that, but it's been polarizing and creating what I feel is anti-Christian racial tension. There's also been a lot of political discussion that I feel is anti-Christian. So, I'm looking for a new Church home. I know that all Churches come with their caveats and am not expecting something that meets my every demand. But, I am expecting a Church that fulfills the Christian promise of us valuing every one of God's children and does not make politics the focus. Also, my children's religious upbringing is important, so I'm looking for something that has a lot of children's programs. Essentially, I'd like something diverse, ie not all African American or all white. Dies this exist in DC? As I'm not interested in leaving the city for services, please don't urge me to your church outside of DC's borders. If that means I get no feedback, so be it. Thank you!

I'm sorry that you've experienced this. I think you and I may have attended the same parish. I'm AA (well biracial) and I don't like racial overtones in a church as well. Church is suppose to be about inclusion not division. In my case it's not the priests (whom I have so much respect for) that bothered me. It was the parishioners. However, I won't get into it on this thread about that. I just wanted to let you know that you're not the only one who feels this way.

You may want to try:

Saint Peter's near Eastern Market http://www.saintpetersdc.org
Saint Anne's near Tentleytown http://www.stanndc.org

I'm not sure if you drive or not, but both parishes are within walking distance to the Metro.

[Anonymous]

Poster 17:03 here again

OP, you may also want to try Church of the Annunciation http://www.annunciationdc.org

You may have to church hop for a few Sundays to visit various parishes to get a better feel of which ones that you like. Good luck with your search!

[Anonymous]

St. Matthew's actual does have a children's religious education program. It doesn't have a playground and there aren't huge numbers of families there, but it's a wonderful and close-knit community.