I agree that Masses in this area are longer than in other places (at least places where I have lived). I used to love going to the 7:30 pm Mass at Mary Mother of God Church in the Chinatown neighborhood of D.C. That Mass never seemed to run longer than 45 minutes. That was a few years ago, though. Not sure if that's still the case. Also, the timing might not work with kids and I know you were asking about the College Park area.

I have found that the earlier in the morning the Mass, the less pomp and singing of everything. You are less likely to have a full choir singing every single component of the Mass at a 7 a.m. service than at the 11 am high Mass. Sat. night vigils do tend to be shorter as well. Our regular Sunday Mass these days is starting to run closer to 90 minutes. I love the priest. I love our church, but it is driving me nuts. The priest is reading virtually every entry in the Church bulletin during announcement time post-Communion. Our kids have good Sundays and bad Sundays. It is hard to expect any toddler to make it through that much quiet, sitting-still time.

Try for a Saturday mass. Mine in DC runs around about 30-40 min. There is no music. It used to be 30 mins sharp, but with the new language it got the priest off his game and he's been slipping and getting slow.
I think St. Joseph in Beltsville has a short Saturday evening mass.

Because we have to take up two collections!!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I leave early, without the Sacraments, then what's the point of going?

Leave after communion--that should be about the 40 minute mark. Sit close to the front if you can. Most masses last an hour.

Sadly it's at the hour mark of every church I've been to in the area. I can't figure out why Mass takes so long here.

Our mass at St James in Falls Church is about 1 15 minutes on Sunday and usually about 1, 5 minutes on Saturday. The other day Fr. Horkin got us out of there in 55 minutes, I couldn't believe it.

When I travel to Europe in countries that are 90%+ catholic, the mass is only about 45-50 minutes, I don't understand why they can't do that here in the US!

22:52 the Gospel Masses are indeed entertaining for the kids.

LOL, PP.

Anonymous wrote:Leave when you want. No big deal.

Judas left early too.

Anonymous wrote:Second the recommendation for an early-morning Mass. the only 30-35 min Mass I know of is a 7am one, not in this area though. There is no music.

I live in DC now and go sometimes to a majority African American parish (I am not). Those Gospel Masses are long, like 1 hour 15 min.

True but for me my 3 yo does better with the gospel mass than with traditional- she can understand the words of the music and sing along and claps along as well.