Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not Bethesda and it’s probably before midnight, but if you want to blow their doors off, take them to the vigil Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Michigan Avenue NE in DC. Enormous, amazing church. Over the top music. Mass with all the bells and smells. Just be sure to get there early for the pre-Mass music, because it gets crowded.

+1000

Yes - the music is great - old church music by the masters sung by a paid, professional choir, but other than that, the atmosphere turned me off -- very bright and cheesy- almost commercial Xmas looking for people who came to be entertained, watching a modern, glitzy show and not to witness in an ancient ritual.

Anonymous wrote:For all those saying that I am judgmental and weird, please consider that Catholicism in other countries is conducted differently.
I'd like my parents to enjoy the music and lights but also to experience Christ-focused mass.
Thanks for all the useful suggestions. I will go with Little Flower or another smaller parish.

Do come to the Little Flower 10pm. The adult choir is excellent and they have a full brass and drum orchestra for what is a very reverent Mass. You will not need tickets and will easily have seating (the very crowded family Mass is much earlier in the evening)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all those saying that I am judgmental and weird, please consider that Catholicism in other countries is conducted differently.
I'd like my parents to enjoy the music and lights but also to experience Christ-focused mass.
Thanks for all the useful suggestions. I will go with Little Flower or another smaller parish.

I’m an American born Catholic but I’ve been to mass fairly regarly in at least 4 other countries (including in Latin America, Europe and Eastern Europe). I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about by saying that “Catholicism in other countries is conducted differently”. And it’s pretty offensive of you to suggest that American churches do not have a “Christ focused mass.”
Go with God, though.

Yes I also have no idea what you are talking about OP.

+3 OP, please accept that you have a an incorrect view of what Mass is like in U.S. Catholic churches.

In any case, your parents may also really appreciate the masses in some of the DC churches attached to Monasteries:

Franciscan Monastery midnight mass: https://myfranciscan.org/worship/

St. Anselm's Abbey (will be vey small and intimate): http://stanselms.org

The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (aka the Basilica) has Mass at 10: http://www.nationalshrine.com/atf/cf/%7BB0534716-4524-407D-A065-B68C4BFCB4BE%7D/2017%20Advent%20Brochure%20Fr%20Weston%20Approved.pdf

Anonymous wrote:And, Natl Cathedral:

Passes are required to attend the following services:

A Gospel Christmas

• Dec. 21, 7 pm – FULL

Christmas Lessons

• Dec. 23, 6 pm – FULL
• Dec. 24, 6 pm – FULL

Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist

• Dec. 24, 10 pm – FULL

National Cathedral is not Catholic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all those saying that I am judgmental and weird, please consider that Catholicism in other countries is conducted differently.
I'd like my parents to enjoy the music and lights but also to experience Christ-focused mass.
Thanks for all the useful suggestions. I will go with Little Flower or another smaller parish.

I’m an American born Catholic but I’ve been to mass fairly regarly in at least 4 other countries (including in Latin America, Europe and Eastern Europe). I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about by saying that “Catholicism in other countries is conducted differently”. And it’s pretty offensive of you to suggest that American churches do not have a “Christ focused mass.”
Go with God, though.

Yes I also have no idea what you are talking about OP.

Anonymous wrote:For all those saying that I am judgmental and weird, please consider that Catholicism in other countries is conducted differently.
I'd like my parents to enjoy the music and lights but also to experience Christ-focused mass.
Thanks for all the useful suggestions. I will go with Little Flower or another smaller parish.

I’m an American born Catholic but I’ve been to mass fairly regarly in at least 4 other countries (including in Latin America, Europe and Eastern Europe). I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about by saying that “Catholicism in other countries is conducted differently”. And it’s pretty offensive of you to suggest that American churches do not have a “Christ focused mass.”
Go with God, though.

For all those saying that I am judgmental and weird, please consider that Catholicism in other countries is conducted differently.
I'd like my parents to enjoy the music and lights but also to experience Christ-focused mass.
Thanks for all the useful suggestions. I will go with Little Flower or another smaller parish.

Anonymous wrote:OP! I say this kindly, but you have some issues.

Consider that before you take your visiting parents to any local Mass, you may be asked for an admission ticket, have difficulty finding a parking spot anywhere near the church, may have to stand the entire service, sit separately from one another or stand in line to enter the church.

Or, a combination of all. I'm in Virginia but was raised Catholic and know of a least two of my former parishes that due to complaints from "regular" communicants, arrangements had to be made in advance to get a ticket to attend Christmas Eve service. Similar to a concert, you'd go in advance to get your ticket.

Get to the service at least an hour before Mass.

Oh, I plan to.

Anonymous wrote:My parents are visiting from another country. They are devout Catholics. Where in Bethesda can I take them for Christmas Eve midnight mass devoid of politics, political correctness, special interests etc., so they could experience an American mass? Thank you.

St. Michael’s in downtown SS has a 4 pm Mass with Nativity play by the children. Inoffensive enough?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We attend Little Flower in Bethesda and enjoy the service and music. There is no politics etc discussed during mass.

Their late Mass is 10pm and the music at that one is stunning. It’s a big church with plenty of parking and seating for that late Mass.

Little Flower is definitely very nice. Also, the national shrine is also extra special at Christmas. Tickets are not necessary!

And, Natl Cathedral:

Passes are required to attend the following services:

A Gospel Christmas

• Dec. 21, 7 pm – FULL

Christmas Lessons

• Dec. 23, 6 pm – FULL
• Dec. 24, 6 pm – FULL

Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist

• Dec. 24, 10 pm – FULL

Tickets!

All of us here at St. Patrick's Cathedral are grateful for all those - from near and far - who celebrated Midnight Mass

Midnight Mass 2018
Lottery Ticket Request Information

The Midnight Mass ticket lottery has closed and we are unable to fulfill anymore ticket requests at this time. Please feel free to join us at our other Masses during the Christmas season. The lottery will begin again in January of 2019 for next Christmas. Thank you for your understanding.

Anonymous wrote:Do you not go to church yourself? You seem very judgmental of American churches. Maybe try going to one for a while!

+1. Yikes.

OP! I say this kindly, but you have some issues.

Consider that before you take your visiting parents to any local Mass, you may be asked for an admission ticket, have difficulty finding a parking spot anywhere near the church, may have to stand the entire service, sit separately from one another or stand in line to enter the church.

Or, a combination of all. I'm in Virginia but was raised Catholic and know of a least two of my former parishes that due to complaints from "regular" communicants, arrangements had to be made in advance to get a ticket to attend Christmas Eve service. Similar to a concert, you'd go in advance to get your ticket.

Get to the service at least an hour before Mass.

Anonymous wrote:We attend Little Flower in Bethesda and enjoy the service and music. There is no politics etc discussed during mass.

Their late Mass is 10pm and the music at that one is stunning. It’s a big church with plenty of parking and seating for that late Mass.