Op here - I mentioned that we went to Little Flower and were very satisfied with a sung mass. The attendees did not seem particularly energized and we didn't get the sense of great joy or excitement about the joyful occasion but that's ok. I assume it's a cultural difference.

Unfortunately, I cannot disclose the country my parents are from but can cite some differences:

1. Christmas and Easter usually see almost 100% of the population attending churches. You can hardly find a spot to stand in and around a church.
2. There is a great spirit of joy for Christmas and a solemn spirit on Easter. People are really into it.
3. Many people, including the young, take fasting and prayer seriously.
4. Many young people choose life of service to the Lord.
5. Sex abuse scandals are not widespread and those that are known of are swiftly dealt with.
6. Most priest are well respected and priesthood is regarded as a holy vocation that one is called upon.
7. Politics, including political correctness, are kept out a mass.
8. There is a great support of Culture of Life, among both young and old.
9. Sacraments such as baptism and marriage are taken seriously.
10. People are rarely cremated after death.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Well, this isn’t the New York forum so we expected a reply that was true for the DC area - specifically Bethesda or DC.

PPs provides several examples of Catholic Churches locally who give out tickets.

Actually there are no examples in past postings. We have been to regular and special Masses all over the Archdiocese with priests, bishops, cardinals, and the papal nuncio and never needed a ticket for anyone but the Pope. That doesn't mean you'll find a seat walking in 5 minutes before Mass, but you can try!

Anonymous wrote:so I have acutely wondered why country OP is from. Given she cites political correctness, comes from a country where priests aren't political, and she is afraid of bombings, I am guessing Egypt or somewhere in the Middle East or maybe Indonesia with a Catholic minority.

yes, you must need tickets and weeks of advance planing too.

so I have acutely wondered why country OP is from. Given she cites political correctness, comes from a country where priests aren't political, and she is afraid of bombings, I am guessing Egypt or somewhere in the Middle East or maybe Indonesia with a Catholic minority.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Please stop spouting ill informed lunacy. There are no ‘admissions tickets’ to the churches here.

NP here. No idea if any churches in this area do it that way, but that's absolutely how the church in my hometown in NY handles midnight mass, so pp was not off the mark to suggest checking before making plans.

Well, this isn’t the New York forum so we expected a reply that was true for the DC area - specifically Bethesda or DC.

PPs provides several examples of Catholic Churches locally who give out tickets.

No PP doesn't provide any examples. This does not happen here 99% of the time unless a Cardinal is officiating or some other higher up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Please stop spouting ill informed lunacy. There are no ‘admissions tickets’ to the churches here.

NP here. No idea if any churches in this area do it that way, but that's absolutely how the church in my hometown in NY handles midnight mass, so pp was not off the mark to suggest checking before making plans.

Well, this isn’t the New York forum so we expected a reply that was true for the DC area - specifically Bethesda or DC.

PPs provides several examples of Catholic Churches locally who give out tickets.

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

Episcopal

One of the things about being Catholic is mass is pretty much the same anywhere in the world, since it's dictated by the Vatican. The order of mass, readings, will all be the same no matter where in the world you are.

The big change back in the 1960's -- Vatican II -- allowed for mass to be held in the local language and not Latin. The reason it used to be held in Latin is so you could indeed travel anywhere in the world and go to mass and understand it (if you knew Latin, of course).

As for politics, in this area the priests tend to stay out of politics in their homilies, as this is a liberal area and they already have enough trouble keeping parishioners as it is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I am going with Little Flower. I called trying to find out about parking, seating, tickets etc. No one is responding. Does anyone know more about this? Thank you!

It should be on their website. Also I have regularly attended mass in 3 countries outside the US. Unless you are a member of the US military then they all get political and they all were embroiled in scandal. I am not defending the US catholic church by any means but if you actually think the church is apolitical in your country then you are very naive.

This is simply not true, at least in Latin America and Southern Europe.

Mass is about the Bible and about individual and family behavior, week after week, month after month. It's not about discussing politics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every parish will have a late mass - some at midnight, some at 10pm or so. Just check their websites for mass times.

As for the rest of your requirements... I have absolutely no idea what you're concerned about, so can't make a reasonable recommendation.
I think it's a safe bet that on one of the most holy days of the year, most priests aren't going to be giving a homily about the Mueller investigation.

Thanks. What I mean is that in my parents' country the Catholic church is not embroiled in scandals and politics are not discussed in it. It's focused on Jesus Christ.

I’m a cradle Catholic and I prefer to focus my prayers on the angels and Saints as well as Mary in particular. It is one of my favorite things about being Catholic. Not this sole focus on Jesus and scripture. There’s very little focus on politics in the various parishes in NWDC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Please stop spouting ill informed lunacy. There are no ‘admissions tickets’ to the churches here.

NP here. No idea if any churches in this area do it that way, but that's absolutely how the church in my hometown in NY handles midnight mass, so pp was not off the mark to suggest checking before making plans.

Well, this isn’t the New York forum so we expected a reply that was true for the DC area - specifically Bethesda or DC.

Anonymous wrote:Would love to see good Catholics on the front lines in this issue. The only thing the church will listen to is cash income. Stop making any donations to the church and/or parish in any form. A percentage of all money given to each parish is kicked back to the diocese/archdiocese. Give directly to charities you support, take your priest out to dinner - but stop giving the church money. They won’t stop this until they can’t afford to do it any longer, and having a steady cash flow incoming each week means they don’t have to reach into their own pockets/assets to pay settlements. Certainly go to mass, enjoy your faith, etc - but help force change to save your church by withdrawing all financial support until they issue new canon laws. Current canon law says names and info about abusers are secret - those who know of allegations have to swear to “eternal silence” on pain of excommunication. The bishops aren’t freelancing decisions - they are following international Vatican canon law. That has to change.

I don’t think the child sex abuse scandal is what OP is talking about. I suspect she doesn’t want to hear about refugees or Trump.