Tenebrae at St Thomas Apostle DC

Solemn Mass for the Feast of Blessed John Henry Newman in DC

Solemn Mass for the Feast of Blessed John Henry Newman of The Oratory

St Thomas Apostle Catholic Church, Woodley Road, NW, Washington DC

Thursday October 9th at 7.30pm

Celebrant : The Very Rev Msgr Andrew Wadsworth (Moderator)

Homilist : The Rev Fr Richard Mullins (Pastor)

The music will include the Chant Propers, Mass VIII, and Newman's hymns Firmly I believe and Praise to the holiest.

Sunday Vespers starting soon at the Oratory in Formation in DC

Sunday Vespers starting soon at the Oratory in Formation in DC:

It is a long established custom in Oratorian communities to sing Vespers (Evening Prayer of the Church) on Sundays and major feasts. We have now established that there are sufficient people interested in supporting this project and so we propose to begin Sunday Vespers next month.

Vespers is an entirely sung liturgy, the music of which is Gregorian chant, the ancient musical patrimony of the Church in the West. The chanting of the psalms and their antiphons and the beautiful hymns of the liturgical seasons form a majestic prayer that can be outstandingly beautiful and very prayerful.

As it takes time to learn how to sing Vespers and as we hope you will want to learn how to participate in this ancient form of prayer, we shall gather at 3.30pm to prepare the music and the liturgy will begin at 4pm. The service of vespers is followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament - the whole thing lasting about 45 minutes. We shall begin weekly Sunday Vespers on:

SUNDAY OCTOBER 5
3.30pm Music rehearsal for all participants
4pm Vespers and Benediction

The Oratorian Fathers of the Community of St Philip Neri

Newman and His Legacy

The Oratorian Community of St Philip Neri in Washington DC, a community-in-formation for the Oratory, is hosting a series of talks exploring the life and thought of Blessed John Henry Newman. Entitled 'Newman and his legacy', the series of talks will take place at 7.30pm on Monday evenings at St Thomas Apostle Parish Hall:

September 8
Newman and Mary
(Fr Carleton P Jones OP)

September 15
Newman and the Oratory
(Msgr Andrew Wadsworth)

September 22
Newman and Faber
(Fr Martin Edwards)

September 29
Newman and Pope Benedict XVI
(Fr James Bradley)

October 6
Newman and Liberalism
(Fr Stephen Fields SJ)

Mondays at 7.30pm
St Thomas Apostle Parish Hall
entrance on 27th St NW at Woodley Rd
Nearest Metro: Woodley Park (Red Line)

Photos of the Vigil for Christians in Iraq held at the DC Oratory in formation last Monday

Last Monday at St Thomas the Apostle, Washington DC, there was a Prayer Vigil for persecuted Christians in Iraq. Holy Mass was followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament culminating in Benediction at midnight. The celebrant was Monsignor Andrew Wadsworth and the sermon was given by Father Richard Mullins. The National Catholic Register covered the Vigil here.

Requiem High Mass with the DC Oratorians

Photographs of yesterday's Requiem High Mass at St Thomas Apostle in Washington DC:

Pontifical Mass for Blessed John Henry Newman in DC

The Feast of Blessed John Henry Newman will be celebrated at Washington's new Oratory in formation. Pontifical Mass at St Thomas, Apostle will take place on Wednesday 9 October at 7pm. The celebrant will be Archbishop Timothy Broglio and the music will include hymns by Newman and Chant.