DC Oratorians in Formation

12/28/2020

St. Thomas Apostle Parish, Washington, DC

In response to the Holy Father’s proclamation of a Year of St Joseph and in conjunction with the Year of the Family, we shall be embarking on a parish-wide program of preparation for Consecration to Jesus through St Joseph, beginning on March 19 (Feast of St Joseph) and ending with the consecration at Masses on May 1 (Feast of St Joseph the Worker). During this program, we shall follow the meditations and spiritual reading proposed by Gregory Bottaro and Jennifer Settle in their recent book, copies of which will be available from the parish, priced $5.

12/25/2020

11am — Christmas Day (Solemn Mass)

Solemn Mass of Christmas Day from the Oxford Oratory

Donate online here: http://www.oxfordoratory.org.uk/donateFor latest updates, see our website: http://www.oxfordoratory.org.uk

12/25/2020

After our Community Mass

12/25/2020

Merry Christmas from the DC Oratorians! #merrychristmas

12/25/2020

Bella’s official Christmas message

12/25/2020

Special home-baked treats for Bella (and the rest of us) arrived this evening from St Louis - may God bless and prosper Janet Jackson and her family for their kindness to us.

12/25/2020

First Vespers of Christmas

12/25/2020

The Christmas Refectory

12/25/2020

Inauguration of our shrine to the Infant Jesus

12/24/2020

Sacred infant, all divine
What a tender love was thine
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this.
(Fr. Edward Caswell of the Oratory)

The Fathers and the Brothers of the Washington Oratorian Community wish you, and all who are dear to you, every grace of this holy season of Christmas. This year, it seems we are all with our new-born King, in the stable, at the manger, with all of its dangers and uncertainties. This too is the Incarnation - the shadow of the Cross was already there on Christmas night. May God bless you and keep you safe.

With the assurance of our prayers and a remembrance in our Christmas Masses,

Fr Andrew, Fr Richard,
Bro Joseph & Bro Benjamin.

12/24/2020

St. Thomas Apostle Parish, Washington, DC

12/22/2020

“O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: Come, shine on those who in darkness and the shadow of death.”
Preparations for Christmas are well underway at the DC Oratory!
#oratory #stphilipneri #advent #christmas #washingtondc #catholic @ St. Thomas Apostle Parish, Washington, DC

12/17/2020

12/16/2020

St. Thomas Apostle Parish, Washington, DC

Dear Parish Family.

Some bad news. I write to inform you that one of the St. Thomas Apostle priests has self-reported a positive test result for COVID-19 on December 16, 2020. According to a follow-up antibody blood test, he is not considered infectious currently. In addition, two of the brothers tested positive. They are under the care of a medical professional and will not return to ministry until they have received medical clearance to do so. None are currently experiencing any symptoms. We have self-reported these test results to the DC Department of Public Health. I want to share the following steps St. Thomas Apostle is taking to minimize the impact at our parish, and our workplace and to keep everyone healthy and safe. We want you to be aware of the following actions:

We have communicated directly with any specific employees, clergy, and business contacts who are believed to have come in direct contact with us recently, and have asked these individuals to work remote or stay home for a 14-day quarantine period as advised by the CDC.

We are following the latest CDC recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting facilities, including the church and work area.

The Church will be closed for the remainder of the week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning.). I will let you know if we are cleared for Weekend Masses with outside clergy.
It is possible that parishioners were exposed to the virus prior to December 16, 2020. We urge you to consult with your physician if you or any member of your family displays symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Symptoms of COVID-19 include coughing, fever, loss of taste or smell, and shortness of breath. It is important to follow all guidelines provided at this time, including staying at home, continuing preventive measures, and practicing social distancing. For more information about symptoms and testing, please use this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/index.html. In addition, please reference the District of Columbia Coronavirus website at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/. We continue to encourage everyone to practice good hygiene, utilize hand sanitizer, and keep social distancing to minimize the risk of infection.

We will continue to livestream Mass on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stthomasapostleparish/ . We livestream Masses every day at 8:00am, 5 days a week and Sundays also at 10:30am.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during these times. Please keep us in your prayers and know that you are in ours.

In Christ,

Fr. Richard Mullins

St. Thomas Apostle is a Roman Catholic Parish in Washington, DC.

12/16/2020

STAY Advent Concert 2020

https://youtu.be/-q9KkpL_yqI

12/15/2020

15 December
Blessed Antonio Grassi of the Oratory

Vincenzo Grassi was born on 13 November 1592 in Fermo to distinguished parents who ensured that Grassi's childhood was both simple and pious. His father died when he was ten around the same time he had contracted a long illness. After the death of his father he began a period of spiritual direction under Father Ricci who had known Saint Philip Neri himself.

Grassi studied at the Curate of Saint Peter and also attended the Church of S. Spirito dei Padri dell'Oratorio for additional studies. He assumed the name of "Antonio" after he entered the Oratorians on 11 October 1609. Grassi was later ordained to the priesthood on 17 December 1617 and received ordination from the Bishop of San Miniato Alessandro Strozzi. During his studies he garnered considerable knowledge of Sacred Scripture as well as Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Church Fathers.

In his duties as a priest he was known for his devotion to catechetical work and for preparing children for the reception of the sacraments. He also spent hours in the confessional and claimed that the main task of a priest was to help and to console parishioners who needed to confess their sins. The Governor admired him to the point of putting Grassi's portrait in the town hall as a form of commemoration and recognition for his services as a mediator between warring factions. His devotion to charitable works was boundless: he provided to all those who were poor and sought alms to continue his work. The extent of this was so proverbial that fellow Oratorians criticized him for excessive donations and works – but Grassi said that Divine Providence would provide and would work through them.

In 1625 he travelled on a pilgrimage to Rome to obtain the Jubilee indulgence of Pope Urban VIII. During this pilgrimage he visited the churches and other places that were related to the life of Saint Philip Neri; he learnt much more about him from Father Consolini who served as a guide. Soon word of his personal holiness would reach Urban VIII and his advisors and this won Grassi the esteem of the pope. On an annual basis he also made a Marian pilgrimage to Loreto where on one occasion a miracle took place: lightning struck him that knocked him unconscious but left him unharmed and his clothes singed; this took place on 4 September 1621.

In 1635 he was elected as the superior of the Fermo Oratorians. Grassi suffered a period of ill health in 1671 and had at his bedside the Archbishop of Fermo Giannotto Gualterio who was with him when he died on 13 December 1671; Grassi said to his confreres: "What a beautiful thing it is to die as sons of Saint Philip!" His remains were buried in the Chiesa del Carmine di Fermo.

The Cardinal Leandro Colloredo – a fellow Oratorian – demanded that the cause for beatification be opened in Fermo. It led to a subsequent investigation on his life of heroic virtue and the verification of two miracles attributed to his direct intercession.

Following the fulfilment of these prerequisites Pope Leo XIII beatified him on 30 September 1900.

12/10/2020

12/09/2020

St. Thomas Apostle Parish, Washington, DC

MASS SCHEDULE - CHRISTMAS 2020

Thur 24 Dec Christmas Eve
7am (Latin) & 8am (English) Masses as usual.

4pm Vigil Mass of Christmas with Organ & Cantor.
8pm Solemn Mass of Christmas Night with Organ & Choir.

Fri 25 Dec Christmas Day
7.30am Dawn Mass (Latin)
8.30am Dawn Mass (English)
10.30am Solemn Mass of Christmas Day.
12pm Misa en español
1pm Church closes.

Sat 26 Dec (St Stephen)
8am Confessions
8.30am Mass (Latin)
12pm Mass (English)
4-5pm Confessions
5pm Sung Vigil Mass of Sunday

Sun 27 Dec
8.30am Mass (English)
10.30am Solemn Mass with Organ & Choir.
12 pm Misa en español
No Vespers
4.45pm Mass (Latin)
7-7.30pm Confessions
7.30pm Mass (English)

28/29/30/31 Dec
7am (Latin) & 8am (English) Masses as usual.

Fri 1 Jan New Year’s Day
8.30am Mass (Latin)
10am Mass (English)

Sat 2 Jan
8am Confessions
8.30am Mass (Latin)
12pm Mass (English)
4-5pm Confessions
5pm Sung Vigil Mass of Sunday

Sun 3 Jan
8.30am Mass (English)
10.30am Solemn Mass with Organ & Choir.
12 pm Misa en español
4pm Solemn Vespers & Benediction
4.45pm Mass (Latin)
7-7.30pm Confessions
7.30pm Mass (English)

12/08/2020

Two beautiful ways we marked today’s feast of the Immaculate Conception: a 7am candle-lit Sung Mass at the Lady Altar and the inauguration of the gift of our Oratorian Community to Fr Richard for the 25th anniversary of his ordination - a chasuble.

12/08/2020

12/08/2020

Congratulations to our confreres in Cincinnati on the clothing of a novice - Bro Joseph.

We clothed our new novice, Bro. Joseph, this evening after First Vespers of the Immaculate Conception. Congratulations Bro. Joseph!

12/07/2020

Please pray for the repose of the of soul Walter Hooper, literary executor of C.S.Lewis and long-time parishioner of the Oxford Oratory, who died today.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Hooper

12/06/2020

STAY Advent Retreat 2020: Life in Christ During Difficult Times

The two handouts for this retreat conference:

fil:///Users/josephmurphy/Downloads/St%20Teresa%20Benedicta%20of%20the%20Cross.pdf

and

fil:///Users/josephmurphy/Downloads/Saturday%205%20December%202020.pdf

Here are the handouts for today's retreat conference file:///Users/josephmurphy/Downloads/St%20Teresa%20Benedicta%20of%20the%20Cross.pdfand file:///Users/jos...

12/05/2020

More photos of this morning’s Diaconal Ordination at the London Oratory

12/05/2020

In a last minute substitution for the Dominican priest who was due to preach today’s recollection to our young people, Fr Andrew will be giving a spiritual conference in church today at 1pm. It will be live streamed from the parish FaceBook page and subsequently available on our You Tube channel, DC Oratorians.

12/05/2020

Congratulations to our confreres at the London Oratory today on the diaconate ordination of Brother James Tabarelli.

12/04/2020

St. Thomas Apostle Parish, Washington, DC

St. Thomas Apostle Parish, Washington, DC

“Advent with St. John Henry Newman”
A talk series by Msgr. Andrew Wadsworth

11/30/2020

Tonight at 7pm, also live-streamed on St Thomas Apostle Parish FB page and subsequently on our You Tube Channel (DC Oratorians).

11/29/2020

First Sunday of Advent

First Sunday of Advent

These Videos are from the Graduale Parvum (Introits}. Simple Gregorian Chants for Sung Mass.The Book and Cd is available from The Association For Latin Litu...

11/29/2020

Philip Neri and Charles Borromeo as Models of Catholic Reform

Philip Neri and Charles Borromeo as Models of Catholic Reform

AbstractIn the face of the external challenge of the Protestant Reformation, as well as the internal threat of spiritual, moral, and disciplinary corruption, two Catholic saints worked tirelessly to reform the Ch...

11/28/2020

Our Archbishop - His Eminence Cardinal Wilton Gregory

11/26/2020

The Fathers and the Brothers of The Oratorian Community of St Philip Neri wish you every blessing on this Thanksgiving Day. We are genuinely grateful for all your support throughout the year.

Masses in our church today:

8.30am (Latin)
10 am (English)

The church will be closed after the 10am Mass.

11/24/2020

11/21/2020

The Toronto Oratory

Brs. Alexander Griffiths and Christopher Huynh were ordained deacons this morning by His Eminence Cardinal Thomas Collins at Holy Family Church. Deo Gratias!

11/19/2020

The Toronto Oratory

Brs. Alexander Griffiths and Christopher Huynh will be ordained deacons by His Eminence, Cardinal Thomas Collins at Holy Family Church this Saturday, November 21st at 10 a.m.

We're sorry that, due to current restrictions, the number of guests is very limited. For those who won't be able to come in person, we're livestreaming the Mass on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8XZ2ORCS2mU

Please keep the ordinandi in your prayers as the day approaches!