A Parish That +Gregory Wishes to Destroy

 Here is an excellent article on RORATE CAELI about St. Mary's in Chinatown (Washington DC).

Wilton Cardinal Gregory is preparing to announce that every traditional Latin Mass in the Archdiocese of Washington will be suppressed. This includes seven public Masses at archdiocesan parishes each Sunday, numerous holy day and weekday TLMs and several parishes that offer private Masses. All told there are about 20 priests residing in the archdiocese that offer the traditional Latin Mass. A non-parish location, such as the Franciscan Monastery, would be used for a merged traditional ghetto to replace all of the other TLMs.

Of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Washington that offer public traditional Latin Masses, three or four of those churches have more Catholics who attend the TLM than the novus ordo. They will die, sadly, including Saint Mary Mother of God church, which was one of the first parishes in the U.S. to offer the traditional Latin Mass during John Paul II's limited indults.

 To read the full article, go here.  

Where is Fr. Michael Briese?

 

The most recent issue (January 21m 2021) of the Catholic Standard shows that Fr. Briese, who was the pastor at St. Mary's (Charlotte Hall, MD) is on a leave of absence.   

After some further digging, it seems that he went on a leave of absence in early October.  

Why was it now only reported in the Catholic Standard?  It seems strange to me that they would wait this long, to publish this change in personnel.

A letter from Fr. Keith Woods, issued on the parish website on Oct. 16th, indicates that he has been appointed administrator and that they during this time, they are searching for an "appropriate and permanent priest."  You can view the letter below.

So, the letter is very odd in the fact:

1.  There is no mention of Fr. Briese.   Nothing that he left.  Nothing about why he left.  No word of thanks.  Nothing.  Total silence.

2.  There is quite a bit about how Fr. Woods is from southern Maryland, and so he is familiar with the area.

3.  That they are searching for an "appropriate and permanent priest."

I do know, from a reliable source, is that he was running himself ragged attempting to help both parishioners and non-parishioners with food and other items during the summer, especially due to the job losses because the Wuhan Virus.

Considering that he was the only priest for that parish, could it be that he suffered a nervous breakdown?  I do not know.  Hopefully, they did not send him to St. Luke's.

If he was looking to do something else, such as work in the overseas missions, well, that would have been announced, as with Fr. Dan Leary.

Could it be that he in some way "displeased" +Gregory?  It is a possibility but it is speculation.

So, if you know what has happened to Fr. Briese, please let me know at awashingtondccatholic@gmail.com.

If you are in contact with him, let him know that I will keep him in my prayers. 

 

 

 

  

St, Mary's Church - Charlotte Hall (Final)

Here are the final set of photos.  If you are down that way, I hope you do visit.  

Please keep those who have died in your daily prayers.

St. Mary's Church - Charlotte Hall (Part III)

I did not realize that St. Mary's Church had a cemetery associated with it.  However, I should have.  It is run by the Archdiocese.

St. Mary's Church - Charlotte Hall, MD (Part II)

Here are some photos of the old church.

 

 

St. Mary's Church - Charlotte Hall, MD (Part I)

I was down on some personal business in Southern Maryland, and came upon St. Mary's Church in Charlotte Hall.   Someone told me that this was the poorist parish in the entire Archdiocese.   

As most Catholics in this Archdiocese never get down this way, I thought that I would share some photos with you.

Here are some photos of the current church.

 

 

 

Some Background on Fr. Briese

When the story about Fr. Briese broke, there was a huge amount of hate directed to him.  However, what most do not know is about the good that he has done in the community.  

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The Rev. Michael Briese makes his daily rounds going out to various apartments, hotels and homeless encampments in the area delivering food to those in need. 

The Saint Mary Catholic Church, Newport priest attempts to learn about the people he meets; finding out their name and phone number, how many people are in their family and how they got to where they are now in an effort to form a relationship with them and in turn be some kind of encouragement to help them get back on their feet.

To read more, go here. 

St. Mary's in Charlotte Hall, MD: Is there more to the story? I bet there is.

The Archdiocese of Washington is issuing a formal letter of apology to the family of a deceased woman whose funeral attendees Wednesday morning were abruptly evicted from a Charlotte Hall Catholic church by the priest, the Rev. Michael Briese, who was to preside over a Mass of Christian Burial.

In a letter shared with The Enterprise, the Rev. Michael Fisher, secretary for ministerial leadership, wrote to the deceased woman’s daughter: “What occurred at Saint Mary’s Parish [Wednesday] morning does not reflect the Catholic Church’s fundamental calling to respect and uplift the God-given dignity of every person nor does that incident represent the pastoral approach the priests of the Archdiocese of Washington commit to undertake every day in their ministry.”

Ed McFadden, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said the incident remains under investigation and that he expects further conversations and developments as the archdiocese continues to investigate.

For more, click here.  

I have had the opportunity to get to know Fr. Briese and speak with him on a number occasions, both in public and privately.   This does not seem to be the Fr. Briese I had gotten to know.

My guess, is that there is something more here than meets the eye.  

For example, they say that she was baptized there, but was she a practicing Catholic?  If she was not a practicing Catholic, did he feel bullied to provide here with a funeral Mass by the family?   As this seems to have been the viewing before the Mass, were they being disrespectful in the church.  

I don't know but I get a very strange feeling that there is much more to this story than we are being told.  

If anyone has the inside story on this, and I mean the real story, not the rumors, you can contact me at awashingtondccatholic@gmail.com.

The Blessing of the Hounds

The Blessing of the Hounds by David Cahoon, from St. Mary's Catholic Church in Barnesville, MD.

Click here for the rest.

H/T to The Deacon's Bench

St. Mary's in Southern Maryland (continued)

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St. Mary's in Southern Maryland

Traditional Latin Mass before the March for Life

A reader asked me to post this. I am more than happy to do so.

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Traditional Latin Mass Forma Extraordinaria

Will be offered preceding the March for Life at 8:00 a.m, Friday, January 22, 2010 St. Mary, Mother of God Church (Old Saint Mary’s) 727 Fifth Street, NWWashington, D.C. 20001

For the first time since Roe v. Wade, Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be offered in downtown Washington, D.C. prior to the March for Life. Please join us for holy Mass to prayerfully begin your day calling on our nation to provide protection for children in the womb.

The Mass offered will be a low Mass. Old Saint Mary’s church is located just south of H Street NW on 5th Street, just one block east of the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro Station. Use the Chinatown exit from the Metro station.

Please take this opportunity to forward this invitation to any out of town visitors you may be expecting for the March for Life. Special thanks to his Excellency Archbishop Donald Weurl for the provision of this newly offered Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

Catholic Elected to as Republican National Committee Chair

Michael S. Steele has been elected as the RNC Chair and is a Catholic right here in the Archdiocese of Washington DC.

Here are some highlights from his biography:

- Archbishop Carroll High School, Washington, DC.
- Member of the Knights of Columbus
- Pastoral Council, Archdiocese of Washington, 1996-99.
- Citizen of the Year Award, Maryland State Council, Knights of Columbus, 2003.
- James Cardinal Hickey National Figure Award, Office of Youth Ministry & CYO, Archdiocese of Washington, 2005.
- Member, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Landover Hills.

Also, if I remember correctly, he is a Minster of Holy Communion.

Congratulations Mr. Steele!