Highlights from 2014

(This is not an exhaustive list)

Do you have a favorite highlight or another highlight you would like to share? Please tell us! Tell Fr. Drew, share it on our Facebook page, tweet about it on Twitter, and tell a friend!

Baptism
Cecilia was baptized and brought into our Christian family! We celebrated with a reception.

Christmas Mass Success
We increased our Christmas Mass attendance; Ladies’ Sodality graciously provided a meal and we shared in fellowship.

First full year of Sunday Evening Mass
Our Sunday 6:30pm Mass celebrated its first year.

Started #NatsMass
Our Nats Mass began after noticing our neighbors walking past our church before baseball games; and as evangelizers, we wanted to be a witness of the Lord and offer an opportunity for them to pray.

#CapsMass
We had an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the convergence of the January 1 ^st Holy Day of Obligation (Mary, Mother of God) and the NHL hockey Winter Classic taking place at Nats Park. After Mass, we had a large group sing Christmas Carols to game-goers as a way to witness and evangelize.

Increased fellowship after Mass
Our fellowships included brunch after the 8am Easter Mass, ice cream social after 6:30pm Easter Mass, Bullfrog Bagels, Pink & Pizza in Lent and Pink & Potluck in Advent.

Helped those in material need
Many efforts were made throughout the community, organized through the church or other groups, including: two hundred sandwiches were lovingly made and donated to a homeless shelter here in the District, Thanksgiving baskets of food were put together for those in our community in need, and Christmas packages were provided for a homeless shelter.

Launched a website
We created our first website in order to have a ‘hub’ for information accessible to all those who live, work and visit our neighborhood.

A more robust bulletin
Our bulletin is more robust with additional information including Fr. Drew’s weekly letter, events, and insights for improved communication.

New heating and cooling systems
Last year brought about the need to upgrade our heating and cooling systems, for everyone’s comfort and for increased efficiencies.

Celebrating our parish with a group photo
We had a group photo taken!

Outreach into the neighborhood
Parishioners went out into the neighborhood and reached thousands of homes, inviting them to Mass, and when appropriate, connected one-on-one and prayed with them.

Unprecedented Media Coverage
Multiple media outlets visited St. Vincent de Paul. The Washington Post, WUSA9, ABC7, and more wrote about or covered #NatsMass. Fox5 visited to cover the Memorial Mass on the first anniversary of the Washington Navy Yard shooting. Our Archdiocesan newspaper, The Catholic Standard, visited for the Memorial Mass and for #CapsMass.

Scripture Studies
Fr. Drew led Scripture Studies on Eucharistic Devotion and the Sunday Advent Mass readings.

Please continue to pray for our parish and all those that live, work and visit our neighborhood!