Chaplain deals with ‘Washingtonian’ problems

Father Vincent De Rosa is pastor of St. Mary Mother of God Parish in Washington, D.C., and chaplain of Legatus’ Washington Chapter.

He grew up in Glen Cove, NY, as the oldest of three children. His father was a teacher, and his mother was a lawyer. His family became more serious about their Catholic faith as he got older, and he “dived into my faith fully” while attending George Washington University and participating in its on-campus Catholic ministry. He entered seminary for the Archdiocese of Washington and was ordained a priest in 2008. 

Why did you want to enter the priesthood?

God called me to priesthood through joy. I experienced joy as a child. In high school I learned that faith is the direct route to joy, and in college I realized that the sacraments are the most direct route to faith. Since parish priests bring people the sacraments, that seemed the best way to connect others with the joy I’ve known. 

You serve at a historic church. What is its history?

Saint Mary’s is a place that provides a home for those in need. We began as a home for the German-speaking Catholics of D.C. in 1845. By 1935, as our German identity waned, the pastoral focus of the church shifted to the devotion of the Miraculous Medal such that during World War II up to 10,000 people a week would pass through its doors to pray at the Lady Altar for their sons at war. 

By the 1970s, devotional life in the American church generally was in decline as was our neighborhood. Much of D.C. was hollowed out by the riots of 1968. Saint Mary’s became a home and safe haven for those who stuck out the hard times. One of our previous pastors was actually known as a safe contact for area prostitutes who trusted him to get them out of town when their lives were in danger. 

In the 1980s, the diocese established our church as a home for the Latin Mass community of our diocese as well as the Chinese-Catholic community. As both of those communities have moved or shifted, the parish has become a home for young adults moving into a restored neighborhood but nonetheless experiencing distance and loneliness in the modern urban context. 

What do you enjoy most about your vocation?

I enjoy the breadth of experience I get to have as a priest. Ministry incorporates every inch of knowledge, every opportunity for prayer, every manifestation of culture. It’s a real workout for the mind, body, and soul that — I think — helps us maximize our humanity. 

What are its greatest challenges?

I think there are different answers for each priest: for me personally, the greatest challenge is temptation to despair. I’m prone to negative self-talk. Whether that is just my own psychology or a temptation from the enemy I don’t know, but the despair it can foster is at the root of just about every bad day I have. It has taken years first to realize this and then get a handle on it, but now I get to bring that same experience to the consolation of others.

What are some challenges your Legatus members face?

Our biggest challenge is a classically “D.C.” challenge of overcommitment. Professional Washingtonians usually find themselves pulled in lots of directions trying to do good. After all, you don’t come to D.C. for fame (for that you go to Los Angeles) or for money (for that you go to New York). Everyone begins in D.C. because they want to make the world better, then they spend a lifetime arguing over just how to achieve that lofty goal. As a result, folks here can find it hard to focus on any one good project. It’s not the worst problem to have, but if anyone has a suggested solution, I’m all ears!