Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington

News & Upcoming Events

Ash Wednesday at the Cathedral

  • Ash Wednesday (February 22) Masses with the distribution of ashes - 7:00am, 8:00am, 11:00am, 12:10pm (His Eminence, Donald Cardinal Wuerl), 1:15pm, 5:30pm, 7:00pm (en español). Ashes will not be distributed outside of Mass.
  • Stations of the Cross - 3:00pm (English), 8:00pm Via Crucis (en español)
  • Confessions - No confessions are scheduled on Ash Wednesday. Confessions in English and Spanish will be heard each succeeding Wednesday of Lent from 6:30 to 8:00pm (and from 6:15pm to 7:15pm on Wednesday of Holy Week, April 4).

 Read “Ash Wednesday at the Cathedral” »

"Thirsting for Living Water" - Lenten Day of Recollection

Join us on Saturday, February 25 at 9am for our annual Lenten Day of Recollection with Sister Patricia A. Parachini, SNJM, DMin. Sr. Prachini will lead us in prayer and reflection on John 4:5-42, the Woman at the Well, and on our own thirsts, longings and desires that we Christians believe, in faith, can only be satisfied by Jesus, the One who gives us eternal life. Read “"Thirsting for Living Water" - Lenten Day of Recollection ” »

Share in Hope Food Drive

Feed the body of Christ with Share in Hope, an Archdiocesan-wide food drive!  To participate, pick up a grocery bag at the Cathedral entrance after Mass next weekend, February 25-26 and bring it back the following weekend, March 3-4, filled with your donations of nonperishable food items. Bag Instructions (English) / Bag Instructions (Spanish) Read “Share in Hope Food Drive” »

Lenten Lecture - "Prayer in the Christian Life"

Join us for the first lecture in our five-part Lenten series entitled "Pray All - Ways." Our first lecture is on "Prayer in the Christian Life." given by Dr. Edward McCormack on Wednesday, February 29, and by Br. Edward Ogden, OSFS on Thursday, March 1. Read “Lenten Lecture - "Prayer in the Christian Life"” »

Religious Liberty and the HHS Mandate

Read “Religious Liberty and the HHS Mandate” »

Lent, Holy Week and Easter at St. Matthew's

The 2012 Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22. Our Lent, Holy Week and Easter 2012 brochure listing all liturgies and events at St. Matthew's Cathedral during these holy seasons is now available.

- 2012 Lent & Holy Week - Schedule of liturgies and events (PDF - English display format) (PDF - English print format)

- 2012 Cuaresma y Semana Santa - Horarior de liturgies y eventos (PDF - Spanish para mirar) (PDF - Spanish para imprimir)

. Read “Lent, Holy Week and Easter at St. Matthew's” »

Adult Confirmation Preparation - Register through March 23

St. Matthew’s offers adult Confirmation preparation for active Catholics who have received both the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist in the weeks between Easter and Pentecost. You may now dowload and print the registration packet, including the registration form, by clicking here. Read “Adult Confirmation Preparation - Register through March 23” »

Events Around the Archdiocese

Read on for Lenten events around the Archdiocese. Read “Events Around the Archdiocese” »

Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion

This Sunday, February 26, our parish catechumens and candidates will celebrate the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion with Cardinal Wuerl at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Those whom Cardinal Wuerl will call to the Easter sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist become known as the Elect. Read “Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion” »

Ordinations of our Dominican Seminarians

Two Dominican seminarians who actively minister at St. Matthew's will be ordained shortly—one to the diaconate in March 2012 and the other to the priesthood in May 2012. Meet Br. Albert and Br. Augustine, soon to be Deacon Albert Duggan, OP and Father Augustine Reisenauer, OP, and come hear them speak on Portaits of Discipleship in Scripture! Read “Ordinations of our Dominican Seminarians” »

Scriptural Portraits in Discipleship Lecture

Join us for the first of two lectures in our miniseries on Portraits of Discipleship in Scripture. Deacon Augustine Marie Reisenauer, OP will speak to us on "The Sacrifice of Abraham" on Saturday, March 10.  Read “Scriptural Portraits in Discipleship Lecture” »

Pope Benedict: "Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization"

Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization is the title of Pope Benedict's recently released Message for the 46th World Communications Day, to be observed on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Read on for an excerpt, or view the full text of this beautiful message by clicking here. Read “Pope Benedict: "Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization"” »

40 Days for Life

To St. Matthew's parishioners and friends: Will you give an hour for life during the 40 days from February 22 through April 1? 40 Days for Life needs you to pray, fast, and be a presence outside the Planned Parenthood facility at 1108 16th Street, NW. Find out how to sign up.  Read “40 Days for Life” »

Stations of the Cross & Simple Lenten Meal Friday

Consider spending your early Friday evening with St. Matthew's family and friends—come on Friday, April 8 for 5:30pm Mass, 6pm Stations of the Cross and end with a shared meal and the opportunity for almsgiving to L'Arche (French for "the Ark"). Read “Stations of the Cross & Simple Lenten Meal Friday” »

Faith Formation Events - January - June 2012

A listing of St. Matthew's Faith Formation events and programs through June 2012, including our Lenten Lecture series, is now available. Click here for viewing format or here for printable format.   Read “Faith Formation Events - January - June 2012” »

Book Club - "Jesus of Nazareth (Part 2)"

All are welcome to join the St. Matthew's Book Club for their next meeting Monday, March 12. The club members will discuss Jesus of Nazareth (Part 2) by Pope Benedict XVI. This book is the second installment in Pope Benedict's spiritual reflections on the life of Christ. In this book, Pope Benedict focuses on Holy Week. Read “Book Club - "Jesus of Nazareth (Part 2)"” »

Religious Liberty - MD Bishops Speak Out

Maryland‟s Catholic bishops invite you to read and reflect upon their new statement, The Most Sacred of All Property: Religious Freedom and the People of Maryland.  Read “Religious Liberty - MD Bishops Speak Out” »

Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

The document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, on the political responsibilities of Catholics, was approved by the full body of U. S. Catholic bishops in November 2007.  It was revised for printing in October 2011, and is available now - click here to dowload the document. Read “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” »

Spanish Language Classes / Clases de Español

St. Matthew's offers a new semester of Spanish classes, beginning January 17. Register in person on Wednesday, January 11. Read “Spanish Language Classes / Clases de Español” »

ARCHIVED - Rally & Mass for Life at St. Matthew's

Adults and families of the Archdiocese of Washington are invited to register now for the Rally & Mass for Life at St. Matthew's Cathedral on Monday, January 23. Following the 9am Rally and 10am Mass celebrated by Bishop Francisco González, meet on the sidewalk in front of St. Matthew's Rectory to join Fr. Evelio and parishioners and friends as they Metro to the Rally for Life on the National Mall and the March for Life along Constitution Avenue. Those who cannot meet at the Cathedral are invited to join the group at the corner of 7th and Constitution Avenue, NW at 11:30am. Read “ARCHIVED - Rally & Mass for Life at St. Matthew's” »

Letter from Cardinal Wuerl on Conscience Rights

Read Cardinal Donald Wuerl's email letter on protecting conscience rights against the threat posed by recent federal regulations on mandatory sterilization procedure and contraceptive coverage in health plans. Read “Letter from Cardinal Wuerl on Conscience Rights” »

Msgr. Jameson Interviewed on the New Roman Missal Introduction

Msgr. Jameson was recently interviewed for a National Catholic Register article on the introduction of the New Roman Missal.  Click here to read the article.