Established
in 1840, St. Matthew's originally was located
at 15th and H Streets, NW. Construction of the
present church began in 1893 under the direction
of Monsignor Thomas Sim Lee. The first Mass
was celebrated on June 2, 1895. The church was
dedicated in 1913 and designated a cathedral
in 1939 when the Archdiocese of Washington was
established.
The Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle,
which honors the patron saint of civil servants,
plays a major role in the Catholic life of
the nation's capital. It is the seat of the
Archbishop of Washington.
Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here
on October 6, 1979.
President
John F. Kennedy's funeral Mass was said on November
25, 1963.
Requiems have been held here for several heads
of state.
The
"Red Mass," celebrated annually in
the fall, requests guidance from the Holy Spirit
for the conduct of the legal profession. It
is attended by Supreme Court justices and members
of Congress, the Cabinet, diplomatic corps,
and other government departments, sometimes
including the President of the United States.
The Cathedral is one of the most impressive
houses of worship in the United States. Designed
by noted New York architect C. Grant La Farge,
the Cathedral has been cited "as [having]
one of the most beautiful church interiors
of modern times."
Cathedral
of Saint Matthew the Apostle
1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 347-3215 Fax: (202) 347-7184
email: cathstmatt@stmatthewscathedral.org
President
John F. Kennedy's funeral Mass was said on November
25, 1963. 
