Anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew

Join us at St. Matthew's on Thursday, November 14 as we celebrate the 43rd Anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew as a solemnity at all Masses - 7 & 8am, and 12:10 and 5:30pm. Our worship will be enhanced by your participation! 

The Cathedral opens at 6:30am and closes at 6:30pm, per the regular weekday schedule. If you can't make it for Mass, you are welcome to come by to pray or to simply enjoy the peace and quiet, and the art and architecture. Have you taken our 360° virtual tour?  http://tour.stmatthewscathedral.org/

History of this Anniversary

Although St. Matthew's has been the cathedral church of the Archdiocese since the establishment of the Archdiocese of Washington in 1939, it was liturgically consecrated on November 14, 1976. 

As explained in an October 21, 1976 Catholic Standard article announcing the consecration, "Among the reasons that it has not yet been consecrated is the fact that it was built over a period of several decades and only recently has the interior been completed, with the addition of the baptistry, a new altar mensa and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel." 

Cardinal Baum, Archbishop of Washington at the time of the consecration, wrote, "The consecration of a Church is a sign of the intention and willingness of the People of the Church to dedicate themselves as well to God's holy purposes and to the accomplishment of His holy will. Since the Cathedral Church is the principal Church of the Archdiocese of Washington, its consecration is an area-wide celebration for the Catholic Church."