Washington, D.C.
Washington's Catholic story: Maryland land cut into a capital, Georgetown's Jesuits, the Irish stonemasons of Saint Patrick's, Little Rome in Brookland and the largest Catholic church in North America
Catholic Washington was laid out on Catholic land. One of the three commissioners who surveyed the District in 1791 was Daniel Carroll, the brother of John Carroll, the first bishop in the United States, and the Capitol stands on land that belonged to their nephew. The parishes that followed were Irish, German, Black and Italian, and after the Catholic University of America opened in Brookland in 1889 so many religious houses settled around it that the neighborhood was nicknamed Little Rome. At its center is the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic church in North America, with the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family, the Dominican priory and the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land nearby, all a Red Line ride from downtown. Downtown, Saint Matthew's Cathedral is where President Kennedy's funeral Mass was said on November 25, 1963, and the Nuns of the Battlefield Memorial stands across the street. Arlington and Alexandria lie across the Potomac, and the first Catholic Maryland, with Baltimore, Emmitsburg and Saint Clement's Island, is a day trip away.
Fly over Washington, D.C. in 3DA tour of the shrines of a capitalStart the tourTop sites
The Saints of Washington, D.C.
Saint John Paul IIThe first pope received at the White House, on October 6, 1979, he said Mass for clergy at Saint Matthew's, prayed at the National Shrine on October 7 and blessed the cornerstone of the Ukrainian shrine. The shrine named for him in Brookland holds a first class relic. He was canonized on April 27, 2014. His feast is October 22.
Saint Junípero SerraPope Francis canonized the Franciscan missionary of California on September 23, 2015, at an outdoor Mass on the Basilica's portico, the first canonization on United States soil. His statue stands in the Capitol's Statuary Hall. His feast is July 1.
Saint Kateri TekakwithaThe Mohawk laywoman, born in 1656 and canonized on October 21, 2012, is honored at the Basilica, which holds a relic of her. Her feast is July 14.
Saint Marianne CopeThe Franciscan sister who cared for people with leprosy in Hawaii was canonized on October 21, 2012, and the Basilica holds a relic of her. Her feast is January 23.
The Immaculate ConceptionThe American bishops chose Mary under this title as patron of the United States in 1846, and Pius IX confirmed it in 1847. The National Shrine is dedicated to her, and the Dominican priory in Brookland bears the same title. The feast is December 8.
Servant of God Dorothy DayOn December 8, 1932 she prayed in the crypt of the National Shrine that a way would open for her to use her gifts for workers and the poor. In New York she met Peter Maurin, and the Catholic Worker began in 1933.
Saint Francis of AssisiThe Franciscan Monastery keeps the Transitus on the evening of October 3 and the blessing of animals on his feast, October 4. October 2026 was the 800th anniversary of his death.
Saint Anthony of PaduaThe monastery holds a Mass and novena to him every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. His feast is June 13.
Saint DominicDominican friars have lived, studied and prayed in Brookland since 1905, and the priory chapel's murals tell his life. His feast is August 8.
Saint MatthewThe apostle and tax collector, patron of civil servants, gave his name to the parish founded by Father William Matthews in 1840 and to the cathedral. His feast is September 21.
Saint Teresa of CalcuttaShe visited Saint Matthew's in 1974, and a statue of her with a homeless man by Leonid Bodnia stands in Our Lady's Chapel. In 1986 she and Archbishop Hickey dedicated the Missionaries of Charity's Gift of Peace hospice in Washington. Her feast is September 5.
Saint Thomas MoreThe English lord chancellor martyred in 1535 is the patron of the cathedral of the Diocese of Arlington. His feast, with Saint John Fisher, is June 22.
Saint Elizabeth Ann SetonMatthews brought three Sisters of Charity from her community at Emmitsburg to run Washington's orphan asylum in 1825. She is buried at Emmitsburg, Maryland. Her feast is January 4.
Father Andrew WhiteThe Jesuit called the Apostle of Maryland said the first Mass in the English colonies on Saint Clement's Island on March 25, 1634, and baptized the Piscataway paramount chief in 1640.
Blessed Fulton SheenHe taught philosophy at the Catholic University of America from 1926 to 1950, before his television career. He was beatified in St. Louis on September 24, 2026.
Venerable Augustus ToltonThe first openly Black priest in the United States sang the Mass at the first Colored Catholic Congress, held at Saint Augustine's in Washington in January 1889.
Saint Martin de PorresBlack Catholics dedicated their chapel to him on February 11, 1866, and it grew into Saint Augustine's, called the mother church of Black Catholics in the District. His feast is November 3.
Venerable Eusebio Francisco KinoThe Jesuit explorer and missionary of Arizona is the subject of a statue in the Capitol Visitor Center, one of the places the Capitol shows Catholic history.
Beyond the churches
Views, walks and the town between the churches.
The Washington Monument
The obelisk has a Catholic footnote: in 1854 members of the Know Nothing party stole a block of marble that Pius IX had sent for it, and a replacement stone inscribed A Roma Americae was set in the monument in 1982. We read the National Park Service page, updated May 17, 2026, on October 31, 2026: a timed entry ticket is required, advance tickets are sold on Recreation.gov and usually go on sale 30 days ahead, and same day tickets are handed out on site from 8:45 a.m. Arrive at the screening area 15 minutes early, and check the Park Service alerts page for maintenance closures.
Itineraries
See allIn Washington, D.C.
1 day · 3 sitesHalf a Day in Catholic BrooklandA weekday morning: the friars' Mass, the Basilica and the Saint John Paul II Shrine
1 day · 5 sitesOne Day in Catholic Washington, D.C.Little Rome in a day: two national shrines, a Byzantine shrine, the Holy Land in Washington and the friars' evening prayer
2 days · 6 sitesThe March for Life and the National Prayer Vigil, 2027
2 days · 7 sitesTwo Days in Catholic Washington, D.C.
2 days · 5 sitesWashington, D.C. With Children or Limited Mobility
3 days · 9 sitesThree Days in Catholic Washington, D.C.
4 days · 6 sitesHoly Week and Easter in Catholic Washington, 2027
Day trips from Washington, D.C.
Collections
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6 sitesCatholics and the Nation: From the Founding to KennedySix places where American Catholics and the new nation met
5 sitesCatholics in the Civil War Around WashingtonFive places that keep the memory of Catholic nurses and chaplains
7 sitesHidden Gems of Washington, D.C.: Quieter Places Worth the DetourSeven quieter places in and around Washington, each worth the detour
5 sitesMonasteries and Religious Houses Around WashingtonFive houses of friars, nuns and monks that welcome visitors to prayer
7 sitesNational Shrines Around WashingtonSeven national shrines, from Brookland to Baltimore and Emmitsburg
Featured Events
Good to know
The cathedral is open daily, from 6:30 a.m. on Sunday and 7:00 a.m. on other days, until 6:30 or 7:00 p.m. It offers volunteer tours by arrangement through the rectory at 202 347 3215, a free audio tour on the Bloomberg Connects app and no fixed tour times. There is no Sunday Latin Mass here. Checked on October 31, 2026 against stmatthewscathedral.org.
Article · 6 minVisiting Saint Matthew's CathedralReadThe shrine is open every day with no admission fee, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and to 5:00 p.m. on weekends, and Mass is at noon Monday to Saturday. The Knights of Columbus covered the mosaics of Marko Rupnik in July 2024 and we found no report that they have been uncovered, so check before you go. Checked on October 31, 2026 against jp2shrine.org and news reports.
Article · 5 minVisiting the Saint John Paul II National ShrineReadThe church is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the gardens until 4:45 p.m. The lower church and the catacomb replica are on guided tours only, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. and on Sunday at noon and 1:30 p.m.; tours are suspended on Monday and Thursday. The monastery has no guest rooms, and its hermitages are closed after storm damage. Checked on October 31, 2026 against myfranciscan.org.
Article · 6 minThe Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in AmericaReadDowntown has a noon belt. Saint Matthew's has Mass at 12:10 p.m. on weekdays and confession from 11:00 a.m. to noon; Saint Patrick's, at 619 10th Street NW, has Mass at 12:10 p.m. Monday to Saturday and confession from 11:30 a.m. to noon; the Catholic Information Center, at 1501 K Street NW, has Mass at noon on weekdays and adoration from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Checked on October 31, 2026 against the cathedral, the archdiocese and cicdc.org.
Article · 9 minMass Times and Confession in Washington, D.C.ReadThe archdiocese allows the 1962 Missal on Sundays at three non parochial churches: the Franciscan Monastery, the chapel at Saint John the Evangelist in Forest Glen and the mission of Saint Dominic in Aquasco. The monastery's own page does not say which Sunday Mass is in the old rite, so ask the friars at 202 526 6800. In Baltimore, Saint Alphonsus offers only the Latin Mass, with Sunday Masses at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. in the schedule for late October 2026. Checked on October 31, 2026 against adw.org and stalphonsusbalt.org.
Article · 7 minLatin Mass and Eastern Catholic Liturgies in Washington, D.C.ReadCapitol tours are free; reserve a timed pass at tours.visitthecapitol.gov/cvc, though same day passes may be available. The Visitor Center is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the last tour starts at 3:20 p.m., and the route covers the Crypt, the Rotunda and Statuary Hall but not the galleries. White House tours are free and requested through your Member of Congress between 7 and 90 days ahead. Checked on October 31, 2026 against visitthecapitol.gov and whitehouse.gov.
Article · 6 minCapitol and White House Tours and SecurityReadMetrorail fares are $2.25 to $6.75 on weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and $2.25 to $2.50 at other times, and Metrobus is $2.25. Tap a SmarTrip card, a phone with SmarTrip or a contactless bank card going in and coming out, using the same one each time. Unlimited passes cost $13.50 for one day, $33.75 for three and $60.75 for seven, on SmarTrip only. The DC Circulator no longer runs. Checked on October 31, 2026 against wmata.com and ddot.dc.gov.
Article · 6 minGetting Around Washington by Metro, Bus and on FootReadReagan National is on the Yellow Line, and Dulles is on the Silver Line, with an indoor walk of about 600 feet to the station and a weekday fare of $6.75 to Metro Center. From BWI a free shuttle runs around the clock to the train station, and the airport lists Amtrak or MARC at about 30 to 35 minutes to Union Station. Reagan National has a Catholic Mass on Sunday at noon in its interfaith chapel. Checked on October 31, 2026 against wmata.com, flydulles.com, bwiairport.com and flyreagan.com.
Article · 4 minGetting From the Airports to WashingtonReadThe areas pilgrims visit are busy, and National Guard members work downtown and at Union Station; the interim commander said on August 3, 2026 that the mission would last at least until January 2029. Metro Transit Police take reports at 202 962 2121. We found no official rating of the walk from the Brookland CUA station, so our advice is ordinary: go in daylight, walk with others and keep your phone away from the platform edge. Checked on October 31, 2026 against army.mil and wmata.com.
Article · 4 minIs Washington Safe for Visitors?ReadWe recommend three days for a pilgrim: one for the Brookland shrines, one for the cathedral, the Capitol and the memorial downtown, and one for a day trip to Baltimore, Emmitsburg or Southern Maryland. Two days cover Brookland and downtown, and a single day can cover Brookland alone. Pilgrimage companies we compared give Washington about three nights.
Article · 5 minHow Many Days in Washington, D.C.?ReadSpring and October are the easiest months, with average highs near 68 in April and 69 in October, against 90 in July. The Tidal Basin cherry trees reached peak bloom between March 17 and March 28 in every year from 2020 to 2026, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 20 to April 11, 2027, which overlaps Holy Week, March 21 to 27. The Park Service cannot forecast peak bloom more than about 10 days ahead. Checked on October 31, 2026 against nps.gov and nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
Article · 5 minThe Best Time to Visit Washington, D.C.ReadThe Saint John Paul II Retreat House in Brookland takes individuals as well as groups, aged 18 or older, at an average of about $100 per person per night. The Franciscan Monastery has no guest rooms and sends visitors to hotels. For a hotel, the Red Line between Union Station and Dupont Circle puts you near the Metro for both Catholic districts. Checked on October 31, 2026 against retreat.jp2shrine.org and myfranciscan.org.
Article · 4 minWhere to Stay in Washington, D.C.ReadThe March for Life 2027 is on Friday, January 22. The National Prayer Vigil for Life begins at the Basilica with a Mass on Thursday, January 21 at 5:00 p.m., has a National Holy Hour at 7:00 p.m. and ends with a Mass at 8:00 a.m. on Friday. The march route and times are not yet published. Checked on October 31, 2026 against nationalshrine.org and marchforlife.org.
Article · 5 minMarch for Life Weekend in Washington, D.C.ReadBaltimore has America's first cathedral, the Basilica of the Assumption, open weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and weekends from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., about 35 miles away. The Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Southern Maryland's water taxi to Saint Clement's Island stopped for the winter on October 31, 2026. Checked on October 31, 2026 against the sites' own pages.
Article · 6 minCatholic Day Trips From Washington, D.C.ReadCatholic stays
The Saint John Paul II Retreat House in Brookland opened in the former Washington Retreat House on August 26, 2026 and takes individuals as well as groups. We read retreat.jp2shrine.org on October 31, 2026: guests must be 18 or older, stays last up to two weeks, there are 40 rooms on two floors, pricing is tailored and averages about $100 per person per night, a 20 percent deposit is due at booking, there is free parking, and there is no kitchen staff, so meals are by catering. The house advertises two retreat windows for individuals, November 17 to 23, 2026 and January 26 to February 1, 2027, of one to three nights with spiritual direction and meals. Ask at retreathouse@jp2shrine.org or 202 635 5480 at least two weeks ahead. The Franciscan Monastery has no guest rooms and its hermitages are closed after storm damage. Most pilgrims stay in a hotel, and we suggest the Red Line between Union Station and Dupont Circle, which reaches both Brookland and the cathedral without a change.
Article · The full guide to every stay · 4 min readWhere to Stay in Washington, D.C.The Red Line neighborhoods compared by the Catholic day, the Saint John Paul II Retreat House, and when to book earlyRead the guideArticles
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Visiting sitesArlington and Alexandria Catholic Sites7 min read
Baltimore Catholic Sites From Washington5 min read
Black Catholic Washington, D.C.8 min read- PlanningCapitol and White House Tours and Security6 min read
- Catholic Day Trips From Washington, D.C.6 min read
Visiting sitesCatholic Downtown Washington: Saint Patrick's and Holy Rosary5 min read
Visiting sitesCatholic Georgetown and Holy Trinity6 min read
Catholic Maryland: Where American Catholicism Began9 min read
Catholic Statues and History in the U.S. Capitol6 min read
Mass and sacramentsEucharistic Adoration and Processions in Washington, D.C.6 min read- Getting aroundGetting Around Washington by Metro, Bus and on Foot6 min read
- Getting aroundGetting From the Airports to Washington4 min read
Feasts and seasonsHoly Week and Easter in Washington, D.C.8 min read- PlanningHow Many Days in Washington, D.C.?5 min read
- Is Washington Safe for Visitors?4 min read
- Mass and sacramentsLatin Mass and Eastern Catholic Liturgies in Washington, D.C.7 min read
Visiting sitesLittle Rome: Brookland on Foot7 min read- Feasts and seasonsMarch for Life Weekend in Washington, D.C.5 min read
- Mass and sacramentsMass Times and Confession in Washington, D.C.9 min read
PlanningPopes in Washington5 min read
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and Emmitsburg From Washington4 min read- PlanningThe Best Time to Visit Washington, D.C.5 min read
- Visiting sitesThe Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America6 min read
Feasts and seasonsThe Immaculate Conception Feast at the National Shrine6 min read
Feasts and seasonsThe Red Mass in Washington, D.C.5 min read- Visiting sitesVisiting Saint Matthew's Cathedral6 min read
Visiting sitesVisiting the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception7 min read- Visiting sitesVisiting the Saint John Paul II National Shrine5 min read
PlanningWashington With Children or Limited Mobility5 min read
Visiting sitesWhat to Wear and How to Behave in Washington, D.C. Churches5 min read- StayingWhere to Stay in Washington, D.C.4 min read
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