The Rectory Office will be closed Sunday, September 28, 2025

Tuesday marked the 10th Anniversary since Pope Francis visited the Cathedral! Check out this video from the archdiocese of Monsignor remembering the moment!

Click here to watch the video.

72nd Annual Red Mass

The Red Mass is celebrated annually at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, traditionally on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, which marks the opening of the Supreme Court's annual term. Its purpose is to invoke God's blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials. 

There is limited public seating for this event. Robert Cardinal McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, will serve as the Principal Celebrant and Homilist on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 9am. Doors open at 8am. Rhode Island Avenue from 17th Street to Connecticut Avenue will be closed. Security will be screening all attendees and no bags will be allowed inside the Cathedral.

The Mass will be streamed live on the Archdiocese of Washington's YouTube channel.

NOTE: the 7am Mass is canceled on the day of the Red Mass.

In this edition:

Liturgy, Community, & Ongoing Events

• Livestream Volunteer Information
• 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees “Migrants, Missionaries of Hope” – Reflection Procession & Mass 
• Local Resident Outreach
• Fr. Joe's Selection: From a sermon On Pastors by Saint Augustine
• Natural Family Planning Instruction
• Season of Creation Concluding Mass 
• Catholic Social Teaching Fellowship Meeting
• Fr. Daniel Roberts to Celebrate 11am Mass on October 26, 2025
• Jubilee Cross in the Cathedral Sanctuary

Faith Formation

• Registration is Open for Children's Faith Formation 2025-2026
• The Little Poor Man: The Life and Radical Mystery of St. Francis of Assisi
• The Mystics: An Intentional Community
• Meditation Group on Sundays
• Jubilee Events
• Cathedral Book Club
• Mystical Word Reflection

Hispanic Ministry

• Grupo de Oración

Social Justice

• St. Matthew's Annual Health Fair
• Learn About St. Matthew's Care for Creation Green Team
• 2025 Season of Creation
• Paddling on the Anacostia River
• Always God's Children

Music Ministry

• Schola Cantorum at Special Masses

Cathedral Young Adults

• Sundays with CYA cancelled this week.
• CYA Happy Hour

& more!

Local Resident Outreach

Msgr. Jameson and Fr. Joe are interested in brainstorming ways in which we can reach out to residents of local condos and apartment buildings to let them know about our wonderful parish! If you have ideas or would be interested in assisting in outreach, please email Fr Joe!

Selection from Fr. Joe:

From a sermon On Pastors by Saint Augustine, bishop

The straying sheep you have not recalled; the lost sheep you have not sought. In one way or another, we go on living between the hands of robbers and the teeth of raging wolves, and in light of these present dangers we ask your prayers. The sheep moreover are insolent. The shepherd seeks out the straying sheep, but because they have wandered away and are lost they say that they are not ours. “Why do you want us? Why do you seek us?” they ask, as if their straying and being lost were not the very reason for our wanting them and seeking them out. “If I am straying,” he says, “if I am lost, why do you want me?” You are straying, that is why I wish to recall you. You have been lost, I wish to find you. “But I wish to stray,” he says: “I wish to be lost.”

So you wish to stray and be lost? How much better that I do not also wish this. Certainly, I dare say, I am unwelcome. But I listen to the Apostle who says: Preach the word; insist upon it, welcome and unwelcome. Welcome to whom? Unwelcome to whom? By all means welcome to those who desire it; unwelcome to those who do not. However unwelcome, I dare to say: “You wish to stray, you wish to be lost; but I do not want this.” For the one whom I fear does not wish this. And should I wish it, consider his words of reproach: The straying sheep you have not recalled; the lost sheep you have not sought. Shall I fear you rather than him? Remember, we must all present ourselves before the judgment seat of Christ.

I shall recall the straying; I shall seek the lost. Whether they wish it or not, I shall do it. And should the brambles of the forests tear at me when I seek them, I shall force myself through all straits; I shall put down all hedges. So far as the God whom I fear grants me the strength, I shall search everywhere. I shall recall the straying; I shall seek after those on the verge of being lost. If you do not want me to suffer, do not stray, do not become lost. It is enough that I lament your straying and loss. No, I fear that in neglecting you, I shall also kill what is strong. Consider the passage that follows: And what was strong you have destroyed. Should I neglect the straying and lost, the strong one will also take delight in straying and in being lost.

Natural Family Planning Instruction

Therese Rodriguez, RN is offering Natural Family Planning instruction (with health insurance coverage options). Therese is certified in Natural Family Planning- NaPro charting, and a Creighton Model FertilityCare™ Practitioner. She offers instruction in Spanish and English, in person or on Zoom, from 7am to 10pm daily. Schedule a meeting.

For more information, email Therese, or call at 301-512-7451.

Season of Creation Concluding Mass

The Cathedral Parish will celebrate a special Mass October 5, 2025 at 11am to celebrate the conclusion of the Season of Creation 2025.

This Mass celebrated the day after St. Francis Day and will feature special prayers, music and a homily focused on the opportunities we have to join Pope Leo and the universal church to express our thanks for the gifts of creation and to recommit ourselves to the care of this unique and precious gift. Fr. Isaac Sagastume will preside.

Catholic Social Teaching Fellowship Meeting

We invite all parishioners to come to the North Conference Room between the 11am and 1pm masses on October 12, for the start of a new fellowship series focused around Catholic Social Teaching. On the 2nd Sunday of each month, we’ll come together to explore the church’s teaching on a specific issue. Our first gathering will be an introduction to Catholic Social Teaching. Please join us for fellowship, discussion, and refreshments. All are welcome.

In the words of Pope Leo, “there is a growing demand for the church’s social doctrine, to which we need to respond.”

Fr. Daniel Roberts to Celebrate 11am Mass on October 26, 2025

Fr. Daniel Roberts serves as the parochial vicar at St. Aidan Parish in Wexford, PA, in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. He was ordained a priest in June, and spent some of his time in seminary (including his deaconate) serving here at St. Matthews! Please come and join Fr. Daniel at the 11am Mass on Sunday, October 26, 2025!

The Mystics: An Intentional Community

A mystic is someone who prays and experiences God deeply. Then, they share their experience. The Church has a rich history of mystics inviting us to know God and so be free and happy.

Join a small intentional community that meets to experience the Christian mystical tradition. We will learn how to be mystics in our daily lives through silent prayer, readings and lectures on the mystics, sharing, a meal, and time for solitude and reflection.

We meet every second Saturday of the month. Spiritual practice, study, and community will form the heart of these meetings. Join if you want to grow closer to God, be a part of a dynamic spiritual community, and learn more about the mystical tradition.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, October 11, from 9am to 2pm in the North Conference Room. The group will begin reading the Life of St Teresa of Avila.

All are welcome! Email L.J. Milone before coming.

Jubilee Events Led by St. Matthew's Faith Formation Director - All are Welcome!

Celebrate the grace of this Jubilee year! Join us for a series of meaningful and prayerful events, led by St. Matthew’s Faith Formation Director, L.J. Milone. Embrace this opportunity to grow in your faith. To learn more about these events, please contact L.J. Milone at ljmilone@stmatthewscathedral.org. We look forward to sharing this journey with you. LEARN MORE

Cathedral Book Club

Next on the calendar is a book providing insight into the influence of St. Augustine by an Augustinian: AS ONE STRUGGLING CHRISTIAN TO ANOTHER: AUGUSTINE'S CHRISTIAN IDEAL FOR TODAY, by Fr. Theodore E. Tack, O.S.A.

Written before the election of Leo XIV to the papacy, this provides a view of another Augustinian, Father Theodore E. Tack , O.S.A. The book is described as "an excellent readable reflection on the application of Augustine's spirituality to the problems of today."

Discussion will be Thursday, October 9th, 7–8:15 pm, in the West Conference Room.

St. Matthew's Annual Health Fair

Join us on for St. Matthew’s Annual Health Fair, sponsored by the Social Justice Committee. Take advantage of the opportunity for blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, dental, and more screenings by professionals. The Health Fair will be Sunday, September 28, from 10:30am-3pm in the North Conference Room.

Acompáñenos el domingo 28 de septiembre de 10:30 am a 3pm, en el salón de conferencias norte, en la Feria Anual de la Salud de San Mateo, patrocinada por el Comité de Justicia Social. Aproveche la oportunidad de realizarse chequeos de presión arterial, glucosa, colesterol, dentales y muchos más, realizados por profesionales.

The Cathedral Young Adult ministry (C†YA) serves the community of Catholic adults ages 21 - 39 who live and work in DC, supporting them in the continued growth of their faith, discernment of their vocations, and development as stewards of the Church through opportunities for socializing, community service, and spiritual reflection.

Sundays with CYA

Due to Sunday’s Mass for Migrants and Refugees, CYA will NOT be having our regular meeting after the 5:30 Mass this Sunday, September 28.

CYA Happy Hour

Tuesday, September 30, we will be having our bi-weekly happy hour at 6:30pm (location TBD but to be posted on our Instagram page).

Meet other Catholics, talk about the faith, and build friendships! C†YA uses a WhatsApp Community to plan future events, post updates, and stay in touch. Please follow the links for information about how to join and the latest details about upcoming events. You can follow C†YA on Instagram and Facebook for events and news from our community!