Click on the Image for Events in April

Sensitive Locations, Sacred Spaces Interfaith Prayer Vigil

On Thursday, April 3 at 6:30 pm at National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, NW), there will be a prayer vigil on the eve of the first hearing regarding Department of Homeland Security's rescission of the sensitive locations' memo. Together, attendees will lift prayers for justice, compassion, and the protection of immigrant communities. You can join virtually or in-person by clicking here.

First Friday Adoration

All are welcome to adore our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament this First Friday. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is held in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (to the left of the sanctuary) following the 12:10pm Mass until 5pm. Chairs and kneelers are provided. Friday, April 4, following the 12:10pm Mass until 5pm.

A Reflection on the Lord's Passion & The Seven Last Words

Join us for an evening of spiritual reflection as Rita Ferrone leads us in a meditation on the Lord's Passion and the Seven Last Words of Christ. Experience a deeper understanding of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and draw closer to the heart of the Gospel, with choral meditations by the Schola Cantorum. Good Friday, April 18, at Noon.

Young Adults get ready for a weekend retreat focused on faith, fellowship, and prayer! This retreat offers young adults a chance to reflect, deepen their spiritual journey, and connect with others in our parish community. We hope you can join us—register today! Scan the QR code above or follow the link to register HERE. May 16-18, 2025.

Annual Ecclesial Movements and New Communities Mass

Celebrate with us at St. Matthew's with Bishop Evelio Menjivar, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, on Saturday, May 17, at 5:30pm.

Pilgrimage & Celebration of the Holy Jubilee 2025

Schedule of events and more information can be found HERE. Saturday, May 31, beginning at 12pm, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Operation Rice Bowl Turns 50!

Join us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl! Since 1975, Operation Rice Bowl has inspired Catholics in the United States to pray, fast, learn and give, as we increase our understanding of our global community. Your support will not only help local families but also families from around the world. We encourage you to participate in Operation Rice Bowl at home with your family and loved ones by taking home a Rice Bowl donations box located at all entrances of the church. Use this box to deposit spare change and other monetary donations and return it at the Cathedral. Let’s make this 50th year a testament to our faith and generosity! For more information, please contact Anthony Arreaga at aarreaga@stmatthewscathedral.org.

Lent and Holy Week Brochures

Get ready for this season of reflection and renewal by exploring our Lenten Brochures, available in both English and Spanish. Click the links below to access the brochures. Lent & Holy Week Brochure HERE. Folleto en Español AQUÍ.

Stations of the Cross Every Friday and Sunday of Lent

The Stations of the Cross are prayed in English every Friday of Lent, immediately following the 5:30pm Mass, and in Spanish on Sundays at 2pm.

Jubilee Cross & Jubilee Prayer

At St. Matthew’s Cathedral, the cross in the sanctuary has been specially designated as the Jubilee Cross for the Jubilee 2025 "Pilgrims of Hope." This sacred cross serves as a symbol of Christ’s love and the hope that guides us through this Jubilee Year. It stands as a focal point for our community, inviting all pilgrims to reflect on the significance of this special time of grace and renewal. Next to the cross, the Jubilee Cross Prayer is displayed, providing a spiritual guide for all who come to pray and reflect. As we gather in the presence of the Jubilee Cross, we are reminded of our shared journey of faith, unity, and the call to live out Christ’s mission of hope and love. We invite you to visit the Jubilee Cross in the sanctuary, where you can recite the Jubilee Cross Prayer or take a moment for personal reflection. You may read the Jubilee Cross Prayer HERE and/or the Jubilee Prayer by Pope Francis HERE. La oración de la Cruz Jubilar en español se puede encontrar AQUÍ.

Spiritual Reading

Selected by Fr. Joseph McHenry

 From St. Augustine:

God could give no greater gift to humans than to make his Word, through whom he created all things, their head and to join them to him as his members, so that the Word might be both Son of God and son of man, one God with the Father, and one man with all men. The result is that when we speak with God in prayer we do not separate the Son from him, and when the body of the Son prays it does not separate its head from itself: it is the one Savior of his body, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who prays for us and in us and is himself the object of our prayers.

He prays for us as our priest, he prays in us as our head, he is the object of our prayers as our God.

Let us then recognize both our voice in his, and his voice in ours. When something is said, especially in prophecy, about the Lord Jesus Christ that seems to belong to a condition of lowliness unworthy of God, we must not hesitate to ascribe this condition to one who did not hesitate to unite himself with us. Every creature is his servant, for it was through him that every creature came to be.

We contemplate his glory and divinity when we listen to these words: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made. Here we gaze on the divinity of the Son of God, something supremely great and surpassing all the greatness of his creatures. Yet in other parts of Scripture we hear him as one sighing, praying, giving praise and thanks.

We hesitate to attribute these words to him because our minds are slow to come down to his humble level when we have just been contemplating him in his divinity. It is as though we were doing him an injustice in acknowledging in a man the words of one with whom we spoke when we prayed to God; we are usually at a loss and try to change the meaning. Yet our minds find nothing in Scripture that does not go back to him, nothing that will allow us to stray from him.

Our thoughts must then be awakened to keep their vigil of faith. We must realize that the one whom we were contemplating a short time before in his nature as God took to himself the nature of a servant; he was made in the likeness of men and found to be a man like others; he humbled himself by being obedient even to accepting death; as he hung on the cross he made the psalmist’s words his own: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

We pray to him as God, he prays for us as a servant. In the first case he is the Creator, in the second a creature. Himself unchanged, he took to himself our created nature in order to change it, and made us one man with himself, head and body. We pray then to him, through him, in him, and we speak along with him and he along with us.

Meditation on Zoom

Meditation Group meetings on Zoom are led by L.J. Milone, Director of Faith Formation, each week on Sundays and Wednesdays. Join us to discover a meditation practice deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus. Immerse yourself in a space of healing and refreshing silence. READ MORE.

Jubilee Events Led by St. Matthew's Faith Formation Director

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. These special gatherings are designed to renew our hearts, strengthen our community, and draw us closer to Christ through reflection, prayer, and fellowship. 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.

Lent Adult Faith Classes Open to All

Join us for a series of classes for adults covering the following topics: the Trinity, the Incarnation and Grace, the Hard Sayings of Jesus, the Our Father, the Scrutiny Gospels, and the Paschal Mystery. Wednesdays during Lent, from March 12 to April 9, 7-8:30pm, in the North Conference Room. For more information, please contact L.J. Milone, ljmilone@stmatthewscathedral.org. READ MORE.

Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux

Come to a series of evening retreats on the Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux! Join us for a transformative experience as we explore her profound spirituality. Learn how small acts of love and humility can lead to a deeper relationship with God. Whether you're seeking peace, inspiration, or spiritual growth, this series offers a peaceful space to reflect and grow in faith. All are welcome! Tuesdays, March 18 through April 8, 7-8:30pm, in the East Conference Room. READ MORE.

Cathedral Book Club

Join us as Fr. Jack leads a discussion of "Dagger John: Archbishop John Hughes and the Making of Irish America," by John Loughery. All are welcome to join the discussion! Thursday, April 10, 7-8:15pm in the West Conference Room.

Happy Nothingness: A Retreat Series

Spiritual Teaching and Contemplative Silence

“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” — (Mk 6:31)

Each session blends free-form contemplative teaching with ample time for silent prayer. Topics include: letting go as Jesus did, praying beyond thoughts, transforming fear and pain, the nature of faith, the Sermon on the Mount, living in the present moment, the cross as the central Christian practice, the true meaning of the end times, the parables, spiritual living in daily life, love as selflessness and tenderness, allowing God to be God, and exploring mystical nothingness. The teaching will last no longer than 45 minutes, and sometimes even shorter. Sessions always begin at 7pm. Following the teaching, the cathedral will remain open for prayer until 10pm. Participants are welcome to leave at any time. For more information, email the Director of Faith Formation: ljmilone@stmatthewscathedral.org. Monday, April 14, 7-10pm, in the Cathedral.

Mystical Word

A weekly reflection based on the Sunday Gospel reading, written by L.J. Milone, Director of Faith Formation at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Read this week's reflection HERE.

Social Justice Committee Simple Lenten Meals

Join us during Lent for a Simple Lenten Meal. We serve Simple Lenten Meals in the North Conference Room on the Friday evenings of Lent, following the 6pm Stations of the Cross. Join us for the sustenance of food and fellowship! Each Friday we collect donations to benefit a different charitable organization. For more information, please contact Anthony Arreaga at aarreaga@stmatthewscathedral.org. Friday, April 4, 6:30pm, in the North Conference Room.

Annual Earth Day Clean-up Register by April 5

Celebrate Mother Earth’s new burst of life this spring with some spring cleaning of our river! In this Jubilee Year of renewal and hope, the Creation Care Green Team will again join the annual Earth Day Clean-up sponsored by the Anacostia Watershed Society for the benefit of all living in its watershed and for future generations. Saturday, April 26, 11am-1pm. Registration closes April 5. You can find detailed information and the registration link HERE.

Always God's Children

Always God's Children is the Cathedral ministry to persons who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and their friends and family members. Sunday, April 6, at 3:30pm, in the West Conference Room.

Schola Cantorum: Winter Hiatus and Choir Openings

The Schola Cantorum is on winter hiatus until Ash Wednesday, March 5, and the First Sunday of Lent, March 9.

There are currently openings in the Schola Cantorum for experienced tenors or altos. Prospective singers should have adult choral experience, some sight-reading skills, and a pleasant, agile voice. The commitment of time and focused energy is significant, particularly during Holy Week. Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings, 7-8:30pm, in the weeks when the choir is singing. If you have the appropriate experience and a desire to serve our Cathedral community in this very special way, please contact the Director of Music Ministries, Tom Stehle, at tstehle@stmatthewscathedral.org.