In this edition:

Liturgy, Community, & Ongoing Events

• Statement from Cardinal McElroy
• Don't Forget to Vote for the DC Primary
• EMC Training
• Organ Concert with Raymond Nagem
• Mass to Celebrate the Ecclesial Movements and New Communities
• Eucharistic Procession for Immigrants - Feast of Corpus Christi
• Cathedral Book Club
• Knights of Columbus
• New Online Exhibit: Papal Visits to St. Matthew's Cathedral
• Be the Light: The 2026 Annual Catholic Services Appeal

Faith Formation

• Upcoming Confirmations
• Baptism Prep Class
• The unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God: The Letter to the Ephesians
• Meditation Group on Sundays
• Save the Date for the Annual Cathedral Weekend Retreat!
• Mystical Word

Hispanic Ministry

• Santo Rosario por el mes de mayo 
• Grupo de Oración
• Las Confirmaciones
• Las Primeras Comuniones
• Misa de despedida del obispo Evelio Menjivar

Social Justice

• Catholic Social Thought in the News
• Catholic Social Teaching Fellowship Series
• Summer ESL Classes
• Feast of Mercy
• Creation Care Corner

Music Ministry

• Schola Cantorum and Summer Choir

Cathedral Young Adults

• Sunday Meeting
• CYA Happy Hour

STATEMENT OF ROBERT CARDINAL MCELROY, 

ARCHBISHOP OF WASHINGTON, 

ON THE APPOINTMENT OF 

BISHOP-ELECT EMILIO BIOSCA AGUERO, O.F.M. Cap., 

AS BISHOP OF VENICE

Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has given a great gift of grace and leadership to the people of the Diocese of Venice.

The Bishop-elect is one of the finest pastors in the Archdiocese of Washington. He has the faith and witness which attracts men and women to the person of Jesus Christ. He piercingly preaches the Gospel in its integrity and makes the call to conversion real and engaging. 

Bishop-elect Biosca has the tender heart of a true Shepherd, and has made the Shrine of the Sacred Heart a true haven of compassion. A skilled administrative leader and a defender of his flock, he has been unswerving in reaching out to the poor and the marginalized, and the undocumented. He is also a bridgebuilder who reaches across the boundaries of polarization to forge real solidarity in the family of God.

Saint Francis burns in the heart of Father Emilio, and while I will miss him profoundly in Washington, I know clearly that God is at work in his new mission in Florida, and I give thanks.

Robert Cardinal McElroy

Archbishop of Washington

Don't Forget to Vote for the DC Primary

The DC Primary is right around the corner, and we are electing a new Mayor, Congressional Representative, and many City Council positions, so voting is integral! The deadline for mail-in ballots to be received is Tuesday, May 26, and voting in person is on Tuesday, June 16, so make sure you are registered!

For more information click here.

To register to vote click here.

EMC Training

Our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion fulfill Christ’s will to feed the hungry with his Body and Blood. If you are interested in serving as an EMC at the Cathedral, attend a training session. To be an EMC you must have been baptized, received first Holy Communion and been confirmed in the Catholic Church.

The next training session is on Tuesday, May 26, from 7 to 8:30pm in the Cathedral.

Organ Concert with Raymond Nagem

playing (New York Classical Review) highlights the full expressive range of the pipe organ. He is Minister of Music at The Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City, and a member of the organ faculty at Manhattan School of Music. He completed his D.M.A. at The Juilliard School in 2016, where he was a student of Paul Jacobs. Come enjoy a beautiful organ recital by Raymond Nagem, featuring works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Sergei Prokofiev, and Maurice Duruflé.

Sunday, May 31 at 3:30pm in the Cathedral.

Mass to Celebrate the Ecclesial Movements and New Communities

Members of the Ecclesial Movements are warmly invited to a special Mass celebrating your unique charisms, talents, and invaluable contributions to parish life. Join us in thanksgiving for the vitality you bring to the Church and the witness of faith you offer to our communities.

The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Evelio Menjivar on Saturday, May 30, at 5:15pm at St. Catherine Labouré Catholic Church.

Come together in prayer, unity, and joy as we honor the mission and spirit of Ecclesial Movements in our Archdiocese. All members, families, and friends are welcome!

Find more about this here.

Eucharistic Procession for Immigrants –
Feast of Corpus Christi

On June 7, 2026 there will be a Noon Mass with procession at 1:30pm for the Feast of Corpus Christi. The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Evelio Menjivar at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart (3211 Sacred Heart Way NW Washington, DC), and afterward we will process to the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle.

As part of its celebration of the feast of Corpus Christi, the Archdiocese of Washington will be holding a Mass and procession for immigrants on Sunday, June 7, from 12pm to 4pm. Mass will be celebrated at 12pm by Bishop Evelio Menjivar at the Shine of the Sacred Heart, and the procession will take place at 1:30pm from the Shrine to the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. 

Use this sign-up form for additional volunteer opportunities to assist our immigrant neighbors, including legal support, direct material support, accompaniment to immigration court, public witness, and information sharing on the Church’s teaching on migration. 

For more information about this event click here.

Cathedral Book Club

The discussion will take place Thursday, June 4, from 7pm to 8:15pm in the West Conference Room.

Next comes the popular mainstay of spiritual life, THE PRESENCE OF GOD, by Father Anselm Moynihan, O.P. His fellow Dominican, Vatican 2 scholar Austin Flannery, sums it all up when he notes, "People still continue to read and re-read and to recommend this booklet which has endured and will continue to endure."

Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus protects the Catholic family by strengthening the Catholic man. We empower men to become better husbands, better fathers and better disciples of Jesus Christ. All practicing Catholic men, eighteen and older, are invited to join a brotherhood of over 3,000 men in the District of Columbia. You can join online today by visiting kofc.org/join.

When prompted for a “Preferred Council Number” please enter 433 to be connected to the council that supports St. Matthew's. Use promo code “BLESSEDMCGIVNEY” to receive your first year of membership free.

Please contact Grand Knight Chris Pierno at pierno@dcknights.org with any questions.

New Online Exhibit: Papal Visits to St. Matthew's Cathedral

A new online exhibit is now available, highlighting the history and significance of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. It features key moments connected to papal visits to the Cathedral and to Washington, D.C., including those of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis—whose 2015 visit coincided with his address to Congress, which is also available to view through a link in the exhibit.

We invite you to view the exhibit online and learn more about the Cathedral’s role in the life of the Church in Washington HERE.

Be the Light: The 2026 Annual Catholic Services Appeal

We have been asked prayerfully to consider making a gift to the 2026 Annual Catholic Services Appeal. Please complete or take a commitment form from the Cathedral (they are in the pews and placed in the back) or make your gift at give.adw.org. Visit appeal.adw.org to learn more about how the Annual Catholic Services Appeal benefits our parish and serves people in need throughout our community. It is our goal that every parish family will participate this year. All gifts will be credited towards our parish goal. Thank you in advance for your generous response to the 2026 Annual Catholic Services Appeal.

Eighth Grade Confirmations

On Sunday, May 24, at 11am the Cathedral parish will celebrate confirmation for seven eight graders. Please join us in praying for these kids as they approach the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation!

Pentecost Mass with Adult Confirmation

Cardinal McElroy celebrates a special Mass with Confirmation of Adults at 3:15 PM in the Cathedral on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026, with the Schola Cantorum accompanying. Watch the livestream here.

The unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God:
The Letter to the Ephesians

Join a series of classes on the Letter to the Ephesians.

Jesus tells us that eternal life is knowing God. How can any of us say we know God? Do you know God? And, do we know God like we know our loved ones? Knowing God is much more than our normal ways of knowing. We know by our senses, by reason, and by experience. Scripture holds out a deeper reality: knowing by identity. It involves God lavishing the divine love upon us. It is Divine Knowledge and gratuitous grace, and it is the message of the Letter to the Ephesians.

We will reflect on the Letter to the Ephesians chapter by chapter. Each class will have a lecture combined with dynamic conversation. Come experience the liberating grace of Christ!

Tuesday evenings: June 9/16/23/30 7pm – 8:30pm in the East Conference Room. For more information, email the Director of Faith Formation, L.J. Milone here.

Baptism Prep Class

The baptism prep class is held on the first Thursday of the month from 7pm to 8:30pm on Zoom. Registration for the class is required. A registration link for the class is sent upon the completion of the main baptism application/registration, which is a link given by the priest.

The next class will be on June 4, 2026.

Learn more about baptism classes here.

Meditation Group

Are you looking for a way to explore or deepen your relationship with God? Come to the Meditation Group. You will discover a centuries-old prayer method that consists of simply sitting in silence with God - beyond thoughts, words, and emotions - and opening our mind, heart and whole being to the Ultimate Mystery.

If you are new, you will learn the basics of Centering Prayer, a Christian contemplative practice first described in The Cloud of Unknowing, written in the latter half of the 14th Century. It calls one to abandon all thinking and to surrender to God within.

It is a very personal prayer practice but is often practiced in groups. It opens one to God's infinite love and power to heal, and opens the door to other related prayer practices around forgiveness, and dealing with painful situations and emotions.

Meeting Times:

Sundays, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM on Zoom

See the cathedral website for the Zoom link HERE, or email L.J. Milone here for the link.

Save the Date for the Annual Cathedral Weekend Retreat!

Register by clicking here.

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.

Catholic Social Thought in the News

Catholic Teaching Regarding Nuclear Weapons

"From this foundational truth flows the absolute dignity of human life. Nuclear weapons, by their very nature, stand in direct contradiction to this dignity. Their destructive force is indiscriminate, incapable of distinguishing between combatant and noncombatant."

"In light of this rich tradition, we must confront a difficult truth: the continued possession of nuclear weapons is not orally sustainable. It reflects a failure to trust in the ways of peace to which Christ calls us. It perpetuates a global system of fear, where security is sought not through solidarity, but through the capacity for annihilation."

–Archbishop John C. Wester, Focolare Media, May 11, 2026

Catholic Social Teaching Fellowship Series

"Looking at health in its multiple dimensions at a global level helps to understand and take on with responsibility the interconnection between the phenomena. In this way, we can better observe how even the conditions of life that are the result of political, social and environmental choices have an impact on the health of human beings." 

- Pope Francis, 2021, address to participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life 

As part of our ongoing Catholic Social Teaching fellowship series, join us in the North Conference Room on Sunday, June 28 after the 11am Mass to discuss this and other Church teachings on Public Health and Mental Health with guest speaker Christian Bentley of the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart. All are welcome.

"Considerar la salud en sus múltiples dimensiones y a nivel global ayuda a comprender y asumir responsablemente la interconexión de los fenómenos. Y así se observa mejor cómo también las condiciones de vida, que son el resultado de políticas, sociales y medioambientales, tienen un impacto en la salud de los seres humanos."

 - Papa Francisco, 2021, Discurso a la Asamblea Plenaria de la Pontificia Academia Para La Vida 

¿Le interesa el tema? Como parte de nuestra serie de convivios sobre la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia, los invitamos a la sala de conferencias norte el domingo 28 de junio al mediodía para una charla y discusión sobre las enseñanzas de la iglesia sobre la salud pública y salud mental con el ponente invitado Christian Bentley de la Sociedad de San José del Sagrado Corazón. Sean todos bienvenidos! 

Summer ESL Classes

St. Matthew’s will continue our English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes for a 9 week Summer Semester. Classes will begin on Tuesday, June 2 through Wednesday, July 29. All classes are held every Tuesday and Wednesday from 6:30pm-8:30pm in the St. Matthew’s Education Building at 1726 N St. NW, 20036. Language instruction will be provided at Level 1 (Beginner) through Level 4 (Advanced).

If you would like to register, fill out our online registration form HERE!

You can also register in-person on Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30pm.

Interested in volunteering as a teacher, substitute, or tutor? Fill out our interest form HERE.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Anthony Arreaga.

San Mateo continuará ofreciendo nuestras clases de inglés como segundo idioma (ESL) durante un semestre de verano de 9 semanas. Las clases comenzarán el martes 2 de junio y continuarán hasta el miércoles 29 de julio. Todas las clases se llevarán a cabo todos los martes y miércoles de 6:30pm a 8:30pm en el Edificio de Educación de San Mateo, ubicado en 1726 N St. NW, 20036. La instrucción del idioma se ofrecerá desde el Nivel 1 (Principiante) hasta el Nivel 4 (Avanzado).

Si desea inscribirse, complete nuestro formulario de inscripción en línea AQUÍ.

También puede inscribirse en persona el miércoles 27 de mayo a las 6:30pm.

¿Le interesa ser voluntario como maestro, suplente o tutor? Complete nuestro formulario de interés AQUÍ.

 Si tiene alguna pregunta o inquietud, comuníquese con el Sr. Anthony Arreaga.

Feast of Mercy

On Saturday, June 13, from 12:30pm to 5pm, join the Social Justice Committee for its Feast of Mercy, an afternoon of food, fellowship, and hospitality for our neighbors who are homeless, hungry, or otherwise in need. This afternoon event brings the community together to prepare and serve a welcoming meal with dignity and care, with many ways to help. That includes:

• Prepare or donate a main dish, salad, dessert, fruit, bread, or other meal items
• Volunteer with setup, meal service, or cleanup
• Make a financial donation to support supplies, drinks, and guest care items

Click here for the volunteer and donation sign-up link.

Schola Cantorum and a Summer Choir

The Schola Cantorum, the Cathedral’s semi-professional choir will begin its summer hiatus June 14. It will resume September 20, for the feast of St Matthew the Apostle.

Assuming we have a good response, we plan to form a Summer Choir of auditioned volunteers who will sing occasionally throughout the summer, principally at the 11am Mass. If you have significant adult choral experience and would like to participate in the summer choir, please contact Tom Stehle here or call 202-587-5141 to set up an audition.

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

Sunday, May 24, after the 5:30pm Mass, join us in the North Conference Room.

CYA Happy Hour

CYA will be having its bi-weekly happy hour on Tuesday, May 26 at Zorba's Cafe in Dupont.

CYA Book Club

Join the CYA Book Club to discuss The Inferno by Dante, Tuesday, June 30, at 7pm in the West Conference Room, as part of our plan to read the whole Divine Comedy over the next 3 months.

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!