St. Patrick's Catholic Church (Washington, D.C.)

Last updated
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
St. Patrick's Catholic Church.JPG
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
St. Patrick's Catholic Church (Washington, D.C.)
38°53′52.5″N77°01′32.1″W / 38.897917°N 77.025583°W / 38.897917; -77.025583 Coordinates: 38°53′52.5″N77°01′32.1″W / 38.897917°N 77.025583°W / 38.897917; -77.025583
Location619 10th St NW,
Washington, D.C.
CountryUnited States
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website saintpatrickdc.org
History
Founded1794 [1]
Founder(s) Anthony Caffry
Administration
Archdiocese Washington
The second St. Patrick's Church between 1890 and 1910 Old St Patrick's Church and Rectory Washington DC.jpg
The second St. Patrick's Church between 1890 and 1910

St Patrick's Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America. Established in 1794, [2] it is the oldest Catholic parish in the city of Washington.

Contents

History

St. Patrick's Catholic Church was founded in 1794 to serve the Irish immigrants to the United States who worked as stonemasons during the construction of the White House and the U.S. Capitol. [1] [3] Dominican priest Anthony Caffry O.P., recently arrived from County Mayo, Ireland, was charged by Bishop John Carroll with establishing the first Roman Catholic parish in the City of Washington. Caffry's decision to undertake the project was likely influenced by Irish architect James Hoban, one of the supervising architects on the Capitol building. Hoban asked Caffry to consider the Irish stone workers building the new federal capital. Caffrey first began celebrating Mass in rented spaces in the beginning of the year, [4] but later built a modest, one-and-a-half story wood-frame church with the meager funds the parish had.

Caffrey resigned in 1804 and was reassigned to New York. He was followed by William Matthews who oversaw construction of a new, larger church in 1809 on the site of the original building. [5] The brick, Gothic Revival church was completed in 1816. [6] This new St. Patrick's was consecrated by Archbishop John Carroll, and the Mass was concelebrated by coadjutor Bishop Leonard Neale, Matthews' maternal uncle.

During the War of 1812, British troops invaded Washington, D.C., in 1814. As they advanced to within two blocks of St. Patrick's Church, fire from surrounding buildings spread to the roof of St. Patrick's. Matthews barricaded himself and others inside the sanctuary while most of the city's population fled. He went to the roof to put out the fire, then persuaded General Robert Ross not to destroy the church. [7]

In 1825, Matthews founded the St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum and brought the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul from Emmitsburg, Maryland, to run it. Mother Juliana, the local superior, was Matthews' niece. [8] Matthews was pastor from 1804 until his death in 1854. [9] [10]

Rev. Timothy O'Toole, an Irish immigrant who had attended seminary of St Patrick's College, Maynooth in Ireland, was pastor from 1854 to 1860. During his tenure, he founded the Father Mathew Total Abstinence society, the parochial school, and St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum for Boys. [11] O'Toole was followed by Jacob Ambrose Walter, who, in November 1872, saw the cornerstone laid for the new church. The first mass was said in the new church on November 2, 1884. It was dedicated on December 28, 1884. [12]

A long-time listing on the National Register of Historic Places, St. Patrick's is not without controversy. Radical renovations to the sanctuary in 1994 witnessed the removal and subsequent destruction of the church's original high altar, communion rail, consecration stones, and some artwork. The National Register considered taking formal, perhaps legal, action over the unprecedented violation of regulation. [13]

Pope Francis visited Saint Patrick's Church on September 24, 2015, during his tour of the United States. [14]

Blue Mass

Blue mass at St. Patrick's in 2013 Police Week Blue Mass 2013 (8739375062).jpg
Blue mass at St. Patrick's in 2013

The Blue Mass dates to September 29, 1934, [15] when Rev. Thomas Dade started the celebration as part of his duties with the Catholic Police and Fireman’s Society. [16]

Rev. Dade's brother was a policeman in Baltimore, which boasted a healthy Catholic Police and Fireman's Society. Rev. Dade noticed that there was no such fraternal association in Washington, DC, and lobbied the Washington, DC, commissioners to allow him to create one. The Washington, DC, branch of the CPFS was opened in 1934. [17]

That first Mass has grown to a nationwide celebration. [18] The September 29 celebration was timed to coincide with Michaelmas, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, the patron military saint of police officers and military.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Hoban</span> Irish-American architect (1755–1831)

James Hoban was an Irish-American architect, best known for designing the White House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gonzaga College High School</span> School in Washington, D.C., United States

Gonzaga College High School is a private Catholic college-preparatory high school for boys in Washington, D.C. Founded by the Jesuits in 1821 as the Washington Seminary, Gonzaga is named in honor of Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian saint from the 16th century. Gonzaga is the oldest boys' high school in the District of Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington</span> Latin Catholic jurisdiction in the United States

The Archdiocese of Washington is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. Its territorial remit encompasses the District of Columbia and the counties of Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and Saint Mary's in the state of Maryland. It was originally part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benedict Joseph Fenwick</span> American Catholic bishop (1782–1846)

Benedict Joseph Fenwick was an American Catholic prelate, Jesuit, and educator who served as the Bishop of Boston from 1825 until his death in 1846. In 1843, he founded the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts. Prior to that, he was twice the president of Georgetown College and established several educational institutions in New York City and Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Trinity Catholic Church (Washington, D.C.)</span> Church in D.C., USA

Holy Trinity Catholic Church is a Catholic church run by the Jesuit order that is located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., in the United States. Holy Trinity Parish was founded in 1787 and is the oldest Roman Catholic community and house of worship in continuous operation both in Georgetown and in the larger city of Washington, D.C. The original church building was completed in 1794. It is now called the Chapel of St. Ignatius, and is used for smaller ecclesiastical celebrations and as an auxiliary space for parish activities. A larger church building, necessitated by the growing community, was dedicated in 1851, and still serves as the parish church today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Neale</span> American Jesuit priest (1756–1837)

Francis Ignatius Neale, also known as Francis Xavier Neale, was an American Catholic priest and Jesuit who led several academic and religious institutions in Washington, D.C., and Maryland. He played a substantial role in the Jesuit order's resurgence in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christ Church, Washington Parish</span> Historic church in Washington, D.C., United States

Christ Church — known also as Christ Church, Washington Parish or Christ Church on Capitol Hill — is a historic Episcopal church located at 620 G Street SE in Washington, D.C., USA. The church is also called Christ Church, Navy Yard, because of its proximity to the Washington Navy Yard and the nearby U.S. Marine Barracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore)</span> First Catholic bishop and archbishop in the United States

John Carroll was an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the first bishop and archbishop in the United States. He served as the ordinary of the first diocese and later Archdiocese of Baltimore, in Maryland, which at first encompassed all of the United States and later after division as the eastern half of the new nation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William O'Hara</span>

William O'Hara was an Irish-born American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the first bishop of the Diocese of Scranton in Pennsylvania, serving from 1868 until his death in 1899. He founded St. Thomas College in 1888.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael John Hoban</span>

Michael John Hoban was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Scranton in Pennsylvania from 1899 until his death in 1926.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Immaculate Conception Church (Washington, D.C.)</span> Historic church in Washington, D.C., United States

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish in the United States in Washington, D.C. Located at 1315 8th Street Northwest, the church, school, rectory, and convent were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St. Peter (Danbury, Connecticut)</span> Church in Connecticut, United States

St. Peter is a Roman Catholic church in Danbury, Connecticut, part of the Diocese of Bridgeport. St. Peter's was the first Catholic church built in northern Fairfield County. It is the third oldest parish, and the fifth oldest Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Bridgeport. St. Peter's was originally a predominantly Irish congregation. Danbury's Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off in front of St. Peter's. In more recent time, the parish has a significant number of parishioners of Latino and Brazilian heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Mass</span>

A Blue Mass is a Mass celebrated annually throughout the United States in the Catholic Church for those employed in the "public safety field". The color blue relates to the blue-colored uniforms predominantly used by these services. Similar to the Red Mass, the service honors those who have died in the line of duty and those currently serving as first responders. The Mass is an opportunity for the community to show gratitude to first responders and their families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Stephen Martyr Catholic Church (Washington, D.C.)</span> Church in D.C., United States

Saint Stephen Martyr Catholic Church is a Catholic parish church located at 2436 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., in the United States. The parish was founded on August 4, 1867, and the first church building consecrated and used for worship on December 27, 1868. This brick structure closed on July 15, 1959, and the current new building was consecrated and first used for worship on June 11, 1961. The church was a favorite of President John F. Kennedy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Matthews (priest)</span> 19th-century American Catholic priest

William Matthews, occasionally spelled Mathews, was an American who became the fifth Roman Catholic priest ordained in the United States and the first such person born in British America. Born in the colonial Province of Maryland, he was briefly a novice in the Society of Jesus. After being ordained, he became influential in establishing Catholic parochial and educational institutions in Washington, D.C. He was the second pastor of St. Patrick's Church, serving for most of his life. He served as the sixth president of Georgetown College, later known as Georgetown University. Matthews acted as president of the Washington Catholic Seminary, which became Gonzaga College High School, and oversaw the continuity of the school during suppression by the church and financial insecurity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Dominic Catholic Church (Washington, D.C.)</span> Church in D.C., United States

St. Dominic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church, established in 1852. It is located in Southwest Washington, D.C., in the Archdiocese of Washington, and is administered by the Order of Preachers, more commonly known as the Dominicans, in the Province of St. Joseph (Eastern).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Peter's Church (Washington, D.C.)</span> Church in D.C., United States

St. Peter's Church, also referred to as St. Peter's on Capitol Hill, is a Roman Catholic church located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., within the Archdiocese of Washington. Founded in 1820, St. Peter's is the second oldest Catholic parish in the City of Washington. The church building was originally constructed in 1889. However, it was destroyed by a fire in 1940 and rebuilt. The church's motto is, "To be a tangible manifestation of Christ in the community."

Anthony Caffry, sometimes spelled Caffrey and recorded in Vatican documents as McCaffrey, was an Irish Catholic priest who was a friar in the Order of Preachers. He is best known for being the founder and first pastor of St. Patrick's Church, the first Catholic church in Washington, D.C.

Enoch Fenwick was an American Catholic priest and Jesuit who ministered throughout Maryland and became the twelfth president of Georgetown College. Descending from one of the original Catholic settlers of the Province of Maryland, he studied at Georgetown College in Georgetown,, D.C. Like his brother and future bishop, Benedict Joseph Fenwick, he entered the priesthood, studying at St. Mary's Seminary before entering the Society of Jesus, which was suppressed at the time. He was made rector of St. Peter's Pro-Cathedral in Baltimore by Archbishop John Carroll, and remained in the position for ten years. Near the end of his pastorate, he was also made vicar general of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which involved traveling to say Mass in remote parishes throughout rural Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Irish Americans in Washington, D.C.</span>

People of Irish descent form a distinct ethnic group in Washington, D.C., and have had a presence in the region since the pre-American Revolution period.

References

  1. 1 2 "Home Page". St. Patrick Catholic Church Washington, D.C.
  2. ↑ "48 Hours In Washington DC" . The Independent . Independent Print Limited. 26 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Our History". St. Patrick Parish. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  4. ↑ Warner, William W. (1994). "Part I: Georgetown and the Maryland Tradition". At Peace with All Their Neighbors: Catholics and Catholicism in the National Capital, 1787-1860. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. pp. 25–26. ISBN   978-1589012431. Archived from the original on September 16, 2018.
  5. ↑ Frye, Virginia King (1920). "St. Patrick's: First Catholic Church of the Federal City". Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. 23: 26–51. JSTOR   40067137.
  6. ↑ Warner 1994, p. 102.
  7. ↑ Durkin, Joseph Thomas (1963). William Matthews: Priest and Citizen. New York: Benziger Brothers. pp. 16–17.
  8. ↑ Durkin 1963, pp. 119–122.
  9. ↑ Curran, S.J., Robert Emmett (1993). The Bicentennial History of Georgetown University: From Academy to University (1789–1889) (First ed.). Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. pp. 62–63. ISBN   978-0-87840-485-8. OCLC   794228400 . Retrieved 15 March 2018– via Google Books.
  10. ↑ Liston, Paul. "A Short History of St. Patrick Parish". St. Patrick Catholic Church. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  11. ↑ The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X. New York: Catholic Editing Company. 1914. pp.  117. OCLC   976946591 . Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  12. ↑ MacGregor, Morris J., 1931- (1994). A parish for the federal city : St. Patrick's in Washington, 1794-1994. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press. pp.  210. ISBN   0813208017. OCLC   29636010.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places;09/24/2015 12:22 PM
  14. ↑ Pope Francis Skips Lunch With Politicians To Be With Homeless In Washington, D.C. Huffington Post;09/24/2015 12:22 PM
  15. ↑ "Blue Mass Honors Fallen Police and Firefighters". Colton City News. City News Group Inc. 2014-10-24. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "Msgr. Thomas B. Dade, was pastor in Riverdale". Baltimore Sun. 1994-11-17. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  17. ↑ MacGregor, Morris J. (1994). A parish for the federal city : St. Patrick's in Washington, 1794-1994. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press. pp.  305. ISBN   978-0813208015. OCLC   29636010.
  18. ↑ "LOCAL PARISH HAS "BLUE MASS" TO HONOR AND PRAY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS: POLICE, FIRE AND MEDICAL". Saint David of Wales Catholic parish. 2014-09-01. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.