St. Patrick Catholic Church (Archdiocese of Washington)
St. Patrick Catholic Church is in District of Columbia (United States) and is part of the Archdiocese of Washington.
It is dedicated to Saint Patrick.
| St. Patrick Catholic Church | |
| [[File:|150px|center]] | |
| Dedication: | Saint Patrick |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Archdiocese of Washington |
| Deanery: | Central Washington |
| Address: | 619 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 |
| Coordinates: | 38.9056, -77.0245 |
| City: | Washington, DC |
| Subdivision: | District of Columbia |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | District of Columbia |
| Website: | https://saintpatrickdc.org |
| Founded: | 1794 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | office@saintpatrickdc.org |
History
St. Patrick Catholic Church, established in 1794, holds the distinction of being the oldest Catholic parish in Washington, DC. It was founded by Dominican priest Anthony Caffry, O.P., at the behest of Bishop John Carroll, to serve Irish immigrant stonemasons working on the White House and U.S. Capitol. Initially, Masses were held in rented spaces until a modest wooden chapel was constructed later that year. In 1809, under the leadership of Rev. William Matthews, a larger brick Gothic Revival church was built on the same site, completed and consecrated in 1816. During the War of 1812, Matthews heroically saved the church from destruction when British troops set fire to nearby buildings in 1814, persuading General Robert Ross to spare it. The current church building, with its cornerstone laid in 1872, was completed and dedicated on December 28, 1884, under Rev. Jacob Ambrose Walter. Over the centuries, St. Patrick’s has grown into a vibrant urban parish, notably hosting Pope Francis in 2015 and continuing its legacy with the annual Blue Mass, begun in 1934 to honor first responders.
Special features
- Gothic Revival architecture, featuring intricate stained-glass windows and a historic brick facade from 1884.
- Site of the first Blue Mass in 1934, an annual tradition honoring law enforcement and public safety personnel, celebrated nationwide today.
- Visited by Pope Francis on September 24, 2015, marking a significant moment in its modern history.
- Historical significance as the oldest Catholic parish in Washington, DC, founded in 1794.
- A contributing property to the Downtown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Related parishes
St. Patrick Catholic Church collaborates with nearby parishes in the Archdiocese of Washington, such as the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, for major liturgical events like the Blue Mass and archdiocesan celebrations. It also maintains ties with Holy Rosary Church, located 0.6 miles away, for community outreach initiatives.