The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Washington, D.C., United States

America's Catholic capital, home to the largest church in North America, a Jubilee Year pilgrimage site, and the cathedral where President Kennedy's funeral Mass was celebrated.

In the nation's capital, where monuments to presidents and patriots line the National Mall, a different kind of pilgrimage awaits—one that draws nearly a million faithful each year to sites that rival the great sanctuaries of Europe. Washington, D.C., seat of American political power, is also home to the largest Catholic church in North America, a national shrine designated for the 2025 Jubilee Year, and the cathedral where a grieving nation bid farewell to its first Catholic president. The Catholic story here predates the city itself. When Bishop John Carroll—cousin of the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence—founded Georgetown College in 1789, he planted the seeds of what would become America's most visible Catholic presence. Just five years later, St. Patrick's Church rose to serve Irish stonemasons building the White House and Capitol. Today, the Archdiocese of Washington encompasses over 660,000 Catholics across the District and five Maryland counties, with the magnificent Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception standing as the nation's patronal church dedicated to Mary under the title chosen for America in 1846. The Brookland neighborhood alone—sometimes called "Little Rome"—concentrates more Catholic significance per square mile than perhaps anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere: the National Shrine with its 80 chapels representing every Catholic culture on earth, the Saint John Paul II National Shrine with its first-class blood relic of the beloved pope, Catholic University of America founded with papal blessing in 1887, and the Franciscan Monastery with its precise replicas of Holy Land shrines. Whether you're a devout pilgrim seeking the Jubilee indulgence or simply curious about this unexpected sacred landscape in America's political heart, Washington offers encounters with living faith at every turn.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The Catholic presence in what would become the District of Columbia traces back to March 25, 1634, when Jesuit Father Andrew White celebrated the first Catholic Mass in the English-speaking colonies at St. Clement's Island in Maryland. The Province of Maryland had been established by Lord Baltimore as a haven for Catholic refugees from Britain, and this legacy of faith would eventually shape the nation's capital. In 1789, the same year the Constitution was ratified, Father John Carroll secured one acre of land on a Georgetown hilltop overlooking the Potomac and founded what would become America's oldest Catholic university. Four years later, Carroll was named the first Catholic bishop in the United States, with Baltimore as his see. St. Patrick's Church—the first Catholic church in Washington proper—was established in 1794 to minister to the Irish craftsmen building the new capital's government buildings. The vision for a great national shrine to Mary emerged in 1913 when Bishop Thomas Shahan of Catholic University appealed to Pope Pius X for support. The pope contributed $400 (worth approximately $12,000 today) and gave his enthusiastic blessing. On September 23, 1920, ground was broken for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, though the Great Depression and World War II would delay its completion for decades. The Great Upper Church was finally dedicated on November 20, 1959, with thousands of Catholics gathering from across America. The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, meanwhile, had been serving downtown Washington since 1840. The current Renaissance Revival structure, designed by C. Grant LaFarge, opened in 1895 and received its magnificent dome in 1913. When the Archdiocese of Washington was established in 1947 as separate from Baltimore, St. Matthew's became its cathedral. The church gained international attention on November 25, 1963, when Cardinal Richard Cushing celebrated the funeral Mass for President John F. Kennedy before heads of state from around the world. A marble plaque marks where his casket rested. The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America opened in 1899, built by friars who took precise measurements of the holy sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem to create accurate replicas for American Catholics who could not afford the dangerous three-month sea voyage to Palestine. For 125 years, pilgrims have walked through the reproduction of Christ's tomb and prayed in the replica of the Grotto of the Nativity. Papal visits have punctuated Washington's Catholic history: St. John Paul II celebrated Mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral in 1979, Pope Benedict XVI bestowed the rare Golden Rose upon the National Shrine in 2008, and Pope Francis canonized St. Junípero Serra on the grounds of Catholic University in 2015. The basilica was designated a special Jubilee Year 2025 pilgrimage site by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, enabling pilgrims to receive the plenary indulgence.

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Washington, D.C.

The capital's major Catholic sites cluster in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington, within walking distance of each other and the Brookland-CUA Metro station. The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle lies downtown near the White House, and historic Holy Trinity Church anchors Georgetown. Each site offers daily Mass, confession, and opportunities for prayer and reflection.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Address: 400 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20017 GPS Coordinates: 38.9333675, -77.0006569 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: nationalshrine.org Dedication: Immaculate Conception (Patroness of the United States) Historical Note: The largest Catholic church in North America and among the ten largest in the world, the basilica rises 329 feet at its bell tower and covers 77,500 square feet. Built without structural steel—supported entirely by stone, brick, tile, and mortar—it represents one of the largest buildings ever constructed using this method. The Byzantine-Romanesque design features three enormous mosaic domes completed between 2006 and 2017: the Redemption Dome, Incarnation Dome, and the crowning Trinity Dome containing 24 tons of Venetian glass. Spiritual Importance: As the nation's patronal church dedicated to Mary under her title as the Immaculate Conception—proclaimed principal patroness of the United States by Pope Pius IX in 1847—the basilica serves as America's preeminent Marian shrine. Over 80 chapels and oratories represent Catholic peoples from every corner of the globe, from Our Lady of Guadalupe to Our Lady of Częstochowa, Our Lady of La Vang to Our Lady of Antipolo. The Crypt Church houses Pope Paul VI's papal tiara, gifted in 1968, and the Golden Rose bestowed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. Six Masses and five hours of Confession are offered daily. The basilica has been visited by St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and St. Teresa of Calcutta.

Saint John Paul II National Shrine

Address: 3900 Harewood Road NE, Washington, DC 20017 GPS Coordinates: 38.9371, -76.9989 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: jp2shrine.org Dedication: St. John Paul II Historical Note: Originally opened in 2001 as the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, the facility struggled financially after the September 11 attacks reduced tourism. The Knights of Columbus purchased the building in 2011 for $23 million and transformed it into a shrine focused on the life and legacy of the Polish pope. Following John Paul II's canonization on April 27, 2014, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops elevated it to national shrine status. Spiritual Importance: The shrine houses two precious relics: a first-class relic of St. John Paul II's blood contained in a glass ampoule at the center of an ornate reliquary, and a piece of the blood-stained cassock he wore on May 13, 1981, when Mehmet Ali Ağca attempted to assassinate him in St. Peter's Square. The Redemptor Hominis Church seats 500 for Mass amid beautiful mosaic art, while the Luminous Mysteries Chapel offers space for quiet prayer. The 16,000-square-foot permanent exhibit "A Gift of Love: The Life of Saint John Paul II" traces his journey from Karol Wojtyła in Nazi-occupied Poland to the papacy that transformed the world.

Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle

Address: 1725 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 GPS Coordinates: 38.9055, -77.0397 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: stmatthewscathedral.org Dedication: St. Matthew the Apostle (Patron of Civil Servants) Historical Note: The parish was established in 1840, the fourth in the District, and the current church opened in 1895 under the design of C. Grant LaFarge, who also designed St. John the Divine in New York. The Renaissance Revival structure features an octagonal dome rising 190 feet, a 35-foot mosaic of St. Matthew behind the altar by Edwin Blashfield, and walls laden with shimmering mosaics reminiscent of Ravenna. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974, the cathedral underwent extensive restoration from 2000 to 2003. Spiritual Importance: As the mother church of the Archdiocese of Washington, St. Matthew's serves as seat of the archbishop and hosts major Catholic events in the nation's capital. President Kennedy's funeral Mass here on November 25, 1963, drew world leaders and broadcast the cathedral to millions. St. John Paul II celebrated Mass with clergy in 1979, Pope Francis led Midday Prayer with America's bishops in 2015, and St. Teresa of Calcutta visited in 1974—commemorated by a statue of her with a homeless man sculpted by Leonid Bodnia. The famous Red Mass, celebrated annually on the Sunday before the Supreme Court's term begins, gathers justices, members of Congress, Cabinet secretaries, and other government leaders to invoke the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America

Address: 1400 Quincy Street NE, Washington, DC 20017 GPS Coordinates: 38.9396, -76.9928 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: myfranciscan.org Dedication: Holy Sepulchre / Holy Land Historical Note: Founded in 1899 by friars who took precise measurements and photographs of the Holy Land shrines, the monastery was built as "Little Jerusalem" for American Catholics who could not travel to Palestine. Father Godfrey Schilling purchased the hilltop site in 1897 and designed the Memorial Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the shape of a Jerusalem cross, based on the Hagia Sophia. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, the monastery serves as the U.S. home of the Franciscan friars who have guarded the Holy Land shrines for 800 years. Spiritual Importance: The church contains full-size replicas of sacred sites: the Holy Sepulchre (Christ's tomb), the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Grotto of the Annunciation in Nazareth, and the Garden of Gethsemane. The catacombs below replicate the Roman burial passages where early Christians worshipped, complete with relics of St. Benignus of Armagh. The 42-acre grounds include a Lourdes grotto, Stations of the Cross, a replica of the Portiuncula chapel from Assisi, and over 1,000 rose bushes. The Rosary Portico features plaques of the Hail Mary in nearly 200 languages. Free guided tours of the church and catacombs are offered daily. In 2022, the Archdiocese designated the monastery as the sole location for Sunday celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass within Washington.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Address: 3513 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 (Chapel of St. Ignatius); 1301 36th Street NW (main church) GPS Coordinates: 38.9072, -77.0714 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: trinity.org Dedication: Holy Trinity Historical Note: The oldest Roman Catholic parish in continuous operation in Washington, D.C., Holy Trinity was founded in 1787 at the direction of Archbishop John Carroll—the first Catholic bishop in America and founder of Georgetown University. The original church building, completed in 1794, still stands as the Chapel of St. Ignatius. During the Civil War, the larger 1851 church served as a hospital treating over 200 Union soldiers after the Second Battle of Bull Run. Spiritual Importance: This Jesuit parish has served the Georgetown community for over 235 years, including generations of Georgetown University students. The Kennedy family worshipped here, and the church maintains its connection to the Jesuit tradition of intellectual engagement and social justice. The intimate Chapel of St. Ignatius offers a glimpse into early American Catholic worship.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

December 8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. As the patronal feast of the United States and the basilica's titular feast, this holy day of obligation draws thousands of pilgrims for solemn Masses throughout the day beneath the great Trinity Dome. First Sunday of October – Red Mass Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. The annual Red Mass gathers Supreme Court justices in their black robes, members of Congress, Cabinet secretaries, and the diplomatic corps to invoke the Holy Spirit's guidance on those responsible for the administration of justice. The tradition dates to 13th-century Europe; Washington's Red Mass has been celebrated since 1953.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Marriott Marquis Washington, DC ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: 901 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Modern convention hotel near the National Mall with easy Metro access to Brookland shrines. The Fairfax at Embassy Row ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: 2100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Historic boutique hotel walking distance from St. Matthew's Cathedral. Holiday Inn Washington Capitol - National Mall ⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: 550 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Budget-friendly option near the National Mall with rooftop pool and Metro access. Catholic University Conference Center 📍 Address: 620 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20064 🌐 Website: conferences.cua.edu On-campus accommodations at Catholic University, steps from the National Shrine and St. John Paul II Shrine.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is 5 miles south of downtown; Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is 26 miles west. Both have Metro and shuttle connections. By Train: Union Station serves Amtrak routes from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and points south. The Metro Red Line connects Union Station directly to Brookland-CUA (for the shrines) and Farragut North (for St. Matthew's). By Metro: The Brookland-CUA station on the Red Line is a 5-minute walk from the National Shrine, St. John Paul II Shrine, and Franciscan Monastery. Farragut North (Red Line) is two blocks from St. Matthew's Cathedral. Foggy Bottom-GWU (Blue/Orange/Silver) serves Georgetown. By Car: From I-95, take I-395 into the city. Parking is available at the National Shrine (off 4th Street NE) and the Franciscan Monastery (Quincy and 14th Streets NE). Downtown parking is expensive; consider Metro instead.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • Geraldine M. Rohling, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Scala Publishers) – Comprehensive guide to the basilica's art, architecture, and history.
  • George Weigel, Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II (Amazon) – Definitive biography of the saint venerated at the JP2 Shrine.
  • Morris J. MacGregor, A Parish for the Federal City: St. Patrick's in Washington, 1794-1994 – History of Washington's oldest Catholic parish.

Articles & Online Resources:

🎥 Recommended Videos

🔗 Useful Links

✝️ Closing Reflection

"America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men."

— St. Teresa of Calcutta, at the National Prayer Breakfast, Washington, D.C., February 3, 1994

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For the most current Mass schedules, tour times, and special events, please contact the individual shrines and parishes directly or visit their websites.