About Dominican House of Studies (Immaculate Conception priory) · Washington, District of Columbia
The Dominican House of Studies, formally the Priory of the Immaculate Conception, is the studium (house of formation) of the Province of St. Joseph of the Order of Preachers, located at 487 Michigan Avenue NE in Washington, D.C., directly across from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It houses both a community of Dominican friars in formation for the priesthood and the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception (PFIC), an ecclesiastical faculty of theology authorized by the Holy See to grant the Bachelor, Licentiate, and Doctorate of Sacred Theology. The priory's life is ordered around the Liturgy of the Hours and daily Mass in the Dominican tradition of prayer, study, and preaching, and the faithful are warmly welcomed to join the friars for these public prayers.
- Established
- 1905
- Patron
- The Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Very Rev. Gregory Schnakenberg, O.P. (Prior)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
The Priory of the Immaculate Conception offers a rare gift: the chance to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and daily Mass alongside a community of Dominican friars whose lives are given to study, preaching, and the pursuit of holiness. The faithful are warmly invited to join the community for Lauds, Mass, Midday Prayer, Vespers, and Compline, to adore the Lord alongside a stable, joyful fraternal community, and to draw on the preaching and pastoral ministry of an order whose charism has shaped Catholic intellectual life for eight centuries. Coming here means slipping into the rhythm of St. Dominic — Veritas (truth) preached in charity — in the heart of Washington, D.C., across from the National Shrine.
Mass times at Dominican House of Studies (Immaculate Conception priory)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Anytime during the day (8:00 AM – 9:00 PM) by request at the Reception desk
History of the Priory
The Dominican House of Studies is the heir of the first studium generale of the Dominican Order in the United States, founded by Fr. Nicholas Dominic Young, O.P., at Somerset, Ohio, in 1834. After decades of discussion, the Province determined to move the studium to be near the new Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and was chartered as 'the College of the Immaculate Conception' on December 24, 1902. Groundbreaking on the present building took place April 23, 1903, and the community took up residence in 1905. In 1941 the Holy See erected the school as a Pontifical Faculty of Theology. The community in 2025 marked 120 years of life on Michigan Avenue NE.
- 1834 — First Dominican studium generale in the U.S. founded at Somerset, Ohio
- 1902 — Incorporated in D.C. as 'the College of the Immaculate Conception'
- 1903 — Groundbreaking on Bunker Hill Road (now Michigan Avenue NE)
- 1905 — Community moves to Washington
- 1941 — Designated a Pontifical Faculty of Theology by the Holy See
- 1967 — Founding member of the Washington Theological Consortium
- 1970s — ATS and Middle States accreditation; M.Div. awarded
- 1993 — M.A. in Theology accredited
- 1996 — Absorbs faculty after closings of Oblate College and De Sales Hall
- 1988 — Corporate name changed to 'Dominican House of Studies'
- 2005–2006 — Centennial year in Washington
- 2021 — 80 years of pontifical teaching
- 2025 — 120 years of Dominican life on Michigan Avenue
About the Dominican Order
The Dominican House of Studies belongs to the Order of Preachers (Ordo Praedicatorum), founded by St. Dominic de Guzman and formally approved by Pope Honorius III on December 22, 1216. From its inception the Order has united intellectual formation with the religious life, placing the training of preachers within a stable community given to liturgical prayer, regular observance, and fraternal charity. St. Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225–1274) shaped the Order's theological heritage, and his thought remains the privileged teacher of the house.
- Founded by St. Dominic de Guzman (c. 1171–1221)
- Approved by Pope Honorius III on December 22, 1216
- St. Thomas Aquinas as privileged teacher
- Province of St. Joseph — the priory's mother province in the United States
The Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception
The Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception (PFIC) is the academic school of the Dominican House of Studies, operating under the Apostolic Constitution Veritatis Gaudium and accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. It serves Dominican seminarians, other religious, and lay men and women, both Catholic and non-Catholic, and shares the fruits of its scholarship through the Dominican Theological Library, the journal The Thomist, and the Thomistic Institute.
- Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.)
- Licentiate of Sacred Theology (S.T.L.)
- Doctor of Sacred Theology (S.T.D.)
- Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
- Master of Arts in Theology (M.A.)
- The Thomist — peer-reviewed journal of philosophy and theology
- Dominican Theological Library
- Thomistic Institute (public outreach and evangelization)
Faculty Leadership
The priory and faculty are governed by a structure of personal and collegial authorities under the Master of the Dominican Order. The Vice Chancellor is the Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Joseph; the President is appointed by the Holy See; the Prior serves as the head of the resident community of friars.
- Chancellor — Very Rev. Gerard Timoner III, O.P. (Master of the Order)
- Vice Chancellor — Very Rev. Allen Moran, O.P.
- President — Very Rev. Thomas Petri, O.P.
- Prior (community head) — Very Rev. Gregory Schnakenberg, O.P.
- Vice President & Academic Dean — Very Rev. Dominic Langevin, O.P.
- Secretary of Studies — Rev. Brian P. Chrzastek, O.P.
Community Life & Prayer Schedule
The priory's daily horarium centers on the Liturgy of the Hours and the Eucharist. The community's Marian devotion finds visible expression in the daily Rosary. The current Priory of the Immaculate Conception recently marked 120 years of Dominican life and 80 years of pontifical teaching.
- Sunday schedule (academic year): 8:30 AM Office of Readings, 11:15 AM Mass, 5:20 PM Rosary, 5:35 PM Vespers, 9:00 PM Compline
- Monday–Friday schedule (academic year): 7:00 AM Lauds, 7:20 AM Mass, 12:00 Noon Rosary & Sext, 5:30 PM Office of Readings & Vespers, 9:00 PM Compline (Mon–Thu only)
- Saturday schedule: 7:30 AM Lauds, 7:50 AM Mass, 12:00 Noon Office of Readings & Sext, 5:20 PM Rosary & Vespers
- Summer schedule (approx. May 25 – Aug 7): 7:30 AM Lauds / 7:50 AM Mass / 12:00 Noon Rosary & Sext / 5:30 PM Office of Readings & Vespers / 7:00 PM Compline (Mon–Thu)
Visiting the Priory
The faithful are warmly invited to join the Dominican community at any of the public liturgical prayer times listed on the dhspriory.org prayer page. A receptionist welcomes guests beginning at 6:30 AM on weekdays (and 7:00–7:30 AM Saturday) so that those attending Morning Prayer and Mass can be admitted promptly; Saturday arrivals after 7:30 AM must wait until 7:45 to enter.
- Reception desk staffed weekdays from 6:30 AM for Morning Prayer and Mass
- Saturday reception: 7:00–7:30 AM (Morning Prayer) and again ~7:45 AM (Mass)
- Confessions available on request during the day (approx. 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM)
- Special Mass intentions: see dhspriory.org prayer page
- Slight adjustments on holy days, Christmas break, and special occasions — see News section
Facilities & Setting
The Gothic Revival building designed by A. O. Von Herbulis has housed the community since 1905 and sits in the heart of the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington. The priory is directly across the street from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and adjacent to The Catholic University of America, continuing the Order's centuries-old practice of locating its studia near major universities.
- Address: 487 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20017
- Phone: (202) 529-5300 — Fax: (202) 636-4460
- Architect: A. O. Von Herbulis
- Style: Gothic
- Adjacent to The Catholic University of America
- Across from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception