About Holy Redeemer · Washington, District of Columbia
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church is a historic parish in Northwest Washington, D.C., located at 206 New York Avenue, NW, in the Archdiocese of Washington. Founded in 1919 by more than 200 African-American Catholic families who had previously worshipped at St. Aloysius Gonzaga and were seeking a church of their own, it was canonically established in 1922 and dedicated by Archbishop Michael J. Curley in October of that year. For its first 75 years the parish was staffed by the Josephite Fathers (SSJ), the religious order founded to serve Black Catholics in the United States; since 1994 it has been led by Rev. David A. Bava. The parish remains an active, faith-filled community offering daily and Sunday Mass, faith formation for children and adults, Eucharistic adoration, a novena on Mondays, and a range of liturgical and outreach ministries rooted in more than a century of Black Catholic life in the nation's capital.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- The Most Holy Redeemer (Jesus Christ, the Redeemer)
- Rector
- Rev. David A. Bava
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Holy Redeemer offers daily and Sunday Mass in a small, faithful downtown parish where members know one another by name. Worshippers can take part in a novena each Monday, Eucharistic adoration on First Fridays and Tuesdays, the rosary before Sunday Mass, RCIA, faith formation for children and adults, baptism preparation classes, and a range of liturgical and outreach ministries — all rooted in more than a century of Black Catholic heritage and the historic welcome of the former St. Aloysius Gonzaga community that joined the parish in 2012.
Mass times at Holy Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday, 6:45 PM (after the 6:00 PM Mass, until confessions have ended)
Adoration times
- First Friday, 5:00 – 6:00 PM
Parish Identity & Mission
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church describes itself as a 'sharing, Faith-filled family, guided by the light and love of Jesus, the Redeemer.' Its mission is to imitate Christ — to show love where no love exists, to offer compassion, to provide hope, to share the Catholic Faith, and to invite all to follow Jesus. Located in downtown Washington, D.C., the parish draws longtime Black Catholic families, newer downtown residents, and former members of St. Aloysius Gonzaga who joined the community in 2012.
History
More than 200 Black Catholic families in Northwest Washington, then worshipping at St. Aloysius Gonzaga, petitioned Cardinal James Gibbons in 1919 to establish their own church. The Josephite Fathers (SSJ) were assigned to organize it; the property on New York and New Jersey Avenues NW cost $30,000 (all borrowed) and the building cost another $80,000. St. Katharine Drexel gave the first major gift of $8,000 in 1921. Archbishop Michael J. Curley dedicated the Church of the Holy Redeemer in October 1922, and by 1947 the parish had grown to nearly 5,000 members. The Josephites served for 75 years until the priest shortage forced their withdrawal in 1994; the Archdiocese of Washington then assigned Rev. David A. Bava as pastor in 1995. The parish celebrated its centennial in 2022 with a Mass by the Cardinal and the groundbreaking of an annex.
- 1919 — founding petition to Cardinal Gibbons by 200+ Black Catholic families
- 1921 — first major gift of $8,000 from Mother Katharine Drexel
- October 1922 — church dedicated by Archbishop Michael J. Curley
- 1947 — 25th anniversary; parish near 5,000 members
- 1955 — Holy Redeemer Grade School opens under Rev. Joseph Conner, SSJ
- 1972 — 50th anniversary celebrated on May 25
- 1994 — Josephite Fathers withdraw; Archdiocese of Washington assumes responsibility
- January 1995 — Rev. David A. Bava becomes first diocesan pastor
- 2007 — school becomes a University of Notre Dame Magnificat School
- 2010 — Holy Redeemer Catholic School closes
- Fall 2012 — receives former members of St. Aloysius Gonzaga parish
- 2022 — centennial Mass and annex groundbreaking
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. David A. Bava, who also serves as Coordinator of Religious Education. He is assisted by two permanent deacons and a small lay staff that handles parish administration, faith formation, and facilities. The staff combines continuity (a pastor in place for nearly 30 years) with active faith-formation leadership.
- Pastor: Rev. David A. Bava (also Coordinator of Religious Education)
- Deacon John Robinson
- Deacon Willis Daniels
- Business Manager: Jean K. Lowe
- Parish Business Officer: Lisa Missenda
- Secretary: Janet Rollins
- Faith Formation Director: Peggy Sklar
- Facilities Manager: Ray Ford Brown
Mass & Sacramental Schedule
The parish offers three Sunday Masses (Saturday Vigil at 5:30 PM, Sunday at 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM), a daily 6:00 PM Mass Monday through Friday, and a Saturday morning Mass at 8:15 AM. Holy Day Masses are celebrated at 6:00 PM. Confessions are heard Monday through Friday at 6:45 PM, following the evening Mass.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Holy Redeemer is overseen by the pastor (Rev. David A. Bava) as Coordinator of Religious Education and by Faith Formation Director Peggy Sklar. Programs span the Catechetical/CCD program for children, an Adult Faith Formation track, RCIA for those seeking initiation, and Baptism Preparation. The parish has historically emphasized both the religious education and the secular education of its members — a vision that traces back to Mother Katharine Drexel's original gift.
- CCD Catechists (children's religious education)
- Adult Faith Formation
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Baptism Preparation Classes — second Monday in March, July, and November
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
Ministries & Groups
Parish life is organized around two commissions — Evangelization/Education and Sanctification (liturgy) — plus a number of individual ministries. Members serve as Eucharistic ministers, lectors, CCD teachers and aides, baptism-prep team members, adorers, welcomers, and young adult ministry leaders. 'Welcome Weekend,' a small-group parish renewal experience formerly run under a different name, was relaunched in the 2017–2018 parish year.
- Evangelization/Education Commission
- Eucharistic Commission (liturgical ministry)
- Eucharistic Adoration
- CCD Catechists
- Adult Faith Formation
- Baptism Preparation
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Young Adult Ministry
- Welcome Weekend (small-group parish renewal)
- Welcoming Committee
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and regularly offers Baptism Preparation, Eucharist (with First Friday adoration), Confirmation preparation through Faith Formation, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for those seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. Reconciliation is heard every weekday evening after Mass.
- Baptism — required Baptism Prep class for first-time parents
- Eucharist — daily/Sunday Mass and First Friday adoration
- Confirmation — preparation through Faith Formation
- RCIA — adult initiation
- Confession — Monday–Friday, 6:45 PM
Outreach & Community Life
Following the example of its founders, Holy Redeemer continues to emphasize evangelization and service to the surrounding community. The parish's longstanding commitment to Catholic education — from its 1955 school through the 2007 Notre Dame Magnificat School partnership — reflects an enduring mission to form both faith and character in young people. The 2012 merger with St. Aloysius Gonzaga expanded the parish's geographical boundaries and pastoral responsibility.
- Service to the surrounding NW Washington community
- Pastoral oversight extended to former St. Aloysius Gonzaga parishioners (since 2012)
- Historical partnership with the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (Mother Katharine Drexel)
- Partnership with the University of Notre Dame's Magnificat program (2007)
Visit, Contact & Live Stream
The parish rectory is open by phone at 202-347-7510, with email at [email protected]. Sunday Mass is also offered through a live-stream link published on the parish homepage for those who cannot attend in person.
- Address: 206 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001-1232
- Phone: 202-347-7510
- Fax: 202-638-4831
- Email: [email protected]
- Sunday Mass live stream available via the parish homepage
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Frances J. Tobin, SSJ1919–
Josephite priest assigned by Superior General Rev. Louis Pastorelli, SSJ, to meet the founding families and organize the parish; led the planning and construction of the church.
- Rev. Joseph Conner, SSJ
Josephite pastor under whose leadership Holy Redeemer Grade School opened in September 1955.
- Rev. David A. Bava1995–present
First diocesan priest to serve as pastor, assigned by the Archdiocese of Washington after the Josephite Fathers withdrew in 1994; pastor for nearly three decades and the parish's longest-tenured non-Josephite shepherd.