About Incarnation · Washington, District of Columbia
Church of the Incarnation is a historic Catholic parish in the Deanwood neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C., founded in 1914 by a small Black Catholic community that first worshipped at Moses Masonic Hall on Lane Place, NE. The parish has been served by the Josephite Fathers (SSJ) since 1924, when Archbishop Michael J. Curley placed it under their care and appointed Fr. Michael Gumbleton, SSJ, as its first resident pastor. The parish is canonically established as of 1925 and today is a welcoming, multi-national faith community in the Archdiocese of Washington, where Mass is celebrated in English, Eucharistic adoration is offered Tuesday through Friday, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed on the third Sunday of each month.
- Established
- 1914
- Patron
- The Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ
- Rector
- Fr. Stephen R. Sohe, S.S.J.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Incarnation is a welcoming, multi-national parish in Deanwood whose history stretches back to 1914, and where longtime Black Catholic families now pray side-by-side with newcomers from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nicaragua, and beyond. Members encounter weekly Eucharistic adoration Tuesday through Friday, the Divine Mercy Chaplet on the third Sunday of each month, an OCIA process for those exploring the Catholic faith, and a vibrant choir led under the current pastor. The parish is wheelchair accessible and sits just off the Deanwood Metro on the Orange Line, making it easy to visit, and it offers Bible study and seasonal faith-building activities rooted in the Church year.
Mass times at Incarnation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday – Friday, after the 8:00 AM Mass
- 3rd Sunday of the month, after the 10:00 AM Mass (until 12:00 PM)
History of the Church of the Incarnation
The parish's story begins in Deanwood, where roughly fifteen to twenty Black Catholic families — including several from Fairmount Heights, MD, and two from Kenilworth — began gathering for Mass at Moses Masonic Hall on Lane Place, NE, supported by Fr. Francis A. Schwallenberg and Fr. Ferdinand Zumbush of St. Margaret's Church. With a building fund in place, contractor Bing Hayes built a church on Browning Place (now 46th Street) and Archbishop Michael J. Curley of Baltimore–Washington laid the cornerstone in September 1914. In 1924 Archbishop Curley entrusted the parish to the Josephite Fathers, naming Fr. Michael Gumbleton, SSJ, as its first resident pastor; the parish was canonically established in 1925. Under Fr. Patrick Bradley, SSJ, growth led to the 1956 groundbreaking that produced St. Luke Catholic Church, and in 1957 Archbishop O'Boyle began planning the parish's current home on Eastern Avenue, NE. The parish marked its 100th anniversary on September 15, 2024, with Cardinal Wilton Gregory celebrating Mass under the theme 'Standing on the Promises.'
- Cornerstone laid September 1914 on Browning Place, NE
- Canonically established 1925
- Mother parish of St. Luke Catholic Church (groundbreaking 1956)
- Current Eastern Avenue, NE campus planned by Archbishop O'Boyle, September 22, 1957
- 75th Anniversary (1999): '75 Years, Living the Word Incarnate' — committee chaired by Jerome Brigham, Sr.
- 100th Anniversary (Sept. 15, 2024): Mass celebrated by Cardinal Wilton Gregory
Our Pastor
Fr. Stephen R. Sohe, SSJ, has served as pastor of the Church of the Incarnation since 2021. He began priestly formation in Nigeria at St. Joseph the Worker Formation House and the Missionary of St. Paul Major Seminary before completing theological studies at Washington Theological Union and The Catholic University of America. He was ordained on June 1, 2013 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and previously served as pastor in Mobile, Alabama (2013–2017) and Houston, Texas (2017–2021). In addition to his pastoral leadership at Incarnation, Fr. Sohe serves as Treasurer of the Josephite Society.
- Ordained: June 1, 2013 — Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
- Previous assignments: Mobile, AL (2013–2017); Houston, TX (2017–2021)
- Role with the Josephites: Treasurer of the Josephite Society
Parish Staff & Deacons
Beyond the pastor and deacons, the parish is supported by an administrative assistant and a religious education team that handles faith formation, sacramental preparation, and the OCIA process. The parish website's staff page lists a Director of Religious Education (DRE) and a Ministries & Organizations Representatives team, with email addresses dedicated to Faith Formation ([email protected]) and Parish Administration & Operations ([email protected]).
- Deacon Joseph E. Bell
- Deacon William Michael Greenfield
- Barbara A. Luther — Director of Religious Education (DRE)
- Kathy Perry — Administrative Assistant
- Rosalind Chatman — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Ministries & Organizations Representatives — listed on the parish staff page
Faith Formation & OCIA
The parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for those exploring the Catholic faith, including unbaptized and uncatechized adults, as well as baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation and Eucharist. The parish emphasizes sponsorship of catechumens as a way for parishioners to enrich another person's life — and their own — and encourages anyone interested to contact the parish office. Religious education for children and youth is coordinated through the parish's Director of Religious Education and Coordinator of Religious Education.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Faith Formation / Religious Education for children and youth
- Biblical study (started under Fr. Sohe)
- Sacramental preparation through the parish office
Community Outreach & Connection
The parish's homepage highlights 'Community Outreach & Connect' as a core ministry, reflecting Incarnation's long tradition as a spiritual hub for Black Catholic families in Northeast Washington. Under Fr. Sohe, the parish has emphasized internal evangelization — what he calls 'our way of internal evangelization' — building community through Bible study, seasonal faith-building activities, and a more lively music program led by the choir at Masses. The parish is also listed by the Archdiocese of Washington as hosting a Young Adult Community, with its own Facebook group and Instagram presence.
- Community Outreach & Connect (ministry area listed on homepage)
- Young Adult Community (facebook.com/groups/COTI.YAM, Instagram @incarnationdc)
- Vibrant choir and music ministry under Fr. Sohe
- Seasonal faith-building activities tied to the Church year
Plan a Visit — Location & Accessibility
The parish sits at 880 Eastern Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20019, in the Deanwood neighborhood. It is located 1.5 miles east of DC-295 (Kenilworth Avenue) on Eastern Avenue between Division Avenue and Martin Luther King Highway, and is served by the Deanwood Metro station on the Orange Line, making it accessible by public transit. The building is wheelchair accessible, and visitors can call the parish office at 202-396-0942 for more information or to confirm Mass and confession times.
- Address: 880 Eastern Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20019
- Phone: 202-396-0942
- Fax: 202-396-6064
- Email: [email protected]
- Nearest Metro: Deanwood (Orange Line)
- Wheelchair accessible
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael Gumbleton, SSJ1924 –
First resident pastor; invited the Oblate Sisters from Baltimore to teach Sunday school; rectory completed December 1924.
- Fr. Joseph Kelly1942 – 1943
- Fr. Michael Nearyone year
- Fr. Patrick Bradley, SSJ1949 –
Shepherded the parish as it expanded; oversaw groundbreaking on March 16, 1956 that led to St. Luke Catholic Church.
- Fr. Francis Dynan, SSJ1957 – 1961
- Fr. Thomas Cantwell, SSJ1961 – 1962
- Fr. Bartholomew Hines, SSJ1962 – 1969
- Fr. Warren Meehan, SSJ1969 – 1975
Organized the Parish Council and engaged the parish in activities.
- Fr. Charles McMahon, SSJ1979 – 1983
- Fr. Bartholomew Endslow, SSJ1983 – 1990
- Fr. Joseph DelVecchio1984 – 1991
Associate pastor.
- Fr. Lowell Case, SSJ1990 – 1996
Fostered significant spiritual growth before transfer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
- Fr. Joseph Macek, SSJ1996 – 2000
Retired U.S. Navy chaplain; led the parish's 75th Anniversary in 1999, theme '75 Years, Living the Word Incarnate.'
- Fr. John Carroll, SSJ2000 – June 2021
Ordained a Josephite on June 4, 1966; managed parish resources; retired June 2021; died November 20, 2021.
- Fr. Stephen R. Sohe, SSJ2021 – present
Ordained June 1, 2013 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; previously pastor in Mobile, AL (2013–2017) and Houston, TX (2017–2021); Treasurer of the Josephite Society.