About Saint Dominic · Washington, District of Columbia
St. Dominic Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Southwest Washington, D.C., canonically established in 1852 and opened for worship on March 19, 1854. It is administered by the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans) of the Province of St. Joseph, making it the only Dominican parish in the nation's capital and the spiritual home of the Dominican community in the D.C. area. The parish sits three blocks south of the National Mall near L'Enfant Plaza and historically has ministered to farmers, slaves, free Black residents, and the Southwest neighborhood as far back as the 1850s. Its mission is to preach the Gospel, make disciples, glorify God through the Eucharist and Sacraments, build up the communion of the Church, and serve others through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
- Established
- 1852
- Patron
- Saint Dominic de Guzmán (founder of the Order of Preachers / Dominicans)
- Rector
- Fr. George P. Schommer, O.P.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Dominic offers the rare gift of full Catholic–Dominican liturgical life in the heart of the capital: daily Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours (Lauds and Vespers), abundant confession times, Thursday evening Eucharistic adoration, the daily rosary, and multiple shrines for prayer — including the National Rosary Shrine of St. Jude and a relic cornerstone from Washington, D.C.'s first Catholic chapel. The parish combines serious preaching and Dominican tradition with hands-on outreach (So Others Might Eat, P24, homebound visits), lay discipleship communities (Young Adults, Cenacle, Third Order), and centuries of serving Southwest D.C. — making it an ideal spiritual home for residents, Hill staffers, federal workers, students, and visitors who want a vibrant parish within walking distance of the National Mall.
Mass times at Saint Dominic
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM
- Monday 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
- Tuesday 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
- Wednesday 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
- Thursday 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
- Thursday 7:00 PM – 7:45 PM
- Friday 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
About St. Dominic Parish
St. Dominic Catholic Church is a Christ-centered, Roman Catholic, and Dominican parish for the people of Southwest Washington, D.C., and beyond. Its mission is to preach the Gospel and make disciples, glorify God through the Eucharist and the other Sacraments, build up the communion of the Church, and serve others through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Its vision is to be 'A Vibrant Community of Disciples of the Risen Lord Jesus.'
- Canonically established 1852; opened March 19, 1854
- Only Dominican parish in Washington, D.C.
- Parish in the Archdiocese of Washington served by the Order of Preachers
History of St. Dominic
Founded in 1852 by the Dominican Fathers of the Province of St. Joseph and organized by Fr. George A.J. Wilson, O.P., the parish opened its doors on March 19, 1854, in an area known as 'The Island.' A larger church was dedicated on June 13, 1875, by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley. In 1885, fire destroyed the church's interior, which the community rebuilt with help from Catholic and non-Catholic neighbors; the Hilborne Roosevelt organ was installed in 1887. Mid-20th-century urban renewal wiped out the priory, school, and convent for the building of I-395, and the present-day chapel and priory residence were dedicated after ground was broken in 1960.
- 1852 — Canonically established; Dominicans purchase Square 466 land from Georgetown College for $5,055
- 1854 — Parish opens for worship (March 19)
- 1875 — Larger sanctuary dedicated by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley (June 13)
- 1885 — Interior destroyed by fire; community rebuilds within months
- 1887 — Hilborne Roosevelt organ installed
- 1948 — Directs integration of Catholic schools and activities under Cardinal O'Boyle
- 1950s–60s — Urban renewal demolishes the old priory, school, and convent for I-395
- 1960 — Ground broken on the present-day chapel and 40-room priory residence
- 1998 — National Rosary Shrine of St. Jude formed by merger of Detroit and Washington Dominican shrines
Dominican Identity
St. Dominic is staffed by the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph and rooted in the 800-year-old preaching mission of the Order of Preachers. The parish and attached priory together form one of the most visible Dominican presences in the United States. A center for assisted living for aged friars operates on-site as part of the priory.
- Parish administered by the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), Province of St. Joseph (Eastern)
- Priory and Dominican residence located behind the church
- Daily Liturgy of the Hours (Lauds and Vespers) sung in the Priory Chapel
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the seven Catholic Sacraments, with pages on its website dedicated to Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick and Communion to the Homebound, Funerals, and Blessings. Arrangements are made through the parish office.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick & Communion to the Homebound
- Funerals
- Blessings
Faith Formation
Faith formation is offered for both adults and children through the parish, with programming rooted in the Dominican tradition of study, prayer, community, and preaching. Adult opportunities link into lay discipleship communities like the Cenacle and St. Dominic's Young Adults.
- Adult Faith Formation
- Children's Faith Formation / Religious Education
- RCIA (implied via adult formation)
- Ongoing adult discipleship groups
Lay Discipleship Communities
Several lay-led groups give the parish its rhythm of formation and fellowship. They gather weekly, monthly, or on special feast days for study, prayer, service, and fraternity.
- Saint Dominic Young Adults — begun Oct 1, 2015 (feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux)
- St. Dominic Cenacle — adult discipleship group begun 2017
- Dominican Third Order (Laity) — monthly meetings, chapter moderated by Fr. Bede Shipps, O.P.
- Knights of Columbus — O'Boyle Council (DC) and Hickey Assembly meet at the parish
Service & Outreach
The parish is engaged in a variety of local social and service activities that put Dominican preaching into practice in Southwest D.C. and beyond.
- So Others Might Eat (SOME) — partnership to serve the hungry
- Visitation of the Sick and Homebound
- The Proverbs 24 Community (P24)
- Knights of Columbus charity and faith-based investing (O'Boyle Council & Hickey Assembly)
Shrines & Devotional Life
The church is rich in shrines associated with Dominican spirituality and the Catholic history of Washington, D.C. Each shrine is a focus of prayer and pilgrimage within the parish.
- Our Lady of the Rosary — smaller altar to the right of the grand altar, depicting the Blessed Mother giving the rosary to St. Dominic
- St. Joseph — smaller altar to the left of the grand altar
- Lourdes Shrine ('New' Lourdes Shrine, erected in memory of Rev. Charles H. McKenna, O.P.)
- St. Martin de Porres — sculpture by Dominican artist Thomas McGlynn, O.P.; blessed Feb 6, 2018, in memory of former pastor Fr. Norman Haddad, O.P.
- National Rosary Shrine of St. Jude — combined Dominican Rosary Shrine (1998)
Architecture, Windows & Organ
The 1875 church form was retained after the 1885 fire and reconstruction. Its 24 stained glass windows trace the significant life events of St. Dominic of Osma, founder of the Dominican Order. The historic Hilborne Roosevelt organ (1887, Roosevelt Organ Works) anchors the parish's strong musical tradition.
- 24 stained-glass windows depicting the life of St. Dominic
- Hilborne Roosevelt organ (1887, Roosevelt Organ Works — cousin of President Theodore Roosevelt)
- Engraved dark sandstone cornerstone from St. Mary's 'Barry's Chapel' (1806), set at the south entrance
Staff & Councils
The parish is led by the Dominican friars and supported by a dedicated lay staff, a Parish Council, and a Finance Council.
- Pastor: Fr. George P. Schommer, O.P.
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Bede Shipps, O.P.
- Music Director & Worship Coordinator: JC Cantrell
- Ensemble Accompanist: Mary Lou Cantrell
- Business & Facilities Manager: Ed Von Hagel
- Pastoral Associate: Margaret Maxwell
- Parish Council members: Philip Clarke, Tim Lang, Carrie Traverso, Maggie Smith, Jay Hurst, Fr. George Schommer OP, Doris Stukes, Susan Timoney
- Finance Council members: Michael Grace, Thomas Bolger, Fr. George Schommer OP, Josef Neusser, Eileen Lyons, MJ Morrow, Carol Pica
Pastors & rectors through the years
- George P. Schommer, O.P.2022–present
Returned as pastor after a previous stint 2011–2018; native of Detroit; ordained at St. Dominic's in 1994.
- Jordan Turano, O.P.2020–2022
Dominican friar.
- Hyacinth Marie Cordell, O.P.2018–2020
Also previously served as Parochial Vicar.
- George P. Schommer, O.P.2011–2018
First tenure; later served as founding director of the Dominican Friars Foundation and now pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Philadelphia.
- Norman Francis Haddad, O.P.1981–1993
Memorialized with the St. Martin de Porres shrine blessed in 2018.
- Charles McKenna, O.P.1975
Memorialized with the Lourdes Shrine plaque.
- John A. Nowlen, O.P.1964
Also served as Prior.
- F.X. Finnegan, O.P.1957
- Andrew M. Whelan, O.P.1952–53
- James B. Hinch1907
- J.C. Kent, O.P.1902
- E.D. Donnelly, O.P.1888
- Fr. Rochford1877–1881
Preached the sermon praying for President Garfield in 1881.
- J. A. Bokel1865
- George Augustine Joseph Wilson1852–1867
Founding pastor of the parish.