About Saint Francis Xavier · Washington, District of Columbia
Saint Francis Xavier is a Roman Catholic parish in the Southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C., canonically established in 1924 and entrusted to the care of the Archdiocese of Washington. The parish serves the Hillcrest, Penn Branch, Benning, and Twining neighborhoods from its home at 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, where the current brick church — designed by the firm of Murphy and Olmsted and completed in 1937 — replaced an earlier wood-frame mission church. Originally an Italian-American congregation, St. Francis Xavier grew to be one of the largest parishes in Southeast Washington and gave rise to nearby Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish; today it is a small, predominantly Black, ethnically diverse faith family of roughly 100 active members, with a parish school (St. Francis Xavier Academy) and a year-round rhythm of devotions that includes weekly Mass, Saturday confession, first-Saturday adoration, and a Tuesday Miraculous Medal novena.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier (1506–1552), Jesuit missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus, patron saint of missionaries
- Rector
- Fr. Ebuka Mbanude (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier is a small, tight-knit parish where, in the words of its recent pastor, 'we are rooted in professionalism and dedication' and where the priest 'knows your name.' Members are drawn by a faithful devotional life — daily Mass four mornings a week, a Saturday Vigil Mass, weekly confession, first-Saturday Eucharistic Adoration, the Miraculous Medal novena, and the rosary before every weekend Mass — as well as by strong fellowship through the Knights of Columbus (Bishop Patrick J. Byrne Council #3877), a parish food pantry, the Solidarity ministry, lectors and Eucharistic ministers, and an International Day celebration that brings together the Caribbean, African, Italian, and South Asian families who make up the parish.
Mass times at Saint Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (in the confessional in back of church)
- By appointment — call the parish office at 202-582-5021 or email the pastor
Adoration times
- First Saturday only, 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Parish History and Centennial
St. Francis Xavier Parish was canonically established in 1924, carved out of St. Teresa of Avila Parish to serve the growing Catholic population east of the Anacostia River. The first church was a simple wood-frame mission building constructed largely through the labor of parishioners under founding pastor Rev. Msgr. Joseph E. Buckley, who had been campaigning for a church in the area since 1923. As Anacostia filled with new homes after the construction of the Sousa Bridge, the present brick church at 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue SE was designed by Murphy and Olmsted and completed in 1937; the parish school followed in 1939. By mid-century the parish was so large that, in 1948, Msgr. Buckley founded the mission of Our Lady Queen of Peace to relieve overcrowding.
- 1924 — Parish canonically established; Rev. Msgr. Joseph E. Buckley named founding pastor
- 1937 — Present church building completed (Murphy and Olmsted, architects)
- 1939 — St. Francis Xavier Catholic School opens under Msgr. Buckley
- March 4, 1940 — School dedicated by Baltimore Archbishop Michael J. Curley
- 1948 — Msgr. Buckley founds Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish
- 2008 — School restructured and renamed St. Francis Xavier Catholic Academy
- December 2023 — Cardinal Wilton Gregory opens centennial year
- December 1, 2024 — Cardinal Gregory celebrates closing Mass of the centennial jubilee
Parish Identity and Community
Originally an Italian-American parish, St. Francis Xavier gradually welcomed African American parishioners and today is a small, predominantly Black, ethnically diverse faith community of roughly 100 active members drawn from the Hillcrest, Penn Branch, Benning, and Twining neighborhoods, as well as immigrant families from the Caribbean, Africa, and South Asia. The parish celebrates its international character each year with an International Day festival featuring tables representing the different cultural communities. Active laypeople include Eucharistic ministers, lectors, choir members, Knights, and committee volunteers who keep the parish running.
- Founding ethnic community: Italian American
- Current members drawn from Hillcrest, Penn Branch, Benning, Twining
- International Day celebration highlights global diversity
- Active ministries include lectors, Eucharistic ministers, choir, decorating committee, and Solidarity ministry
Architecture and Sacred Spaces
The present church, completed in 1937, was designed by the Washington architectural firm of Murphy and Olmsted, prolific designers of Catholic churches in the District who also worked on the Franciscan Monastery complex and several parish churches in Brookland. Exterior features include heavy wooden doors described by parishioners as 'reminiscent of fine churches in Spain' and a carved stone tympanum above the main entrance depicting a sailing vessel — a fitting image for a parish named for St. Francis Xavier, the great Jesuit maritime missionary. Inside, the church is noted for its stained-glass windows.
- Architect: Murphy and Olmsted (Washington, D.C.)
- Year completed: 1937
- Spanish-style wooden main doors
- Stone tympanum above entrance carved with a sailing vessel
- Stained-glass windows
- Wheelchair accessible
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is currently administered by Fr. Ebuka Mbanude, with Fr. Francisco 'Kiko' Rodriquez serving as Parochial Vicar and Deacon William Hawkins assisting. Lay staff include Beverly Epps (parish secretary), Jerilyn Payton (Coordinator of Religious Education), and Antonio Espinal (Director of Liturgy & Music).
- Administrator — Fr. Ebuka Mbanude
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Francisco 'Kiko' Rodriquez
- Deacon — Deacon William Hawkins
- Secretary — Beverly Epps
- Coordinator of Religious Education — Jerilyn Payton
- Director of Liturgy & Music — Antonio Espinal
St. Francis Xavier Academy
St. Francis Xavier Catholic School was established in 1939 under Msgr. Joseph E. Buckley's leadership and was dedicated by Baltimore Archbishop Michael J. Curley on March 4, 1940. Originally staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame, the school reached an enrollment of more than 1,000 students at its peak. It became part of the Archdiocese of Washington's Center City Consortium in 1997 and was restructured in 2008 as St. Francis Xavier Catholic Academy. Today the academy serves Pre-K through Grade 8 from its campus at 2700 O Street SE, one block from the parish church, and is a member of the Consortium of Catholic Academies.
- Founded: 1939 (dedicated March 4, 1940)
- Originally taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame under Principal Sister M. Anastasia, S.N.D.
- Current principal: Harold L. Thomas, Jr.
- Grades served: Pre-K through 8
- Location: 2700 O Street SE, Washington, DC 20020
- Phone: 202-581-2010
- Member of the Consortium of Catholic Academies (CCA)
- Website: stfrancisxaviercadc.com
Parish Ministries and Fellowship
St. Francis Xavier has a small but committed corps of ministries and lay groups that keep the parish alive. The Knights of Columbus' Bishop Patrick J. Byrne Council #3877 is a longstanding presence, and the parish operates a food pantry led by volunteers including longtime members Kathy Burton and Arnold McNeil. The Solidarity ministry, the Bereavement ministry (historically called the Lazarus Committee), lectors, Eucharistic ministers, the choir, the decorating committee, and the religious education program all draw active members.
- Knights of Columbus — Bishop Patrick J. Byrne Council #3877
- Parish Food Pantry
- Solidarity Ministry
- Bereavement / Lazarus Committee
- Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers
- Choir and Music Ministry
- Religious Education (Coordinator: Jerilyn Payton)
- Decorating Committee
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Joseph E. Buckley1924–
Founding pastor; campaigned for the church as early as 1923 and helped build the first wood-frame mission church with his parishioners; also founded nearby Our Lady Queen of Peace in 1948 and established St. Francis Xavier School in 1939.
- Rev. Msgr. William Kelly
Served as pastor.
- Rev. Msgr. Francis Loughran
Served as pastor.
- Rev. James Boccabella
Served as pastor.
- Rev. David Bava
Served as pastor.
- Rev. Gregory Butta
Served as pastor.
- Rev. Mark Cusick
Served as pastor.
- Rev. Harry Echle
Served as pastor.
- Rev. Tony D'Souza
Served as pastor; under his leadership the parish observed its centennial jubilee in 2024.
- Fr. Ebuka Mbanude
Current Administrator.