About Saint Martin of Tours · Washington, District of Columbia
Saint Martin of Tours is a welcoming, diverse Catholic parish rooted in Washington's Bloomingdale neighborhood, situated at the corner of North Capitol and T Streets NW. The parish was established in 1901 by founding pastor Rev. Eugene Hannon and belongs to the Archdiocese of Washington. It is known for its strong tradition of service to the surrounding community, its acclaimed pipe-organ music and gospel choirs, and an architectural complex that grew in phases from a 1902 parish hall into the present main church of 1939.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- Saint Martin of Tours
- Rector
- Rev. Michael J. Kelley
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Saint Martin's offers a genuinely diverse, Spirit-rooted parish family in the heart of Bloomingdale that welcomes visitors and walks with them into full sacramental life. Liturgical life is rich — a Traditional Choir accompanied by pipe organ at the 9 AM Sunday Mass and a Gospel Choir at the 12 noon Mass — and the parish has strong formation for adults through RCIA and the IMPAC retreat. Membership also means joining a community that is widely recognized for outreach: Social Services and Ladies of Charity hand out clothing, sandwiches and household items, and the parish serves as a Capitol Area Foodbank pantry every Thursday morning.
Mass times at Saint Martin of Tours
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Anytime upon request
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Martin's describes itself as a welcoming, diverse and open parish family, deeply rooted in God's word and open to the Spirit. The parish gives witness to Gospel values by loving and serving one another and by seeking to promote justice and peace to build God's Kingdom, and it centers Christian life on the Eucharist. Visitors are warmly invited to come, fellowship and consider becoming part of the Christian community.
- Mission: witness to Gospel values, justice and peace, building God's Kingdom
- Eucharist celebrated as the center of Christian faith
- Open invitation to visitors and newcomers
History
Established in 1901 with Rev. Eugene Hannon as founding pastor, the parish grew in three building phases: a 1902 parish hall (with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur teaching), a 1913 basement church at North Capitol and T Streets, and the main church of 1939. St. Martin's School served the community from 1920 to 1990. The parish's identity was crystallized in a 1963 newspaper headline: 'St. Martin's Church United by Charity, Dedicated to Service.'
- 1901 — parish established; founding pastor Rev. Eugene Hannon
- 1902 — parish hall built (now the Community Center); school taught by Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
- 1913 — basement church built on the corner of North Capitol and T Streets
- 1939 — main church completed
- 1920–1990 — St. Martin's School in operation
- 1963 — local newspaper headline: 'St. Martin's Church United by Charity, Dedicated to Service.'
Building, Architecture & Stained Glass
Built in phases over time, the complex embraces an eclectic mix of neo-classical Greek and Roman styles. The original 1902 parish hall survives as the Community Center. Visitors and members consistently single out the church's stained-glass windows, especially the circular window in the choir loft whose panels depict St. Martin's life — his time as a Roman soldier, his later life as bishop, and the dream of Christ that led him to leave the military. That window is also engraved with the name of Father Eugene Hannon, the first pastor.
- Neo-classical Greek and Roman eclectic styling
- 1902 parish hall — now Community Center
- 1913 basement church and 1939 main church
- Circular choir-loft stained glass depicting St. Martin's life
- Choir-loft window engraved with name of Fr. Eugene Hannon
Special Mass Calendar
A published annual calendar lays out the parish's full special-Mass schedule, from Christmas Eve through the Easter Vigil, so families can plan the year around the major feasts and solemnities.
- Christmas Eve Family Mass — 5:00 PM
- Christmas Day — 10:00 AM
- New Year's Day — 10:00 AM
- Thanksgiving Day — 10:00 AM
- Ash Wednesday — 7:00 PM
- Palm Sunday — 11:00 AM (only Mass)
- Holy Thursday — 7:30 PM
- Good Friday — 7:30 PM
- Easter Vigil — 7:30 PM
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music is a distinctive strength of St. Martin's. The Traditional Choir leads music at the 9 AM Sunday Mass with the parish pipe organ, while the Gospel Choir leads music at the 12 noon Mass. Beyond music, parishioners serve as Acolytes (Altar Servers), Eucharistic Ministers (who also bring Communion to the sick and shut-ins), Lectors, and Ushers. Training is provided and adults, teens and youth over nine are welcome.
- Traditional Choir — 9 AM Mass with pipe organ; contact Daniel Spruill or Christina Speaks
- Gospel Choir — 12 noon Mass
- Acolytes / Altar Servers (training by Fr. Michael Kelley)
- Eucharistic Ministers (Communion to the sick and shut-ins)
- Lectors (adults and teens; training and books provided)
- Ushers (adults and youth)
Faith Formation: RCIA, IMPAC & Sunday School
Adults seeking to become Catholic, to be baptized, to receive First Holy Communion or to be confirmed join the parish's RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) program, with the sacraments typically celebrated at the Easter Vigil. The class also welcomes returning Catholics and anyone wishing to renew their faith. St. Martin's also offers IMPAC retreats — 'IMProving my Act with Christ' — a healing retreat for anyone whose spiritual journey has taken a detour and wants time to reconnect with God. Children from pre-K through 8th grade may attend Sunday School in the Pioneer Room during the 12 noon Mass.
- RCIA — adults becoming Catholic or completing initiation
- IMPAC Retreats — 'IMProving my Act with Christ'
- Sunday School — Pre-K to 8th grade, Pioneer Room during 12 noon Mass
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a hallmark of St. Martin's, in keeping with the parish's 1963 motto of being 'united by charity, dedicated to service.' Social Services volunteers and the Ladies of Charity distribute clothing, sandwiches and household items from 9:30 to 11:30 AM Monday through Thursday. The parish also serves as a Capitol Area Foodbank pantry, distributing groceries on Thursday mornings, and participates in Share, a nationwide Catholic food program in which patrons contribute $25 and two hours of service in exchange for roughly $45 of food. The Community Center also hosts AA and NA meetings every evening except Friday at 6:30 PM, with additional NA meetings at noon Monday through Friday.
- Social Services & Ladies of Charity — clothing, sandwiches, household items (Mon–Thu, 9:30–11:30 AM)
- Capitol Area Foodbank Pantry — Thursday mornings
- Share food program — sign-up 2nd Sunday, distribution last Saturday
- AA meetings — 6:30 PM daily except Friday (Community Center)
- NA meetings — 6:30 PM daily except Friday; also noon Mon–Fri
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Michael J. Kelley, supported by Deacon Robert White and by Maxine LeGall, who serves as both Pastoral Assistant and Coordinator of Religious Education. Parishioners and visitors can reach the rectory by phone, fax, email or in person at the door under the green awning on North Capitol Street.
- Pastor — Rev. Michael J. Kelley
- Deacon — Deacon Robert White
- Pastoral Assistant & Coordinator of Religious Education — Maxine LeGall
- Rectory Phone — (202) 232-1144
- Deacon White — (202) 743-2479
- Fax — (202) 832-6772
Visit, Register & Stay Connected
Visitors are warmly welcomed, and parishioners are encouraged to register with the parish to receive weekly email announcements and ongoing support. The parish keeps an active events calendar with annual Christmas and Pentecost concerts, a weekly bulletin refreshed on Saturdays, online giving via ParishSOFT and Venmo, and a Facebook presence.
- Parish registration — 'Update and Grow — 2025' link on the website
- Weekly bulletin (refreshed Saturdays)
- Annual Christmas Concert and Pentecost Concert
- Online giving — ParishSOFT and Venmo
- St. Martin's Facebook page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Eugene Hannon1901–
Founding pastor; his name is engraved on the circular stained-glass window in the choir loft.