Saint Mary, Mother of God

About Saint Mary, Mother of God

Saint Mary, Mother of God Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the heart of Chinatown, Washington, D.C., at 727 5th Street NW. Originally organized in 1845 to serve German Catholic immigrants, the parish today is a vibrant community that welcomes three distinct liturgical congregations under one roof — English-speaking Ordinary Form, Traditional Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form, and the Cantonese-speaking Our Lady of China mission — as well as downtown workers who attend the 12:05 pm weekday Mass. Worship at the parish is marked by traditional, beautiful liturgy, faithful daily devotions, and a strong musical tradition.

Parish History

Organized in 1845 in the basement of St. Matthew's Church, St. Mary's was founded for the surge of German Catholic immigrants in Washington. The original community met at 15th and H Streets NW until General John Van Ness donated the present site on 5th Street NW in 1846. The first church was built quickly to satisfy the terms of his deed; the present Gothic church replaced it in 1890–91. Over the decades the parish served German and Italian working-class families, maintained a cemetery, and broadened into a multilingual, multi-ritual community that today includes the Traditional Latin Mass community (since 1988) and the Our Lady of China mission.

• 1845 — Parish organized in the basement of St. Matthew's Church for German Catholic immigrants.
• 1846 — General John Van Ness donates the 5th Street NW site.
• 1882 — Cemetery obituary records already reference the Saint Mary community.
• 1890–91 — Present German Gothic church built to designs by Baldwin & Pennington of Baltimore.
• 1891 — Hutchings organ installed; George Glaab, DD serves as pastor.
• 1933 — Miraculous Medal Novena begins on Mondays.
• 1988 — Weekly Traditional Latin Mass community established.
• 2007 — Devotion to Blessed Karl of Austria begins (October 21 feast).
• 2018 — Fr. Vincent DeRosa succeeds Fr. Alfred J. Harris as pastor.
• 2025 — Fr. Mark Ivany installed as pastor.

Architecture and the Church Building

The present church, the second on the 5th Street site, was designed by the Baltimore firm Baldwin & Pennington and erected in 1890–91. It is a German Gothic structure of rough ashlar blue stone and granite, with a central tower and spire that clearly express the verticality of Gothic architecture. The interior houses a Hutchings organ (Boston, 1891) and is noted for its excellent acoustics, which have attracted both parish choirs and outside vocal ensembles to rehearse and give concerts.

• Style: German Gothic
• Architect: Baldwin & Pennington, Baltimore
• Exterior: rough ashlar blue stone and granite
• Central tower and spire
• Hutchings organ (1891) — noted for superb acoustics

Parish Staff and Clergy

The parish is led by Father Mark Ivany, who became pastor in 2025 in addition to serving as Director of Priest Vocations and Director of Seminarians for the Archdiocese of Washington. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Father Alexander Wyvill (ordained 2022, Pontifical North American College, Rome) and Father Andrew (Andy) DeRouen, a priest of the Diocese of Lake Charles in residence while completing a license in canon law at Catholic University. The parish secretary is Soraya Strobach and the music director is Todd Beckham.

• Father Mark Ivany — Pastor (since 2025); also Archdiocesan Director of Priest Vocations and Director of Seminarians.
• Father Alexander Wyvill — Parochial Vicar; Assistant Director of Priest Vocations for ADW; ordained 2022 (PNAC, Rome); Licentiate degrees from CUA and Gregorian.
• Father Andrew (Andy) DeRouen — Priest in Residence; priest of the Diocese of Lake Charles; studying canon law at The Catholic University of America.
• Soraya Strobach — Parish Secretary.
• Todd Beckham — Music Director.

Sacraments

The parish celebrates all the usual sacraments and asks parishioners to contact the rectory well in advance for weddings and baptisms. Marriage preparation requires arrangements to be made at least six months before the wedding date.

• Marriage — at least 6 months' preparation; call rectory or email.
• Baptism — call the rectory at (202) 289-7771 or email [email protected].
• Sacrament of the Sick — contact the rectory about parishioners who are ill.
• Penance (Confession) — see schedule; appointments available.
• Mass Intentions — request through the rectory.

Devotions

Saint Mary's is known for its traditional devotional life, especially the long-running Miraculous Medal Novena and the more recent observance of Blessed Karl of Austria. A coffee hour after Sunday Mass and Chinese-community fellowship meals round out parish life.

• Miraculous Medal Novena — every Monday since 1933 (11:30 AM novena followed by 12:05 PM Mass).
• Blessed Karl of Austria — Mass and festivities on October 21, observed since 2007.
• Coffee and donuts in the Parish Hall after the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass.
• Our Lady of China fellowship luncheon — first and third Sundays in the parish center.

Music and Liturgy

Music is a distinctive part of parish life at Saint Mary's. Professional singers are featured at the first Sunday Tridentine Mass, while the volunteer Schola of St. Mary's, directed by Richard Rice, sings the second and third Sunday Extraordinary Form Masses. For solemn feasts the two choirs combine, and Our Lady of China brings its own mixed choir to the Chinese Mass. The church's acoustics have also drawn outside vocal ensembles to practice and perform there.

• Professional singers — 1st Sunday EF Mass
• Schola of St. Mary's (volunteer choir, dir. Richard Rice) — 2nd & 3rd Sunday EF Mass
• Combined choirs for solemn feasts
• Our Lady of China mixed choir — Chinese Mass
• Concert use of the church building by outside vocal groups

Communities and Ministries

Three Catholic communities share the parish: the English-speaking Ordinary Form community, the Traditional Latin Mass community, and the Our Lady of China Chinese Catholic mission. Altar service, the Schola, the fellowship coffee hour, and the parish's catechetical programs all offer ways to participate.

• Extraordinary Form (Tridentine) Mass community — since 1988
• Our Lady of China Pastoral Mission (Cantonese/Mandarin) — ourladyofchina.net
• Schola of St. Mary's — volunteer choir
• Altar servers (training available — call the rectory)
• Coffee hour after Sunday Mass
• Catechetical programs before Sunday Chinese Mass

Becoming a Parishioner and Supporting the Parish

New parishioners are warmly welcomed. Registration can be completed in person at the rectory or by emailing the parish office. Visitors are invited to stop by the parish hall after the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass for coffee and donuts — a longstanding parish tradition. Online giving is available through Faith Direct using the parish's church code.

• Register by completing a Census Form at the Rectory or at the back of the church.
• Or email [email protected] for assistance.
• Online giving: www.faithdirect.com (parish church code: DC245).
• Coffee hour after Sunday 9:00 AM Mass — meet parishioners in the Parish Hall.

Visit and Contact

The parish is located in Chinatown, just one block from the Gallery Place–Chinatown Metro station (Green, Yellow, and Red lines), and is near the Government Accountability Office Building and the National Building Museum. The church is wheelchair accessible.

• Address: 727 5th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
• Phone: (202) 289-7771
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: saintmarymotherofgod.org
• Metro: Gallery Place–Chinatown (Green/Yellow/Red lines)
• Wheelchair accessible