About Saint Thomas More · Washington, District of Columbia
St. Thomas More Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C., canonically established in 1952 and part of the Archdiocese of Washington. The parish serves the Anacostia/Fairlawn neighborhood from its location on Fourth Street SE, offering daily and weekend Masses in English, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, faith formation for children and adults, and a musically rich liturgical life that includes both an Adult Gospel Choir and a Youth Choir. Under the long-standing pastorate of Very Rev. Raymond H. Moore, V.F., the parish describes itself as a welcoming community rooted in the Eucharist and committed to forming disciples through word, worship, and service.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- Saint Thomas More
- Rector
- Very Rev. Raymond H. Moore, V.F.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Thomas More is a welcoming neighborhood parish in southeast Washington, D.C., where daily and weekend Masses, frequent opportunities for Confession (Saturday afternoons and before the late Sunday Mass), and a Monday-evening novena make Catholic devotional life easy to live. Parishioners can grow in faith through CCD classes for children, an Adult Faith Discussion Group meeting over Zoom, and a Tuesday-night Bible Study, while liturgical participation is supported by both an Adult Gospel Choir and a Youth Choir. The parish also reaches out pastorally to the sick and homebound and prepares couples for marriage through pre-Cana — the kind of full sacramental and formation life that makes it a genuine spiritual home in the Archdiocese of Washington.
Mass times at Saint Thomas More
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM until confessions have ended (in the Rectory)
- Sunday 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
- After Sunday Masses by appointment
About St. Thomas More Parish
St. Thomas More Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Washington located at 4275 Fourth Street SE in southeast Washington, D.C., in the Fairlawn/Anacostia area. Canonically established in 1952 and named for the great English martyr and Lord Chancellor, the parish is a stable, neighborhood-sized Catholic community offering daily Mass, a full sacramental schedule, faith formation for all ages, and a musically rich liturgy. The parish building is wheelchair accessible and is pastored by Very Rev. Raymond H. Moore, V.F.
- Canonically established: 1952
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Washington
- Pastor: Very Rev. Raymond H. Moore, V.F.
- Languages: English
- Wheelchair accessible
History
St. Thomas More was established in 1952 as a Catholic parish in southeast Washington, D.C., taking the name of the 16th-century English statesman and martyr St. Thomas More. For more than seventy years it has remained a single parish on Fourth Street SE, developing over time the devotional, educational, and musical life that defines it today — including a Monday-night novena, CCD for children, Bible study and an adult faith group, and the celebrated Adult Gospel Choir.
Devotions
In addition to daily Mass, the parish gathers for a Monday-evening novena at 7:00 PM, giving parishioners a regular midweek devotion to supplement their Sunday worship. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also treated as a standing devotion, available twice on most weekends.
- Monday Novena — 7:00 PM
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Thomas More serves every age. Children gather for CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes on Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM, between the two Sunday Masses, while adults meet on Sundays at 12 noon over Zoom for an Adult Faith Discussion Group. A weekly Bible Study is held on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM. Those interested in becoming Catholic are invited to contact Fr. Raymond Moore at the Rectory, and parishioners preparing for a child's Baptism or for their own marriage begin through the parish office.
- CCD Classes — Sunday 10:30 AM
- Adult Faith Discussion Group — Sunday 12:00 Noon (Zoom)
- Bible Study — Tuesday 7:30 PM
- RCIA inquiries: contact Fr. Raymond Moore at the Rectory
Music and Liturgy
Music is a centerpiece of parish life at St. Thomas More. The Adult Gospel Choir, under the direction of Henry Herrera, sings at the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass and rehearses on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 PM; the choir's ministry has even extended internationally, including a 2011 trip to Rome. A Youth Choir, directed by Charnetta Dobbins, complements the Adult Choir and brings younger parishioners into the liturgical life of the parish.
- Adult Gospel Choir — Henry Herrera, Director (rehearsals Tuesday 6:00 PM; sings at 11:30 AM Mass)
- Youth Choir — Charnetta Dobbins, Director
- Rome trip — 2011
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments in keeping with Archdiocese of Washington policy. Parents seeking Baptism and adults interested in becoming Catholic should contact Fr. Raymond Moore at the Rectory. Couples preparing for Marriage must notify the priest at least six months in advance and attend pre-Cana classes; details are available from the Parish Office. Confession is offered on the regular Saturday and Sunday schedule listed above and by appointment after Sunday Masses. Pastoral Care of the Sick is coordinated through the Parish Office, which should be notified whenever a parishioner is hospitalized, in a nursing home, or otherwise unable to attend Mass.
- Baptism — contact Fr. Raymond Moore
- Marriage — 6 months' notice; pre-Cana required
- Confession — Saturday 4:00 PM; Sunday 10:30–11:30 AM; by appointment
- Pastoral Care of the Sick — notify the Parish Office
Parish Staff
The parish is led by a small, dedicated staff combining clergy, administrators, liturgical musicians, and facilities personnel.
- Pastor — Very Rev. Raymond H. Moore, V.F.
- Pastoral Administrator / Business Manager — Ms. Patricia Hamilton
- Office Assistant — Mrs. Mary Waters
- Coordinator of Religious Education — Wanda Brooks
- Adult Choir Director — Mr. Henry Herrera
- Youth Choir Director — Ms. Charnetta Dobbins
- Maintenance Director — Mr. Barry Rhodes
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Thomas More by phone at 202-562-0431, by fax at 202-563-7347, or by email at [email protected]. The parish office is at the church address on Fourth Street SE in Washington, D.C. 20032, and the building is wheelchair accessible. The full website at stthomasmoredc.org provides current parish news, the events calendar, and detailed pages on sacraments, ministries, and faith formation.
- Address: 4275 Fourth Street SE, Washington, DC 20032
- Phone: 202-562-0431
- Fax: 202-563-7347
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stthomasmoredc.org
- Wheelchair accessible