The Saint Mary Mother of God Church is located in the heart of Chinatown in Washington, D.C. on 5th Street off H Street, N.W. This historic landmark is a vibrant Roman Catholic Parish that serves the needs of three different Catholic communities, as well as the Catholics working in the area during the week.

Catholics who work in Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown can attend Mass any weekday at
12:05pm. Please check the Mass Times section of this website for more details. The Mass Schedules for Holy Days of Obligation will be posted on the parish’s blog.

The Extraordinary Form of the Mass—the Tridentine Mass—is celebrated weekly. A very loyal community has been attending in great numbers since 1988. Professional singers are featured on the first Sunday of the month, while the second and third Sundays are sung by volunteers: the Schola of St. Mary's, directed by Richard Rice. For many solemn feasts the two choirs combine. Our Lady of China also has a mixed choir for their services. Because of the wonderful acoustics in the church, several vocal groups also practice and give concerts here. There is a coffee hour after the 9am Mass every Sunday. This is a terrific opportunity to get to know people in the parish. A Low Mass (Missa Recitata) in the Extraordinary Form is offered every Friday morning. (The Low Mass is also conducted in the evening of Holy Days of Obligation and other major Feast Days.) If you would like to participate in the services yourself, the Schola is always looking for new singers. There are also opportunities to learn to be an altar server. If you are interested, please call the rectory.

Ordinary Form Masses in English are said on Sunday as well. One of the most popular of these Masses is said at 7:30pm on Sunday night. It is one of the latest parish Masses said in the Archdiocese of Washington on Sunday.

St. Mary’s has been home to many Cantonese-speaking Catholics for many years. The goal of the Chinese Catholic Pastoral Mission is to serve the spiritual needs of all Chinese Catholics. This congregation meets at Saint Mary Mother of God on Sunday for Mass and provides catechetical programs before Mass. On the first and third Sundays of the month, a fellowship luncheon is held in the parish center. More details about this group can be found on their website: www.ourladyofchina.net

Besides Masses, the parish offers the opportunity for the sacrament of penance daily. St. Mary’s is also well-known for its devotions, especially the Miraculous Medal Novena, which has been prayed numerous times on Mondays since 1933. Since 2007, devotion for Bl. Karl of Austria has also grown, with Mass and festivities commemorating his Feast Day on October 21.

To request a Mass Intention, inquire about receiving any of your sacraments including marriage, please call the rectory.