Epiphany to Mark 100 Years with Solemn Mass on May 18
By • May 15, 2025 0 287
Epiphany Catholic Church is celebrating 100 years. The parish was founded in 1923, when — due to the bigotry and segregation of the times — about 300 Black parishioner families left Holy Trinity Catholic Church to form their own community. Two years later, the church at 2712 Dumbarton St. NW was canonically established and constructed, featuring a stained-glass window depicting the Epiphany.
“There are at least two families descended from the original founders still active with Epiphany today and who will help us celebrate the 100th anniversary,” the Rev. Stefan Megyery, pastor of Epiphany Church, told The Georgetowner. “And the parish is growing — slowly, but in a surprising way. It appears that a good proportion of the daily and Sunday mass attendees are young professionals in or near their 30s. Even for morning Masses and confessionals there has never been a day when no one showed up.”
Some of that growth may be due to Epiphany’s tradition of diversity. While Masses are held in English every morning, there is a Sunday Mass in Korean — and in Lithuanian once a month. There are also Latin Masses on the first Saturday of the month. From 1962 until 2015, the parish comprised a large French-speaking congregation.
“Different communities, different cultures, different languages — but united in the same purpose: to meet and to worship Jesus Christ, following thereby in the footsteps of the three Wise Men,” Megyery wrote.
A solemn centenary Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 18, by Bishop Roy Edward Campbell Jr. Following the Mass, there will be a parish feast and social gathering to continue the joyous milestone with gratitude, fellowship and prayer.
