[Map]

		C2 INDEX
		St. Mary Mother of God Roman Catholic Church
		Lillian & Albert Small Jewish Museum
		Holy Rosary Church / Chiesa Santo Rosario
		National Building Museum Frieze

LAYING THE CORNERSTONE OF ST. MARY'S MOTHER OF GOD IN 1846
(original building, 1845-1890)

From The United States Catholic Magazine, 5 (1846) p. 226, as reprinted in History of St. Mary's Church of the Mother of God Washington, D.C. 1845-1945. Second Edition, pp.16-17. (courtesy of HSWDC)

New German Catholic Church—The cornerstone of the new church intended for the use of the German Catholics under the pastoral care of Rev. M. Alig of this city (Washington) was laid yesterday, March 25th, by the Most Rev. Archbishop Eccleston with appropriate solemnities in the presence of an immense body of people who witnessed the ceremonies. A very large procession accompanied by the German band moved along Pennsylvania Avenue from St. Matthew's Church passing into Four and a half street and thence to the site of the church of St. Mary Mater Dei which is situated on Fifth Street between G and H Streets. The procession formed at the German chapel on Eighth Street and marched thence to St. Matthew's Church. When the procession arrived at St. Matthew's, there was a considerable increase of its number. As it passed along Pennsylvania Avenue, we noticed—

1. The German band.
   
   
2. The German Beneficial Society, two and two, wearing white rosettes and bearing a handsome banner with a representation of the merciful Samaritan.
   
   
3. The German Male and Female Society: the males wearing red sashes, the females dressed in white with wreaths of flowers on their heads, preceded by their Pastor, the Rev. M. Alig.
   
   
4. The Washington Benevolent Society, two and two, bearing their handsome green silk banner and each member wearing a green badge.
   
   
5. The Rev. Messrs. Flannegan and Ray of Georgetown, the Rev. Messrs. Donelan of Washington and several of the clergy of Baltimore in their clerical robes.
   
   
6. A numerous body of Germans and citizens walking two and two.

When the procession reached the site of the intended Church a lane was formed from a house on Fifth Street to the cornerstone, when the Most Rev. Archbishop Eccleston in pontificals with his attendants passed along it, followed by the clergy, the mayor and the other gentlemen. The cornerstone was then laid by the Archbishop after which a sermon was delivered in English by the Rev. J. P. Donelan and another sermon in German by the Rev. Haslinger, of Baltimore. The services and ceremonies continued for more than two hours. We understand that the Archbishop and the clergy dined at Mr. Miller's at the corner of Ninth and F Streets.

The United States Catholic Magazine, October 1846:

Dedication-The new Church, for the German Catholics of Washington city, was blessed by the Most Rev. Archbishop on the 7th of September under the invocation of the Mother of God (Mater Dei).