Red Mass for Supreme Court Justices, Judges, and Government Officials to Be Held on October 4

The 68^th annual Red Mass will be held in Washington, D.C. on the Sunday before the U.S. Supreme Court’s new term opens, to invoke God’s blessing and guidance on justices, judges, diplomats, attorneys and senior government officials. Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory will be the main celebrant, and Bishop Michael Burbidge, Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, will be the homilist.

68^th Annual Red Mass

Sunday, October 4, 2020

10:00 a.m.

From the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington

Livestream Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxhQqmg8aXE&feature=youtu.be

(Because of the COVID pandemic, capacity is limited within the Cathedral. We will not be able to accommodate media inside this year. We welcome media to cover the livestream of the event on archdiocesan social media accounts.)

At the end of the Mass, Archbishop Gregory will announce the names of four attorneys and one law firm who will be honored with the John Carroll Society’s Pro Bono Legal Awards in recognition of volunteer service. There will be no brunch following the Mass this year, so the honorees will be honored when larger gatherings can resume.

The Red Mass is a tradition that dates back many centuries to Rome, Paris, and London. The name comes from the color of the liturgical vestments worn by the celebrants and the color of fire, a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The Red Mass and Pro Bono Legal Awards are sponsored each year by the John Carroll Society, a Washington area organization that provides spiritual, intellectual, charitable and social opportunities for Catholic professionals and business men and women in service to the Archbishop of Washington.

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