Cathedral of Saint Thomas More

Positive: The sermons/​homilies range from fair to very good.
Negatives: The building is unattractive. Priests and parishioners are not too friendly — it seems that some of them have a strong impression of their own importance, as is common in the DC area.
With more negatives than positives, then why 3 stars? If you want to go and receive the sacraments, you’ll get them.
If you go to 11:00 Mass, don’t count on staying for a few minutes of prayer or meditation because some loud Spanish starts very soon after that Mass ends.

Wow I had a very different experience from a lot of people here. I found the building to be lovely. The sermon was biblical, leaned neither left nor right, was simply reiterating the gospel, and was easy to follow. In fact, it was darn near uplifting.
After mass, I went to the coffee hour and was easily welcomed by at least four people. One of the four, I’ll admit, was not based here but was visiting from another nearby parish. The other three were local. I see no reason to take away any stars. This place was comfy.

I have visited STMC 3 times and left saddened. Unfortunately the STMC parishioners think it their local parish instead of also the Bishop’s regional seat and they treat visitors rudely. Today was Pentecost Sunday, the end of Easter and probably the second/​third holiest day of The Church with at least 100 Confirmands coming from all over the diocese. I really like Bishop Loverde and am sure he would not be happy with the treatment visitors receive. STMC advertises great programs and services but I will probably not attend them since everyone I have encountered are unfriendly. I wish I could overlook the behaviour as it is probably some, not all, but the message sent is not one that displays Christ’s embrace of all. The facility is nice and clean. The one star is for the large parking lot.

I’ve been going to St. Thomas More for about 6-​months now. Usually go to the 11am Mass and love it. There seems to be a pretty even mix of families along with younger/​older adults. The Bishop makes regular appearances which always gives Sundays that little extra something. And 9 times out of 10 the cathedral choir accompanies the organist and they are absolutely incredible. I would say St. Thomas More is a definitely more on the conservative and traditional side. So if that’s your thing, this is the place for you. And once you get past the seemingly 60’s appearance of the Cathedral on the outside, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the traditional stained glass and décor inside. But that’s all secondary to what really matters anyway, right?

This is the ugliest cathedral on the planet earth. It’s like a bad dream from 1969. So, that’s bad.
The liturgy is very liberal. For me, that’s bad.
The music is objectively horrid.
Good parking lot. Post-​mass McDonalds is nearby. That’s all I can say good about it.

Is it wrong that I don’t give every church 5 stars? Will the patron saint of Unilocaling strike this review down? My… I hope not.
I go to St Thomas More for their Sunday evening mass on days where I just can’t wake up and go to my normal, and favorite parish, St Joseph’s on Capitol Hill. It’s called a cathedral but I can’t ever figure out why. To me, it looks like a normal Catholic parish. Same style alter. Same vestibules. Same everything. In fact, this is a pretty modern looking church.
The church community here is amazing. In the bulletin, there are always listings for church functions and events which I have not participated in yet but they look appealing. I won’t comment on their priests and their sermons as my opinion is subjective to my own personal beliefs but think they’re all excellent speakers and have been there to shake my hand while departing. I will say the sermons here are a lot longer than I’m used to.
Plenty of parking in the church’s private lot. Great hours, too.