September 20, 2007
The Gatekeeper of St. Matthew's
Written by DCist Contributor Laura Logerfo
For the central cathedral in a major city, St. Matthew’s somehow blends in. The Cathedral is surrounded by offices that stand nearly as high as the church, and its brick façade resembles that of adjacent buildings. It is situated near one of the busiest and trickiest intersections in DC, where Connecticut Ave., Rhode Island Ave., 18th and M Streets all meet. On weekends, city dwellers pass by the church en route to clubs, bars, lounges, resto-lounges, bars-slash-clubs, and strip joints, all of which are located in the "Golden Triangle." On weekdays, commuters lost in thoughts of reports and presentations rush by without a glance. Panhandlers appear at the Cathedral’s steps in tune with the timing of the mass schedule, but dissipate quickly as the churchgoers leave. St. Matt’s is not unnoticed, but not noticed.
Except for one person who always notices: the Gatekeeper of St. Matthew’s. Every day and every night, she stands guard at the doors to the Cathedral. She dresses completely in black, a simple elegant black dress and black ballerina flats. Her fashionably bright red lipstick stands out at night, painting an unforgettable picture. Her shoulder-length silver hair is pulled back in a bun or occasionally slicked back in a chic coif.
If you walk by in the morning and notice her, you assume she’s standing there to wait for the start of mass. If you see her in the evening, you guess she just attended the evening mass and perhaps is waiting for a friend.
Photo by vsPIC
On the twentieth glance, it becomes clear that she resides on the top step of St. Matthew’s entrance. She tucks away her bag to the side of the entrance during the day, but at night, her blanket, umbrella, and the bag emerge. The choice of top step feels like it's surely intentional -- as close as possible to the physical and spiritual warmth of St. Matthew’s. If only the church were named St. Peter’s, the metaphor would be neater. I saw her participate in mass one Sunday morning and felt comforted that she felt at home as much inside as outside the church.
Her constant presence has led her to act as though she, like the villager and his square in Cinema Paradiso, is the Cathedral’s guardian. If you pause to tie a shoe on the stairs, she glares. If you pause on a step to rest, she sternly shouts to you. If your purpose is to attend church, she permits you to pass unheralded. In between, she paces. And paces. Her vigil does not cease. She searches the front steps with an impatient, distrustful gaze. This is a sacred place, and it's her sacred duty to protect it from indignity.
When I fail to notice the Cathedral, she never fails to remind me that she is always watching. As the angel over my shoulder, she and I are fine if only I am respectful to the Cathedral. Otherwise any disrespect she pays me is due to my own disrespect of the place. And in that, St. Matthew’s could not ask for a better guardian angel.
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So will she not let me go in there to check out the inside unless I buy a Catholic Candle or whatever? It's a beautiful building.
i literally cannot believe you did not interview her for this article. it would be great to know her story (... and that of more of DCs homeless). It is a great opportunity to humanize the people that many like to forget about or turn into some quaint symbol (see above).
She's actually pretty harmless. She just paces back and forth all day. Just walk right on in - it's beautiful inside.
I've seen her there every time that I've gone to Mass at the Cathedral. I'm not sure what her situation is- she doesn't give off a crazy/dangerous vibe (because there are a few people like that at the cathedral), and I think she assists with the Mass coordination from time to time as well.
Thank you for posting this. I'd actually like to find out more about her story.
I believe it's referred to as loitering.
No interview? Not even a quick "Hi, why are you here?"
Lame. Assed. Post.
Ditto to all the people who are asking "Why no interview?" I would love to hear this woman's story in her own words.
To clarify: she's homeless and lives on the steps? If so, that's really sad - I'm not sure why you're writing about her situation like it's beautiful and inspiring.
And "If you pause to tie a shoe on the stairs, she glares. If you pause on a step to rest, she sternly shouts to you" ?? Uh, isn't that what you wrote that SHE does, sit on the steps?
I know who you are talking about. I really don't think she is homeless. What makes you say that she is homeless?
I didnt know being homeless was so romantic and beautiful. Thank you DCist.
I was literally laughing at this post. No interview? W.T.F. Hey Sommer, they pay you for this, at least do some reporting. The post makes it sound like she's a homeless person. She glares and yells at people? So, she's a crazy homeless person? This is a good situation because why?
I'd like to know more about the back-story, too. Though this is probably an urban legend, I heard that she was a very successful business-woman (lawyer/lobbyist) who felt so guilty about the work that she did that she gave everything she owned (a LOT of $$$) to the church with the stipulation that she could stay on the steps and use their facilities to stay clean/showered.
Maybe she's like the Walmart greeter. It'd be about as appropriate, since churches in the US are primarily businesses anyway.
But at least she's not double-parking and blocking neighbors in for hours, so we know she's probably not an actual church member.
God, this is depressing. Not only because the author didn't actually get a story from this woman, but that she's treated like some sort of romantic faux-naif window dressing. I had to edit freshman lit creative writing papers that were like this, by people who'd read a little too much Sylvia Plath. And like vomit, a little Sylvia Plath is just as bad as a lot.
I haven't been this depressed since I got that barely-legal porn video and all the "actresses" were the on wrong side of 30. Pigtails and cheerleader outfits can't bring back what time and nature have taken away.
[zips himself up]
i love you monkeyrotica.
what? I used to walk by that Cathedral every day- and park near it when going to the YMCA- and I've never seen her there. Was she on her break then?
I've seen her sitting at the tables inside Whole Foods, eating 4 or 5 yogurts. At first, I thought she had bowel problems, but once I started passing her every day at St. Matthews, I thought something else was up. Still, I had no idea she was homeless. Tell us more.
Uh - I used to attend mass there, and this is the first I've learned of our blessed angel. Maybe the blessing is a recent addition. We did get a new pope and all a while back.
PS saccharine prose aside, she's still sounds nuts to me
I always thought she was similar to the prophetess Anna.
I used to regularly attend mass at St. Matthew's and she was always there. I never was so nosy as to inquire as to her story.
"If you pause on a step to rest, she sternly shouts to you"
I've never gotten grief from this lady. If she shouted at you, it's probably because she realized you were stalking her. She's obviously tired of creeps with Moleskine notebooks staring at her.