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