Clergy concelebrating the Red Mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral.

Founded in 1951, the John Carroll Society is an organization of Catholic professionals united in their desire for an ever deepening and enriching knowledge of their Faith and in service to the Archbishop of Washington. The Society is named after the first Catholic bishop in the United States.

The mission of the Society is threefold:

• To provide our vibrant Catholic professional community with opportunity to grow spiritually, intellectually and socially.
• To serve the Archbishop in his works of charity and other community projects.
• To cultivate a love for the ministry of the Holy Father.

The Society furthers this mission principally through a series of yearly events, most prominently the well-known annual Red Mass, which is offered in support of the legal community, and the Rose Mass, offered in support of our health care community. The calendar also includes the Annual Dinner, a Mass and toy drive during Advent, a January Mass & brunch, First Thursday reflections, younger member events, and two retreats, among other events.

Browse this area of the website to read more about the mission, history, and leadership of the John Carroll Society.