The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Philadelphia, United States

Home to two major national shrines: St. John Neumann (America's first male saint) and St. Rita of Cascia (Patroness of Impossible Causes), plus numerous other sacred sites.

Philadelphia holds a unique distinction in American Catholic history: it is the only city that houses national shrines to both the first American-born male saint and one of the world's most beloved advocates for impossible causes. Within blocks of each other, the tombs of Saint John Neumann and the sanctuary of Saint Rita of Cascia anchor a constellation of sacred sites that spans centuries of immigrant faith and episcopal vision. From the Redemptorist bishop who built America's first Catholic school system to the Augustinian patroness of desperate circumstances, from the Cathedral where Pope Francis celebrated Mass to the Germantown basilica where the Miraculous Medal novena has been prayed every Monday for ninety-five years, Philadelphia's sacred geography tells the story of Catholic America itself. Saint John Neumann arrived in Philadelphia as its fourth bishop in 1852, a thirty-nine-year-old Bohemian immigrant who would transform Catholic education across the continent. Within eight years he increased the city's Catholic schools from one to nearly 200, establishing the first diocesan school system in America. When he collapsed on a street corner in 1860, aged just forty-eight, his funeral drew thousands who called him "the little bishop with the big heart." During the typhoid epidemics of the 1890s, not one member of his parish church died—an occurrence attributed to his intercession. Pope Paul VI canonized him in 1977 as America's first male citizen saint. The Italian families who flooded South Philadelphia in the early 1900s brought their own impossible causes to the Augustinians, who had just established a parish dedicated to Rita of Cascia. The Umbrian widow-turned-nun, canonized in 1900 as the Patroness of Impossible Causes, became South Philadelphia's protector. The pink stone church where her relic rests and perpetual novenas echo has drawn millions seeking what human effort cannot achieve. Anthony Visco's murals in the lower shrine depict Rita extending an olive branch beneath an oak tree, weapons laid down as people of all nations gather in peace—a vision of reconciliation that speaks to every generation of pilgrims.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

Philadelphia's Catholic story begins with the founding of the diocese in 1808, when Bishop Michael Egan arrived to serve scattered German, Irish, and French communities. But it was the arrival of the immigrant bishops—especially Saint John Neumann—that transformed the city into one of America's great Catholic centers. Neumann's educational revolution created institutions that endure today: schools, seminaries, religious communities, and the organizational structures that became the model for Catholic dioceses across the continent. The wave of Italian immigration between 1880 and 1920 brought new devotions and new saints to Philadelphia's religious landscape. The Augustinians who established Saint Rita Parish in 1907 tapped into centuries-old traditions of seeking Rita's intercession for marriages in crisis, families torn apart, and situations beyond human remedy. The Wednesday novena prayers that began in those earliest days continue uninterrupted, drawing pilgrims from across the nation. The twentieth century saw Philadelphia become a gathering place for American Catholicism's defining moments: the Eucharistic Congress of 1976 that filled the cathedral, Pope John Paul II's historic 1979 visit, and Pope Francis's 2015 celebration of Mass before nearly a million faithful on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Each event reinforced Philadelphia's role as a spiritual crossroads where immigrant traditions meet American innovation. The establishment of the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Germantown added another dimension to the city's sacred geography. Founded by the Vincentians in 1927, the shrine became home to the Perpetual Novena—a Monday devotion that has been prayed for ninety-five years without interruption and now reaches a global audience through livestreaming. The 2023 elevation to basilica status recognized the shrine's significance as a center of Marian devotion serving Catholics worldwide.

☩ National Shrine of Saint John Neumann

Local Name: National Shrine of Saint John Neumann Address: 1019 North 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123 GPS Coordinates: 39.9698889, -75.1447222 Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=39.9698889,-75.1447222 Website: https://stjohnneumann.org Dedication: Saint John Neumann Historical Note: The Redemptorists established St. Peter the Apostle Parish in 1843 to serve German immigrants in Philadelphia's Northern Liberties neighborhood. When Bishop Neumann died suddenly on January 5, 1860, he was buried beneath the church floor directly below the high altar, as he had requested. The lower church became a shrine after his beatification in 1963 and was designated a National Shrine by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2007. A museum opened in 2019 displaying artifacts from the saint's life, including his seminary records, personal books, and a map of America he drew to familiarize himself with his new homeland. Spiritual Importance: As the first American male citizen to be canonized, Saint John Neumann represents the immigrant path to sanctity through service. Pilgrims come seeking his intercession for immigration concerns, educational endeavors, children's welfare, and the needs of diocesan priests. The shrine houses his incorrupt body in a glass reliquary beneath the main altar, where he lies dressed in episcopal vestments with a wax mask covering his face. The saint is particularly invoked by those working in Catholic education and by families navigating the challenges of immigrant life. His feast day on January 5 draws thousands for special Masses and opportunities for relic veneration.

☩ National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia

Local Name: National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia Address: 1166 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 GPS Coordinates: 39.9352000, -75.1667000 Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=39.9352,-75.1667 Website: https://www.saintritashrine.org Dedication: Saint Rita of Cascia Historical Note: The Augustinians established Saint Rita Parish in 1907 at the invitation of Archbishop Patrick Ryan, responding to the needs of Italian immigrant families in South Philadelphia. The pink stone church was dedicated in May 1915, its Romanesque architecture consciously echoing the Italian hill towns from which many parishioners came. The parish grew to over 8,000 families by the 1930s, making it the largest Catholic community in South Philadelphia. When the parish closed in 2016, the church continued operating solely as a national shrine. The 2004 twinning with the Basilica of Santa Rita in Cascia, Italy, formalized the spiritual bond between this American outpost and Rita's homeland. Spiritual Importance: Pilgrims come to Saint Rita seeking intercession for impossible causes—marriages in crisis, addictions, family reconciliation, terminal diagnoses. The Lower Shrine houses a relic of Rita's habit, given by the Augustinian Sisters of Cascia. Anthony Visco's murals tell her story in vivid color: the work of peace, the laying down of weapons, the gathering of nations. A perpetual novena has been prayed every Wednesday since the parish's earliest days. The Eucharistic Adoration Chapel offers daily adoration, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available Monday through Saturday. The shrine participates in the Archdiocese's 2025 Jubilee Year Pilgrim's Passport program.

☩ Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

Local Name: Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Address: 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103 GPS Coordinates: 39.9586111, -75.1713889 Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=39.9586111,-75.1713889 Website: https://cathedralphila.org Dedication: Saints Peter and Paul Historical Note: Archbishop Francis Kenrick commissioned the cathedral in 1846, designed by Napoleon LeBrun in Roman-Corinthian style modeled after San Carlo al Corso in Rome. The cathedral was completed in 1864 and elevated to basilica status in 1976. The deliberately high windows resulted from the anti-Catholic riots of 1844, when church properties were attacked and burned. The cathedral hosted papal Masses by Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Francis in 2015. In 2018, the remains of Saint Katharine Drexel were transferred here from the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament motherhouse, establishing an official shrine in her honor. Spiritual Importance: As the mother church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the cathedral serves as the seat of the archbishop and houses several significant shrines. The tomb of Saint Katharine Drexel, canonized in 2000 as the second American-born saint, attracts pilgrims seeking her intercession for racial justice and educational equality. The cathedral also features shrines to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Saint Joseph, Saint John Neumann, and Our Lady of Guadalupe. The crypt beneath the main altar contains the remains of twenty bishops and archbishops of Philadelphia, including the first bishop, Michael Francis Egan.

☩ Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Local Name: Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Address: 500 East Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144 GPS Coordinates: 40.0347222, -75.1427778 Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=40.0347222,-75.1427778 Website: https://miraculousmedal.org Dedication: Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Historical Note: The Vincentians established this chapel in 1878 as part of St. Vincent's Seminary in Germantown. Father Joseph Skelly expanded the chapel in 1927 to create a shrine to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, based on the apparitions to Saint Catherine Labouré in Paris in 1830. The Perpetual Novena began in 1930 and has been prayed every Monday for ninety-five years without interruption. Pope Francis elevated the shrine to basilica status in December 2022, making it Philadelphia's second basilica and the 92nd in the United States. Spiritual Importance: The basilica shrine serves as the birthplace of the Miraculous Medal Perpetual Novena in America, now prayed globally and livestreamed to viewers worldwide. The shrine houses magnificent Venetian mosaics, including a gold-background dome depicting the Holy Spirit surrounded by angels. Cultural shrines honor Our Lady of Guadalupe (Latino heritage), Our Lady of Knock (Irish heritage), Our Lady of FIAT (Filipino heritage), and Our Lady of Vailankanni (Indian heritage). The shrine's art museum contains over 400 pieces of Marian artwork, making it one of the largest collections in one location. Pilgrims come for the Monday novena, daily Mass, and to venerate the large Carrara marble statue of Our Lady extending her arms as she did to Saint Catherine Labouré.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

January 5 – Feast of Saint John Neumann National Shrine of Saint John Neumann. Special Masses throughout the day accommodate pilgrims from across the nation. The shrine offers guided tours, opportunities for relic veneration, and special devotions honoring the first American male saint. The feast celebrates his legacy as father of American Catholic education and patron of immigrants. May 13–21 – Solemn Novena to Saint Rita National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia. Nine days of special liturgies, prayers, and devotions lead up to the feast day. Pilgrims from across the nation join the community in preparing their intentions for Rita's intercession. May 22 – Feast of Saint Rita of Cascia National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia. The Archbishop of Philadelphia presides at the principal Mass. Multiple Masses are celebrated throughout the day to accommodate the crowds. The Blessing of Roses—recalling the miraculous winter rose that bloomed in Rita's convent garden—takes place, and pilgrims carry blessed roses home to loved ones. Every Monday – Perpetual Novena Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. The novena that began in 1930 continues every Monday at 12:05 PM, with additional evening services. Livestreamed globally on Facebook and Instagram, drawing virtual pilgrims from around the world.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) lies approximately 15 km southwest of the city center. The SEPTA Airport Line connects directly to Center City stations, from which the shrines are accessible by subway, bus, or short taxi rides. By Train: 30th Street Station serves Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and regional rail. From there, SEPTA's Broad Street Line provides direct access to both the Saint Rita Shrine (Ellsworth-Federal Station) and connections to the Saint John Neumann Shrine (transfer to Market-Frankford Line at City Hall). By Subway: SEPTA's extensive system connects all major shrines. The Broad Street Line serves the Saint Rita Shrine, the Market-Frankford Line reaches the Saint John Neumann Shrine area, and multiple lines converge near the Cathedral Basilica on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. By Car: I-95 provides the main north-south access, with exits for all shrine locations. Street parking and parking lots are available at most sites, though space may be limited during major feast days.

🛏️ Accommodations

Budget Options

HI Philadelphia Hostel – 32 S Bank Street, Old City. Budget-friendly accommodation in historic Old City, walking distance to Independence Hall and close to public transit connections to all shrines. Booking.com: hi-philadelphia-hostel

⭐⭐⭐ Hotels

Hampton Inn Philadelphia Center City-Convention Center – 1301 Race Street. Modern hotel with fitness center and complimentary breakfast, convenient to the Cathedral Basilica and with easy access to public transit. Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/phlcchx-hampton-philadelphia-center-city-convention-center Booking.com: hampton-inn-philadelphia-center-city-convention-center Holiday Inn Express & Suites Philadelphia-Penns Landing – 100 N Christopher Columbus Blvd. Waterfront location with city skyline views, complimentary breakfast, and fitness center. Short drive to all major shrines with parking available. Website: https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/philadelphia/phlpb/hoteldetail Booking.com: holiday-inn-express-philadelphia-penns-landing

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hotels

The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton – 1 Logan Square. Historic luxury hotel on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, walking distance to the Cathedral Basilica and the Please Touch Museum. Features elegant rooms, fitness center, and fine dining. Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/phlcuqq-the-logan-philadelphia Booking.com: the-logan-philadelphia-curio-collection

📚 Further Reading

Books:

Articles & Online Resources:

🎥 Videos

🔗 Useful Links

  • Archdiocese of Philadelphia – Official website of the local archdiocese with news, events, and parish information.
  • Visit Philadelphia – Tourism information for the city including cultural attractions and dining.
  • SEPTA – Public transit maps, schedules, and trip planning for Philadelphia's subway, bus, and regional rail systems.
  • Philadelphia Historic Sites – National Park Service information on Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and other historic sites.

🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

National Shrine of Our Lady of Częstochowa, Doylestown (55 km) – The Polish-American spiritual center, featuring a replica of the Jasna Góra icon and expansive grounds for prayer and pilgrimage. Houses one of the largest collections of Polish religious art in America. Valley Forge Chapel (40 km) – The non-denominational chapel commemorating George Washington's winter encampment, significant for Catholic chaplains who served during the Revolutionary War. Part of Valley Forge National Historical Park. National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Allentown (95 km) – Pennsylvania's center for devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, serving the state's growing Latino Catholic community with annual celebrations and pilgrimages. Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Lewiston (185 km) – Maine's Franco-American Catholic center, significant for French-Canadian immigrant history and featuring remarkable stained glass and architecture.

🪶 Closing Reflection

"Through the intercession of Saint Rita, countless people have experienced the abundant grace and mercy that God so readily offers to each of us."

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— Jonathan Jerome, Director of the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia