Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal -- Philadelphia, Pa.

Destination: We featured the Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in 2015 to look ahead to the World Meeting of Families, held in Philadelphia that year. 

It’s now time for an update because of a small yet significant name change made in the last week of January, one that has brought “great joy” to the Philadelphia Archdiocese, according to Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez: the Vatican has elevated the shrine to the status of minor basilica. 

The Vatican decree recognizes the Marian shrine’s historical significance in the eastern U.S. and its over-140 years of ministry by the priests and brothers of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians). 

Masses are at 9 a.m. Sunday; 12:05 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 9 a.m., 12:05 and 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Photo: The Vatican designated the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal as a minor basilica Jan. 25. (OSV News photo/ courtesy Central Association of the Miraculous Medal)

Why to go: Only one other church in the city of Philadelphia shares this basilica designation. But what does it mean?

Churches are noted as minor basilicas to recognize their historical or cultural importance, artistic beauty and significance in the life of the Church. The title also denotes a closer relationship to the pope. 

That connection to the pope will bring two additions to the shrine’s interior for papal visits. Keep an eye out for an ombrellino, a canopy of yellow and red silk (like an umbrella); and a tintinnabulum, a bell mounted on a pole. 

The shrine has much to see and do; join the Miraculous Medal Perpetual Novena, which has continued each Monday uninterrupted since 1930; visit the gift shop; or head to the nearby Art Museum of the Miraculous Medal Shrine at 475 E. Chelten Ave. The museum (temporarily closed) holds over 400 pieces of Marian art. Call 215-848-1010 to check hours or make an appointment. 

Admission: Visiting the shrine is free; gift shop prices vary. A form at https://miraculousmedal.org/visit-us/visit-form/ will help shrine staff with planning your visit. A secure parking lot is available (and open to buses) at Magnolia St. and Chelten Ave. The shrine is also easily accessible by public transportation. 

Accessibility: Parts of the shrine are wheelchair-accessible (through separate doors), but there are stairs to the main shrine entrance and some parts of the interior are raised. 

(Grand) Kid friendly: Of course! 

Info: Address — Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, 500 E. Chelten Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 

Phone — 215-848-1010 

Website — https://miraculousmedal.org/

—Provided by OSV News. Send Destination ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

(Photos/ http://cammonline.org)

Destination: An outgrowth of a devotion to Mary, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal was established for the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal in Philadelphia. The CAMM was formed in 1915 and directed by its founder, Father Joseph Skelly, CM. Each Monday since 1927, nine novena services are held. Check the website for details.
Masses  are 9 a.m. Sunday; 12:05 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 7 and 9 a.m., 12:05 and 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Photos: Left--The shrine is housed in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.
Right--A mosaic at the shrine shows an image of the first apparition of Mary and the medal to St. Catherine Labouré in Paris, Nov.  27, 1830.
Why to go: The shrine on the west side of the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, which had been dedicated to St. Vincent de Paul, was enlarged, remodeled and rededicated to Mary the Immaculate. Father Skelly, considered it the “center and heart” of CAMM.
Hours: During the World Meeting of Families, Sept. 20-28, shrine hours are Monday: 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday 8-10 a.m. The website lists regular hours. There will be historical tours on Saturdays until Oct. 3.Extras: Near the shrine is the the Museum of the Miraculous Medal Shrine, containing more than 500 pieces of religious art, ranging in date, technique, origin, and subject. The museum is at 475 E. Chelten Ave. Museum hours are 1-3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, or by  appointment by calling 215/848-1010.
Accessibility: As the top picture shows, there are stairs to the main shrine entrance, but it is accessible to the handicapped.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Of course.
Info: Address — Miraculous Medal Shrine, 500 E. Chelten Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144 Phone — 215/848-1010 Web — http://cammonline.org

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Shrine of St. Gianna Beretta Molla - Warminster, Pennsylvania

The Catholic World Meeting of Families will be held in Philadephia, Pennsylvania, Sept. 22-27, 2015. Learn more about the meeting at www.worldmeeting2015.org/. This is one of several shrines in the Philadephia area that we’ll highlight before the meeting.  

(Observer screen shot)

Destination: If you are driving to the World Meeting of Families (or renting a car while there), you may want to plan a side trip to the Shrine of St. Gianna Beretta Molla. But the shrine is only open on weekends, so plan accordingly.
Masses at Nativity of Our Lord Parish, where the shrine is located, are 5 p.m. Saturdays; 8, 10 a.m. and noon Sundays; 6:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
Why to go: St. Gianna Beretta Molla was a mother who gave her life that her child might live. She and St. Pope John Paul II have been selected patrons of the meeting. A physician, she well understood the choice she was making. The shrine houses special relics — a pair of gloves that belonged to the saint. They were presented to the shrine by her late husband with one condition. He asked that they be available to people to touch and handle instead of being locked behind glass. His request provides a rare opportunity for those who visit the Shrine of St. Gianna.
Shrine hours: Two sets of hours for veneration of the unsealed relics of St. Gianna are listed on the website. In a pop-up on the home page, they are listed as  the second Saturday of every month, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Shrine hours are 3:30-5 p.m. Saturdays and after Masses until 2 p.m. Sundays. Group arrangements are available by reservation.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are always welcome, but should behave as they would at any parish.
Info: Address — Shrine of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, Nativity of Our Lord Church, 625 West Street Road, Warminster, PA 18974 Phone — 215/657-3101 Web — http://saintgianna.org

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Catholic World Meeting of Families will be held in Philadephia, Pennsylvania, Sept. 22-27, 2015. Learn more about the meeting at www.worldmeeting2015.org/. This is one of several shrines in the Philadephia area that we’ll highlight before the meeting. 

(Photo http://cathedralphila.org)

(CNS photo/Nancy
Phelan Wiechec)

Destination: On April 8, 1808, Pope Pius VII established Baltimore as the first archdiocese in the United States and created four new dioceses: Philadelphia, Boston, New York and Bardstown, Kentucky. This September, the now-Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be the host of the World Meeting of Families and Pope Francis will be there. 
Regular Mass times at the cathedral are Saturday 7:15 a.m., 12:05 p.m. in the chapel and 5:15 p.m. in the basilica; Sunday 8 a.m. English and 12:30 p.m. Spanish, chapel; 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., basilica; Monday-Friday, 7:15 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Mass times may vary if you go during the World Meeting of Families, so check locally.
The photos show the second-story windows and art (left) and the dome (right) of the cathedral.

Why to go: The historic church, open since 1864, features a carved walnut organ screen casing in the choir loft. The website says, “The richly ornamental screen is the design of Otto Eggers, who also designed the Jefferson Monument, the Mellon Art Gallery, and the National Gallery of Art, all in Washington, D.C.”
Anti-Catholic sentiment was high in Philadelphia when construction began on the cathedral, so it was designed without windows at street level to discourage vandals. The design is based on the Lombard Church of St. Charles (San Carlo al Corso) in Rome, and is an example of Roman-Corinthian architecture. Cast bronze doors leading to the narthex and bronze handrails were added in a 1950s renovation.
There’s an audio tour of the cathedral basilica for MP3 players. It’s about 20 minutes long and you can download it free from the Visitor Information page (under About on the home page).

Special events: The cathedral basilica is celebrating its 150th year and three more choral concerts are scheduled in May. Details are at http://cathedralphilaconcerts.org/events/

(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are always welcome.

Info: Address: Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Phone: 215/561-1313 Web: http://cathedralphila.org/

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas toseasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

(Photo/www.SaintRitaShrine.org)

The Catholic World Meeting of Families will be held in Philadephia, Pennsylvania, Sept. 22-27, 2015. Learn more about the meeting at www.worldmeeting2015.org/. This is the second of several shrines in the Philadephia area that
we’ll highlight before the meeting.
Destination: The National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia is in the south part of Philadephia, near its Italian Market. It is dedicated to St. Rita, a 15th century wife, mother, widow and nun. She is known as a peacemaker, as someone who  helped others seek reconciliation and who aided those in difficulty.
Masses are offered Saturday at 8 a.m., noon and 5 p.m.; Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.; Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Why to go:  Philadephia’s Archbishop Patrick Ryan established the parish in 1907 after receiving a large donation from Lucas Burke. The parish was entrusted to the Augustinian Friars, who continue serving the shrine community today. After serving the city’s immigrants and its changing neighborhoods for 80 years, it had fallen into disrepair. Renovation began in the 1990s, leading to its recognition as a national shrine in 2000.
The shrine is home to a variety of art­ — including sculpture, stained glass and more — that highlights the life of St. Rita. Plan your visit by checking the virtual tour on the shrine website.
Amenities: There is a gift shop. Hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; and after Mass until 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Special events: Beginning last month and continuing through May 2015, the Augustinian friars at the shrine are offering a healing Mass at 2 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month.
Admission: Hours are 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. The Mission is closed Easter Sunday and Monday, Thanksgiving, and from Dec. 24 through Dec. 26. Cost is $6.50 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for children over 7, free  for children under 6.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are welcome, as they would be to any church.
Info: Address: National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia, 1166 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19146. Phone: 215/546-8333. Web: www.SaintRitaShrine.org

 - Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

National Shrine of St. John Nepomucene Neumann - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

(Photo/www.stjohnneumann.org)

The Catholic World Meeting of Families will be held in Philadephia, Pennsylvania, Sept. 22-27, 2015. Learn more about the meeting at  www.worldmeeting2015.org/. In future issues, we’ll highlight shrines in the Philadephia area.
Destination: The national shrine at St. Peter the Apostle Parish (in photo) is the final resting place of St. John Nepomucene Neumann. Born in Bohemia, he came to America in 1836. He was ordained a priest in New York the same year, served as the fourth bishop of Philadelphia and was declared a saint in 1977 by Pope Paul VI.
Masses are offered in the lower church Monday-Saturday at 7:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. (in Spanish), and 3:30 p.m.; and in the upper church at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Why to go: The parish is where St. John Neumann asked to be buried. He was the first priest to profess vows as a Redemptorist in the U.S. and he wanted to be buried near the priests of his order. His body can be viewed in the lower level church, near the Shrine Museum. 
As a young man, he knew he wanted to become a missionary to America, so he learned English. Having studied Italian in seminary in Boehemia, he used that knowledge to minister to Italian immigrants. He founded the first national parish for Italians in the U.S. He also learned enough Irish to hear confessions in that language.
St. John also unified Philadelphia schools in a diocesan system and founded the Third Order of St. Francis of Glen Riddle.
Though St. John never lived at the church where he is buried, he visited there often. Built to serve a German immigrant population, it was consecrated in 1847, five years after property was bought for the parish.
Amenities: A gift shop is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Admission: Shrine hours are Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.- 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Museum hours are Monday-Friday, 8a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, 8 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Depending on the time of year you visit, school may be in session. Visiting youngsters should be a little quiet as they visit the church and museum.
Info: Address: The National Shrine of St. John Neumann, 1019 N. Fifth St., Philadelphia, PA 19123. Phone: 215/627-3080 . Web: http://www.stjohnneumann.org/shrine.html

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

 (Photos/ www.czestochowa.us)

Destination:  If you plan a visit in the northeast anytime, plan a stop at this shrine in Doylestown, Pa. An exhibit about Our Lady of Czestochowa (“The Black Madona”) recently came to Holy Family Parish in Rockford, generating interest. Among the shrine’s thousands of visitors was St. John Paul II, who visited twice before he was elected pope.
Masses are Saturday 5 p.m. (English); Sunday, 8, 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (Polish), and 9, 11 a.m., 2:30, 5 p.m. (English); weekdays, 7:30, 8, 11:30 a.m. (English). Check the website for holy day and holiday schedules.
Why to go:  The story of this American shrine began, according to its website, “in 1951 when Father Michael M. Zembrzuski, a priest in the Pauline Order from Poland, arrived on American soil.” Father Zembrzuski worked as a missionary during his first three years here, traveling to Polish parishes in the U.S. and Canada. His journeys made clear a need among “Polonia” to foster pride in their Polish heritage and culture. After gaining permission in late 1953 to establish a monastery in Doylestown, he also sought to develop a shrine. He had it weeks later.
On June 26, 1955, Father Stanley Nowak blessed and dedicated a small barn chapel to Our Lady of Czestochowa. The first recorded pilgrimage to the new shrine was from St. Laurentius Parish in Philadelphia for the dedication.
Activities: The shrine will host the 49th Polish-American Family Festival and Country Fair this year Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2014 (Labor Day Weekend), and Sept. 6-7, 2014.
Amenities: A cafeteria is open only on Sundays, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. There is also a gift shop on the grounds, open 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. daily.
(Grand) Kid friendly: This is an ideal stop during a car drive. The aerial view of the grounds shows plenty of room for walks (or quiet runs) with the kids. And don’t forget the festival.
Info: Address: National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa
P.O. Box 2049, 654 Ferry Road, Doylestown, PA 18901.Phone: 215/345-0600 Web: www.czestochowa.us

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

St. Katharine Drexel Mission Center and National Shrine - Bensalem, Pennsylvania

(Photo courtesy of the Archives of the
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament)

Destination: The St. Katharine Drexel Mission Center and National Shrine is just 20 minutes from Philadelphia, at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the religious order established by St. Katharine Drexel in 1891. Historically, the apostolate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament has been primarily with African and Native American peoples.
There is no daily Mass schedule on the website, but check http://masstimes.org/ for area churches.
Why to go: St. Katharine Drexel’s story is told through an exciting collection of furniture, photo displays, and artifacts. There is a five minute video which makes St. Katharine Drexel’s life come alive. Pilgrims can pray, reflect and leave written prayer intentions in the Apache Burden Basket located next to St. Katharine’s crypt. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament pray daily for these intentions.
The shrine area, which holds the entombed remains of St. Katharine Drexel, was built in 1949. The bas relief of the angels above the tomb was designed by Mother Mary of the Visitation, SBS, and Kathleen Dorsey.
Events: There is an open house scheduled May 15, but if you plan to be in the area that day, the sisters would like to know you’re coming. Email them at skdcenter@comcast.net.
Accessibility: All facilities are wheelchair accessible.The shrine is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, but it is closed on major holidays.
Ammenities: There are a gift shop, auditorium, indoor cafe and open air patio. A covered entrance accommodates busses and cars, and there is a large parking lot.
(Grand) Kid friendly: The Motherhouse grounds and the Mission Center offer visitors a serene place to pray, relax, learn, and converse — something to keep in mind.
Info: Address: Saint Katharine Drexel Mission Center and National Shrine, 1663 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020. Phone: 215/244-9900. Web: http://www.katharinedrexel.org/Mission_Center.html

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

St. Anthony’s Chapel - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

(Photo provided)

Destination: If you’re planning a trip to or near Pittsburgh, work in a stop at St. Anthony’s Chapel in the Troy Hill neighborhood. The chapel, which houses the largest collection of relics open for public viewing, is cared for by members of Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish.
Masses are offered in the chapel Monday-Friday at  8:30 a.m. On Tuesdays, Mass is followed by the St. Anthony Novena.
Why to go:  “A little bit of heaven” is how Carole Brueckner, a guide at Pittsburgh’s St. Anthony’s Chapel, describes this home to more than 5,000 relics, each authenticated by the Catholic Church. The original chapel and an extension were built and the reliquaries purchased with private funds of Father Suitbert Godfrey Mollinger, a Belgian priest. He came to Pittsburgh in 1865, after being in America for several years, and established several mission parishes. He became the first pastor of Most Holy Name of Jesus on July 4, 1868.
When political unrest threatened holy relics in Europe, Father Mollinger began his mission of saving as many as he could and of building a home where they could be viewed and venerated.
The oldest relics are housed in the original chapel, but newer additions to the collection are in the extension, which was dedicated on the Feast of St. Anthony, June 13, 1883.
The extension also houses life-size stations of the cross, carved in wood by Mayer and Company of Munich, Germany. Father Mollinger dedicated the extension on June 13, 1892.
He spent $300,000 of his own money to establish the chapel and its collection of relics.
Access: Parking is available near the chapel, and there is wheelchair access. Once inside, everything is on one level.
Amenities: Chapel and gift shop (across the street) hours are Saturday-Thursday, 1-4 p.m. Tours are offered at 1, 2 and 3 p.m., but groups of 10 or more can arrange for other times by calling ahead.
(Grand) Kid friendly: The chapel is small, but the stations and other statues are vivid enough to hold children’s attention.
Info: Address: St. Anthony’s Chapel, 1704 Harpster St. Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Phone: 412/231-2994. Web: www.saintanthonyschapel.org

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - Hanover, Pennsylvania

(CNS photo/Chris Heisey and Emily
Albert, The Catholic Witness)

Destination: Before the United States was born, Catholics were worshiping in the Conewago area of Pennsylvania. Father James Pellentz — who would be Vicar General to Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore, when the diocese was founded in 1790 — oversaw the construction of a stone church that was the first in the Americas to be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Just more than 10 miles from Gettysburg, any history vacation to Pennsylvania should include a stop at the basilica.
Masses are 7 a.m. Monday-Friday; 6:30 p.m. Saturday; 7:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday.
Why to go: There is considerable evidence that English Jesuits established a mission post in Hanover along the Conewago Creek in 1637.
In 1741, a log chapel was built and by 1784 the parish was serving more than a thousand faithful, making it the largest Catholic congregation in the country.
In 1787, the same year the U.S. Constitution was ratified, the larger church was completed, and it remains the oldest church in the nation built entirely of stone.
Pope John XXIII raised the church to the rank of minor basilica July 11, 1962.
Time-lapse photography captures stars circling over the basilica.
Access: The basilica and its parking area are accessible to the handicapped.
(Grand) Kid friendly: This is both a Catholic and an American history site, great for those “what I did on my summer vacation” questions when school starts.
Info: Address — Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 30 Basilica Dr., Hanover, PA 17331-8924. Phone —717/637-2721. Web — www.hbgdiocese.org; click on Parishes & Missions and on About the Diocese, Growth of Catholicism Geographically, and Conewago Area.

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org