About Lourdes Center Chapel · Boston, Massachusetts
The Lourdes Center, located at 698 Beacon Street in Boston's Kenmore Square, is a Catholic chapel and the official distributor of Lourdes Water in the United States and Canada. It was established in 1950 by Boston Archbishop Cardinal Richard J. Cushing and the Bishop of Lourdes, France, Most Reverend Pierre-Marie Théas, and its ministry was entrusted to the Marist Fathers of Boston (Society of Mary). The chapel at Kenmore Square, opened in 1963, serves as a 'workers' chapel' open to the public for weekday Masses, novenas, and visits, and serves hospital, banking, hotel, sports, and retail workers as well as residents and students in the neighborhood.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Rev. Philip E. Parent, SM (Administrator, per Boston Pilot)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
The Lourdes Center is a unique Catholic chapel in the heart of Boston's Kenmore Square, a five-minute walk from Fenway Park and up the street from Boston University. It offers daily Mass celebrated by Marist Fathers, a weekly Perpetual Novena, and the spiritual enrollment of loved ones in the Marist Fathers' 365 daily Masses, while also distributing authentic Lourdes Water throughout North America. Visitors can stop in for confession or spiritual direction, order Lourdes Water for themselves or sick loved ones, and join in the Center's devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes.
Mass times at Lourdes Center Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By request (Mon–Fri) — priests are available for confession and spiritual direction on request
About the Lourdes Center
The Lourdes Center is the official distributor of Lourdes Water in the United States and Canada. Established in 1950 by Boston Archbishop Cardinal Richard J. Cushing and the Bishop of Lourdes, France, Most Reverend Pierre-Marie Théas, its ministry was entrusted to the Marist Fathers of Boston. Its mission is to promote a loving devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes and to distribute Lourdes Water, which is shipped from France. The Center also publishes the free monthly newsletter 'Lourdes Echoes' and coordinates pilgrimages to Our Lady's Shrine in Lourdes.
- Founded 1950; chapel at 698 Beacon Street opened 1963
- Located in Kenmore Square, Boston, near Fenway Park and Boston University
- Staffed by Marist Fathers (Society of Mary)
History & Founding
The idea for a Lourdes Center in Boston grew out of Archbishop Cushing's 1948 pilgrimage, which brought roughly 500 Americans to Lourdes—the largest American contingent to that date. At a winter 1949 luncheon in Brighton, Massachusetts honoring Bishop Théas, Cushing offered the opportunity to found a center in Boston. The Marist Fathers of the Boston Province accepted, and in July 1950 the National Lourdes Bureau of America was approved. The first shipment of Lourdes Water arrived in January 1951. Originally based at Our Lady of Victories, 27 Isabella Street, the Bureau moved into its current Beacon Street building in 1963 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in Kenmore Square in 2013.
- 1948: Archbishop Cushing leads ~500 Americans on pilgrimage to Lourdes
- 1949: Bishop Théas asks Marist Provincial Very Rev. Cyr J. Parent, S.M., to lead the project
- June 18, 1949: Superior General authorizes Boston Province to accept
- July 1950: National Lourdes Bureau of America approved
- January 1951: First shipment of Lourdes Water arrives in the U.S.
- March 21, 1963: Public Mass opens the Lourdes Chapel at 698 Beacon Street
- March 21, 2013: 50th anniversary celebrated in Kenmore Square
Lourdes Water Distribution
Approximately 25,000 bottles of Lourdes Water are distributed each month by mail from the Beacon Street center. The Lourdes Center emphasizes that, in itself, Lourdes Water is simply water from the spring at Lourdes, France—it has no curative or miraculous ingredients, but the Church has officially recognized 68 miracles associated with its use or with pilgrimage to Lourdes. Thousands more claim physical healings that have not gone through the official verification process.
- Authorized distributor for the United States and Canada
- First shipment arrived January 1951
- ~25,000 bottles distributed monthly by mail
Prayers, Novenas & Spiritual Enrollments
The Lourdes Center maintains an active prayer and devotion ministry rooted in the Lourdes tradition. Affiliations for the Living are remembered in 50 Masses yearly in the chapel and at the weekly Perpetual Novena; Purgatorial enrollments are remembered during the 365 daily Masses celebrated by the Marist Fathers. The Center accepts prayer petitions from individuals worldwide and publishes novena texts on its website.
- Weekly Perpetual Novena
- Affiliations for the Living — 50 Masses yearly
- Purgatorial enrollments — remembered in 365 daily Marist Masses
- Suggested offering: 1 year $2, 3 years $5, Lifetime $10
- Novena prayers to Our Lady of Lourdes available on website
Lourdes Echoes Newsletter
The Lourdes Center publishes the free monthly newsletter 'Lourdes Echoes', sharing spiritual reflections, news from Lourdes, France, and updates on the Center's ministry. It is available through the Center's website.
Pilgrimages to Lourdes, France
In addition to distributing Lourdes Water, the Center coordinates pilgrimages to Our Lady's Shrine in Lourdes, France, allowing North American Catholics to visit the grotto and shrine associated with the apparitions of 1858.
Staff & Marist Fathers
The Lourdes Center is staffed by the Marist Fathers (Society of Mary) of the Boston Province. The current Director, as listed on the Center's own website, is Fr. George Szal, S.M. The Archdiocese of Boston's Catholic Directory lists Rev. Philip E. Parent, SM as Administrator and Rev. Francis A. Grispino, SM as In Residence at the Beacon Street rectory.
- Fr. George Szal, S.M. — Director (per Lourdes Center website)
- Rev. Philip E. Parent, S.M. — Administrator (per Boston Pilot Catholic Directory)
- Rev. Francis A. Grispino, S.M. — In Residence (per Boston Pilot Catholic Directory)
Building & Facilities
The Center occupies a three-story commercial building with basement at 698 Beacon Street, purchased in 1962 from the Gulf Oil Corporation for $75,000. The first floor houses the chapel and religious articles store; the second floor holds offices; the third floor is used as living quarters; and the basement contains bottling facilities, storage, and parking. A service driveway on the Commonwealth Avenue side provides access for shipping and receiving the monthly tens of thousands of bottles of Lourdes Water.
- Three floors plus basement
- First floor: chapel and store
- Second floor: offices
- Third floor: living quarters
- Basement: bottling, storage, and parking
- Main entrance on Beacon Street; service driveway off Commonwealth Avenue
Visit & Contact
The Lourdes Center welcomes visitors to the chapel at 698 Beacon Street, Kenmore Square, Boston. It can be reached by phone at (617) 536-2761 or by email at [email protected]. The Center's website offers contact forms, prayer petitions, information on ordering Lourdes Water, and online donations.
- Address: 698 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215
- Phone: (617) 536-2761
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.lourdescenter.org/