About Madonna, Queen of the Universe National Shrine · Boston, Massachusetts
The Madonna, Queen of the Universe National Shrine is a Roman Catholic national shrine in the Orient Heights neighborhood of East Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1954 by the Don Orione Fathers (Sons of Divine Providence) and serving as the U.S. headquarters of that religious congregation. It is best known for the 35-foot bronze-and-copper statue of the Blessed Mother created by Italian-Jewish sculptor Arrigo Minerbi, which was transported from Rome in 1954 and dedicated by Archbishop Richard Cushing atop Orient Heights. The complex includes a hilltop plaza with an observation tower crowned in gold, a four-story underground shrine, a Catholic gift shop, and worship spaces offering Mass in English, Spanish, and Portuguese for the diverse immigrant communities of East Boston.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Universe
- Rector
- Rev. Marcelo Boschi, FDP (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
The Madonna Queen of the Universe National Shrine welcomes three of Boston's most vibrant Catholic communities under one roof — English, Spanish-speaking, and Brazilian Portuguese-speaking — with Masses in each language every weekend, weekday adoration, and a full schedule of rosaries and devotions. It is the spiritual home of the Don Orione Fathers (Sons of Divine Providence), a religious congregation committed to serving orphans, the poor, the sick and the elderly regardless of ethnicity, so any parishioner joins a parish whose outreach (Pastoral de Rua, Proyecto Solidario, Divino Niño) is rooted in the founder St. Luigi Orione's motto 'Do good to all; harm no one.' The hilltop plaza with its 35-foot Minerbi Madonna, mosaic Stations of the Cross, and views over Boston Harbor and Logan Airport gives the parish a uniquely contemplative setting that is also a city landmark.
Mass times at Madonna, Queen of the Universe National Shrine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30–7:00 PM (in Spanish)
- Wednesday 5:30–7:00 PM (in Spanish)
- Thursday 5:30–7:00 PM (in Spanish)
- Friday 5:30–7:00 PM (in Spanish); First Friday 6:00–8:00 PM (Portuguese)
- Tuesday–Friday 6:00–7:00 PM (English)
- By appointment — call 617-569-8792
Adoration times
- Thursday 4:30 PM (English, in the Madonna Chapel)
- Thursday 7:30 PM (Spanish, in the main church)
- Thursday 7:30 PM (Portuguese, in the crypt)
- Thursday 8:00–9:00 PM (per parish listings)
History of the Shrine
The Don Orione Fathers (Sons of Divine Providence) arrived in East Boston in 1949 to establish a home for aged Italian immigrants, purchasing the Italianate house at 150 Orient Avenue. Demand for care grew so quickly that in 1952 the order built a new nursing home at 111 Orient Avenue, designed by the Coletti Brothers of Quincy, and across the street began construction of a monumental gray-granite shrine in 1956. The shrine's signature feature — a 35-foot, six-ton bronze and copper Madonna — was sculpted in Italy by Arrigo Minerbi as a replica of his earlier Montemario Madonna, shipped to Boston in three pieces, and dedicated on the hilltop by Archbishop Richard Cushing in 1954. In the 1980s the order completed a modern four-story underground shrine directly beneath the plaza, and the wider complex was formally dedicated in 1987. The shrine continues to serve as the U.S. headquarters of the Sons of Divine Providence and the spiritual home of three Catholic language communities in East Boston.
- 1949: Don Orione Fathers arrive in East Boston; purchase 150 Orient Ave. for a home for the aged
- 1952: Construction begins on Don Orione Nursing Home at 111 Orient Ave. (Coletti Brothers, Quincy)
- 1954: Minerbi Madonna statue dedicated by Archbishop Richard Cushing
- 1956: Construction begins on the gray-granite shrine building (architect Mario Bacciocchi)
- 1965: Nursing home expanded
- 1980s: Four-story underground shrine completed below the plaza
- 1987: The wider shrine complex is formally dedicated
- 2004: Founder Luigi Orione canonized by Pope John Paul II (May 16, 2004)
- 2022: Cardinal Seán O'Malley celebrates outdoor Mass for the 150th anniversary of St. Luigi Orione's birth
The Madonna Statue and Artworks
The dominant feature of the shrine is the 35-foot-tall bronze and copper statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, cast by Italian-Jewish sculptor Arrigo Minerbi (1881–1960) and erected on a high pedestal in the hilltop plaza overlooking East Boston. It is a replica of the original 35-foot Minerbi Madonna that overlooks Rome from Montemario hill, shipped from Italy in three pieces and reassembled in Boston. The plaza perimeter displays a complete set of mosaic Stations of the Cross, and smaller prayer coves around the site are dedicated to various saints. A near life-sized outdoor nativity scene is set up at Christmas.
- 35-foot bronze and copper statue of the Madonna (Arrigo Minerbi)
- Replica of the Montemario Madonna overlooking Rome
- Mosaic Stations of the Cross around the plaza
- Prayer coves dedicated to various saints
- Outdoor Christmas nativity scene
- 24/7 votive candle area across the street
St. Luigi Orione and the Sons of Divine Providence
The shrine is entrusted to the Sons of Divine Providence (Don Orione Fathers), a Roman Catholic religious congregation founded in Italy in 1893 by St. Luigi Orione (1872–1940). Born on June 23, 1872, in Pontecurone, Italy, Luigi Orione was named after St. Aloysius Gonzaga and St. John the Baptist and grew up in humble circumstances. He attended the Valdocco Oratory in Turin, where he came to the attention of St. John Bosco, and was reportedly miraculously cured of illness at the moment of Don Bosco's death in 1888. He was ordained a priest on April 13, 1895, and devoted his life to the service of orphans, the poor, the sick, and the elderly regardless of ethnicity, with the mottoes 'Instaurare omnia in Christo' (To restore all things in Christ) and 'Do good to all; harm no one.' He died on March 12, 1940, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 16, 2004. His incorrupt remains rest in the crypt of the Shrine of La Madonna della Guardia in Tortona, Italy. The congregation today numbers nearly a thousand priests and brothers working in thirty-two countries.
- St. Luigi Orione (1872–1940), founder, canonized 2004
- Sons of Divine Providence (Don Orione Fathers) — founded 1893 in Italy
- Motto: 'Instaurare omnia in Christo' (To restore all things in Christ)
- Charism: 'Do good to all; harm no one'
- Approximately 1,000 priests and brothers in 32 countries
- Relics of St. Luigi Orione venerated at the Madonna della Guardia Shrine in Tortona, Italy
Hispanic Community (Comunidad Hispana)
The Hispanic Community of the shrine organizes Spanish-language Masses, devotions, and ministries for Spanish-speaking Catholics in East Boston. It is one of the three principal language communities served by the parish. The community participates in the Archdiocese of Boston's Hispanic pastoral life, including the Hispanic Marian Congress.
- Spanish-language Masses throughout the week
- Rosary and Spanish-language devotions
- Pastoral de Rua (Street Ministry) — feeding the homeless and hungry
- Proyecto Solidario — funeral and housing assistance
- Divino Niño — Divine Child Jesus devotion
- Hispanic Marian Congress participation
Brazilian Community (Comunidade Brasileira)
The Brazilian (Lusophone) Community of the shrine is an exceptionally organized parish-within-a-parish, with its own secretariat, ministry coordinators, and full schedule of activities in Portuguese. Coordinators are listed on the parish website for each ministry. The community secretariat can be reached at 857-391-1223.
- Secretaria da Comunidade (Parish Secretariat): 857-391-1223
- Acolhida (Welcome ministry)
- Acólitos (Acolytes) and Coroinhas (Altar servers)
- Canto (Choir)
- Catequese (Catechesis)
- Batismo (Baptism preparation)
- Adoração Eucarística (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Apostolado de Rua (Street Apostolate)
- Pascom (Communication ministry)
- Grupo de Oração (Prayer Group)
- Inclusão (Inclusion ministry)
- Liturgia (Liturgy team) / Proclamadores da Palavra (Ministers of the Word)
- Ministros (Eucharistic Ministers)
- Cafezinho (Fellowship)
- Terço das Mães and Terço dos Homens (Mothers' and Men's Rosary)
- Grupo de Jovens Adolescentes and Grupo de Jovens Adultos (Teen and Young-Adult groups)
- Dízimo (Stewardship)
- Família (Family ministry)
- Devoção dos Primeiros Sábados (First Saturdays)
Charitable Works and Outreach
True to the Don Orione charism — 'Charity, and only charity, will save the world' — the shrine maintains active outreach to the local community and supports international missions. Locally, the parish addresses the needs of neighbors, especially funeral and housing expenses, and runs the Pastoral de Rua street ministry for the homeless and hungry. Internationally, under the direction of the Sons of Divine Providence in Rome, the shrine currently supports education and training projects in the Philippines and Kenya.
- Pastoral de Rua — food and outreach to the homeless
- Proyecto Solidario — funeral and housing assistance for those in need
- Divino Niño — Divine Child Jesus devotion and community
- International mission support: education projects in the Philippines and Kenya
Clergy and Staff
The shrine is administered by members of the Sons of Divine Providence (FDP — Figli della Divina Provvidenza), the international religious congregation founded by St. Luigi Orione. The current administrator is Rev. Marcelo Boschi, FDP, who also serves the Italian- and Spanish-speaking faithful. The vicar is Rev. Angel Pedro Alvarez Redondo, FDP, and the Portuguese-speaking community is served by Rev. Miguel Goncalves, FDP. The Brazilian community secretariat can be reached at 857-391-1223, and a Spanish-language WhatsApp line is available at +1 (774) 564-3436.
- Rev. Marcelo Boschi, FDP — Administrator (English, Italian, Spanish)
- Rev. Angel Pedro Alvarez Redondo, FDP — Vicar
- Rev. Miguel Goncalves, FDP — Portuguese ministry
- Brazilian Community Secretariat: 857-391-1223
- Spanish WhatsApp: +1 (774) 564-3436
Visiting the Shrine
The Madonna Queen of the Universe National Shrine is one of the most distinctive religious landmarks in the City of Boston. Perched on Orient Heights, the site commands panoramic views of Boston Harbor and the runways of Logan International Airport. Visitors enter the hilltop plaza to see the 35-foot Minerbi Madonna, the gold-crowned observation tower, the mosaic Stations of the Cross, and the votive-candle area. Below the plaza, the four-story underground shrine contains a Catholic gift shop and additional chapels. Admission is free, and the plaza is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (locked overnight).
- Hilltop plaza with sweeping views of Boston Harbor and Logan Airport
- 35-foot Minerbi Madonna statue
- Gold-crowned observation tower
- Mosaic Stations of the Cross around the plaza
- Votive candle area (24/7)
- Underground Catholic gift shop and chapels
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Admission: free