About Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Shrine · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (formerly known as the Miraculous Medal Shrine) is a Catholic shrine located at 500 East Chelten Avenue in the East Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Run by the Vincentian Fathers (Congregation of the Mission) of the Eastern Province, it is the spiritual home of the Miraculous Medal devotion that traces back to St. Catherine Labouré's 1830 apparitions in Paris. On December 12, 2022, the Vatican's Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments elevated the shrine to the status of a Minor Basilica, making it the second minor basilica in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia after the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, and the 92nd minor basilica in the United States.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Blessed Virgin Mary under the title given by her 1830 apparitions to St. Catherine Labouré at the Rue du Bac Chapel, Paris)
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Carroll, CM (Director)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Why belong here
The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal offers a unique Catholic pilgrimage destination in Philadelphia where Vincentian spirituality, Marian devotion, and a rich liturgical life come together. Whether you come for the famous Perpetual Novena every Monday (livestreamed worldwide from the 12:05 p.m. Mass), daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration in the Crypt Chapel, or the first-Tuesday Spanish-language devotions, you'll find a place shaped by 145+ years of welcoming immigrants and the broken-hearted. The shrine is open to the public seven days a week, always free of charge, with multiple daily Confession times, sacred art, and a quiet atmosphere ideal for prayer and retreat.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Shrine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 8:30 a.m.
- Monday: 11:00 a.m. (before 12:05 p.m. Mass/Novena)
- Monday: 1:30 p.m. (before 2:00 p.m. Novena/Benediction)
- Monday: 6:00 p.m. (before 6:30 p.m. Mass)
- Tuesday–Friday: 11:30 a.m.
- Saturday: 11:30 a.m.
Adoration times
- Monday: 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. (Crypt Chapel)
History of the Basilica Shrine
The Basilica Shrine traces its origins to 1865, when the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) purchased land in Philadelphia's Germantown section to house growing numbers of seminarians. Construction of St. Vincent's Seminary began in 1868 and was completed in 1872. Bishop (later Archbishop) James Frederick Wood asked the Vincentians to open their planned chapel to the public; the cornerstone was laid in 1875, and Bishop Patrick John Ryan blessed the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in 1879. It was the first Catholic church in the neighborhood, originally serving Irish immigrants. In 1927, Fr. Joseph A. Skelly, CM extended the west transept to create Mary's Central Shrine, and on December 8, 1930 he inaugurated the Perpetual Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal — an unbroken Monday tradition ever since. The Shrine was elevated to Minor Basilica status by Pope Francis on December 12, 2022.
- 1865 – Vincentians purchase land in Germantown, Philadelphia
- 1868 – Cornerstone of St. Vincent's Seminary laid
- 1872 – Seminary construction completed
- 1875 – Cornerstone of chapel laid
- 1879 – Chapel of the Immaculate Conception blessed by Bishop Patrick John Ryan
- 1915 – Central Association of the Miraculous Medal founded by Fr. Joseph Skelly, CM
- 1927 – Mary's Central Shrine created by extension of west transept
- December 8, 1930 – Perpetual Novena begins
- December 12, 2022 – Elevated to Minor Basilica by decree of Pope Francis
- January 25, 2023 – Public announcement of basilica designation
The Miraculous Medal Devotion
The Shrine exists to foster devotion to Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, which originates with the 1830 apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Catherine Labouré at the Rue du Bac Chapel in Paris. The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal (CAMM), founded in 1915 by Fr. Joseph A. Skelly, CM, continues to spread this devotion and distribute the Miraculous Medal worldwide from its headquarters adjacent to the Shrine at 475 E. Chelten Avenue.
- Title: Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
- Origin: 1830 apparitions to St. Catherine Labouré in Paris
- CAMM founded: 1915 by Fr. Joseph A. Skelly, CM
- Miraculous Medal investiture available, especially during First Tuesday Spanish devotions
Monday Perpetual Novena
The Perpetual Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal began on December 8, 1930, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, under the direction of Fr. Joseph A. Skelly, CM. Sometimes called the 'Monday Novena,' it has been prayed every Monday for nearly a century without interruption. During World War II, attendance swelled to approximately 15,000 people every Monday. Today the devotion is offered three times on Monday (9:00 a.m., 12:05 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.), with a traditional novena service and Benediction at 2:00 p.m. The 12:05 p.m. Mass/Novena is livestreamed on YouTube, uniting thousands around the world in prayer each week.
- Begun December 8, 1930
- Prayed every Monday without interruption
- Three Mass/Novena services on Monday (9 a.m., 12:05 p.m., 6:30 p.m.)
- Traditional Novena with Benediction at 2:00 p.m.
- 12:05 p.m. service livestreamed worldwide on YouTube
Spanish-Language Hispanic Ministry
On the first Tuesday of every month, the Basilica Shrine is dedicated to all Latino and Hispanic communities. The day begins at 10:00 a.m. with the Rosary, followed by the Miraculous Medal Novena, Holy Mass, and the investiture of the Miraculous Medal. In the evening (5:30 p.m.), the Rosary is prayed again, followed by the Miraculous Medal Novena and Holy Mass at 6:30 p.m. Fellowship is offered to all attendees after Mass, continuing the Vincentian tradition of welcoming immigrants that dates back to 1878.
- First Tuesday of each month
- Rosary, Novena, Mass, and Medal investiture
- 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
- Fellowship after Mass
Minor Basilica Designation
On December 12, 2022, the Vatican's Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued a decree elevating the Miraculous Medal Shrine to the status of Minor Basilica — jointly designating the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception (1879) and Mary's Central Shrine (1927). The designation was publicly announced by CAMM on January 25, 2023. It is only the second minor basilica in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the 92nd in the United States. Minor basilicas receive certain privileges and responsibilities, including celebration of the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, and the anniversary of the Pope's election, and may grant plenary indulgences to the faithful.
- Decree date: December 12, 2022
- Announced: January 25, 2023
- Pope: Francis
- Second Minor Basilica in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
- 92nd Minor Basilica in the United States
Visiting the Basilica Shrine
The Basilica Shrine is open to the public seven days a week and is always free of charge. Pilgrims can experience the Upper Shrine, the Lower Shrine (Crypt Chapel), the sacred art collection, and the atmosphere of prayer that has welcomed visitors for more than 140 years. Whether you come for daily Mass, the Monday Novena, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, or simply to sit in the 'silence of the heart,' the Shrine is described by its director as 'a place where heaven touches earth.'
- Sunday: 8:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (Mass at 9:00 a.m.)
- Monday: 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
- Tuesday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
- Free admission — always open to the public
Vincentian Heritage
The Basilica Shrine is a ministry of the Congregation of the Mission, commonly known as the Vincentians, founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1625. The Vincentians arrived in the United States in 1816 and came to Philadelphia in 1841 to direct St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. The Shrine's ministry to immigrants stretches back to 1878, when the chapel first served Philadelphia's Irish community. The Vincentians have since helped establish Holy Rosary (Italian), St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Catherine of Siena (African-American) parishes in Germantown. The Shrine continues this tradition of welcoming immigrant communities, including the monthly Spanish-language devotions.
- Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) founded 1625 by St. Vincent de Paul
- Arrived in U.S. in 1816; in Philadelphia by 1841
- Open chapel to public: 1878
- Parishes established: Holy Rosary (Italian), St. Vincent de Paul, St. Catherine of Siena
- Continuing immigrant ministry through Spanish-language devotions
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph A. Skelly, CM1915–(d. 1950)
Founder of the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal (1915) and creator of Mary's Central Shrine (1927); began the Perpetual Novena on December 8, 1930.
- Fr. Michael Carroll, CM2019–present
Director of the Miraculous Medal Shrine at the time of its 140th Anniversary and elevation to minor basilica.