About Parish Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (St. Luke) · Stratford, New Jersey
The Parish Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (also known as St. Luke) is a bilingual, active Catholic parish and diocesan shrine in the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey. The parish spans three worship sites — St. Luke Church in Stratford, St. Lawrence Church in Lindenwold, and Our Lady of Grace Chapel — and serves both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking faithful throughout southern Camden County. Its mission is to retell the story of Jesus Christ through worship, evangelization, and gospel-based service to neighbors, while honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe as Patroness of the unborn and Star of the New Evangelization of the Americas.
- Established
- 2011 (as a diocesan shrine/parish)
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe (Patroness of the unborn; Patroness of the Americas)
- Rector
- Rev. René L. Canales
- Diocese
- Diocese of Camden
Why belong here
The Parish Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most distinctive Catholic communities in South Jersey: a diocesan shrine where the replica of Our Lady of Guadalupe's miraculous tilma-image is venerated, daily Mass and confession are offered, weekly adoration and a Perpetual Novena sustain a pilgrim culture, and bilingual (English/Spanish) liturgy welcomes both longstanding residents and a growing Hispanic community. The parish runs dozens of active ministries — Youth Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Stephen Ministry, choirs, Marriage Prep, Bereavement, and a strong Religious Education program tied to St. John Paul II Regional School — giving every member a way to live out the Catholic faith in concrete service.
Mass times at Parish Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (St. Luke)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM (St. Luke Church, Stratford)
- Thursday: 6:30 PM (St. Lawrence Church, Lindenwold)
- Monday, Wednesday & First Friday of the Month: 6:30 PM (Our Lady of Grace Chapel — enter through the Spanish Office)
Adoration times
- Wednesdays: 12:00 PM – 6:30 PM (Our Lady of Grace Chapel)
- Thursdays: 12:00 PM – 6:30 PM (Our Lady of Grace Chapel)
- Weekly Adoration and Benediction
History & Dedication of the Shrine
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a diocesan shrine and active parish of the Diocese of Camden, officially dedicated on October 30, 2011 by Bishop Joseph Galante. Its founding mission is to provide a place of pilgrimage and prayer in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, seeking her intercession for the sanctity of human life, and to fulfill Blessed John Paul II's call for her to be the Star of the New Evangelization of the Americas. The Shrine is built around an exact replica of the miraculous image from the tilma of St. Juan Diego (December 9, 1531), which was personally touched to the original tilma preserved at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
- Dedicated October 30, 2011 by Bishop Joseph Galante, Diocese of Camden
- Replica tilma-image touched to the original in Mexico City
- Patroness of the unborn; Star of the New Evangelization
- Open seven days a week for pilgrimages
Three Worship Sites
The parish serves its people across three worship locations — St. Luke Church in Stratford (55 Warwick Road), St. Lawrence Church in Lindenwold (135 N White Horse Pike), and Our Lady of Grace Chapel. Each has its own Mass and Reconciliation schedule, allowing the parish to minister to a wide geographic and cultural community. Maps to both church sites are embedded on the parish website.
- St. Luke Church — 55 Warwick Road, Stratford, NJ
- St. Lawrence Church — 135 N White Horse Pike, Lindenwold, NJ
- Our Lady of Grace Chapel (parish campus)
Parish Staff & Clergy
The pastoral team is led by Rev. René L. Canales, Pastor, and is supported by two parochial vicars — Rev. Paul Abbruscato and Rev. Armando Rodriguez Montoya (also overseeing Hispanic Ministry) — along with Deacon Omar Aguilar and Sacristan Francisco Torres. The lay staff runs faith formation, liturgy and music, youth ministry, shrine services, and parish operations across both the English and Hispanic offices.
- Rev. René L. Canales — Pastor
- Rev. Paul Abbruscato — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Armando Rodriguez Montoya — Parochial Vicar & Hispanic Ministry
- Deacon Omar Aguilar
- Francisco Torres — Sacristan
- Helen Persing — School Principal (St. John Paul II Regional School)
- Gelen Hernandez — Director of Faith Formation
- Dianette Delgado — Faith Formation Administrative Assistant
- Stephanie Greco — Director of Shrine Services
- Brendan Murray — Youth Ministry Leader
- Maria Nieva — Director of Liturgy & Music
- Carmen Williams — Office Manager
- Jill Tarquini — Bookkeeper
- Anna DiGialleonardo — Administrative Assistant
- Alexa Padilla — Hispanic Ministry Administrative Assistant
- Ricky Dabbenigno — Maintenance Supervisor
Parish Offices & Contact
The parish operates two offices to serve its bilingual community: a main Parish Office in Stratford and a Hispanic Office (Oficina Hispana) in Lindenwold. Both share the same Monday–Friday schedule (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM) and the same email inbox for registration and general inquiries.
- Parish Office — 55A Warwick Rd., Stratford, NJ 08084 — 856-627-2222
- Hispanic Office — 100 South Ave., Lindenwold, NJ 08021 — 856-627-2089
- Email: guadalupeparishshrine@gmail.com
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM – 4 PM (lunch 12–1 PM)
Pilgrim Services & Devotions
As a diocesan shrine, the parish provides a full pilgrim infrastructure in addition to standard parish life. Devotees can enroll Mass intentions in perpetuity, light votive candles in the indoor Shrine area, place prayer requests before the sacred image, and walk the outdoor Shrine with its fountain, rosary and memorial pavers. Our Lady's Gift Shop is also part of the pilgrim experience. A weekly Perpetual Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe is prayed, and the Monthly Mass of Remembrance on the 12th of each month carries the intentions of all pilgrims.
- Daily Mass and Confessions
- Weekly Adoration and Benediction
- Weekly Perpetual Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Indoor Shrine area with votive candles
- Outdoor Shrine and fountain with rosary and memorial pavers
- Our Lady's Gift Shop
- Perpetual Mass enrollment
- Pilgrim intentions remembered on the 12th of each month
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is coordinated by Director Gelen Hernandez with administrative support from Dianette Delgado, and is offered bilingually (Educación Religiosa). The program prepares children for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, and supports ongoing adult faith growth through Bible Study, the Legion of Mary, and the Charismatic Renewal.
- Director of Faith Formation — Gelen Hernandez
- Faith Formation Administrative Assistant — Dianette Delgado
- Religious Education (English & Spanish)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Bible Study Ministry
- Legion of Mary
- Charismatics / Carismáticos
Youth & Family Ministry
Youth Ministry is split into Middle School and High School tracks under the leadership of Brendan Murray, and works closely with St. John Paul II Regional School and the parish school of formation. The parish also runs a Family Festival each summer on the John Paul II School grounds, with rides, games, American and Hispanic foods, raising support for ministries and outreach.
- Youth Ministry (Middle School)
- Youth Ministry (High School) — Brendan Murray
- Annual Our Lady of Guadalupe Family Festival
- Children & Adult Choirs
Liturgy & Music
Liturgical life is shaped by Maria Nieva, Director of Liturgy & Music, in coordination with the many liturgical volunteers. Multiple choirs (children and adult) support both English and Spanish Masses across all three worship sites.
- Director of Liturgy & Music — Maria Nieva
- Children's Choir
- Adult Choir
- Altar Servers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Ushers / Hospitality
St. John Paul II Regional School
The parish is the spiritual home of St. John Paul II Regional School in Stratford (55 Warwick Rd.), a PreK-3 through Grade 8 Catholic school formed by the merger prior to 2008 of three parish schools: Our Lady of Grace, St. Luke, and St. Lawrence. The school is led by Principal Helen Persing and supported pastorally by Rev. René L. Canales. Its students regularly participate in Shrine celebrations, including the annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe liturgy with Bishop Dennis Sullivan.
- Principal — Helen Persing
- Pastor — Rev. René Canales
- 55 Warwick Rd., Stratford, NJ
- Formed from merger of Our Lady of Grace, St. Luke, and St. Lawrence schools (pre-2008)
- Preschool 3 through Grade 8
Outreach & Charitable Works
Charitable and pastoral outreach is woven through multiple parish ministries. The St. Vincent de Paul Society serves the materially poor; Stephen Ministry provides one-on-one Christian care to the hurting; the Bereavement Ministry accompanies mourners; and the Beloved Daughters, Senior Club, and Men's Ministry (Juan XXIII) extend support to specific demographics. The annual Family Festival benefits these outreach efforts along with youth programs and care for the elderly.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Stephen Ministry
- Bereavement Ministry
- Beloved Daughters
- Senior Club
- Men's Ministry (Juan XXIII)
- Knights of Columbus — Holy Family & Nativity Councils
Sacraments & Marriage Preparation
The parish prepares members for all major sacraments. Baptismal Prep welcomes parents and godparents before infant baptism; Pre-Cana provides engaged couples the diocesan preparation for marriage; ongoing Faith Formation prepares children for First Eucharist and Confirmation. Reconciliation is offered daily (see confession schedule), and Anointing of the Sick is available upon request through the parish office.
- Baptismal Prep
- Pre-Cana (Marriage Preparation)
- First Eucharist & Confirmation via Faith Formation
- Anointing of the Sick (via Stephen Ministry / parish office)
Getting Involved — Parish Registration
New parishioners are welcomed via a downloadable registration form available on the parish website. The form can be completed electronically and dropped off at the parish office, placed in the collection basket, or emailed to guadalupeparishshrine@gmail.com. The parish also runs an online giving / donation platform and publishes weekly parish news and photo galleries through its website and Facebook page.
- Online parish registration form (downloadable)
- Online donations supported
- Weekly parish news and photo gallery on website
- Active Facebook presence (OurLadyofGuadalupeParishShrine)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Vincent G. Guest
Censed a missionary image of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Shrine during the Dec. 12 feast (Diocese of Camden coverage).
- Father Joseph Capella
Served as pastor of the Parish Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the time of Bishop Dennis Sullivan's Dec. 11, 2019 visit with John Paul II Regional School students.
- Rev. René L. Canalespresent
Current pastor (per official parish staff page and St. John Paul II Regional School listing).