St. John Paul II Shrine of Divine Mercy

History of the Shrine

The shrine is the spiritual descendant of St. John the Baptist, a Polish national parish founded in 1903 to serve the large community of Polish immigrants — many of them workers in Salem's leather and maritime industries — who had first worshipped in the basement of the Irish Immaculate Conception Church. Spearheaded by the St. Joseph Society, the parish initially built a frame church on Herbert Street under its first pastor, Rev. Joseph Czubek, and opened a school in 1908. By 1909 the community had outgrown the original building and bought a former Baptist church on St. Peter Street, which the parish renovated (adding a second floor) and used from then on. A new school building was added next to the church, and Felician Sisters taught Polish, religion, and American subjects there until the school closed in the early 1970s/1977 amid declining enrollment in ethnic parochial schools.

From Parish to Shrine (2013–2018)

Facing demographic shifts and a shortage of priests, St. John the Baptist joined the Salem Catholic Collaborative with St. James, Immaculate Conception, and St. Anne in 2013, with Fr. Daniel J. Riley as the first non-Polish pastor. In October 2016 Fr. Riley departed, staff were let go, the school building closed, and the parish's 43-year-old bingo fundraiser ended. On August 1, 2017 the Archdiocese of Boston formally suppressed St. John the Baptist Parish and erected in its place the St. John Paul II Shrine of Divine Mercy, staffed by priests of the Society of Christ (SChr). The shrine's first rector, Fr. Robert Bedzinski, S.Chr., oversaw the conversion of the building into a two-level shrine with the upper church dedicated to St. John Paul II and the lower church to Divine Mercy.

Architecture and Building

The shrine occupies a former Baptist church built on St. Peter Street, purchased and substantially renovated by the Polish parish in 1909 with the addition of a second floor. The two-story massing survives as the shrine's defining architectural feature: the upper church is dedicated to St. John Paul II (with his relic), and the lower church is dedicated to Divine Mercy (with a side chapel devoted to St. Faustina). A large parking lot, originally acquired by St. John the Baptist Parish, sits behind the building.

Devotions

The shrine is a center for two complementary Catholic devotions: Divine Mercy (the message given to St. Faustina Kowalska and promulgated by St. John Paul II, who established Divine Mercy Sunday in 2000) and devotion to the person of St. John Paul II himself. Weekly devotions include the St. Jude Novena on Monday evenings following the Healing Mass, the Stations of the Cross on Saturday afternoons (and other weekdays), and the Divine Mercy Chaplet prayed after Masses, especially on Divine Mercy Sunday.

Sacraments

Beyond the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick, the shrine welcomes the sacraments of Baptism and Marriage. Marriages are celebrated by special permission and require at least six months' advance preparation with the Rector; Baptisms are arranged by contacting the Shrine office. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the parish Faith Formation program.

Faith Formation and Youth Ministry

Religious Education classes are offered in Polish on Sundays after the 10:00 AM Mass. The parish also runs a Youth Ministry program. Both are coordinated by Teresa Prochorska, listed in the Boston Catholic Directory as Faith Formation and Youth Ministry staff.

Clergy and Staff

The shrine is administered by the Society of Christ (SChr), a religious congregation that ministers to Polish Catholics abroad. As of 2024–2026, the Boston Catholic Directory lists Rev. Jacek Walkiewicz, SChr as Administrator; Marilyn Costa (administrative staff); Diane Macedo (operations); Alicja Reksc (liturgy and music); Teresa Prochorska (faith formation and youth ministry). Fr. Walkiewicz also serves as provincial of the Society of Christ Fathers for Poles Living Abroad. The shrine's first rector, Fr. Robert Bedzinski, S.Chr., led the community from the shrine's founding in 2017.

• Rev. Jacek Walkiewicz, SChr — Administrator
• Rev. Robert Bedzinski, S.Chr. — First rector (2017–)
• Fr. Paweł Bandurski, SChr — Provincial, Society of Christ in America
• Ms. Marilyn Costa — Administrative staff
• Ms. Diane Macedo — Operations
• Ms. Alicja Reksc — Liturgy and Music
• Ms. Teresa Prochorska — Faith Formation / Youth Ministry

Visiting and Pilgrim Information

The shrine is in downtown Salem on St. Peter Street, close to the Peabody Essex Museum, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, and the city's famous Halloween attractions. It is one of the Archdiocese of Boston's designated Jubilee Churches for the Holy Year 2025. Visitors are welcome to attend Mass, spend time in adoration, pray the Stations of the Cross, and venerate the relics of St. John Paul II (upper church) and St. Faustina Kowalska (lower church). Shrine office hours are Monday and Friday 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM and by appointment.

Salem's Polish Heritage

The shrine preserves the legacy of one of New England's most significant Polish-American Catholic communities. Polish settlers arrived in Salem in the late 19th century to work in the city's tanneries, leather shops, and maritime trades. The St. Joseph Society, founded in 1899, helped build the parish; today the shrine continues to celebrate Mass in Polish and offers Polish-language faith formation, keeping that heritage alive for third- and fourth-generation Polish-Americans and for new Polish immigrants in the North Shore area.