About St. Jude Church & Shrine · Chalfont, Pennsylvania
St. Jude Church and Shrine is a Catholic parish in Chalfont, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Founded in 1962 by Fr. Robert A. Gregg, it was envisioned from its earliest days as a regional shrine to St. Jude, patron of desperate cases, and remains a popular pilgrimage site with first-class relics of St. Jude, St. John Neumann, and St. Bartolo Longo. Today the parish serves over 2,500 families (more than 8,800 parishioners) with daily and Sunday Masses, weekly Thursday St. Jude Novena devotions, Eucharistic adoration, a parish school (St. Jude School, a National Blue Ribbon School), a Parish Religious Education Program (PREP), CYO athletics, and a wide range of liturgical, service, and prayer ministries.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- St. Jude Thaddaeus (patron of desperate cases)
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony J. Costa (2022–present)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Deanery: Bucks County Central and North)
Why belong here
St. Jude offers the rare combination of a large, vibrant parish and a true pilgrimage shrine in the heart of Bucks County. Parishioners grow in faith through daily and Sunday Masses (livestreamed), a parish school and PREP religious education, and active CYO athletics, while the Thursday St. Jude Novena, weekly Eucharistic adoration, and veneration of first-class relics of St. Jude, St. John Neumann, and St. Bartolo Longo give the community a steady rhythm of prayer. With more than forty ministries — liturgical, service, prayer, hospitality, and support — there are concrete ways to serve, and the parish explicitly welcomes newcomers to use their gifts to 'live, love, and serve in the image of Christ.'
Mass times at St. Jude Church & Shrine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament begins after the 9:00 AM Mass and ends with Benediction at 7:00 PM
History of St. Jude Church and Shrine
Archbishop John J. Krol established St. Jude on June 2, 1962, on a 30-acre site that was, in the parish's own words, an 'inauspicious start.' Founding pastor Fr. Robert A. Gregg named the parish for St. Jude, patron of desperate cases, and immediately began building what would become a regional shrine. The first veneration of the relic of St. Jude took place on October 26, 1962, drawing more than 800 pilgrims. From humble beginnings — Masses first offered at Forest Park amusement park, then a church-school complex dedicated December 15, 1963 — the parish weathered a devastating 1982 church fire (caused by spontaneous combustion from candle heat around the Shrine) and rebuilt on the highest point of the property, dedicating a new church on September 23, 1984. Continued growth brought the St. Jude Education Center in 2006, building upgrades in 2016–2017, and a major church renovation in 2018–2019.
- Founded June 2, 1962 by Archbishop John J. Krol
- Founding pastor: Fr. Robert A. Gregg (1962–1970)
- Original church-school dedicated December 15, 1963, staffed by the Sisters of Mercy
- Original church destroyed by fire October 9, 1982
- New church dedicated September 23, 1984
- Education Center dedicated October 7, 2006
- Major renovations in 2018–2019
St. Jude Shrine & Relics
From the beginning, Fr. Gregg envisioned an East Coast shrine to St. Jude so pilgrims could come on pilgrimage to the patron of desperate cases. The parish holds first-class relics of St. Jude, St. John Neumann, and St. Bartolo Longo, along with two second-class relics of St. Jude used for veneration. Veneration of the relic of St. Jude takes place every Thursday following the 9:00 AM Mass and again at 7:00 PM.
- First-class relic of St. Jude
- First-class relic of St. John Neumann
- First-class relic of St. Bartolo Longo
- Two second-class relics of St. Jude
- Weekly Thursday veneration since 1962
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Anthony J. Costa (since 2022), with Parochial Vicar Rev. Rupert C. Okolie and Permanent Deacon Timothy P. Lynch. Lay staff include a Parish Secretary, Safe Environment Coordinator, Coordinator of Ministry with Youth and Young Adults, Director of Music and Coordinator of Liturgy, Director of Religious Education (PREP), Parish Operations Manager, and Director of Faith Formation / PREP Administrative Assistant.
- Rev. Anthony J. Costa — Pastor (2022–present)
- Rev. Rupert C. Okolie — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Timothy P. Lynch — Permanent Deacon
- Monica Capobianchi — Parish Secretary
- Gina Horan — Safe Environment Coordinator
- Ashley Bennett — Coordinator of Ministry with Youth and Young Adults
- Madeleine Iaquinto — Director of Music and Coordinator of Liturgy
- Kathleen Young — Director of Religious Education (215-822-9225 ext. 234)
- Rick DeCarolis — Parish Operations Manager
Thursday St. Jude Novena Devotions
Every Thursday the parish gathers for its signature devotion — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament combined with the Novena to St. Jude and veneration of his first-class relic. The schedule runs from after the 9:00 AM Mass through the 7:00 PM Benediction, with an additional Novena Prayer and veneration at 2:00 PM.
- After 9:00 AM Mass: Adoration begins with Novena and veneration of the relic
- 2:00 PM: Novena Prayer and veneration during Adoration
- 7:00 PM: Novena Prayer and veneration concluding with Benediction
Faith Formation — PREP
The Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) partners with parents — 'the first and most important teachers of the faith' — to guide children in grades 1–6 in growing to know, love, and follow Jesus Christ. For 2026–2027, families may choose Traditional in-person classes on Monday afternoons (4:45–6:10 PM) or Family Catechesis on Sundays once a month after the 10:30 AM Mass. Sacramental preparation is built into the program: First Penance and First Holy Communion in 2nd grade, Confirmation in the fall of 7th grade.
- Traditional classes: Mondays 4:45–6:10 PM
- Family Catechesis: Sundays once a month, 8 sessions per year
- First Penance / First Communion: 2nd grade ($60)
- Confirmation: fall of 7th grade ($80)
- Director of Faith Formation: Mrs. Kathleen Young (215-822-9225 ext. 234)
- PREP Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Chris Reilly (215-822-9225 ext. 235)
- Contact: [email protected]
St. Jude School
St. Jude School, founded alongside the parish in 1963 and staffed originally by the Sisters of Mercy, continues today as a high-performing Catholic elementary school in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It has been named a National Blue Ribbon School. The school shares the campus with the parish's PREP program, CYO, and other ministries, and uses the St. Jude Education Center (dedicated 2006) for additional classrooms, a library, technology lab, and gymnasium/hall.
- Opened September 1963; dedicated December 15, 1963
- Originally staffed by the Sisters of Mercy
- Major expansion in 1981
- Named a National Blue Ribbon School
- Education Center added October 7, 2006
CYO — Catholic Youth Organization
St. Jude CYO provides parish athletic, service, and volunteer programs for youth in grades 1 through 12, with a spiritual and social component rooted in Catholic beliefs. The organization is run by a volunteer board and depends on parent coaches and volunteers. Registration and schedules are handled through the dedicated site stjudecyo.org.
- Athletic, service, and volunteer programs for grades 1–12
- CYO Board President: Ted Dufner
- Email: [email protected]
- Online registration: www.stjudecyo.org
- All coaches must complete the Catholic Coaching Essentials Online Course
Get Involved — Ministries
Under the motto 'Live, Love, and Serve in the Image of Christ,' St. Jude organizes its many ministries into five categories: Liturgical, Hospitality, Service, Prayer, and Support. The parish explicitly frames involvement around both evangelization and serving 'the least of these,' and notes that getting involved is also a way to meet people and make friends.
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Ushers, Music Ministry
- Hospitality: Hospitality Committee, Visitation Ministry
- Service: Respect Life Ministry, Caring for Friends, Blessed Sacrament Guild, Church Environment, Knights of Columbus, Prayer Shawl Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul, Weekly Collection Counters
- Prayer: Adoration, Our Lady's Prayer Chain, St. Monica's Prayer Group, Flame of Love Rosary
- Support: Catholic Moms Group, Support for Parents of Children with Special Needs, Bereavement Support
- Adult Faith Formation
Renovation and Renewal (2018–2019)
Following parking lot and HVAC upgrades in 2016–2017, the church building underwent major interior and exterior renovations in 2018–2019. The restoration was founded on four guiding principles — welcome, reverence, prayer, and joy — visible in the new warmth, light, and beauty of the worship space. The parish website hosts a virtual tour of the renovated church at stjudechalfont.org/renovations.
- 2016–2017: parking lot repair and HVAC replacement
- 2018–2019: major interior and exterior renovations
- Guiding principles: welcome, reverence, prayer, joy
- Virtual tour: stjudechalfont.org/renovations
Visit, Contact, and Chapel Hours
The Shrine and Chapel are open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Saturday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Sunday from 8:00 AM to noon — well beyond Mass times, so pilgrims can stop by to pray with the relics. The parish office can be reached by phone, fax, email, or via the contact form on the website.
- Address: 321 West Butler Avenue, Chalfont, PA 18914
- Phone: 215-822-0179 — Fax: 215-822-0638
- Email: [email protected]
- Shrine/Chapel hours: Mon–Fri 7 AM–7 PM; Sat 8 AM–4:30 PM; Sun 8 AM–noon
- Wheelchair accessible
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Robert A. Gregg1962-1970
Founding pastor; named the parish for St. Jude and envisioned a regional shrine; oversaw construction of the original church-school complex dedicated Dec. 15, 1963.
- Reverend Charles A. Monaghan1970-1977
- Reverend Monsignor John V. Bartos1977-1989
Led the parish through the 1982 church fire and the construction/dedication of the new church in 1984.
- Reverend Monsignor James P. McCoy1989-2012
- Reverend Monsignor George A. Majoros2012-2014
- Reverend Lawrence F. Crehan2014-2015
- Reverend Monsignor Francis W. Beach2015-2022
- Reverend Anthony J. Costa2022-present
Current pastor.