About St. Jude Shrine · Baltimore, Maryland
St. Jude Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland is the Nationwide Center of St. Jude Devotions and has been operated and staffed by the Pallottine Fathers and Brothers since 1917, when the Archbishop of Baltimore entrusted the parish to the order. Located in the heart of downtown Baltimore near the Inner Harbor, the Shrine draws roughly 75,000 visitors and over 200 bus pilgrimages each year for its Perpetual Novena Services, daily Mass, and veneration of a first-class relic of St. Jude Thaddeus, the 'patron saint of hopeless and desperate causes.' The building itself is more than 170 years old, originally constructed as a Baptist church before the Archdiocese purchased it in 1904.
- Established
- 1917
- Patron
- St. Jude Thaddeus (the Apostle), patron saint of hopeless and desperate causes
- Rector
- Rev. Salvatore Furnari, S.A.C. (Pastoral Director)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
St. Jude Shrine is a working downtown pilgrimage church with a uniquely intimate devotional life: Perpetual Novena Services to St. Jude Thaddeus are offered every Wednesday at noon and after every Sunday Mass, daily Mass is celebrated at noon Monday through Saturday, and Eucharistic Adoration is held Wednesday afternoons. A first-class relic of St. Jude is venerated after each Mass, and a daily Mass is offered on the altar above St. Jude's tomb in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome for the intentions of those who send petitions. The Shrine extends that same spirit of hope outward through food and clothing drives, nursing-home visitations, addiction support meetings, and the Baltimore Comitium of the Legion of Mary, which meets on the Shrine's lower level — making it both a destination of pilgrimage and an active apostolic center.
Mass times at St. Jude Shrine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Prior to Mass or services, or by request.
Adoration times
- Wednesday after the Noon Mass until 3:00 p.m.
- Most afternoons (per the Shrine's live-stream announcement)
About St. Jude Shrine
St. Jude Shrine is the Nationwide Center of St. Jude Devotions, located in the heart of downtown Baltimore. Run by the Pallottine Fathers and Brothers since 1917, the Shrine welcomes roughly 75,000 visitors each year for Perpetual Novena Services, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and veneration of a first-class relic of St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless and desperate causes.
History
The Shrine's building dates back more than 170 years, originally constructed as a Baptist church. The Archdiocese of Baltimore acquired it in 1904 and entrusted it to the Pallottines in 1917. Regular Novena Services began around the start of World War II, and in 1953 the Pallottines formally designated the Shrine as a national center for the propagation of devotion to St. Jude. The 1930s added stained-glass windows, the 1960s added the 'San Salvatore' mosaic of Christ, and a major renovation completed in 1996 (architect Gaudreau, Inc.) modernized the structure while preserving its devotional character.
- Built as a Baptist church, c. mid-19th century
- Purchased by the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1904
- Entrusted to the Pallottine Fathers and Brothers in 1917
- Perpetual Novena Services established c. 1939–1945 (WWII era)
- Designated the Nationwide Center of St. Jude Devotions in 1953
- Stained-glass windows added in the 1930s
- 'San Salvatore' mosaic of Christ added in the 1960s
- Major renovation completed April 1996 (Gaudreau, Inc. / A.R. Marani, Inc.)
Shrine Schedule
Daily and Sunday Masses form the rhythm of the Shrine, complemented by the Perpetual Novena Services and weekly Eucharistic Adoration. Masses are celebrated in English.
- Sunday Mass: 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
- Monday–Saturday Mass: 12:00 noon
- Perpetual Novena: Sundays after 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses
- Perpetual Novena & Mass: Wednesdays at 12:00 noon
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesdays after the Noon Mass until 3:00 p.m.
- Sacrament of Penance: prior to Mass or services, or by request
Church Hours
The Shrine keeps its doors open for extended hours — unusual for a downtown parish — so that visitors and pilgrims can come and go for quiet prayer throughout the day.
- Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Perpetual Novena to St. Jude
The Perpetual Novena is the heart of the Shrine's devotional life. Prayers are offered every Wednesday at noon and after each Sunday Mass, and petitions sent in by mail or online are remembered in the Novena Services. A free Novena Booklet is available for those who wish to pray the devotions privately at home.
- Sunday Perpetual Novena after 9:30 a.m. Mass
- Sunday Perpetual Novena after 11:30 a.m. Mass
- Wednesday Perpetual Novena & Mass at 12:00 noon
- Daily live broadcast of the Novena and Blessing at 9:00 a.m. EST
- Petitions may be submitted by mail or via the Shrine's website
- Free Novena Booklet available on request
League of St. Jude
Each year, thousands of people enroll themselves and their loved ones — living and deceased — in the League of St. Jude. Members are remembered in 100 Masses offered each year and in all the Perpetual Novena Services at the Shrine.
- Annual enrollment (individual or family)
- Perpetual enrollment (individual or family)
- 100 Masses offered annually for enrolled members
- Remembrance in all Perpetual Novena Services
Architecture & Sacred Art
The Shrine's sanctuary is dominated by the massive 'San Salvatore' mosaic of Christ, added in the 1960s, and the 1930s stained-glass windows. A life-size statue of St. Vincent Pallotti — Bible in hand, bread extended — greets visitors at the entrance, and a marble statue of St. Jude rises above 1,300 green electric candles in the side chapel.
- Mosaic of Christ 'San Salvatore' — 1960s, cut glass, stone, and marble
- Stained-glass windows: Annunciation, Assumption, Holy Family, St. Michael, St. John the Baptist, Gethsemane — 1930s
- Mosaics of the Infant of Prague and Our Lady of the Chains
- Life-size statue of St. Vincent Pallotti in the vestibule
- Marble statue of St. Jude above 1,300 votive candles
- First-class relic of St. Jude venerated after each Mass
- Tri-sided pew arrangement so no one is more than 10 rows from the altar
Visiting the Shrine
Pilgrims can explore the Sanctuary, St. Jude's side chapel, the Millennium Room, and the Gift Shop. The Shrine's lower level houses the interactive Millennium Room, an information desk, comfortable benches, banners of the Pallottine Fathers, and the gift shop, all designed to create a contemplative environment for visitors.
- Sanctuary and St. Jude's side chapel
- Millennium Room — interactive multimedia center with prayer-request kiosk
- Shrine Gift Shop
- Information desk for pilgrims
- Free private parking lot directly across from the Shrine on Saratoga Street
- Live-stream Mass and Novena available online for those who cannot visit
Outreach & Community Programs
The Pallottines bring the spirit of St. Vincent Pallotti — 'Seek God in all things' — to bear through ongoing outreach to those in need. Programs include food and clothing drives, nursing-home visitations, and meetings for those trapped by addiction. The Shrine also supports Pallottine missions in 54 countries around the world.
- Food and clothing drives
- Nursing-home visitations
- Addiction support meetings
- Support for Pallottine missions in 54 countries
- Bus pilgrimage hosting
Legion of Mary — Baltimore Comitium
The Baltimore Comitium of the Legion of Mary — which represents the Legion in the Archdiocese of Baltimore — meets on the third Sunday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at the Shrine (513 W. Saratoga St.). Legion works include nursing-home visits, RCIA teaching, parish evangelization, and home visitations with the Pilgrim Virgin statue.
- Meets 3rd Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Shrine
- Coordinates Legion of Mary works across the Archdiocese of Baltimore
- Works include nursing-home visits, prison ministry, RCIA teaching, home visitations, and evangelization
Live Stream & Online Ministry
Because the Shrine's mission extends beyond Baltimore, every morning at 9:00 a.m. EST the St. Jude Novena and Blessing are live-streamed, and daily Mass is broadcast at noon EST Monday through Saturday. Sunday Mass is live-streamed at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. EST.
- Live Novena and Blessing: daily 9:00 a.m. EST
- Live daily Mass: Monday–Saturday at 12:00 noon EST
- Live Sunday Mass: 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. EST
- Eucharistic Adoration most afternoons
- Petitions accepted online and by mail
Feast of St. Jude
The Feast of St. Jude is celebrated on October 28, shared with St. Simon the Apostle. Throughout October, the Shrine holds special Masses and devotions in honor of St. Jude, the 'patron saint of hopeless and desperate causes.'
- Feast Day: October 28 (with St. Simon the Apostle)
- Special Masses throughout the month of October
- Live-streamed celebrations on Facebook and YouTube
Clergy & Staff
The Shrine is led by Pallottine Fathers and Brothers of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (S.A.C.). Archbishop William E. Lori appointed Rev. Salvatore Furnari, S.A.C. as Pastoral Director. The late Rev. Peter Sticco, S.A.C. served as Novena Director and oversaw the 1996 renovation.
- Rev. Salvatore Furnari, S.A.C. — Pastoral Director
- Rev. Peter Sticco, S.A.C. — Novena Director (d. January 2026)
- Rev. Frank Donio, S.A.C. — former Shrine Director
Contact
Two addresses serve the Shrine's pastoral and mailing functions.
- Local/Parish Office: 308 N. Paca St., Baltimore, MD 21201 — (410) 685-6026
- Mailing / Fr. Peter Sticco Office: 512 W. Saratoga St., Baltimore, MD 21201 — (877) 278-5833
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stjudeshrine.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Frank Donio, S.A.C.
Served as Shrine Director, referenced in 2001 National Catholic Register coverage.
- Rev. Peter Sticco, S.A.C.
Served as Novena Director / Rector; oversaw 1996 renovation; died January 2026.
- Rev. Salvatore Furnari, S.A.C.Effective Sept. 15 (assignment year per Archdiocese announcement)
Appointed Pastoral Director by Archbishop William E. Lori; previously pastor of St. Leo the Great Parish, Little Italy.