Upcoming Events @ the Shrine
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
We invite you to join us every Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Whether you stay for a few moments, or you commit to a full hour, please prayerfully consider stopping by the Lower Shrine Chapel. All are welcome!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
2026 Week of Giving
Forming good, virtuous habits takes time. With your financial and prayerful support, we are confident that the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia will be able to continue the important work entrusted to us. To help us reach our $200,000 goal and learn more about our 2026 Annual Appeal, visit our Week of Giving page.
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
Mother's Day Novena
Looking for a special way to honor your mother and other mother-like figures in your life? We invite you to join us in prayer for our annual Mother’s Day Novena, Sunday, May 10, 2026 through Monday, May 18, 2026!
If you would like to enroll your loved ones in our annual Mother’s Day Novena, please call the Shrine Office at 215-546-8333, or visit our donation portal and include the names of your loved ones in the “comment” section. We look forward to praying for and with you throughout this powerful period of intercession.
Holy Mary, Mother of pure love, pray for us!
The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Don’t forget that Thursday, May 14, 2026 is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. We will celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, and will offer three opportunities to attend Mass at the Shrine:
8:00 a.m. Mass
12:00 p.m. Mass
5:30 p.m. Mass
May Healing Mass
Do you find yourself mentally, physically, spiritually, socially, or emotionally burdened?
We invite you to join us for our final Healing Mass of this novena cycle on Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
Fr. Michael Di Gregorio, O.S.A. will serve as the celebrant and homilist.
During this liturgy, we will pray for Saint Rita’s healing intercession, and everyone present will receive a special blessing with Saint Rita oil. We hope that you will be able to join us!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
2026 Solemn Feast Day
Solemn Feast Day of Saint Rita of Cascia
Friday, May 22, 2026
There are six Masses on the Feast Day this year.
Come celebrate with us!
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8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., & 7:00 p.m.
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9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., & 6:00 p.m.
In addition to Mass and Confession, make sure to buy roses, stop by the Gift Shop, and enjoy a delicious meal served in the Cascia Center!
The Solemnity of Pentecost
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth!
We invite you to join us in the Upper Shrine at the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia for our celebration of Pentecost Sunday on
Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (Vigil Mass)
Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
Memorial Day
In observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, 2026, the Shrine will celebrate only one Mass at 9:00 a.m. in the Lower Shrine Chapel. The Shrine will close immediately after Mass and will reopen for our normal hours on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. There will be no Confessions on Memorial Day.
Please also note that the Shrine Office and Gift Shop will also be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026.
Have a blessed and happy Memorial Day weekend!
Donut Social
You are invited to join us after the 10:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 26, 2026 in the Cascia Center for our monthly donut social. We will be celebrating the Easter season! All are welcome as we serve hot coffee and delicious donuts!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
Tolle Lege Day
Come Together With One Mind and One Heart on Friday, April 24, 2026!
We invite you to join the Shrine as we participate in the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova’s “Tolle Lege Day!” This day of giving for the Augustinian Friars takes place every year on April 24th, the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Augustine! In fact, this is why the giving day is called Tolle Lege Day! “Tolle lege” means “take up and read,” and these are the words that moved Saint Augustine to pick up the Scriptures and find his way to faith and ultimately to his Conversion.
On Friday, April 24, 2026, the Shrine will join with other Augustinian ministries to come together with one mind and one heart to celebrate and bring awareness to the Augustinian charism, and all those who share in it. Every gift matters, no matter the size!
For more information and to make a donation that will support the Shrine, visit our Tolle Lege Day donation page.
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
We invite you to join us every Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Whether you stay for a few moments, or you commit to a full hour, please prayerfully consider stopping by the Lower Shrine Chapel. All are welcome!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
Saints on the Way Retreat
Join us for a special retreat focused on various Augustinians on the path to sainthood!
ANTICIPATED RETREAT SCHEDULE
10:00 a.m. | Arrival
Front Steps of Upper Shrine on South Broad Street
10:05 a.m. | Welcome & Opening Prayer
Upper Shrine
10:20 a.m. | Tour of the Upper & Lower Shrines
Upper & Lower Shrines
11:00 a.m. | Retreat Talk & Reflection
Cascia Center
Presenter: Fr. Michael Di Gregorio, O.S.A.
11:45 a.m. | Free Time
Saints’ Grotto, Gift Shop, & Sacrament of Reconciliation are available
12:00 p.m. | Daily Mass
Upper Shrine
Celebrant: Bishop Efren Esmilla
12:35 p.m. | Closing Announcements & Departure
This is a free event, and no registration is required to participate.
April Healing Mass
Do you find yourself mentally, physically, spiritually, socially, or emotionally burdened?
We invite you to join us for our eighth Healing Mass of this novena cycle on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
During this liturgy, we will pray for Saint Rita’s healing intercession, and everyone present will receive a special blessing with Saint Rita oil. We hope that you will be able to join us!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
Divine Mercy Sunday
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
We invite you to join us at the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia for our celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday on
Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Upper Shrine
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed; let us then feast with joy in the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia!
We invite you to join us at the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia for our celebration of Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord on
Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Upper Shrine
Easter Vigil in the Holy Night
Saturday, April 4, 2026 | 8:00 p.m.
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
We invite you to join the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia on Holy Saturday for our celebration of the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter.
On this holy night, the Church keeps watch, celebrating the resurrection of Christ in the sacraments and awaiting his return in glory. It is the turning point of the Triduum, the Passover of the new covenant, which marks Christ's passage from death to life. Therefore, the Easter Vigil does not correspond to the usual Saturday evening Mass and its character is unique in the cycle of the liturgical year. To learn more, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s website.
**The Easter Vigil Mass will begin in the Cascia Center plaza at 8:00 p.m.
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Friday, April 3, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
We invite you to join the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia on Good Friday for our commemoration of the Lord’s Passion.
On Good Friday, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary. Each member of the Church tries to understand at what cost Christ has won our redemption. In the solemn ceremonies of Good Friday, in the Adoration of the Cross, in the chanting of the 'Reproaches,' in the reading of the Passion, and in receiving the pre-consecrated Host, we unite ourselves to our Savior, and we contemplate our own death to sin in the Death of our Lord. To learn more about Good Friday, visit this article by Catholic News Agency.
Stations of the Cross
Join us at on Good Friday, April 3, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in the Upper Shrine for the Stations of the Cross.
All are welcome!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
We invite you to join the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia as we begin the Sacred Paschal Triduum on Holy Thursday with our commemoration of the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
With this Mass, celebrated in the evening of the Thursday in Holy Week, the Church begins the sacred Easter Triduum and devotes herself to the remembrance of the Last Supper. At the supper on the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus, loving those who were his own in the world even to the end, offered his Body and Blood to the Father under the appearance of bread and wine, gave them to the apostles to eat and drink, then enjoined the apostles and their successors in the priesthood to offer them in turn.
This Mass is, first of all, the memorial of the institution of the Eucharist, that is, of the Memorial of the Lord's Passover, by which under sacramental signs he perpetuated among us the sacrifice of the New Law. The Mass of the Lord's Supper is also the memorial of the institution of the priesthood, by which Christ's mission and sacrifice are perpetuated in the world. In addition, this Mass is the memorial of that love by which the Lord loved us even to death. To learn more, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s website.
**The Shrine’s altar of repose will be available in the Cascia Center for private prayer and solemn adoration until 11:00 p.m.
An Evening of Sacred Music
Join us on Monday of Holy Week, Monday, March 30, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Upper Shrine for our second evening of Sacred Music. A mix of traditional and more modern hymns from Holy Week will be offered by the Shrine’s choir, as well as visiting soloists and instrumentalists. All are welcome to attend as we enter ever more deeply into the Paschal Mystery.
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
We invite you to join the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia as we begin Holy Week for our commemoration of Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. | Saturday Vigil Mass with Solemn Procession
Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. | Sunday Mass with Solemn Procession
Palms will be distributed at both Masses. Please also note that both our 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass and our 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass will begin in the plaza outside the Cascia Center (or inside the Upper Shrine vestibule if it is raining). We will then process together into the Shrine, utilizing the side doors, front doors, and elevator. If you would prefer to stay in the church and not be a part of the procession, you will still be able to hear the Gospel reading and opening prayer, but you will not see the procession until it reaches the Shrine.
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
Stations of the Cross
Join us immediately following the 12:00 p.m. Mass in the Upper Shrine each Friday of Lent for the Stations of the Cross.
All are welcome!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
Stations of the Cross
Join us immediately following the 12:00 p.m. Mass in the Upper Shrine each Friday of Lent for the Stations of the Cross.
All are welcome!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
Saint Rita Day of Service
Join us on Friday, March 20, 2026 for our third annual Saint Rita Day of Service in honor of our beloved patroness, Rita of Cascia! Groups from throughout the country - schools, businesses, houses of formation, parishes, families and friends - are invited to take up a service project to promote the virtues that defined so much of Saint Rita’s life.
Saint Rita, help of those in need, pray for us!
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Groups and individuals who are interested in participating in the Shrine’s Saint Rita Day of Service should reach out to Mrs. Katie Clymer, the Shrine’s Coordinator of Programs and Pilgrimages.
Once you make your interest known to us, we can help you determine the best type of service for your group in your local community! -
The needs of every community are different, so we encourage you to pick a project that will meet an actual need and help shed light on the marginalized members of our society.
Some suggestions include: having a food drive for a local food pantry, collecting socks or other gently used clothes for a homeless shelter, writing letters to people in prison, collecting trash around your neighborhood, spending time at a local retirement community or home for the aging, or making meals for the homebound.
Whatever you decide to do, we encourage you to do it with great love and care for those whom you serve.
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Saint Rita of Cascia was a remarkable woman of faith who understood the importance of perseverance, hope, and peacemaking in the midst of facing life’s obstacles. Her example of serving her community and promoting the greater good continues to resonate with and impact the lives of devotees around the world over 600 years later.
A national Saint Rita Day of Service not only promotes the life of Saint Rita, but it invites people from around the country to embody these virtues for themselves.
The mission of the Saint Rita Day of Service is to be inspired by the life of Saint Rita in a way that builds a better world for all people.
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Friday, March 20, 2026 was chosen as the date for our third annual Saint Rita Day of Service because it is two months before the Solemn Feast of Saint Rita, giving us an opportunity to begin promoting our beloved patroness with people near and far.
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Our goal for 2026 is simple: Have at least 25 groups from 25 different states participate in our third annual Saint Rita Day of Service! It doesn’t matter the type of group or its affiliation, our goal is to have 25 unique groups from around the country participate in this day.
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To learn more, or to express interest in participating, we invite you to contact Mrs. Katie Clymer, the Shrine’s Coordinator or Programs and Pilgrimages.
Or, you could fill out this form to register your group.
Want to sponsor the Saint Rita Day of Service? Learn more here.
Solemnity of Saint Joseph
Join us on Thursday, March 19, 2026 for the Solemnity of Saint Joseph! In addition to our 8:00 a.m. Mass (in the Lower Shrine Chapel), we will have our 12:00 p.m. Mass (in the Upper Shrine), which will include music. We hope to see you there as we honor Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus.
Saint Rita and Saint Joseph, keep praying for us!
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
We invite you to join us every Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Whether you stay for a few moments, or you commit to a full hour, please prayerfully consider stopping by the Lower Shrine Chapel. All are welcome!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
March Healing Mass
Do you find yourself mentally, physically, spiritually, socially, or emotionally burdened?
We invite you to join us for our third Healing Mass of this novena cycle on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
During this liturgy, we will pray for Saint Rita’s healing intercession, and everyone present will receive a special blessing with Saint Rita oil. We hope that you will be able to join us!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
“Go to Him” Week
All are invited to visit a special altar dedicated to Saint Joseph in the vestibule of the Upper Shrine throughout our second annual “Go to Him” week! In addition to lighting candles and asking for Saint Joseph’s intercession, we encourage our patrons to drop off non-perishable food items for us to donate to the Saint Gabriel Food Pantry in the Greys Ferry section of South Philadelphia.
Click here to learn more about the history of the Saint Joseph altar.
Saint Rita and Saint Joseph, keep praying for us!
Pathways to Peace - Session II
Join us after the 8:00 a.m. Mass or prior to the 12:00 p.m. Mass in the Cascia Center for complimentary coffee and pastries, followed by our Lenten health and wellness series.
8:00 a.m.: Opportunity to attend the 8:00 a.m. Mass (Lower Shrine Chapel)
8:30 a.m.: Coffee & Pastries (Cascia Center)
9:00 a.m.: First Presentation: Managing Stress in Everyday Life
10:15 a.m.: Second Presentation: Understanding Depression & Anxiety vs. the Blues
11:15 a.m.: Wrap-up/Closing
12:00 p.m.: Opportunity to attend the 12:00 p.m. Mass (Upper Shrine)
Managing Stress in Everyday Life
Stress is inevitable part of everyday life. Learning how to manage it is key. This session will present information on positive & negative stress, symptoms of stress and burnout. Participants will have an opportunity to complete a burnout self-assessment & learn how to do stress inventory. Maladaptive & adaptive coping skills will be discussed with a focus on stress reduction strategies & the importance of having a healthy life balance.
Understanding Depression & Anxiety vs. the Blues
We all may have experienced times when we feel blue. How does this differ from depression and anxiety? Learn about causes and symptoms of depression and anxiety and how to manage and cope with this in a positive way at any age during life.
Lenten Fish Fry
Make plans to join us on Friday, March 13, 2026, between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. for our next Lenten Fish Fry! For $20 per person, you will enjoy a delicious piece of hand-battered fish, three sides, a roll, dessert, and a drink! Help us spread the word! We hope to see you there!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
Stations of the Cross
Join us immediately following the 12:00 p.m. Mass in the Upper Shrine each Friday of Lent for the Stations of the Cross.
All are welcome!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
We invite you to join us every Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Whether you stay for a few moments, or you commit to a full hour, please prayerfully consider stopping by the Lower Shrine Chapel. All are welcome!
Saint Rita, keep praying for us!