The Central Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, was dedicated on September 27, 1927. It was an addition to the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception that had been built 1875 to 1879. Both the Chapel and the Shrine are under the care of the Vincentian Community of Priests and Brothers, members of the Congregation of the Mission of the Eastern Province of the United States. The Shrine was built and is maintained by the donations of the Promoters, Members and Benefactors of The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal.
LOCATION: The Central Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Located on the grounds of St. Vincent’s Seminary) 500 East Chelten Avenue Philadelphia, PA. 19144-1296 1-215-848-1985
OFFICE: The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal 475 East Chelten Avenue Philadelphia, PA. 19144-5785 1-800-523-3674
1-215-848-1010 Fax: 1-215-848-1014
SCHEDULE OF MASSES: Sundays and Holy Days – 9:00 a.m. Daily (except Mondays) – 8:00 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Mondays – 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 12:05 p.m.
NOVENA SERVICES EACH MONDAY: 7:00 & 9:00 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. with Mass 2:00, 3:00 4:00, 5:00, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. with Benediction
CONFESSIONS: Confessors are available before and during all Novena Services.
SHRINE HOURS: Tuesday through Sunday – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday – 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The hours may vary on Holy Days and holidays. On these days, please call to verify. Off street parking is available, but buses should park on Chelten Ave. in front of the shrine. Parking spaces for the physically challenged are available in the parking lot and in front of the Shrine. There is an elevator from the street level to the Shrine.
Gift shops are available. One is in the lower level of the Shrine. It is open on Mondays, during the times of the Novenas. A gift shop is also located in the office building of The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, located at 475 E. Chelten Ave. Its hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (Monday through Thursday during June, July and August).
DIRECTIONS FROM NORTH JERSEY, NEW YORK AND NEW ENGLAND:
Take Pennsylvania Turnpike to Exit #26 (Fort Washington Exit). After passing thru exit, take Route 309 South almost to the end. You will see a sign for Mount Airy. Take Mount Airy exit. Stay on exit road and cross Cheltenham Avenue. This is Wadsworth Avenue which becomes Mount Airy Avenue. Go aprox. 1 ½ miles to Stenton Ave. Turn left on Stenton Ave. Go another 1 mile (5 traffic lights) to Washington La. Turn right onto Washington Lane. Stay on Washington Lane for 8/10 miles (4 traffic lights) to Chew Ave. Make a left on Chew Avenue. Stay on Chew Avenue for 3 traffic lights when you will
come to Chelten Avenue. Make a right onto Chelten Avenue. Shrine is located on 2nd block on left side of street. (500 E. Chelten Ave.)
DIRECTIONS FROM EAST OR WEST:
Take Schulykill Expressway (I-76) to Exit #340B. Take Second Exit which is Wissahickon Ave. N. Stay to right at “Y” and go to Traffic Light. Turn right on Wissachickon Ave. Go to Chelten Ave. and turn right again Go ten blocks on Chelten Avenue. Shrine is on right hand side. (500 E. Chelten Avenue)
For those using the Pennsylvania Turnpike: from the West, use the Valley Forge Exit (Exit 24); from the East, use the Fort Washington Exit (Exit 26). A number of motels and restaurants will be found at these exits.
HISTORY OF THE CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL AND THE SHRINE:
In 1912, Father Joseph A. Skelly, C.M. was released from his seminary duties to devote his time to raising funds for the building of a seminary that was to be located outside of Princeton, New Jersey. With each appeal letter he sent, Father included a small Miraculous Medal. The response to the appeal was so great that Father Skelly felt that some special mark of gratitude to Mary was in order.
After much prayer and consultation, it was decided to form, in March of 1915, The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, a pious association devoted to honoring Mary Immaculate. The primary purpose of The Central Association was, and continues to be, spreading devotion to Mary Immaculate under her title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Through the years, literally millions and millions of Miraculous Medals and booklets telling the story of the Miraculous Medal and containing the Perpetual Novena Prayers have been distributed throughout the United States and abroad.
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, or as it is more commonly called, Mary’s Central Shrine, was built in 1927. Dennis Cardinal Dougherty dedicated the Shrine on September 27, 1927. From 1927 through 1930, four solemn Novenas in honor of Our Blessed Mother were held annually. On December 8, 1930, the Perpetual Novena was initiated. Father Skelly started the Perpetual Novena as a way of thanking Mary Immaculate for the many favors she bestowed during the annual Novenas. It was also a
way of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Blessed Mother to Sister (now Saint) Catherine Laboure.
Beginning in Mary’s Central Shrine in Germantown, the Perpetual Novena in honor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal has spread to numberless Chapels and Churches throughout the world.
Mary revealed the design of the Miraculous Medal to Sister Catherine Laboure, a novice of the Daughters of Charity on November 27, 1830. The apparition occurred in the Chapel of the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity located on Rue du Bac, in Paris, France. The statue of the Madonna of the Medal found in the Shrine has been acclaimed as one of the most beautiful representations of Our Lady in the world.
Unlike Lourdes and other famous Marian Shrines, there are no stacks of canes or braces or crutches left after miraculous cures. While physical cures have been reported, the blessings of this Shrine are to be found in the graces received in the secrecy of the confessional. Countless numbers of people have given witness to their experience of receiving God’s mercy and healing through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.