Philadelphia city guide · TripCatholic

Catholic Philadelphia begins with William Penn's promise of freedom of worship and a small Jesuit chapel built in 1733 where Old Saint Joseph's stands today, a few minutes' walk from Independence Hall. Old Saint Mary's, two blocks away, was the church members of the Continental Congress attended during the Revolution. The city later gave the Church two saints: John Neumann, the immigrant bishop who started the first diocesan school system in the country and lies in his shrine on North Fifth Street, and Katharine Drexel, born here, whose tomb has been in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul since 2018. The Miraculous Medal basilica in Germantown has held its Perpetual Novena every Monday since 1930, Saint Rita's shrine anchors South Philadelphia, and the gold domed Ukrainian cathedral serves the Eastern Catholics. German, Irish, Italian, Polish, Ukrainian, Black and Hispanic parishes shaped the neighborhoods. Mass is in English almost everywhere, and in Spanish in many parishes.

Fly over Philadelphia in 3DA tour of the birthplace of American CatholicismStart the tour

HistoryA Catholic History of PhiladelphiaCatholic Philadelphia begins under William Penn's Charter of Privileges, with Jesuits saying Mass in private houses and Joseph Greaton building a chapel in 1733 that the Provincial Council let stand in 1734. Old Saint Mary's hosted Congress during the Revolution, the diocese came in 1808, and nativist mobs burned two churches in 1844. John Neumann was bishop from 1852 to 1860, Katharine Drexel founded her sisters in 1891, and the city held the Eucharistic Congress of 1976 and the World Meeting of Families of 2015, when Pope Francis spoke at Independence Hall. Parish mergers, the abuse reckoning and the Augustinian Pope Leo XIV mark the years since.Read the full history

Top sites

Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and PaulPhiladelphia, United StatesCathedral and Minor Basilica of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, housing the shrine of Saint Katharine Drexel, a family reliquary of Saints Thérèse, Louis, and Zélie Martin, and the Crypt of the Bishops.

The National Shrine of Saint John NeumannPhiladelphia, United StatesNational shrine housing the remains of Saint John Neumann, the first male citizen of the United States to be canonized, enshrined beneath the altar of Saint Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia.

Old Saint Joseph ParishPhiladelphia, United StatesFounded in 1733 as the only place in the English-speaking world where public Catholic Mass was legally permitted, and marked today by a plaque at its gate as a national shrine.

Old Saint Mary's ChurchPhiladelphia, United StatesPhiladelphia's second Catholic church, founded in 1763, serving as the first cathedral of the Diocese of Philadelphia and housing a rare William Rush crucifix, a cemetery with one of the two Catholic signers of the Constitution, and the grave of Commodore John Barry.

Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous MedalPhiladelphia, United StatesMinor basilica and primary American center of Miraculous Medal devotion, housing a relic of the chair in which Mary appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré and one of only ten original medals struck in 1832.

The National Shrine of Saint Rita of CasciaPhiladelphia, United StatesNational shrine dedicated to Saint Rita of Cascia, patron of impossible causes, operated by the Augustinian Friars and housing a Saints' Grotto with over 40 relics, a Roman Baroque church, and the annual Rose Blessing on her feast day.

Saint John the Evangelist Catholic ChurchPhiladelphia, United StatesPhiladelphia's first Catholic cathedral, consecrated in 1832, where Saint John Neumann resided as bishop and Saint Katharine Drexel received her sacraments.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic ChurchPhiladelphia, United StatesCathedral seat of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, founded in 1886, featuring a gold Venetian glass dome, an iconostasis by iconographer Chrystyna Dochwat, and a crypt housing three founding hierarchs of the American Ukrainian Catholic Church.

The Saints of Philadelphia

Saint John Neumann
Born in Bohemia on March 28, 1811 and a Redemptorist, he was named bishop of Philadelphia on February 5, 1852. He started the first diocesan Catholic school system in the United States and brought the Forty Hours Devotion to the diocese in 1853. He died on a Philadelphia street on January 5, 1860, was beatified on October 13, 1963 and canonized on June 19, 1977. His remains lie in his shrine. Feast January 5.
The National Shrine of Saint John Neumann Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church +2 more
Saint Katharine Drexel
Born in Philadelphia on November 26, 1858 into a banking family, she gave her fortune to schools for Black and Native American Catholics and founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891. She died on March 3, 1955 and was canonized on October 1, 2000. Her tomb has been in the Cathedral Basilica since 2018. Feast March 3.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Saint Rita of Cascia
The Augustinian nun of Cascia in Italy, known as the saint of impossible causes. The Augustinians founded her national shrine on South Broad Street in 1907, and her feast on May 22 follows a nine day novena. Roses are sold at the shrine on the feast. Feast May 22.
The National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia
Saint Catherine Labouré
A Daughter of Charity in Paris who received visions of Mary in 1830, from which the Miraculous Medal came; the first medals were struck in 1832. The Germantown basilica holds the Monday Perpetual Novena that spread the devotion in the United States.
Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
The title under which Mary appeared to Catherine Labouré in Paris. The Germantown shrine has held its Perpetual Novena every Monday since December 8, 1930 and a Solemn Novena each November before the feast on November 27.
Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla
An Italian physician and mother who died in 1962 after choosing to protect her unborn child, canonized in 2004. The archdiocesan shrine at Warminster in Bucks County lets pilgrims venerate her relics on Saturday afternoons and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Feast April 28.
Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla
Pope Leo XIV
Robert Prevost, an Augustinian, graduated from Villanova University in 1977. He accepted the Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center by video from Rome on July 3, 2026.
The National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia
Saint Augustine of Hippo
The fourth century bishop of Hippo whose rule the Augustinians follow. The friars built Saint Augustine's in Old City from 1796, which the mob burned in 1844, and founded Saint Rita's shrine in 1907. Feast August 28.
The National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia
Pope Francis
Spoke on immigration and religious liberty at Independence Hall on September 26, 2015 and celebrated the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway the next day. In December 2022 he raised the Miraculous Medal shrine to a minor basilica.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Saint John Paul II
Visited Philadelphia in October 1979 and went to the Ukrainian Catholic cathedral on October 4. Canonized in 2014.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church
Our Lady of Guadalupe
The archdiocese keeps the eve of her feast on December 11 with a Mass in Spanish at the Cathedral Basilica. In 2025 a rosary at 8:00 p.m. came first, then Mass at 9:00 p.m. with the archbishop. Feast December 12.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Founder of the Redemptorists, the order that runs the Neumann shrine. Neumann was the first Redemptorist professed in America, in 1842, and was consecrated bishop at Saint Alphonsus Church in Baltimore. Feast August 1.
The National Shrine of Saint John Neumann
Saint Vincent de Paul
Founder of the Vincentians, who run the Miraculous Medal shrine and held a Mass for his feast there on September 27 at 9:00 a.m. in 2026. Catherine Labouré belonged to the sisters he helped found, the Daughters of Charity. Feast September 27.
Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Saint Padre Pio
The Capuchin stigmatist is remembered at Saint John the Evangelist, a Capuchin parish, with a novena on Fridays after the weekday Masses. An outdoor shrine to him stands at Landisville, New Jersey. Feast September 23.
Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church Saint Padre Pio Shrine
Our Lady of Lourdes
Saint John the Evangelist holds a novena to Our Lady of Lourdes on Wednesdays after the weekday Masses. Feast February 11.
Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Saint Arnold Janssen
A German priest who founded the Society of the Divine Word and the congregation of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, the Pink Sisters, whose chapel on Green Street keeps adoration through the day. Feast January 15.
Convent of Divine Love
Our Lady of Czestochowa
The Black Madonna of Poland. The Pauline Fathers opened the national shrine at Doylestown in Bucks County in 1955; it is a day trip by car or by train to Doylestown.
National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa

Beyond the churches

Views, walks and the town between the churches.

Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell
Independence Hall is a few minutes' walk from Old Saint Joseph's and Old Saint Mary's, and Pope Francis spoke there on immigration and religious liberty on September 26, 2015. We checked the National Park Service pages on October 31, 2026: Independence Hall has a free open house from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. with no ticket, and timed tours every 20 minutes after that cost a $1.00 reservation fee per ticket on Recreation.gov, up to 30 days ahead. The Liberty Bell Center is free and open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with security screening. Check nps.gov/inde before you book.
Old Saint Joseph Parish Old Saint Mary's Church

Itineraries

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In Philadelphia

1 day · 2 sitesHalf a Day in Catholic PhiladelphiaA weekday afternoon in Center City: Mass at the Cathedral Basilica, Saint Katharine Drexel's tomb and adoration at Saint John the Evangelist

1 day · 5 sitesOne Day in Catholic PhiladelphiaOld City and Independence Hall, Neumann's tomb and Drexel's tomb, on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday

Day trips from Philadelphia

Collections

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6 sitesHouses of Prayer Around Philadelphia: Adoration and the CloisterSix places of adoration and quiet prayer, from the Pink Sisters to the Poor Clares 6 sitesShrines Around Philadelphia: Neumann, Rita, the Miraculous Medal and MoreSix shrines to saints and Mary, from South Broad Street to Bucks County and New Jersey

4 sitesPhiladelphia, City of Two Saints: Neumann and DrexelFour places tied to Saint John Neumann and Saint Katharine Drexel

8 sitesPhiladelphia's Cathedrals and the Dioceses Carved from ItEight bishops' churches, from Old Saint Mary's to Camden, Wilmington and Trenton

Featured Events

Good to know

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at 1723 Race Street is open Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. On federal holidays only the Cathedral Chapel opens, for the 9:00 a.m. Mass. Weekday Mass is at 7:15 a.m. and 12:05 p.m., and a guided tour follows the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. Drexel's tomb is inside. Checked on October 31, 2026 against the Cathedral's site; wheelchair access varies by door.

Article · 4 minVisiting the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and PaulRead

Saint Katharine Drexel lies in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Center City, not at the Bensalem motherhouse where older guides send pilgrims. Her remains were moved on August 2, 2018 and the new tomb was installed on November 18, 2018. Her feast is March 3, preceded by a novena from February 22. Checked on October 31, 2026 against the Cathedral's shrine history page.

Article · 3 minSaint Katharine Drexel in PhiladelphiaRead

No. His remains are preserved under the altar in a glass case with a wax mask over the face, dressed as a bishop, and the shrine itself says so. The National Shrine at 1019 North Fifth Street is open Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and closed on federal holidays. Checked on October 31, 2026 against the shrine's hours page; its older FAQ still shows earlier hours.

Article · 3 minSaint John Neumann and His National ShrineRead

The Perpetual Novena, held every Monday since December 8, 1930: Masses with the novena at 9:00 a.m., 12:05 p.m. (livestreamed) and 6:30 p.m., and Novena and Benediction at 2:00 p.m. The shrine is open 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. that day and closes by 4:00 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. Checked on October 31, 2026 against the shrine's site. It is a three block walk from the Chelten Avenue train station.

Article · 3 minThe Miraculous Medal Shrine and the Monday NovenaRead

They stand about two blocks apart in Old City, near Independence Hall. Old Saint Joseph's, a Jesuit parish founded in 1733, is entered through a courtyard off Willings Alley, with Mass Sunday at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday to Thursday at 12:05 p.m. Old Saint Mary's, built in 1763, has Mass Saturday at 4:30 p.m., Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and weekdays at 7:30 a.m. Checked on their sites October 31, 2026; neither posts visiting hours, so call.

Article · 3 minOld Saint Joseph's and Old Saint Mary's in Colonial PhiladelphiaRead

The Cathedral Basilica has weekday Mass at 7:15 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. and confession at 11:30 a.m. Monday to Friday. Saint John the Evangelist at 13th Street has Mass at 7:45 a.m., 12:05 and 5:15 p.m. on weekdays, adoration from 12:45 to 4:50 p.m. and confession Wednesday to Saturday from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Old Saint Mary's has Mass at 7:30 a.m. on weekdays. Checked on the parish sites October 31, 2026.

Article · 7 minMass Times and Confession in Center City PhiladelphiaRead

The Cathedral Basilica has a Spanish Mass on Sunday at 12:30 p.m., and the Neumann shrine at 11:00 a.m.; the Ukrainian cathedral has Divine Liturgy in English at 8:30 a.m. and Ukrainian at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. The archdiocese's parish directory at archphila.org/parish has no language filter and no Mass times, so for Vietnamese, Polish and Latin Mass open each parish's own page. Checked October 31, 2026.

Article · 7 minMasses in Spanish, Vietnamese, Polish and Latin in PhiladelphiaRead

Modest dress is expected but not enforced, and nobody is turned away. The Cathedral Basilica is open all day, and Saint John the Evangelist has adoration in its Lower Church from 12:45 to 4:50 p.m. Monday to Saturday. The colonial churches and the Pink Sisters' chapel post few visiting hours, so call before you go. Hours checked on parish sites October 31, 2026.

Article · 6 minWhat to Wear and Which Churches Are Open in PhiladelphiaRead

Independence Hall has a free open house from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. with no ticket; timed tours from 10:40 a.m. need a ticket that is free but carries a $1.00 reservation fee, booked on Recreation.gov up to 30 days ahead, with extra next day tickets released at 5:00 p.m. the day before. The Liberty Bell Center is free, open daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Checked against the National Park Service on October 31, 2026.

Article · 6 minIndependence Hall Tickets and the Historic DistrictRead

Two days cover the Cathedral Basilica, Old City and the Neumann shrine, and a third day adds the Miraculous Medal basilica in Germantown, best on a Monday, and Saint Rita's in South Philadelphia. One day is enough for the Cathedral, Saint John the Evangelist and the two colonial churches. Day trips to Bucks County or Delaware need a car.

Article · 7 minHow Many Days in Philadelphia?Read

SEPTA's Airport Line runs every 30 minutes from Philadelphia International to Suburban Station and 30th Street Station, and the fare to Center City is $8.75 with a SEPTA Key or contactless card; the taxi flat rate is $32. Amtrak takes about an hour and a half from New York and about two hours from Washington, so check the timetable. Airport figures checked on PHL and SEPTA pages October 31, 2026.

Article · 7 minGetting to Philadelphia by Air, Train and BusRead

Center City and Old City are walkable. SEPTA Bus and Metro rides cost $2.90 by contactless card or SEPTA Key, with up to two free transfers within two hours, and a One Day Convenience Pass is $7.50. Tap off at the end of a Regional Rail trip or the maximum fare is charged. Germantown is the Chestnut Hill East line to Chelten Avenue. Checked on SEPTA's fare page October 31, 2026.

Article · 6 minGetting Around Philadelphia by SEPTA and on FootRead

Spring and early autumn have the best weather, since winters are cold and summers hot and humid. Add a date to the trip: January 5 for Neumann's feast, February 22 to March 3 for Drexel's novena and feast, May 22 for Saint Rita, a Monday for Germantown, and the Miraculous Medal's Solemn Novena before Thanksgiving. Specific 2027 times are listed in the events.

Article · 6 minThe Best Time to Visit PhiladelphiaRead

We found no Catholic guesthouse or pilgrim lodging in Center City, and parishes do not house walkers. The Cathedral Basilica's visitor page lists nearby hotels, including the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown, whose garage is next door, the Logan and the Sonesta at Rittenhouse Square. Retreat houses outside the city, such as Cranaleith in Somerton and Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, take individuals by arrangement. Checked October 31, 2026.

Article · 5 minWhere to Stay in PhiladelphiaRead

Mostly. The Miraculous Medal shrine says it is fully wheelchair accessible, the Saint Rita shrine has an elevator to both shrines, and the Neumann shrine has ramps and an elevator by its own FAQ. The Cathedral Basilica is limited: only the door off its main parking lot opens automatically. All SEPTA Airport Line stations are accessible. Checked October 31, 2026.

Article · 6 minPhiladelphia With Children or Limited MobilityRead

Holy Trinity at Sixth and Spruce and Saint Peter Claver were relegated to secular use effective January 23, 2023 and are exterior sights only. Luminiscence is a ticketed hour long light and music show inside the Cathedral Basilica, not a liturgy, with Christmas evenings advertised from November 19 to January 2. Check prices on the ticket page. Checked on October 31, 2026 against the archdiocese and the producer's page.

Article · 3 minClosed and Merged Catholic Churches in PhiladelphiaRead

The downtown churches, yes: Amtrak takes about an hour and a half from New York and about two hours from Washington, D.C., so check the timetable. The Cathedral Basilica is a 4 minute walk from Suburban Station. The Miraculous Medal and Saint Rita shrines and Saint Katharine Drexel's tomb together are more than a day trip comfortably allows.

Article · 5 minPhiladelphia as a Day Trip From New York or WashingtonRead

Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, graduated from Villanova University in 1977 and is an Augustinian. He did not visit in 2026 but accepted the Liberty Medal by video on July 3, 2026. The Augustinian stops are Saint Rita's shrine and Old Saint Augustine's in Old City, burned in the riots of 1844.