Catholic Shrines and Places of Interest in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
About the founding of Pennsylvania:
William Penn’s “holy experiment” of religious toleration was the founding principle of the Province of Pennsylvania, established in 1682 as a safe haven for his fellow Quakers and other persecuted religious minorities. Despite opposition from England’s King Charles II (who initially resisted granting the charter), Penn used a significant debt owed to his family by the Crown to secure the land grant in 1682, establishing a colony built on peaceful principles and representative government
The Mass was celebrated publicly as early as 1707 (unheard-of in England and its colonies at the time) and Old Saint Joseph’s Church, the first Catholic church in Philadelphia, was built in 1733. Following the American independence from England, which had been officially recognized with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the Catholic population increased from forty people at that time to about eight thousand by 1790.
Of course, Philadelphia is known for its role in the independence from Great Britain. Philadelphia’s central location made it the natural gathering point for the First Continental Congress. Positioned between New England and the southern colonies, it was equally accessible by land and water. The Delaware River and Schuylkill River linked it to both the sea and the heartland, making travel and trade remarkably efficient. Meanwhile, other cities couldn’t match what Philadelphia offered. Boston was under siege, New York City was swarming with British troops, and Baltimore, though patriotic, lacked the size and influence to host a national assembly.
Philadelphia, by contrast, was thriving. By the 1770s it was the largest and most sophisticated city in North America, boasting wide streets, busy wharves, and an economy strong enough to support long deliberations about independence.
Catholic places of interest in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has many shrines of interest to Catholic travelers and was the location of the World Meeting of Families that coincided with the visit of Pope Francis in 2015.
Basilica Shrine of the Miraculous Medal (including the Shrine of Our Lady of Kibeho)
Carmelite Monastery: Relics of Saint Therese, Saints Louis and Zelie Martin
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul (shrine of Saint Katherine Drexel)
Convent of Divine Love (perpetual Adoration Chapel)
National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia
National Shrine of Saint John Neumann
There are also some significant places of interest outside the city, but still within the Philadelphia area:
Doylestown: The National Shrine of Częstochowa.
Havertown: Saint Denis Roman Catholic Church and Sacre Coeur Perpetual Adoration Chapel.
Warminster: Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Shrine
Traveling to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
By plane: Philadelphia International Airport (code PHL) is served by several airlines.
By train: The primary Amtrak station in Philadelphia is William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, located at 2955 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104. and offers amenities such as a Metropolitan lounge, restrooms, food vendors, outdoor dining areas, and connections to SEPTA and other local transit. This station is a central hub for the Northeast Corridor, connecting many cities in the Northeast.
→ Northeast Regional: Connects Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and other cities. It is the busiest and most popular route,
→ Acela Express: High-speed service between Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C.
→ Keystone Service: Runs from New York City to Harrisburg, PA, with stops in Philadelphia.
→ Silver Service, Crescent, Vermonter, Carolinian, Cardinal, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian: These routes connect Philadelphia to various destinations across the Northeast, Mid- Atlantic, and Southeast
By car: Several interstate highways converge in Philadelphia.