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6:00am-6:00pm daily
Daily Masses
7:00am, 8:00am, 12:10pm, and 5:15pm
Saturday Masses
7:00am, 8:00am, 12:10pm, and 4:30pm (Sunday Vigil)
Sunday Masses
7:30am, 9:00am, 10:30am,
12:00pm, 2:30pm (en español),
and 4:30pm
Upcoming Events
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Diocese of Wilmington Pilgrimage
October 7On Saturday, October 7, 2023, the faithful of the Diocese of Wilmington are invited to join the Most Reverend William…
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Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 8We invite you to join us in celebrating the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.
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Anniversary of the Shrine’s Elevation to the Rank of a Minor Basilica
October 12We invite you to join us Thursday, October 12, as we celebrate the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time and the…
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WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR
Rector’s Welcome
A word of welcome to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception — America’s Catholic Church.
Most Recent Blog Posts
Guest Reflection: Fr. Jim Gardiner on the Life of St. Francis of Assisi
October 2, 2023
As the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi on October 4, we invite you to read a…
4 Ways to Tour the Basilica
September 29, 2023
Did you know that approximately one million people visit that National Shrine each year? Whether you’re new to the D.C.…
Breaker of Heresy: The Rosary and the Blessed Mother
September 29, 2023
Believe it or not, the rosary as it exists today has been a long time coming. Its earliest form came…
VISIT US
Tours
Learn about the Shrine’s history, architecture, sacred art, and more, through our audio and guided tours. Reserve tours for large groups.
Sacred Music
Through our sacred music at the National Shrine, we strive to transform hearts and minds through the power and beauty of music in the Roman Catholic Liturgy.
AMERICA’S CATHOLIC CHURCH
The History of the National Shrine
Although its foundation stone was laid in 1920, this great shrine seems to have been conceived of as early as 1846, the year the Bishops of America declared the Blessed Virgin Mary the patroness of the United States under her title of the Immaculate Conception.
ENROLLMENTS & DEVOTIONALS
Light a Candle
Lighting a candle for loved ones or personal intentions is a longstanding tradition in the Catholic Church. We invite you to join us in this tradition by lighting a candle at the Basilica.
Art & Architecture
With over 80 chapels and oratories honoring the Mother of God and representing peoples from every corner of the globe, the Basilica reflects the cultural diversity of the United States.
Allow Mary’s Shrine to pray for you
Enrollments & Devotionals
Mary’s Shrine is a living place of prayer and worship. The prayers we offer for you, your family, and your friends are one of the many ways that we fulfill our important mission as a national sanctuary of prayer and pilgrimage.
Each day we pray for people from across the United States and around the world and present their needs to the confidence and loving intercession of Our Lady.