“Forgotten no more” is a phrase echoing through the halls of the Shrine of Saint Jude Catholic Church. This is a place where hope flickers even in the darkest corners. For centuries Saint Jude Thaddeus was nearly forgotten. He was even called “Jude the Obscure”.
But the Shrine of Saint Jude stands today as a testament to his enduring legacy. It is a place of comfort for many.
In the United States, devotion to Saint Jude grew in the 20th century. Many shrines began during the Great Depression. People needed someone to turn to in desperate times.
The Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude found its home at Saint Dominic Church in Washington DC. Now it is the center of devotion to Saint Jude in the nation’s capital.
The Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude began in the late 1920s in Detroit, Michigan. This shrine served countless clients of the Blessed Mother and Saint Jude Thaddeus for over 70 years. But attendance declined in the mid-1960s due to neighborhood deterioration.
Meanwhile, the National Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude was established in Washington, DC, in the early 1930s. Preached Novenas were regularly celebrated at Saint Dominic Church.
In 1998, the Dominican Fathers decided to combine the Detroit shrine with the Washington DC shrine. James Cardinal Hickey approved the move in 1999. The Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude moved from Detroit to Washington DC.
In 2001, the restored Rosary Shrine of Saint Jude was dedicated by Bishop Leonard J. Olivier. Regular daily devotions to Saint Jude are held. Four Preached Novenas throughout the year are spiritual highlights.
The Dominican Friars lead these exercises at the shrine. The Rosary and prayers to Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Jude the Apostle take place. They occur Monday through Friday at 11:45 AM.
Masses are offered daily. Veneration of the relic of Saint Jude Thaddeus is offered each Friday after the 12:10 PM Mass.
The Shrine publishes the Saint Jude Messenger newsletter. It keeps patrons informed. Renovations of the shrine were completed in 2016.
The National Shrine of St. Jude brings together devotees in prayer. It was founded in 1929 by the Claretian Missionaries. The shrine offers a personal place to pray. Petitions are remembered in prayers and masses.
The Shrine of Saint Jude Catholic Church is a beacon. It shines hope and solace on all who seek it.