Many people from many places have told me how they used to regularly come to Saint John Church to pray and to “make a visit” to the Blessed Sacrament or to light a candle at our Lourdes Shrine. People remember that when they were children and their parents came to Center City to shop, a prayer visit to Saint John’s was part of the itinerary. Retired people remember that when they worked in Center City, they sought quiet prayer refuge in our lower church in the midst of their busy work days. 

People still come to Saint John’s to pray. Workers, retired people, shoppers, people from out of town and from other countries who come to Philadelphia for conventions and vacations—all sorts of people still seek a quiet place to pray in the midst of Center City. 

Saint John’s offers Masses and confessions, but we also provide a place of prayer and devotion. It is a long tradition still observed now, that Saint John’s offers devotions to Our Lady of Lourdes on Wednesdays. After each Mass, there are novena prayers to Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Bernadette and then there is the opportunity to venerate the relic of Saint Bernadette. The Lourdes Shrine in the lower church is a popular place to light a candle and say a prayer; likewise, the statue of Mary in the upper church is a place of devotion. People tell me that their prayers offered to Mary at Saint John’s have been answered. 

About 20 years ago, we Capuchins initiated a Friday devotion to Saint Padre Pio. After each Mass, we recite a prayer written by Padre Pio and there is the opportunity to venerate a glove worn by Padre Pio. We have a magnificent statue of Padre Pio in our lower church. Padre Pio is known for his power of intercession before God.

On Wednesdays and Saturdays, people recite the rosary together after the 12:05 Masses.

Jesus said that his Father’s house, the temple, was “a house of prayer for all peoples”. Likewise, Saint John’s is a house of prayer and people of all races and ways of life come to pray.