St. Anthony Shrine

St. Anthony Shrine, known as the Church on Arch Street, is a Roman Catholic center for ministry in downtown Boston directed by Franciscan friars. For more than 75 years its central focus has been offering a convenient, prayerful place to worship, with daily Masses and an extensive schedule of confessions. Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the friars and lay people of the shrine aim to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all people.

Beyond the sacraments, the shrine runs more than 30 outreach and evangelical ministries, fostering what it calls Christian discipleship in the marketplace. Its building hosts Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon meetings, centering prayer, a men’s spirituality group, an LGBTQ+ ministry, a Spanish prayer group, healing Masses and Red Cross blood drives. An information booth offers Mass cards, general information and spiritual companionship or direction.

What to Know

• The shrine is directed by the Franciscan friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
• A Spanish-language Mass is celebrated, and the Sunday morning Mass is livestreamed.
• The building is handicapped accessible, and low-gluten hosts are available on request.
• Music at Mass is led by The Arch Street Band, and pets can be blessed around the Feast of St. Francis.