On July 1, 2016, Saint Rita Parish officially merged with Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a result, the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia no longer operates as a parish church. The U.S. bishops, however, have designated the Shrine as a national sanctuary of pilgrimage and prayer. Because the Catholic Church teaches that the sacraments are communal in nature - properly celebrated within the worshiping community of a parish - we encourage all of our patrons to register and become active in a parish community. If you need help finding a parish community that meets your needs, please contact us. If you plan to worship regularly at the Shrine, we encourage and invite you to register at Annunciation B.V.M. Parish by filling out this form.