Brief History of the Marian Friary

The Marian friary of "Our Lady, Queen of the Seraphic Order" was officially opened on December 15, 1992 (Feast of Our Lady, Queen of the Seraphic Order) by Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap, now the bishop and cardinal of the diocese of Boston. Located in downtown New Bedford, the friary offers everyday the Holy sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacrament of Penance for the faithful. from 1994 up to the present, there is an interior seminary for the friars called to the priesthood. From 2002, the friar students, after their two years of philosophy, continue their study of theology in Italy.

"Our Lady's Chapel" is the name of the actual sanctuary which was named ever since its foundation in 1950 by the Friars Minor who built and and used to live in New Bedford. The sanctuary was closed in 1992 and the Friars Minor moved to Providence while it was reopened by the Franciscans of the Immaculate on December 15 of the same year.

The friars hear numerous confessions everyday especially the First Fridays and Saturdays of the month as well as during the periods of Advent and Lent. They also give spiritual direction to the faithful especially to members of the MIM and Third Order of the Immaculate. From 2003, the friars started a program of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration which has at the present almost 200 members. They take turn day and night seven days a week and 24 hours a day, adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. The sanctuary becomes a place of prayer and recollection for the busy inhabitants and office workers of New Bedford.

How to Visit Our Lady's Chapel

600 Pleasant St., New Bedford Massachusetts, USA;
Tel # (508) 996-8274; FAX: (508) 996-8296

Location:

New Bedford, Massachusetts is located in the North East of the United States of America, on the southeast coast of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The city is approximately 30 miles ESE of Providence, Rhode Island and 50 miles S of Boston, Massachusetts.

• When you reach New Bedford take exit 15 [Route 18 South]
• Take the exit for Route 6 Westbound to Fall River.
• At the first light take a left on to Sixth Street.
• Take the fourth left onto Market Street
• At the end of Market Street you will be directly in front of Our Lady's Chapel.

The Friary Chapel is opened on the following hours:

• Monday to Saturday 5:00 AM EST to 8:30 PM EST
• Sunday 5:00 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST throughout the year.

During the season of Lent the Chapel opens at 6:00 AM EST.

Services and Sacraments

Daily Masses

Confession

Devotions following Mass on:

Schedule of Daily Devotions:

• Office of Readings: Monday to Saturday, 5:05 AM EST; Sunday, 5:35 AM EST
• Office of Lauds: Monday to Saturday, 5:55 AM EST; Sunday, 6:00 AM EST
• Office of Vespers: Monday to Saturday, 4:00 PM EST; Sunday - 6:00 PM EST
• The Most Holy Rosary: Monday to Friday, 4:45 PM EST
• The Franciscan Crown of the Seven Joys of Our Lady: Saturday, following the 6:45 AM Mass
• Stations of the Cross: Fridays, 4:15 PM EST
• Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament: Monday to Saturday, 5:15 PM EST; Sunday, 6:45 PM EST.
• Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration

The Friary Chapel is open seven days a week and twenty-four hours a day for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. Please write us for more information about signing up for Perpetual Adoration.

All the Faithful are cordially invited and warmly encouraged to come and visit their Lord, God and King, so humbly and meekly concealing Himself under the form of bread.

Those who can visit and would like to commit themselves to adore Our Eucharistic Lord each week, are invited to join our Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Guild of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. Please write us for more information.

Annual Celebrations

1. Annual Feast of Our Lady of Good Voyage - September 17/18, 2011

The Feast of Our Lady of Good Voyage is celebrated on the third Sunday of September each year at Our Lady's Chapel. On the vigil of the Feast there is a solemn, candle light procession of the statue at night. This year, 2011, there are changes in the program. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, offered on behalf of all travelers, starts at 3 pm. A reception follows downstairs in the Hall as usual. Note well: there will be no Sunday procession.

All are welcome to join us in this annual joyful celebration.

2. Corpus Christi Procession - June 26, 2011.

The annual liturgical feast of Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ) is celebrated in a beautiful way at "Our Lady's Chapel" New Bedford by having a "corpus Christi Procession" in the streets of New Bedford. Hundreds of participants usually join the procession with Eucharistic stations on at least three parish Churches of the area.

Everyone is invited to participate in the procession.

Apostolate of the Community

Sacraments and Preaching

Following the Franciscan tradition the friars in New Bedford primary apostolate is the administration of the sacraments especially the reverent celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacrament of Penance. Moreover, they conduct conferences, symposium, parish mission, retreats and preaching tasks to help pastors in the care of souls.

Book Publication

The Marian Friary of Our Lady Queen of the Seraphic Order in New Bedford publishes books and pamphlets concentrating on Marian, popular as well as scholarly literature. With the collaboration of the Academy of the Immaculate, a non-profit organization, the friars are putting out at least two to three titles of books a year. See our on-line catalog of books for more information about these titles.

Internet Apostolate

Imitating the example of St. Maximilian Kolbe, the friars launched its Marian and Catholic evangelization through the new technology of the Internet website which was established in 1996. It continues to expand according to demands and has affected many lives including the the discovery of religious and priestly vocations.