Established 1950
About the Lourdes Center
Serving the faithful across North America for over 75 years
Our History
The Lourdes Center was established in 1950 in response to a collaboration between Archbishop Richard Cushing of the Boston Archdiocese and the Bishop of the Tarbes– Lourdes Diocese, Pierre-Marie Theas. In 1948, (the then) Archbishop Cushing had led a pilgrimage of 500 people by ship to Lourdes. The next year, he and Bishop Theas consulted and agreed to have water from Lourdes made available to the people of the United States and Canada.
The Archbishop asked the Society of Mary (the Marists), who had a parish in Boston, to take over this new venture. The Superior General of the Marists, Very Rev. Alcime Cyr, S.M., authorized the Boston Marist province to accept this request. The ministry grew over the years, leading to a purchase of a building to house the work involved, providing a chapel open to the public, and leading pilgrimages to Lourdes from Boston yearly, among other things.
Many Marist priests and brothers have taken part in the Lourdes Center's ministries and, from the beginning, many faith-filled lay people have also participated in this ministry in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. Currently, we have several part-time workers and volunteers whose main ministry is providing Lourdes water to those who request it.
The Lourdes Center Today
In 2026, the Lourdes Center continues to minister under the patronage of Our Lady of Lourdes. In 2025, we marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Center. We are a ministry sponsored by the Marist Province of the USA, which is based in Washington, DC.
The Center moved into its current location in 1963. We are at 698 Beacon St. in Boston's Kenmore Square. We are a short walk from Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Our Center is home to a community of Marists who have their residence on the second floor of our building.
On the first floor, we have a chapel open to the public for prayer from Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Masses are celebrated for the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 Noon and at 4:00 pm on Saturdays (in anticipation of Sunday Mass). After the Thursday Mass, we have a time of prayer which includes Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Lourdes water is available to those who come to the chapel and a priest is usually available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). The bottling of Lourdes water and its preparation for shipping takes place on our top floor. The Center publishes "Echoes from Lourdes" 6 times a year — free to those who request it and available in our Chapel.
Support Our Mission
Our ministry depends entirely on the generosity of people like you. We don’t seek a profit from our offering of Lourdes water to those who request it or any other aspect of the Lourdes Center ministry. We also keep our costs as low as possible. Another way that you can support us is by praying for us — praying for the workers and volunteers we have, praying for Our Lady’s intercession and guidance in all that we do, and praying for those who ask our prayers and for their intentions. We truly appreciate the support that you provide us and we ask God’s blessing on those who help sustain our ministry. Thank you!
Every dollar makes a difference.
The Lourdes Center is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donations are tax-deductible.
The Society of Mary
The Society of Mary is a Catholic religious congregation founded in Lyon, France in 1816. The order is called the Marist Fathers and Brothers. It was canonically approved by Pope Gregory XVI as a religious order of pontifical right in 1836. The Marist founder was Venerable Jean-Claude Colin S.M. Marists strive to live and minister in the spirit of Mary, Mother of God and Mother of Jesus. They are called, in the phrase of Fr. Colin, our founder, to "breathe in" the spirit of Mary in their lives and their ministry. Its worldwide ministries include education, missionary outreach, and parish ministry. The current Marist Superior General, based in Rome, is Fr. Declan Marmion S.M. from Ireland. More information about the Society of Mary (Marists) can be found by going to these websites: www.societyofmaryusa.org or www.maristfathers.net.