On August 10th, 2020, the groundbreaking of St. Rita Place and the Cascia Center took place. The Cascia Center was envisioned by Fr. Michael Di Gregorio, O.S.A., current Prior Provincial of the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, and former Director of the National Shrine of Saint Rita (1992-2007) as well as pastor of the then parish (1995-2007). The Center was a development of the effort begun in 1989 to expand the ministry and outreach of the Shrine in areas consistent with the charism and spirituality of Saint Rita.
The Cascia Center is a work of prayer, dialogue, and friendship. As an Augustinian ministry since 1907, the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia strives to bring people together, to learn from each other and discover God in this exchange.
The Augustinians are extremely pleased to be partnering with Catholic Services and Community Housing of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in the development of Saint Rita Place and the Cascia Center. This new structure will give concrete expression to Saint Rita's message of peacemaking and reconciliation in the heart of the city.
