Very Reverend Vincent Marchildon, O.P. was born in 1877 in Bastican, Quebec, Canada. He entered the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans) and was invested into the habit in 1898 and made his perpetual vows in 1902. He was ordained to the priesthood in Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa, Canada on January 1, 1903. Father Marchildon arrived at Saint Anne on October 27, 1905 and spent 60 years of his priestly life here.

Throughout those many years he served in various roles including curate, assistant pastor, and founder & director of the well-known shrine. In 1923 he was excused from all parish duties and was permitted to devote all his time to the apostolate of the shrine.

Named the first official Director of the Shrine in 1928, he was instrumental in establishing the perpetual novenas in honor of Saint Anne on Sundays and Tuesdays, and he even established a choir to provide music for these services. In 1939 he established the Sunday afternoon processions of pilgrims around the shrine of Saint Anne that was a popular custom. Also in 1939, he was awarded the title of Preacher General by the Master General of the Dominican Order.

In June of 1956, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his work here at Saint Anne, Pope Pius XII bestowed on Father Marchildon a Papal Decoration Benemerenti for his outstanding work and
devotion to the faithful.

He organized the Saint Anne Parish Conference of the Saint Vincent De Paul Society, was a member of the Greater Fall River Chamber of Commerce, and held a deep interest in community affairs. He was also a notary public, the bursar of the Dominican priory on Middle Street, and the administrator of La Semaine Paroissiale, a weekly newsletter of the Dominican Fathers.

Father Marchildon was revered for his special love and devotion to the poor and suffering. He is
remembered for being both a man of action and a humble and zealous priest. He had a special gift for encouraging and comforting the afflicted. He always lived poorly, content with minimal necessities, willingly wearing old clothes, traveling economically, and shunning luxuries. He counseled several generations of pilgrims and his spiritual influence was widespread.

Many were unaware of his handicaps, which he bore with a spirit of acceptance. One of his eyes was totally blind for almost 25 years, and his remaining vision was very weak. In 1955 he was involved in a serious automobile accident near Quebec, Canada. The accident caused a progressive deterioration of his memory and he was forced to give up saying Mass. Nevertheless, he bore his infirmities with extraordinary patience and abandonment to the will of God.

Father Vincent Marchildon was truly the pioneer in the development of Saint Anne Shrine. He entered into eternal rest on January 15, 1972, and he is buried in the crypt at the shrine.

Today we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of this saintly priest’s entrance into God’s heavenly kingdom.

Father Vincent Marchildon, pray for us and for … Continue reading...

January 15, 2022 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the death of Father Vincent Marchildon, O.P., the founder and great apostle of St. Anne’s Shrine.

For clarification purposes since there seems to be some ongoing confusion. 

Saint Anne Shrine of Fall River is not a parish church. The parish of St. Anne’s was suppressed and closed as a canonical parish in 2018 by the Ordinary of Fall River, and under the terms of our agreement with the Diocese, we reopened as a SHRINE in July of 2019.

We operate as a Catholic shrine, which is a defined sacred place for pilgrims and the faithful to visit, pray, light vigil candles, and to enrich their Catholic faith outside of a parish setting.  As a shrine, we offer opportunities for community worship, devotions, and events that support the goals of the ministries we’ve developed since our reopening.

We DO NOT offer a “regular” weekly Holy Mass schedule at the present time. Any Masses that are celebrated at St. Anne Shrine shrine are subject to, and with the generous permission of, the Diocesan Bishop, under whose permission we function.  As such, we can not accept stipends for specific Mass intentions, since we can not guarantee fulfillment of the obligation on the part of a celebrant at a specific time. We do offer enrollment in a Purgatorial Society and/or prayer guild to have your intention or loved one remembered as part of these pious societies at our scheduled services and devotions.

Currently:
-We offer a monthly Healing Mass celebrated by Fr. Edward Murphy, the shrine chaplain, typically on the third Thursday of every month unless otherwise announced. (Except during June, July, and August)

-As directed by the 1983 edition of Canon Law, we are required to celebrate a Mass commemorating the Dedication of the Upper Church each year on or near July 4th, and a Mass commemorating the Feast of the Patroness of the Shrine, Good Saint Anne, on July 26.

-The sacrament of Confession is provided at least twice a month. It is offered one half hour before the Healing Mass and again during the Monthly Divine Mercy Holy Hour which usually is held on the second or third Sunday of the month.

-Confessions may be offered as announced and upon the availability of a validly ordained priest. 

-All other allowed Masses and activities such as Vespers, Novenas, and other devotions are held as announced on our social media site (https://www.facebook.com/savesaintannes) as well as here on our calendar of events. 

We hope this clears up any confusion.

Shrine Chaplain Fr. Edward Murphy has released the initial schedule for the winter/spring Healing Masses at St. Anne Shrine. The times and dates are January-May, the fourth Thursday of the month as noted below. Please make an effort to set aside these times and invite your family and friends to join with you and the Shrine in this important ministry.

PLEASE NOTE that the day of the month has been changed to the 4th (fourth) Thursday of the month!