Mass Times
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 12 noon - 5:30 pm
Weekend Mass
Saturday
8:00 am - 12 noon - 4:00 pm
Sunday
8:00 am - 10:00 am - 12 noon
Holiday periods may affect these times
Confession Schedule at end of page
Light a Devotional Candle
at the Shrine
If you are unable to visit the Shrine in person and would like to have a devotional candle lit, click on the image below.
This Week's Message
from Fr. Amesse
December 8, 2024
I received a message from a young woman. She was in the youth group at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Brownsville, Texas. She is now married with 2 children. About a month ago she had a dream. Her grandfather, in the dream, visited her 2 daughters. He hugged them.
The mother of the 2 asked me to offer a Mass for her grandfather. I did. I did not ask why? Was she nervous? Did she think grandpa was coming to bring them with him to be with the Lord? The grandfather died a few years ago. I am convinced the mom asked for a Mass to bring peace to her family.
We are about to enter a Holy Year. Archbishop Henning has approved for St. Joseph the Worker to be a special place of pilgrimage. This means, whenever a person enters the Shrine to pray, God will grant an indulgence. How can I make it clear to you what this means? I will share more next week about what an indulgence is.
I have been bringing Holy Communion, every day, to the man who plays the organ and leads us in song at the 4pm, 10am and noon Masses, Sunday. Jim was not in good shape. I did not think he would make it. Now, the cancer he has, is in remission. Well, a week before Thanksgiving, Jim returned to his day job.
I brought him Communion. When I entered the office, Jim stood and gave me the biggest, wholesome smile. As we enter the Shrine during Holy Year, with faith, and a love for Pope Francis, and the promise to stop sinning, Jesus will rise, and give us a huge and wholesome smile.
This will bring to us, God’s peace.
I remember you at Mass.
Holiday Snowscapes are back!
Again this Christmas season, from now through the Feast of the Epiphany, we are featuring a display of Holiday Snowscapes. These creations—hand crafted by our own Fr. Ron Meyer and motivated by the ‘Keep Christ in Christmas’ sentiment—will be arrayed in the Shrine’s downstairs Hall.
Entrance to the Snowscapes display is available through the Gift Shop/Bookstore on Monday through Saturday from 9 to 5. Sundays during morning Mass times.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Thursday, December 12
When Mary appeared to Juan Diego as Our Lady of Guadalupe, she had encouraging words for him. "Am I not here, I who am your mother?" In the image on Juan Diego's tilma (tunic), Mary identifies herself with the Aztec people. She has their hair and features, their symbolic maternity dress. She incorporated their important symbols of the sun, moon, and stars. Today's Mass includes two Gospel options. Both are familiar passages from the Gospel of Luke - the Annunciation and the Visitation. Both are equally relevant to today's feast because Mary's yes to Christ isn't only to care for him but to come to us. Our Lady of Guadalupe is pregnant. The image bears witness to Mary's yes to conceive the Savior of the World. But even in her pregnancy, she goes to care for Elizabeth. Now Mother to all the world, Mary comes to the aid of her children, reminding them of her presence among them.
Blessing of Nativity Figures
Sunday, December 15
December 15, we invite you to bring a figure from your home Nativity to be blessed during Mass on that third Sunday of Advent. That representative figure will convey the Christmas Blessing from the Shrine to your home when incorporated into your own Nativity display. The blessing will take place after the Prayer of the Faithful by simply standing while holding-up your figurine for the blessing.
First Fridays at the Shrine
Next First Friday, January 3
Immediately following the 8:00 am Mass, we will pray the Rosary with reflections written by the Venerable Fulton J. Sheen.
Immediately after the Noon Mass to 5:15 we will have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Please keep First Fridays fervent here at the Shrine by spending some time with our Lord.
The Giving Tree
The Christmas Tree, located in the back corner of the Shrine, has tags indicating gift items for needy children and families in the Lowell area. When returning the gifts, please do not wrap them and be sure the original tag is fixed to the gift.
The last date to return any gifts will be December 15 to ensure they are available for each family in time for Christmas. Thank you and God bless you!
Join us for a pilgrimage to the Christmas light display
LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro!
Sunday, December 29
Learn more here
Daily Advent Reflections ritten by
Fr. Ron Rolheiser. OMI
FOLLOW THE STAR . . .to the Oblate Historical Museum
In the Gospel of Matthew (chap. 2: vs 10-11) we read, “They (Magi) were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house (stable) they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Gold, a symbol of Jesus’ kingship on earth, Frankincense or incense, a symbol of deity, and Myrrh or embalming oil, a symbol of death. Prostration was indicative of profound respect, and typically used when venerating a king. It also had an important effect on Christian religious practices. In the rite of Ordination of a deacon, priest or bishop, the candidate prostrates himself in front of the Altar during the Litany of the Saints. On Good Friday, the priest prostrates himself at the beginning of the Liturgy. The Magi are sometimes described as "falling down", "kneeling", or "bowing". Kneeling, genuflecting or bowing have remained an essential element of Christian worship to this day.
Like the Magi of old, FOLLOW THE STAR to the Oblate Historical Museum to enjoy the 75+ nativities on display now through January 12.
Take the stairs or elevator to the fourth floor. Admission is free, however a free-will donation will help us continue this worthwhile tradition.
Shrine Gift Shop and Bookstore
This Christmas, shop for your loved ones at the Shrine Gift Shop/Bookstore. We have an extensive selection of books, prayer cards, statues, gift cards, religious articles, nativity sets and many more gift ideas!
The Gift Shop/Bookstore is open at convenient shopping times:
Monday thru Saturday 9-5 AND Sunday, December 22 9-1 pm
While supplies last, anyone making a purchase will be gifted a lovely poinsettia to dress their home for the holidays.
If you mention code CHRISTMAS 24, you will receive 10% off your purchase!
Keep Christ in Christmas
Legion of Mary
at the Shrine
Meetings are held in the downstairs Conference Hall each week after the Sunday 12:00 noon Mass.
The Legion of Mary is a Marian movement founded in Ireland in the 1920’s. It is currently the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis’ December
Prayer Intention
We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.
Pure in Heart
Pure in Heart (young adults ages 18-35) meets at 7pm in the Shrine Conference Room on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. The next session will be January 14th . Learn more
- 5:30 - Mass at the Shrine
- 6:15 - Social
- 7:00 - Meeting
As an adolescent and young man, you longed to reconcile your parents, but suffered from the pain of the irreparable separation of your parents and your wish for them never being realized.
St. Eugene de Mazenod, lead us to Jesus through the trials of life.
Downes Parking Garage Ticket Validation
- Available in the Gift Shop /Bookstore on Monday through Saturday from 9 am - 5 pm.
- Sunday street parking is always free
- Those attending the Saturday 4 pm Vigil Mass who park in the Downes Garage can still validate their ticket in the Gift Shop before Mass.
Praying with the Stained Glass Windows of
St. Joseph the Worker Shrine
Part I - The 100 Year+ Windows Series
Part II - The St. Joseph Windows
Ring the Bells of the Shrine
Everyday of the year, the “Bells of St. Joseph” ring-out God’s praise for all to hear!
Our Carillon can play Special Hymns of your choice any day of the year. At your request, our chimes will ring in honor of loved ones for the entire community to hear and prayerfully remember.Your offering of $20.00 will be greatly appreciated and will assist us in maintaining the Shrine and its ministries. Thank You!
Bell-ringing selections may be reserved for specific days & times throughout the year(s) in the Shrine Gift Shop/Bookstore.
St. Eugene de Mazenod’s Prayer to the Sorrowful Mother
O Lord, Almighty God, you endowed the Blessed Virgin Mary with the fullness of every gift and grace. By allowing her heart to be pierced with the deepest sorrow, you crowned her merit and placed her at the head of countless legions of martyrs who, for love of your Son Jesus Christ, have shed their blood. Through the painful martyrdom endured by this gentle Mother seeing her beloved Son dying as a Victim because of his love for us, grant us the grace to bear with fortitude the disappointments and setbacks in our life, and not to fear torment or death itself, when we are called to confess our faith in Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Shrine Memorial Plaques
Since 1868, this holy place - dedicated to the honor of St. Joseph - has been a treasured oasis of prayer and serenity in the heart of the city of Lowell. For generations, many have found great solace and experienced healing and reconciliation for themselves and their families within this holy sanctuary.
In gratitude many have chosen to memorialize their loved ones by inscribing their names on the very walls of this grace-filled place. To inscribe the names of loved ones on our newly expanded Remembrance Wall, please make arrangements in the Gift Shop/Bookstore – at the same desk where Masses are registered.
Confession and Adoration
Confession
Mon - Friday
10:00 am - noon
4:30 pm - 5:15 pm
Saturday
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
First Wednesday of the month
Eucharistic Adoration
The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration on -
Saturday after the noon Mass until the 4:00 pm Mass
First Fridays after the noon Mass until the 5:30 pm Mass
Gift Shop, Office and Museum Hours
Monday - Friday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Rebecca Duda, Bulletin Editor
Jessica Rauseo, Business Office Manager
Gift Shop & Bookstore
Aurea Torres, Gift Shop Manager
Hours
Monday - Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
First Sunday of each month 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
If for any reason you're still unable to visit the Shrine or Gift Shop and you'd like to book a Mass Intention request please call the Gift Shop Manager at 978-459-9522 x213 or email AureaTorres@stjosephshrine.org
Oblate Historical Museum
Brother Richard Cote, Museum Curator
Saturdays 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Sundays 8:30 am -1:15 pm
During Lent - Wednesday 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Say NO to Physician Assisted Suicide in Massachusetts
Learn more