St. Joseph the Worker Shrine

Welcome

St. Joseph the Worker Shrine

We who minister at the Shrine are committed to work collaboratively with one another and with you. Our aim is to provide a place of prayer, conscious reflection, and social action that is hospitable to and calls forth the gifts of all who come to the Shrine. We do this in the spirit of Jesus Christ and of Saint Eugene de Mazenod, founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

Our mission is based on Matthew 11:28:

Come to me all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.”

St. Joseph the Worker Shrine

Mass Times

Daily Mass

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

Weekly Bulletins

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.

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 October 10. Learn more.

  • 5:30 - Mass at the Shrine
  • 6:15 - Social
  • 7:00 - Meeting

 

Christian Worker Recognition Award 2023

We are pleased to announce the recipients of St. Joseph the Worker Shrine’s 2023 Christian Worker Recognition Award:
 
Dr. Rebecca Duda
whose award was presented Saturday, September 9th, at the 4 PM Mass

Thomas Santosuosso, Jr.
whose award will be presented on Saturday, October 7th, at the 4 PM Mass

A Gathering of Angels
A new Shrine event to honor
our Guardian Angels

September 29 – October 5, 2023

Friday, Sept. 29 - display setup after Noon Mass
Sept 30 - to Oct 5 - Angels on display around Tabernacle
Monday, Oct 2 - Mass/Benediction and Blessing of Guardian Angel Icons at 5:30pm Mass
Thursday, Oct 5 - Display dismantled after Noon Mass.

Anyone may loan a personal Angel statue, figurine, icon, image or picture to display. Please attach your name, phone number and/or email to your loaned item. Personal items may be added to or removed from the display at any time between setup and dismantling. After dismantling, all remaining items will be available for pick up at the St. Joseph Statue at the entrance of the Shrine. Learn more

This Week's Message
from Fr. Amesse
September 24, 2023

I struggled to live up to my dad’s expectations.  There were moments, even years, when the tension was terrible.  And now, many moons later, these memories surface.  Why?  Because for the first time ever, I feel that the Holy Father, Pope Francis does not like me, and I am not living up to his expectations.     

Pope Francis writes and speaks critically to people who are traditional.  In fact, he says we are backward.  There’s a lady who comes to pray with her three children here at the Shrine.  She wears a veil and receives Holy Communion kneeling.  She and the family receive the Holy Eucharist on the tongue.   

I asked her, “What do you think of the Pope?”  “We love him!  But we are not sure he likes us”, she said smiling.  For 50 years I knew many people who were critical of Pope St. Paul VI, Pope St. John Paul II, and extremely harsh to Pope Benedict XVI.  Things have changed.  For them, Pope Francis is a blast of fresh air.       

Before I go any further let me be clear…No matter what, we will support the Pope.  The fact that he criticizes those of us who are traditional is a good way to keep humble.  There’s always the temptation to think we are better than others.  WE ARE NOT BETTER THAN ANYONE!  Pope Francis is not a heretic. 

The struggle I had, to live up to the expectations of my father, had many blessings.  One was how I know I am not better than others.  Another made me work harder to do what was right.  In any case, the Holy Father may call us backward.  Henceforth, we will show the Pope, with joy and humility, how we love Jesus.  

 I remember you at Mass.

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.

    

In order to be “all for God,” the Savior invited you and your companions to bind yourselves  to Him through religious life, living the vows in apostolic community. 

 St. Eugene, guide us to the Savior in our time of need!

The Hidden Apostles II

Francois Veuillot, (1870-1952) was a French Journalist who directed the Catholic newspaper “L’Univers”. In 1925, while speaking of the Coadjutor Brothers he exclaimed: “It is not sufficient to admire in the colorful list of their efforts, their sufferings, their heroism and the apostolates of these very humble, very efficacious, and even quite necessary artisans, these dear Coadjutor Brothers.  One must penetrate the secret of their merits, imitate from afar their virtues and indirectly support their ministry.  It is intentionally that I use this word ministry, for in truth, these humble servants are real (Hidden) Apostles and sometimes powerful converters.” 


One of these “powerful converters” was Brother Anthony Kowalczyk, O.M.I., who despite suffering the loss of his right arm at a sawmill in Lac-la-Biche, Alberta spent 36 years of his life fulfilling the functions of mechanic, porter and gardener.  He was declared Venerable in 1994.

The Oblate Rule places emphasis on the ministry of the Oblate Brothers, “Missioned by the Church, their technical, professional or pastoral service, as well as the witness of their life, constitute their ministry of evangelization.”

St. Vincent de Paul 
September 27


St. Vincent de Paul was born to a poor peasant family in the French village of Pouy on April 24, 1581. His first formal education was provided by the Franciscans. He did so well, he was hired to tutor the children of a nearby wealthy family. He used the money he earned to continue his study of theology at the University of Toulose. He was ordained in 1600. In 1605, while traveling to Narbone, he was captured, brought to Tunis and sold as a slave. Two years later he and his master escaped and returned to France. 

St. Vincent went to Avignon and later Rome to continue his studies. There he became chaplain to the Count of Goigny and was put in charge of giving money to the deserving poor. He became pastor of a small parish in Clichy for a short period of time, while also serving as a tutor and spiritual director.  From that point on he spent his life preaching missions to and providing relief to the poor. He even established hospitals for them. This work became his passion. He later extended his concern and ministry to convicts.

The need to evangelize and help these souls was so great and the demands so beyond his own ability to meet, that he founded the Ladies of Charity, a lay institute of wome

n, to help, as well as a religious institute of priests - the Congregation of Priests of the Mission, commonly referred to now as the Vincentians. from: catholic.org

Sts. Cosmas and Damian
September 26

Sts. Cosmas and Damian were brothers (legend says twins) born in Arabia who became famous for their skill in the science of medicine. They reputedly cured blindness, fever and paralysis. They were venerated in the East, especially in Cilicia where they lived, as ‘the moneyless ones’ because they were filled with the spirit of Christian charity and did not charge for their services.

When the persecution under Diocletian broke out, their prominence made them targets and Cosmas and Damian were apprehended by order of the governor Lysias in 283. They were tortured, hung on a cross, stoned and shot by arrows in failed attempts to force them to recant their faith. Finally they were both beheaded and are alleged to have died with their three younger brothers.

A church erected on the site of their burial was enlarged by the emperor Justinian. Devotion to the two saints spread rapidly in both East and West and a famous basilica was erected in their honor in Constantinople. Their names were placed in the Roman Canon probably in the sixth century.

The feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian is on September 26. They are regarded as the patrons of physicians, surgeons and pharmacists and are sometimes represented with medical emblems. They are also regarded as the patron saints of twins.

St. Joseph
Foster Father of the Son of God,

Pray for us!

-Litany of St. Joseph

Pope Francis’ Pope Francis’ September prayer intention is for the people living on the margins.

 We pray for those people living on the margins of society in inhumane conditions: may they not be overlooked by institutions and never be considered of lesser importance.

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.

Light Up Shrine Candles Online

Click to Light a Candle 
Thank you!

Please choose your donation amount. $5.00 is the standard donation per candle online

 

Archdiocesan COVID protocols lifted
Learn more here

 

Confession and Adoration

Confession

Mon - Friday
10:00 am - noon
4:30 pm - 5:15 pm

Saturday 
10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Eucharistic Adoration

The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration on -

Saturday after the noon Mass until the 4:00 pm Mass, approximately 12:45 pm - 3:45 pm

First Fridays after the noon Mass until the 5:30 pm Mass, approximately 12:45 pm -5:15 pm

Gift Shop, Office and Museum Hours

Business Office Hours:

Monday - Friday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Ed Wilk, Office Manager/Bulletin Editor
Jessica Rauseo, Administrative Assistant

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 [email protected]

Oblate Historical Museum

Saturdays 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Sundays 8:30 am -11:30 am