Live-Streaming Mass from St. Joseph the Worker Shrine
Please check-out the live-streaming of our 10:00 o’clock Sunday morning Mass. There’s been a qualitative up-grade in our production!
As promised, thanks to the generous response to the Shrine’s 2023 in-house Lenten Appeal (annually dedicated to designated infrastructure projects), we’ve been able to dramatically improve the quality of the “broadcast” of our weekly 10:00 o’clock Sunday Mass on YouTube. Images are now captured by a system of permanently mounted cameras; our recently upgraded sound system has been integrated into what is now a seamless production that is a pleasure to view and hear for those who are watching from home.
Click on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass image below.
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
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 June 13.
- 5:30 - Mass at the Shrine
- 6:00 - a light supper along with good fellowship
- 6:45 - sharing of faith
St. Joseph the Worker Shrine Gift Shop/Book Store
Fresh supplies of First Communion and Graduation items are now in stock.
Gift Shop/Bookstore Summer Hours Beginning June 5
Next Sunday, June 4th, the first Sunday of the month, the Shrine Gift Shop/Bookstore will be open during morning Mass times, from 9 AM to 1 PM, for your convenience. A fine selection of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and Graduation gift items are still in stock. This will be the final Sunday opening for the Gift Shop/Bookstore until Fall.
June 5th marks the start of summer hours: Monday through Saturday, 9AM to 4PM.
This Week's Message
from Fr. Amesse
May 28, 2023
The purposes I have for the 40 Hours Devotions are 2-fold. The first is to grow in reverence for the Blessed Sacrament. The second is to honor the priesthood. We have all experienced a slashing of the morale of Catholic priests. We all know the reasons why. 50 years ago, I attended the priestly ordination of 4 Oblates, down the street at The Immaculate.
One of them was a former Shrine director, Father George Roy, OMI. I did not know him when he was ordained. I knew the other 3 priests. I remember May 28th, 1973 as if it were just yesterday. Father Paul Hughes, OMI, invited my mother and me to attend. I tell him this was a push in a direction for me to hear God’s call.
The icing on the cake came when I returned to Montreal by Greyhound. Mom and I boarded the bus at Conlon’s. That used to be the terminal, 50 years ago! We pulled up to the station in Canada. Jean Beliveau, the captain of the Canadiens, waited for a passenger on the same bus we rode!
My jaw dropped when I saw Beliveau. How I would have loved to play goalie for the Canadiens. But I was not good enough. God had something planned much, much better. Jean gave me a big smile when he saw my joyful, shocked expression. It was also a joyful and somewhat shocked look when I realized that Jesus was calling me to be an Oblate priest.
I thought I was not good enough. So, can you please join me in striving to show more reverence to the Eucharist? Can we spend the next years storming heaven so other men, young, and even not so young, who probably think they are not good enough, to hear Jesus calling them to be priests, and in a special way, Oblates?
I will remember you at Mass.
Archdiocesan Lifting of COVID protocols starting on the weekend of June 11th.
Learn more here.
Anointing of the Sick
The Sacramental Anointing of the Sick will be offered this Saturday and on the first Saturday of every month at all three Masses. The Mass times are: 8 am, 12 noon and 4:00pm.
Pilgrimage to Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center
New Haven, Connecticut
June 30, 2023
Please join us for a summertime day-trip to New Haven on the southern shore of Connecticut.
Our day will begin with a bus ride to New Haven. The day will include visits to St. Mary’s Church and the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center in New Haven. We will be having lunch in New Haven as well, but the restaurant has not been selected yet. On the way home, the bus will make a rest-area stop where everyone will have time to get something to eat for dinner (not included). We would love to have you come along.
Click here for more information
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 4PM Vigil Mass who park in the Downes Garage can still validate their ticket in the Gift Shop before Mass.
Legion of Mary
The Legion of Mary will be established here at the Shrine. Meetings will be 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.
SUMMER CONFESSION SCHEDULE
JUNE - JULY - AUGUST (JUNE 5th - Labor Day)
Monday - Friday: 10:30 - 11:45 AM
4:30 - 5:15 PM
Saturday 10:00 A.M.- 1:00 PM
First Wednesday 7:00 P.M. - 8:00 PM
Graduation Mass
Are you graduating from High School or College this year? We wish to honor you and your family. Can you come and wear your cap and gown? You will be seated with your family in front of the pulpit.
The Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, June 4th, at 10 AM.
Please call us at 978-458-6346, or send me an email at [email protected] Leave your name and school.
St. Joseph
Pillar of Families
Pray for us!
-Litany of St. Joseph
Oblates in Cameroon/Chad Central Africa
On May 4, 1946, the first team destined for this Cameroon-Chad Mission was formed. This new Mission was under the direct authority of the General Administration. This team of young Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate celebrated the solemnity of Christ the King for the first time in the territory entrusted to them on October 27, 1946 . Over the years, these poineer missionaries were joined by Canacian, Polish and Italian Oblates.
On their knees, they recited the litanies of the Sacred Heart and the consecration to the Sacred Heart to entrust their new ‘home’ to the Lord.
132 Oblate priests and Brothers currently serve in this Province of whom 47 are seminarians, preparing to be Missionary Oblates, here and in other parts of the world.
In short, during the past 75 years, our Oblates tirelessly proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ and gave rise to a people of faith. And those seeds they planted continue to grow today, extending to Nigeria and Chad. It is up to us today to “go out into the deep with hope”.
The First Missionary Team
The Youthful Province of Today
Can You Help Us?
Many of us regularly receive unsolicited religious items in the mail - along with requests to support various charities. After contributing to one or two charities of our choosing, those endless monetary requests can be declined in good conscience. But frequently folks are puzzled as to what to do with the accumulated religious tokens they were also sent.
If you or your friends/family have a stockpile of such religious items, please bring them here to the Shrine and we will make them available as gratis religious tokens for folks to take home during the Folk Festival (coming this year from 7/28 - 7/30).
We use these items to fill and refill the “Basket 0’ Haloes” in our sidewalk welcoming tent.
Thank you so much!
Pope Francis’ June prayer intention
We pray that the international community may commit in a concrete way to ensure the abolition of torture and to guarantee support to its victims and their families.
St. Eugene,
When you became aware of the cry of the poor in distant countries because they did not know the Savior, you sent your Oblate sons to bring them the good news of the Savior’s unconditional love for them.
St. Eugene, guide us to the Savior in our time of need!
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 testimony to their answered prayers and remembrances, many have chosen to memorialize their loved ones by inscribing their names on the very walls of this grace-filled place. Over time, the Remembrance Wall in the confessional lobby has been completely filled with these memorials. For that reason, we have installed and illuminated new mounts for additional memorials on the inside back wall of the Shrine. The mounts can be expanded to accommodate additional remembrances throughout the coming years.
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
Confession and Adoration
Confession
Summer Confession Schedule
Mon - Friday
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
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
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Closed Thursday
Bro. Craig Bonham, Business Manager
Ed Wilk, Office Manager/Bulletin Editor
Gift Shop & Bookstore
Aurea Torres, Gift Shop Manager
Hours
Monday - Saturday 9:00AM - 5:00PM
First Sunday of the Month
9:00 AM -1:00PM
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 10:00AM - 2:00PM
Sundays 8:30AM -11:30 AM