All are Welcome

                            OMI Superior General Visits Shrine

Fr. Luis Roís Alonso OMI, the Superior General of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, visited with us here at the Shrine on June 30th.  He has been in the United States for the past several weeks, attending the U.S. Province Convocation and then visiting some of our Oblate foundations Stateside.

He presided at our noon Mass on the 30th, toured the Shrine and Museum, had lunch with local Oblates and later that evening, met with Oblate Associates at our Oblate Retirement Residence in Tewksbury. He presented the Oblate Cross of St. Eugene deMazenod, our Founder, for veneration at every stop during his visit with us.

From left:  Fr. Gene Tremblay, Fr. Dan Nassaney, sacristan David Lazu, Fr. Alonso, Bro. Richard Coté, Fr. Mike Amesse and Fr. Emmanuel Mulenga.

                                           The Shrine in Bloom

Not since the days of Fr. Pat Hollywood’s  green thumb expertise has the walkway fronting the Shrine blossomed so beautifully for the summer!

Thanks go to Oblate Associate Neil Desmond  and his wife Krissy for their dedication to the tasks of clearing away the winter detritus, hoeing the ground, installing new plantings, refreshing old ones and re-mulching the beds.

The flower boxes attached to the walkway railing and the potted plants leading to the front entrance have added the final touches to an impressive array of natural beauty adorning the Shrine for the summer months – “curb appeal in spades” so to speak! 

Hopefully, the squirrels will keep away and not convert the plantings into an “all you can eat” salad bar. Shoo them away when you seen them anywhere near the “bar.”

The annual Lowell Folk Festival is the 2nd largest such Festival in the United States – it draws an estimated 100,000 visitors to our city during the last weekend in July – this year: July 25-27.

The Shrine participates in the festivities - our location provides a gathering place where folks can cool down, relax and comfortably consume the delicacies they purchase at the many nearby ethnic food booths.  Our family-styled picnic tables outfitted with shade umbrellas arrayed along the area fronting the Shrine are much appreciated.  Such oases are few and far between during the Festival!  Shrine volunteers welcome folks and attend to keeping the tables ready for all comers.

 We also open the air-conditioned Shrine itself for those who might want the opportunity to view its beauty or say a prayer or light a candle; soothing chant music enriches this uplifting experience and volunteers welcome and guide our visitors.  Since city streets are closed to vehicular traffic during the Festival, our location in the heart of the city and our convenient schedule of weekend Masses further provide an opportunity for workers and Festival-goers alike to participate in Sunday worship.

Praying with the Stained Glass Windows of

St. Joseph the Worker Shrine

Mini Pilgrimages

Through St. Joseph the Worker Shrine

Self Guided Tour of

St. Joseph the Worker Shrine