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
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.
Weekly Bulletins
View the current presentation displaying on
The Fr. Terry O'Connell Memorial
Digital Bulletin Board
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 meeting will be Tuesday, February 14th. It will be our 3rd session. Learn more
Upcoming Holy Hours
Holy Hour to End Human Trafficking
Wednesday, February 8th at 4 PM
Anointing of the Sick
The Sacramental Anointing of the Sick will be offered after each Mass next Saturday and on the First Saturday of every month.
Mass Times are: 8 AM, 12 Noon & 4:00 PM.
This Week's Message
from Fr. Amesse
January 29, 2023
I wrote last week about gratitude. I shared specifically how we Oblates are most grateful for the kindness you showed to us, in so many different ways at Christmas. We bring you God’s mercy! His mercy does not procure for us a comfortable and easy existence. Instead, it makes us adults, capable of rising to the challenges and conflicts of life.
We are close to you! When a father is absent from his children, serious difficulties surface. An absent father can sometimes create wounds as deep as those caused by paternal severity or abuse. The Fathers at the shrine are not absent from you. We are very present to you. We will make sure this presence is always there.
I heard someone say, “Priests are always busy, occupied by 1,000 activities. We can’t ever speak with them, and when they give you 10 minutes to listen, they’re always looking at their watch.” Do we behave like that? I don’t think that we do. Pray for us please. Be assured of our prayers for you.
Here we make it a point to be present to you before and after Mass. It was not that way with the OMI’s in Texas. I’m not criticizing them. I state a fact. The Oblate Rule states: ‘We will always be close to the people we serve.’ The Texas OMIs are close to the people. We will continue to show in our own way, gratitude for the gratitude you offered to us at Christmas. I will remember you at Mass.
Pope Francis’ February prayer intention is for
Parishes
We pray that parishes may increasingly become communities of faith and fraternity,
welcoming those most in need.
St. Josephine Bakhita February 8th
St. Josephine Bakhita was born in 1869, in a small village in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was kidnapped while working in the fields with her family and was subsequently sold into slavery. Her captors asked for her name but she was too terrified to remember, so they named her “Bakhita,” which means “fortunate” in Arabic.
St. Josephine was beatified in 1992 and canonized shortly after on October 2000 by Pope John Paul II. She is the first person to be canonized from Sudan and is the patron saint of that country. Her feast day is February 8th. She has been named by USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) as the Patron Saint interceding for the success of the efforts to end human trafficking.
From: catholic.org
St. Josephine, pray for an end to human trafficking and for those trapped by its evil snare
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
Candlemas Day and the Blessing of St. Blaise
Thursday, February 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, is also Candlemas Day, the traditional day on which the candles used in church are blessed. We recall the Canticle of Simeon in the Temple: “My eyes have seen the Salvation you have prepared for all people; a Light to reveal you to the Gentiles and the Glory of your people, Israel.” We invite everyone attending Mass that day to bring candles from home to be blessed. Such devotional candles are available for purchase in the Gift Shop.
Friday, February 3rd, is the Feast of St. Blaise. Through his intercession God’s blessing is invoked against ailments of the throat. That traditional blessing, using the candles blessed on Candlemas Day, will be available after all Masses that day for those who wish to receive it. You may use your blessed candles to extend the blessing to those at home who cannot be present for Mass.
ST. BLAISE - February 3rd
St. Blaise was born at Sebaste, Armenia. He became a physician, but at the same time devoted himself zealously to the practice of his Christian duties. His virtuous conduct gained for him the esteem of the Christian clergy and people to such a degree that he was ordained and selected bishop of his native city. Hence forward, he devoted himself as much to warding off spiritual dangers, as he had been intent on healing physical ills. To all, he was a shining example of virtue. St Blaise is the only Armenian Saint in the Roman Catholic calendar.
Black History Month
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role these individuals have played in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, since 1976 every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.
Black History Month is also a time for U.S. Catholics to recognize and pray to what has become known as “The Saintly Six”.
Six African American candidates on their long journey toward Canonization. They are: (Venerable) Mother Henriette DeLille, (Venerable) Father Augustine Tolton, (Servant of God) Julia Greeley, (Venerable) Pierre Toussaint, (Servant of God) Mother Mary Lange and (Servant of God) Sister Thea Bowman.
Br. Richard Coté, O.M.I., Museum Curator and Historian, will introduce each of the “saintly six” in forthcoming Shrine bulletins
Shrine Memorials Remembrance Wall
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.
Oblate on the Road to Sainthood
Father B. A. Thomas, O.M.I., was born on March 7, 1886, in a village near Jaffna, Sri Lanka. His parents named him Bastiampillai Anthonipillai. Having completed his primary studies, he went on to St. Patrick’s College in Jaffna, run by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. One day, in Sacred Scripture class, he heard the call of Jesus: “If someone wants to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt 16:24) These words were decisive. He overcame all obstacles to the priesthood and was ordained on January 6, 1912.
In 1924, Pius XI, the Pope of the Missions, asked missionary bishops to set up contemplative communities in mission countries. Bishop Alfred Guyomard, O.M.I., of Jaffna, urged Fr. Thomas to plant the seeds of contemplative life in Sri Lanka. Under Fr. Thomas’ guidance, the Rosarians became the first indigenous community of contemplative monks in Asia. In 1948, after three failed attempts, the female branch of the Rosarians was born. Fr. Thomas passed away on January 26, 1964. He now holds the title ‘Servant of God.’
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
Mon - Friday
10:00 AM - Noon
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM
First Wednesday of the Month
7:00 PM - 8:00 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
Office 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
