All are Welcome

September 6, 2026

This weekend we celebrate Labor Day. For many of us, it marks the unofficial end of summer. But Labor Day also gives us an opportunity to reflect on something very important to our Catholic faith—the dignity of work and, even more importantly, the dignity of the worker.

Here at St. Joseph the Worker Shrine, that message has special meaning. Our patron, St. Joseph, was a carpenter. He worked with his hands. Through his daily labor, he provided for Mary and Jesus and cared for the Holy Family. His work may have seemed ordinary to others, but Joseph showed us that ordinary work, faithfully and lovingly done, can become something holy.

The same is true for us. Our work takes many different forms. We teach. We build. We care for the sick. We run businesses. We prepare food. We clean. We serve our communities. We care for children and aging parents. Some work is paid and some is not. All honest work has dignity because every person who performs it has dignity.

The Church has long taught that work should serve the human person—not the other way around. Workers deserve respect, fair treatment, safe conditions, adequate rest, and the ability to provide for themselves and their families. We should also remember those who are looking for work, those who cannot work, and those who have retired after a lifetime of labor. Their dignity does not depend upon a job or a paycheck. Our dignity comes from God.

This Labor Day, let us give thanks for the work God has given us and for all those whose labor makes our lives better. And here at the Shrine that bears his name, let us ask St. Joseph the Worker to watch over all who labor and help us do our own work faithfully, humbly, and with love.

I remember you at Mass.

Prayer to Saint Joseph for Workers

Please come and honor the Patron of our Shrine before each Sunday Mass and Saturday vigil Mass. 

Ten minutes before each Mass all are invited to pray the prayer on the back cover of the missalettes. The prayer was written by our late Shrine Director, Fr. Terry O’Connell, OMI.

This prayer time is a good preparation for Mass and a reminder that there are many in need of our prayers to obtain a good and meaningful job to provide for their loved ones.

MATTHEW 15: 18-20

Jesus said to his disciples: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.  If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.

Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Ms. Katerynne Patino          

2026 St. Joseph the Worker Award

Born in Colombia, Katerynne Patino came to the United States as a young adult, bringing with her the values of humility, compassion, service, and faith that were nurtured through her Catholic education with the Franciscan Sisters.

Katerynne never forgot what it felt like to be new to this country. That experience became central to her work with immigrant families. She began her career with Lowell Public Schools as a Family Liaison and later served districtwide as the Spanish Bilingual Family Liaison in the Office of Equity and Empowerment. Families trusted Katerynne because she understood their struggles, spoke their language, and made certain they knew they were not alone.

Today, she continues her commitment to children and families through Project LEARN, helping expand educational opportunities throughout Greater Lowell. Her service also extends beyond her professional life.  Katerynne is an active parishioner at St. Francis Parish in Dracut and serves her community as a member of the Dracut Finance Committee.

Through her work, her Catholic faith, and her love for others, Katerynne beautifully demonstrates that caring for our neighbors is one way we live out our faith. For her lifelong commitment to serving others, St. Joseph the Worker Shrine is honored to recognize Katerynne Patino as our 2026 St. Joseph the Worker Awardee.

She will be presented the  Award at the 4 pm Mass on September 12.