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
Light a Devotional Candle
at the Shrine
If you are unable to visit the Shrine in person and would like to have a devotional candle lit, click on the image below.
Fr. Terry O'Connell Memorial Digital Bulletin Board
Weekly Bulletins
November Holy Hours
Holy Hour for the Sanctity of Life
Friday, November 22 4pm
Holy Hour for Vocations
Friday, November 29 4pm
This Week's Message
from Fr. Amesse
November 24, 2024
O Come let us adore Him. It won’t be long before we sing this Christmas Carol. Father Kirwin OMI was one of our teachers in the Oblate seminary. He said something about our preaching. At the end of the homily, the people ought to want to say, “O Come, Let Us Adore Him.”
Father Kirwin recently arrived at the retirement home in Tewksbury. Father is from Lowell. He grew up on Blossom Street in Lowell. He mentioned that he went for a drive with his niece the other day. The whole area has changed so much. He did not recognize the neighborhood.
Still, however, all the good deeds that Father did in his 93 years of life and 65 years of priesthood, don’t change. Father was 3 pounds when he was born on June 8, 1931. So he immediately was baptized. Now, his uncle, his dad’s brother, Father William Kirwin, OMI, pastor of the Sacred Heart, baptized him again!
Nehemiah was the prophet who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, when the people returned from exile in 444 B.C. Nehemiah chapter 13, verse 14 states, Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for His service.
Soon, St. Joseph Shrine will take on the look of Christmas. Angel Torres and volunteers will decorate the Shrine. Angel is our maintenance man. The Oblates will do their best to edify you with their preaching. Can we hear this echo in your hearts…O Come, Let Us Adore Him!
I remember you at Mass!
First Fridays at the Shrine
Next First Friday, December 6
Immediately following the 8:00 am Mass, we will pray the Rosary with reflections written by the Venerable Fulton J. Sheen.
Immediately after the Noon Mass to 5:15 we will have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Please keep First Fridays fervent here at the Shrine by spending some time with our Lord.
Catholic Conversations
2023 St. Joseph the Worker Christian Worker Award winner Dr. Rebecca Duda interviews Brother Richard at the St. Joseph the Worker Shrine Oblate Historical Museum. Br. Richard is the Shrine Historian and Museum Curator.
St Joseph the Worker
Thanksgiving Dinner
Sunday, November 24
The Shrine’s Thanksgiving tradition of hosting a dinner for our elderly or for those who may be alone on this holiday is now being planned.
This effort is made possible only through your generosity. Money donations are now being accepted to cover the cost of the meal. You may place your donation in our Offertory Collection boxes with a note indicating Thanksgiving Dinner, or you can leave your donation at any time in the Shrine Gift/Bookstore or the Business Office during regular business hours.
- Reservations are required for attendance.
- Participation is limited to 60 guests (first come, first served)
- There is a limit of 2 persons per reservation.
You may register in our Gift Shop/Bookstore during regular business hours.
A Novena to Honor the Immaculate Conception
will be offered at all of the daily Shrine Masses - December 1-9
Mary Immaculate is the Patroness of our country and also Patroness of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who serve at the Shrine.
During this novena, we prepare for the December 9th Feast of Mary Immaculate, we pray for our nation, for the Oblates and for your own special intentions as well.
The Giving Tree
Each Christmas, the Shrine puts up a Christmas tree in the back corner with tags for gift items for needy children and families. All gifts collected will be given to worthy recipients in the Lowell area.
Details on the last date to bring in gifts in time for Christmas delivery will be in upcoming bulletins. As always, thank you for being so generous!
Details to come!!
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
November 25
The feast of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in answer to the world’s secularism - a way of life which leaves God out of man's thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. This celebration is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ's royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations.
Today's Mass establishes the titles for Christ's royalty over men: 1) Christ is God, the Creator of the universe and hence wields a supreme power over all things; "All things were created by Him"; 2) Christ is our Redeemer, He purchased us by His precious Blood, and made us His property and possession; 3) Christ is Head of the Church, "holding in all things the primacy"; 4) God bestowed upon Christ the nations of the world as His special possession and dominion. From: catholic.org
OBLATE MARTYRS OF SPAIN
November 28th
(Celebrated November 27 due to Thanksgiving)
Almighty and eternal God Who granted to Francisco Esteban and his martyred companions the
grace of giving their lives for Christ, through a bloody oblation, help us in our weakness, so that through their intercession and following their example, we too might remain firm in our faith and might be able to give our lives for others through the "martyrdom of charity," according to the teaching of St. Eugene DeMazenod; and in this way, we might be able to give witness to the world about who Jesus Christ is. We ask this through the intercession of our Mother, Mary Immaculate, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“Viva Cristo, Rey!”
When ideologies collide, the innocent and the guileless always get crushed. Ideologies cannot tolerate and must eliminate whatever might represent values greater than their ideas. Communism and fascism engaged in mortal combat in Spain from 1936-1939; Soviet and Nazi governments armed and supported their surrogates in that clash. Among the countless innocents sacrificed were some guileless young Oblates – champions of the values of Jesus’ Kingdom and of his Blessed Mother’s docility. It’s estimated that well over half a million Spaniards died during that Civil War. During one particular 5-month reign of terror (from late July to late November of 1936) among the many thousands who were executed for their beliefs were 22 young Oblates of Mary Immaculate. They were cut down in killing fields on the outskirts of Madrid. These model Christians, cut down in the prime of their young lives, are powerful intercessors for today’s young people who want to make a difference and who are looking for values beyond the vacuous ideologies of our times. Why not select one and seek his intercession for the young people in your family?
Shrine Gift Shop and Bookstore
Fine quality religious mementos to commemorate these milestone events
in the lives of loved ones are on display and available for your hands-on
consideration and purchase.
Visit us today!
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.
Pope Francis’ November
Prayer Intention
We pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community and receive peace and consolation from the Holy Spirit.
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 November 26th. Learn more
- 5:30 - Mass at the Shrine
- 6:15 - Social
- 7:00 - Meeting
On that Good Friday, standing at the foot of the Cross, the Savior led you to understand that despite all your sins and guilt, you had been liberated and forgiven and healed.
St. Eugene de Mazenod, lead us to Jesus through the trials of life.
St. Joseph
Patron of the Poor
Pray for us!
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.
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 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.
Confession and Adoration
Confession
Mon - Friday
10:00 am - noon
4:30 pm - 5:15 pm
Saturday
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
First Wednesday of the month
Eucharistic Adoration
The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration on -
Saturday after the noon Mass until the 4:00 pm Mass
First Fridays after the noon Mass until the 5:30 pm Mass
Gift Shop, Office and Museum Hours
Monday - Friday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Rebecca Duda, Bulletin Editor
Jessica Rauseo, Business Office Manager
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 AureaTorres@stjosephshrine.org
Oblate Historical Museum
Brother Richard Cote, Museum Curator
Saturdays 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Sundays 8:30 am -1:15 pm
During Lent - Wednesday 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Say NO to Physician Assisted Suicide in Massachusetts
Learn more