All are Welcome

Shrine Summer Schedule  begins June 8.

Morning confessions will be from 

10:30-11:45 AM

All other ministry remains the same.  

The Gift Shop will close  at 4:00 PM daily.  

July 26, 2026

Recently, I watched a movie on EWTN about St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, better known as Mother Cabrini. Although I was familiar with her life, the film reminded me once again of the remarkable faith and determination of this extraordinary woman.

Mother Cabrini was born in Italy in 1850. As a young woman, she dreamed of becoming a missionary to China. God, however, had a different plan. Pope Leo XIII encouraged her not to go to the East, but to the West—to serve the thousands of Italian immigrants arriving in the United States.

When Mother Cabrini arrived in New York in 1889, she found many immigrants living in poverty. They faced discrimination, overcrowded housing, poor working conditions, and little access to education or health care. Rather than becoming discouraged, she and her Missionary Sisters devoted themselves to caring for those most in need. They opened orphanages, schools, and hospitals, offering not only material assistance but also the hope and dignity that come from knowing Christ.

By the time of her death in 1917, Mother Cabrini had founded more than sixty institutions in the United States, Europe, and South America. Her life reminds us that God often accomplishes extraordinary things through ordinary people who trust completely in Him.

Mother Cabrini once said, "The world is too small for what I intend to do." Those were not words of pride. They were words of faith. She believed that with God, no obstacle was too great and no act of charity too small.

It is easy to become discouraged by the challenges we see in our world today. Mother Cabrini teaches us not to focus on what we cannot do, but on what God can accomplish through us when we place our trust in Him.

May her example inspire us to welcome the stranger, serve those in need, and never lose confidence in God's providence. Like Mother Cabrini, may we have the courage to follow wherever the Lord leads us.  

I remember you at Mass.

Mother Cabrini, pray for us.

          St. Joseph the Worker Shrine 2026

          Christian Worker Recognition Award

Each year, St. Joseph the Worker Shrine selects a person in the community at large for a special Christian Worker Recognition Award. 

Established in 2016, on the 60th anniversary of the Shrine’s dedication, the award celebrates the person who embodies the virtues of St. Joseph, in their home, workplace, and community at large.

Would you help us to make this year’s selection a worthy one? 

                                 Link to 2026 Nomination Form  

St. Joseph the Worker Shrine 

Reaches-Out during the 

Lowell Folk Festival

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 24-25 -26.  

The Oblate Shrine of St. Joseph the Worker participates in the festivities - our location in an area somewhat removed from heavy foot traffic 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.