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.
This Week's Message
from Fr. Amesse
November 17, 2024
In 1977, as a novice, I spent 3 months in Northern Minnesota. I worked in a parish with another novice. When the time was up, the priest drove us back to the novitiate, near St. Louis. We spent 1 night at an Oblate residence in St. Paul, MN. An Oblate took us to a ball game, the Twins vs Cleveland.
On the way to the stadium, my brother Oblate complained about the people living in Minneapolis. He said in a homely way, “They try to be something they ain’t!” Pope Francis has recently written an encyclical letter on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The title is, “He Loves Us.”
The Pope wants us to examine our hearts. Very often we try to be something we ain’t. When he was a child, the Holy Father’s grandmother made a pastry using a very thin batter. When she dropped the strips of batter into the hot oil, they would expand. But then, when he bit into them, they were empty inside.
These cookies were called “lies.” His grandmother explained why, “Like lies, they look big, but are empty inside; they are false, unreal.” Pope Francis states, “Instead of running after superficial satisfactions and playing a role for the benefit of others, we would do better to think about the really important questions in life.”
And what are these questions? Who am I, really? What am I looking for? What direction do I want to give to my life, my decisions and actions? Why and for what purpose am I in this world? How do I want to look back on my life once it ends? What a wonderful beginning to this letter devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
I remember you at Mass!
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.
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.
Altar of the Dead
November 2nd is All Souls Day, a commemoration of the Faithful Departed. We have special remembrances of our beloved deceased all month.
This year we will once again continue the tradition of installing an Altar of the Dead, an adaptation of a Mexican custom, where you can bring remembrance cards or other items to remember your loved ones and place them on the altar.
Since these items will be openly displayed, costly items, or items of particular emotional value should not be included.
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!!
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.
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