All are Welcome

September 13, 2026

This Sunday we celebrate Grandparents Day. It is a good opportunity to remember just how important grandparents are in our families and in the life of our Church. Grandparents give us something very special. They are a connection between generations. They share family stories and traditions. They teach us lessons that can only come from experience. And very often, they are the ones who quietly pass the faith from one generation to the next.

We see this beautifully in Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus. While the Gospels tell us very little about them, Christian tradition has honored them for centuries. We can imagine the important role they played in Mary's life and in forming the home in which her faith grew.

I think many of us can say the same about our own grandparents. Perhaps it was a grandmother who taught us our first prayers or made sure we went to Mass. Maybe it was a grandfather whose example taught us about hard work, honesty, or keeping our word. Sometimes it was simply their presence—the knowledge that there was always someone who had time to listen, tell a story, offer some advice, or remind us where we came from. Grandparents also remind us that faith is not something we keep for ourselves. We pass it on.

This Grandparents Day, let us thank God for our grandparents, those still with us and those who have gone home to the Lord. And let us pray for grandparents who today are helping guide another generation of children. Through the intercession of Saints Joachim and Anne, may God bless all grandparents and help them continue to be witnesses of faith, wisdom, and love within their families.

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: 21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.  

That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.  When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.  Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.  At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant

let him go and forgave him the loan. 

When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount.  He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused.  Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt.  Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. 

His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!  I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.  Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,as I ha d pity on you?’Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. 

So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

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.

The Award will be presented to Ms. Patino at the 4 pm Mass on Saturday, September 12.

On this 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon, and on the aircraft at Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, let us remember the nearly 3,000 people who were murdered on that day and who have been murdered in terrorist attacks throughout the world.

Remember the sacrifices of the firefighters, police officers, other first responders, and civilians who sacrificed their lives to save others on September 11, 2001 and those who have perished from cancer and other related illnesses as a result of the attacks.

Special thank you to the members of our armed services who have given their lives to protect freedom.

Set aside a few moments out of our busy lives. Stop to remember and say a prayer for them, their loved ones, and for peace in this world.