Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God
Holy Day of Obligation in 2025 - January 1

December 31
Vigil Mass 4 pm

January 1
8 am, 10 am, Noon

No Confessions

This Week's Message
from Fr. Amesse
December 29, 2024

The Holy Year has begun!  Pope Francis wants us to have a heart.  The Holy Year will be a success if we heed what he wrote in his last encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos. (HE LOVES US).  St. Joseph the Worker had and still has a big heart!  What would it be like, if we could be like him?   

The book entitled, Contemplating the Seven Sorrows of Mary, will be for us, our text.  The Gift Shop has it.  The bitter sufferings of Jesus brought us the graces we received when we were baptized.  At the Presentation in the Temple, Simeon told our Blessed Mother she too would suffer with Christ.   

St. Joseph the Worker, Our Lady and Jesus walk with us through the Holy Year pilgrimage.  In a special way, coached by Pope Francis, we turn to Jesus’ Sacred Heart.  There in that Heart, we truly come at last, to know ourselves and learn how to love.  We then can cooperate with Christ in His bringing to us, salvation.   

Pope Francis states in Dilexit Nos, “I once more ask the Lord to have mercy on this suffering world in which He chose to dwell as one of us.  May He pour out the treasures of His light and love so that our world, which presses forward despite wars and uses of technology that threaten our humanity may regain the most important and necessary thing of all, its heart.”     

I remember you at Mass.

Christmas Collection

Thank you to all for your generosity in last week’s Christmas Collection designated for the care of Oblates in our Retirement Residence in Tewksbury; a great expression of appreciation for the years of service rendered by Oblates at the Shrine.

If you missed the opportunity to contribute, please do so in the coming days.

Holiday Snowscapes
Are Back!

Again this Christmas season, from now through the Feast of the Epiphany, we are featuring a display of Holiday Snowscapes. These creations—hand crafted by our own Fr. Ron Meyer and motivated by the ‘Keep Christ in Christmas’ sentiment—will be arrayed in the Shrine’s downstairs Hall.

Entrance to the Snowscapes display is available through the Gift Shop/Bookstore on Monday through Saturday from 9 to 5. Sundays during morning Mass times. 

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’ December
Prayer Intention

We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

Words of wisdom from the letters St. Eugene de Mazoned, founder of the Oblates of Mary  Immaculate and the patron saint of dysfunctional families: 

 “...the good Lord awakens our faith and our trust in his Divine Providence ...greetings of the season and I wish you...a Happy New Year.”

—-St. Eugene to Fr. Courtès Letter 1838

St. Joseph
Guardian of Virgins
Pray for us!

Full Litany of St. Joseph

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

May 27, 2024 - End of 40 Hours of Devotion Eucharistic Procession

Self-Guided Tour
St. Joseph the Worker Shrine

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.

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