Mass Times
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - noon - 5:30 p.m.
Weekend Mass
Saturday
8:00 a.m. - noon - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - 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
February Holy Hours
Human Trafficking
Monday, February 10 4:00 p.m.
2025 Jubilee Year Pilgrims of Hope
December 24, 2024 - January 6, 2026
Archbishop Henning has designated St. Joseph the Worker Shrine as a “Holy Site” for the Jubilee year. Under certain conditions a Plenary Indulgence may be obtained by those who take Sacramental Confession and the Eucharist and fulfill certain other prescriptions.
2025 Jubilee FAQs
'A Pilgrim's Guide' and the Jubilee Prayer
This Week's Message
from Fr. Amesse
February 2, 2025
It’s February. My dad used to say, “The sun is shining on both sides of the street.” Of course, this was in Montreal, Canada. Are we aware, since December 21, the shortest day of sunshine, that the daylight lasts an hour longer now? So, Candlemas reminds us of the brightness of the Light!
He (Christ) will grow brighter. We have chosen St. Josephine Bakhita to guide us this month of the Jubilee Year. Why? Because of her childlike simplicity. She called Jesus, Paron. Those of us with French background recall this is the word for Godfather.
Thanks to Paron, Bakhita becomes a master of humble and warm welcome to others, of joy, of goodness, of sincere forgiveness, of complete confidence in God, who has made her His daughter and thus free to welcome and give love, always and everywhere.
The sun is shining on both sides of the street. Mother Bakhita graces us to be better God’s children. The prophet Micah begs us to walk humbly with God. See Micah Chapter 6 verse 8. Only then will we discover our true selves. It’s February.
The Holy Year is still fresh.
St. Josephine---please pray for us!
I remember you at Mass.
Winter Weather Emergencies
Remember that on the first day of Lowell city-wide Winter Weather Emergencies, if the Lowell Public Schools are closed, the Shrine will also be closed for that day.
The second day of city-wide school closures may not affect Shrine operations, however, if the streets to neighboring Lowell High School are cleared.
Of course, the Shrine will be closed during any city-wide travel or parking bans.
Simple delays in opening the schools, however, will NOT affect the Shrine’s operation.
First Fridays at the Shrine
Next First Friday, February 7
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
Dr. Rebecca Duda interviews Brother Richard about Candlemass Day and sacramentals.
St. Josephine Bakhita
February 8
The story of St. Josephine Bakhita (1869-1947) is a story that many people taken into slavery have experienced. Born in the Darfur region of Sudan, she was kidnapped at the age of 8 and sold into slavery many times. As she passed from owner to owner, she experienced the moral and physical humiliations associated with slavery. It was only at the age of 13 that her suffering was alleviated after she was bought for the Italian Consul in Sudan. It was here that she was fortunate to receive kindness, respect, and peace from her new master.
She was later handed over to the Canossian Sisters when she made the case that slavery had been outlawed in Italy for years. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church in 1890, where she took the name Josephine. She later entered the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa in 1893 and made her profession three years later.
St. Josephine Bakhita’s next 50 years were spent serving people through cooking, sewing, embroidery, and housekeeping. She was a source of encouragement and her constant smile won people’s hearts, as did her humility and simplicity. Today she is known as the patron saint of victims of modern slavery and human trafficking.
Rosary in Honor of St. Josephine Bakhita
Saturday, February 8 1:00 p.m.
Join Sacristan David Lazu in prayer as we honor St. Josephine Bakhita on her feast day and pray for an end to the evil of human trafficking.
Shrine Gift Shop and Bookstore
We have an extensive selection of books, prayer cards, statues, gift cards,
religious articles, nativity sets and many more gift ideas!
The Gift Shop/Bookstore is open at convenient shopping times:
Monday thru Saturday 9-5 and every first Sunday of the month
Legion of Mary
at the Shrine
Meetings are held in the downstairs Conference Hall each week after the Sunday 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’ Febuary
Prayer Intention
Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ's mission in the priesthood and religious life
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 on February 11th . Learn more
- 5:30 p.m. - Mass at the Shrine
- 6:15 p.m. - Social
- 7:00 p.m. - Meeting
Words of wisdom from the letters of St. Eugene de Mazoned, founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the patron saint of dysfunctional families:
“I urge you to be most economical and to be very orderly.”
-1825 letter to Fr. Marcou
St. Joseph
Most Strong
Pray for us!
Downes Parking Garage Ticket Validation
- Available in the Gift Shop /Bookstore on Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Sunday street parking is always free
- Those attending the Saturday 4 p.m. 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 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Rebecca Duda, Bulletin Editor
Jessica Rauseo, Business Office Manager
Gift Shop & Bookstore
Aurea Torres, Gift Shop Manager
Hours
Monday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
First Sunday of each month 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
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, OMI,
Museum Curator/Historian
Saturdays 8:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Sundays 8:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Jubilee Year 2025 Hours
Wednesday and Friday 8:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
Say NO to Physician Assisted Suicide in Massachusetts
Learn more