In 1902, delegates George Jurivicius and Matthew Dirsa, members of the Lithuanian Algirda fraternal society of Lowell, along with Farther Joseph Gricius of the Lithuanian parish in South Boston, met with Archbishop John J William of Boston, who gave the men the archdiocesan approval to begin the groundwork for building a parish in Lowell.
With the support of Father Joseph Jusaitis of the Lithuanian parish in Lawrence, the efforts of the Algirda fraternal society and the St Joseph society led to the acquisition of land on Rogers Street. The parish formed by the Lithuanian families were canonically recognized by the archdiocese in 1908.
For over two years, the nearly 800 Lithuanian immigrants in Lowell were served by Father Michael Peza at the Immaculate Conception Church. Following Father Peza's reassignment from Lowell, Lithuanian religious needs were provided at St Joseph's Church on Lee Street, under the direction of Father Kazimieras Urbonavicius. Although grateful for their host's generosity, Lithuanians desired a church building they could call their own. In 1911, the parish committee purchased the Independent Polish Catholic Church, renovated it, and renamed it St Joseph's Lithuanian Church with Bishop Joseph G Anderson, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, blessing the church on 30 May 1911.
In addition to the new church, Lithuanians in Lowell formed several societies to provide services to their community. Between 1910 and 1920, the Lithuanian Patriots organization was formed and sponsored visiting lecturers form Lawrence and Boston' fulfilling a musical need the Vytautas Grand Prince Society performed periodically; and the Lithuanian Fraternal Benefit Society, a mutual assistance group, was created.
Father Urbonavicius, who later edited the Catholic Boston newspaper Darbininkas (The Worker) and was later raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate by Pope Pius XII, served the parish community until the end of 1912, when the church was razed by fire. Rebuilt in only two months, St Joseph's was rededicated on 1 January 1913, under the new spiritual guidance of Father J Aleknavicius, who served the parish for five years.
After Father Aleknavicius' departure, Father Kuczas became the spiritual leader of the parish. During his tenure, 1918-1927, the priest, aided by his parishioners, created a massive celebration in honor of the formal United States recognition of the Lithuanian Republic on July 17, 1922. The celebration included a significant and lengthy parade, followed by a mass Lithuanian gathering on the South Common.
While serving for only a short time (1927-1929), Father Francis Juras, who replaced Father Aleknavicius, was responsible for developing the attractive west side grounds of the parish, which had been filled with debris.
During the tenure of Father Francis Strakauskas (1929-1948), the societies of the Apostleship of Prayer, Third Order of St Francis and Our Lady Gate of Heave were formed. In addition, the Blessed Virgin Sodality, led by Helen Mikzsa, was created to address the spiritual needs of the women of the parish.
While the spiritual societies emerged,t he simple beauty of the parish was not forgotten. The exquisite stain glass windows commemorating the societies and the impressive church organ were installed. At the dedication of this instrument, and following the Benediction of the Holy Sacrament, Metropolitan Opera diva Polyna Stoska, a noted Lithuanian, provided a recital in exceptional fashion. Not long after, Father Strakauskas was reassigned to St Casimir's Church in Brockton.
From 1949 to 1963, Father John Skalandis served the parishioners at St Joseph's Lithuanian Church. These were troubled times for the parish as the original immigrant parishioners began to die out and their offspring left for the suburbs. Moreover, the Soviet Union had taken control of the Lithuanian Republic and stopped the emigration of Lithuanians. Instead of shrinking the parish, this time of upheaval and loss allowed for the slow and steady growth of St Joseph's Lithuanian Church. Neighbors, not of Lithuanian ancestry, began attending the intimate church in growing numbers. Father Skalandis requested and received a curate to help him serve this growing community. It was with renewed joy that the church celebrated its Golden Jubilee on 2 June 1958.
Reverends Junkus, Svirkas, Shakalys and Jansonis succeeded each other and assisted as curates as the parish added Masses to its schedule and celebrated an increased number of marriages and births.
Following the departure of Father Skalandis, Father John Zuromskis was appointed pastor of the growing church. Father Zuromskis, who was also New England Spiritual Director of the Knights of Lithuania and a chaplain of the 26th Division of the Massachusetts National Guard, oversaw the remodeling of the aging church building and the replacement of the church organ. It was under the tutelage of Father Zuromskis that additional social activities, which brought a wide range of Christians together, expanded. The remodeled church basement served as home of the very successful Boy Scout Troop 6, which has developed several Eagle Scouts. Senior citizen socials and visiting nurse checkups take place there too. Father Zuromskis is warmly remembered for peppering his sermons with his sports wit and his allusions to Boston College football quarterback Doug Flutie's "Hail Mary pass."
Replacing Father Zuromskis, upon his retirement,w as Father Paul Garrity form the Newman Center at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, who remained at the parish from January 1990 to July 199. The significant intervention and correspondence by concerned parishioners resolved the question of whether or not the archdiocese would keep the parish open without a pastor.
The archdiocese, August 1990, appointed Reverend Leonard T McGrath, pastor of St Joseph Lithuanian Parish. Father McGrath came to the parish after having spent the substantial part of his ministry in the greater Boston area, serving as priest, pastor and administrator of parishes and schools, including Our Lady of Good Counsel in Quincy, St Charles Church in Woburn and St Ambrose Church in Dorchester.
Under Father McGrath's aegis, several new programs were initiated. Among them were the commitment to Community Table, which began in 1991, the participation in the local Food Pantry, the establishment of the Women's Guild and the *:00 Family Mass, the creation of the Parish Council, and the collection for the Christmas Giving Tree.
Along those accomplishments, Father McGrath hired a Director of Religious Education, appointed a Director for the training of an adult choir, and initiated participation in the citywide Hunger/Homeless Week activities.
During Father McGrath's term, he has been responsible for the rennovation of the church and the replacement of the roof. For the perpetuation of Lithuanian heritage, Father McGrath had the observance of Lithuanian Independence Day, both at the church and at City Hall, and the erection of our own flagpole, which flies the American and Lithuanian flags. Father McGrath has preservered the celebration of our patron saint, St Joseph, in March.
While at St Joseph Father McGrath celebrated his 40th Anniversary as a priest, in 1993. Also, the Parish celebrated the 90th Anniversary of St Joseph's Lithuanian Church. To commemorate this occasion, on 29 December 1998 Cardinal Law of Boston Celebrated Mass as the Parish. In addition, there was an open house, a dinner dance and an extraordinarily successful 90th Anniversary raffle drawing.