St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative – Serving Wellesley and Newton, Massachusetts

This year, the Service Commission has chosen BUILD THE FAITH, a non-profit organization that builds churches in areas of economic distress, as our Lenten Gift recipient. Our gift will support their current project – a church in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, Cameroon.

BUILD THE FAITH has a special connection with our Collaborative, as it was inspired by the unwavering faith in God exhibited by Christina Dangond Lacouture, a young girl from our parish who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at the tender age of 6. Since 2017, BUILD THE FAITH has completed projects in Colombia, Argentina, Nicaragua, Ghana, Mexico, and El Salvador.

The current project in Bamenda also has a special connection to our Collaborative – it is for the community where both Fr. Gabriel and Fr. Lesley served as pastor before coming to the U.S. to further their studies.

Please visit our Lenten Gift page to learn more about BUILD THE FAITH and this important project, and to donate online.

FRIDAY MORNINGS DURING LENT
Following the 9:00am Mass at St. Paul

TUESDAY EVENING
7:00-8:00pm at St. Paul

SATURDAY AFTERNOON
1:00-2:30pm at St. John

And by appointment –
please call either parish office to arrange.
St. John: 781-235-0045 | St. Paul: 781-235-1060

Lenten Gift Story Part 3: The Connections

When Fr. Gabriel arrived in the St. John-Paul II community in Bamenda, the people had no place to worship together and were hanging on by a thread. He told himself, “We must have a church here.” The people asked him, “Father, how can we have a church here? We have no land, we have nothing.” He answered, “We just pray. God will show us a way.” Fr. Gabriel told them to look for anything – any building, any place someone offers to start their church. A family came to him and said, “Father, we have a piece of land, and a chicken coop…”

So they cleared out the chickens, cleaned up the building, and started their church. Even this seemed like a small miracle, despite the fact that half of the large and growing congregation had to remain outside during Mass. They continued to dream of and pray for the proper church they would build someday – even if it took 30-40-50 years – where the whole community would be able to worship in together…

Question for the Fourth Week of Lent: Is there an area in your life (a relationship, feeling, emotion, or habit) that feels lost or separate from God’s love and mercy?

Question for the Fourth Week of Lent: <i>Is there an area in your life (a relationship, feeling, emotion, or habit) that feels lost or separate from God’s love and mercy?</i>

The parable of the Prodigal Son invites us to consider the relationships in our lives and the extravagant love of God that is offered to each of us. Whether we are lost or found, Jesus says to each of us “you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.” (Luke 15:31)

Is there an area in your life (a relationship, feeling, emotion, or habit) that feels lost or separate from God’s love and mercy? What would it mean to let God embrace this area of your life?

Watch Monday Evening’s Taizé Prayer and Reconciliation Service

Monday night’s program featured outstanding sacred music, scripture, and poetry that spanned the ages of our Catholic tradition. While these elements were woven together, participants were guided into prayer and contemplation surrounding their personal Lenten journey. After, the Sacrament of Reconciliation was available to all who wished to receive it.

The ensemble included Kelly Meraw and William Endicott, and several parishioners served as readers of sacred scripture and poetry along with Fr. Jim and Sister Colleen. Fr. Bryan, Fr. Gabriel, and Fr. Lesley were also on hand to participate in the service and offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Many parishioners remark that this evening is one they look forward to all year, because the opportunity for prayer, reflection, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation has become an important part of their personal Lenten journey…

Friday, April 11 at 5:00pm: “Evening for Women” Lenten Retreat at the Sisters of St. Joseph Spirituality Center

All women of the Collaborative are warmly invited – dinner will be served and carpool arrangements are available.

WITH FACILITATOR SARA MILONE
Steeped in Jesuit education, Sara received her B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross, a M.Ed. from Loyola Marymount University, and a M.Div. and Post-Master’s Certificate in Spiritual Formation from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. Her areas of ministry experience include high school campus ministry and education, parish youth ministry, college and young adult retreats, hospital chaplaincy, adult faith formation and spiritual direction.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Seasons of Hope: Spring – Begins Monday, March 30

If you have experienced the death of a loved one and are searching for meaning and consolation, we invite you to join a Seasons of Hope group here at the Collaborative. Seasons of Hope is centered on Jesus Christ and grounded in the healing wisdom, traditions, and practices of the Catholic Church. The sessions help explore mourning through scripture, prayer, reflection activities, and faith sharing.

Monday Evenings from 5:00 – 6:30pm
March 31, April 7, 14, 28, May 5, 12
St. John the Evangelist Church – Powers Hall

Registration Required…

Question for the Third Week of Lent: In what moments of your life have you experienced Holy Ground?

Question for the Third Week of Lent: <i>In what moments of your life have you experienced Holy Ground?</i>

In this week’s readings, our Lord asks Moses to remove his sandals as the place he is standing is Holy Ground. God was physically present to Moses in the burning bush.

In what moments of your life have you experienced Holy Ground? What was your response to God being revealed to you in that moment?

Monday, March 24: Ever Ancient, Ever New – Taizé Prayer Service and Reconciliation

Monday, March 24
7:00-7:45pm at St. John the Evangelist Church

Music, Prayer, and Contemplation followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation

All are invited for an evening of outstanding sacred music, scripture, and poetry that span the ages of our Catholic tradition. While these elements are woven together, participants will be guided into prayer and contemplation surrounding their personal Lenten journey.

Following the liturgy there will be an opportunity for those who wish to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Lenten Gift Story Part 2: The Catholic Church in Bamenda, Cameroon

Christianity is the dominant religion in Cameroon (about two-thirds of the population), with Roman Catholics making up more than half of the Christian population. Cameroon faces numerous crises that threaten its social fabric, which are rooted in the country’s colonial history…

Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya, who stayed with us and celebrated Mass at St. Paul Church last year while in the U.S. visiting the scholar priests from his diocese, said, “My churches are all bursting, and I don’t have space to keep the young people… and my shortest Mass would be about two and a half hours.”

Against this backdrop is Build the Faith’s new church project in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, the home diocese of Fr. Gabriel and Fr. Lesley… Both have spoken about the needs of these flourishing faith communities to have physical spaces to worship and to serve as centers of community in these unstable areas…

Wednesday, April 02 2025

9:00 am Mass at St. Paul Church

Thursday, April 03 2025

7:00 am Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church

Friday, April 04 2025

7:30 am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Paul Church (Click for more details and links...)
9:00 am Mass at St. Paul Church
6:00 pm Young Adult Ministry "Theology at the Table" at St. John (Click for more details and links...)

Saturday, April 05 2025

1:00 pm Confessions at St. John (Lower Level Chapel) (Click for more details...)
4:00 pm Vigil Mass at St. Paul Church
5:00 pm Vigil Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church

Sunday, April 06 2025

At St. Paul: Wellesley Food Pantry Collection (Click for more details and links...)
Our Collaborative Lenten Gift Collection
Second Collection: Our Collaborative Lenten Gift for Build the Faith (Click for more details and links...)
7:30 am Mass at St. Paul Church
9:00 am Family Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church (Click for more details...)
11:00 am Mass at St. Paul Church
12:00 pm Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church
5:00 pm Youth Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church (Click for more details...)

Monday, April 07 2025

9:00 am Mass at St. Paul Church
5:00 pm Seasons of Hope (St. John Powers Hall)

Tuesday, April 08 2025

7:00 am Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church
7:00 pm Confessions at St. Paul (Click for more details...)
7:15 pm Marian Movement (Rosary) at St. John (Lower Chapel) (Click for more details and links...)

The St. John-St. Paul Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is available to help those in our community in need of emergency assistance. If you need help with food, rent or mortgage assistance, or help with a utility bill, please reach out to us. Please let any friends or neighbors who might need assistance know that the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to help those in need.

To contact the SJSP SVdP, please email SVDP@sjspwellesley.org. You may also call either parish office and leave a message. All information received is kept completely confidential.

To learn more about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the SJSP Conference, and how you can help, please visit sjspwellesley.org/svdp

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St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

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Lenten Gift Collection: April 5-6

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