St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

THE COLLABORATIVE OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 19 IN OBSERVANCE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

As Pope Francis wrote, “Dr. King’s dream of harmony and equality for all people, attained through nonviolent and peaceful means, remains ever timely. ‘Each one of us is called to be an artisan of peace, by uniting and not dividing, by extinguishing hatred and not holding on to it, by opening paths of dialogue’ (Fratelli Tutti, 284). In this way we will be able to see ourselves, not as ‘others’, but as neighbors, in the truth of our shared dignity as children of Almighty God. Only by striving daily to put this vision into practice can we work together to create a community built upon justice and fraternal love.”

During the  “Focus on Faith” reflection at the beginning of the session, we talked about what a sacrament is and what is meant by “sacramental grace.” The children learned that a sacrament is something we can see that is a symbol of something we can’t see, and that sacramental grace is a love that we can’t earn – it’s something given to you, as a gift.  We talked about and looked at some of the visible symbols of sacraments, including water, oil, bread, and wine.

In the second half of the session, while the children participated in activities with the Children’s Faith Formation team, parents gathered in small groups to discuss questions including: 

What compelled you to have your child baptized? Describe a feeling you have when receiving the Eucharist?

Our parish invites you to join us for a Holy Hour for Life, a time of prayer and Eucharistic adoration dedicated to the dignity of every human life—from conception to natural death. In the quiet presence of the Blessed Sacrament, we gather to pray:

For the unborn, especially those most vulnerable to abortion
For mothers and fathers facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies
For those who carry wounds from abortion, that they may know God’s mercy and healing
For the elderly, the sick, the disabled, and all whose lives are threatened or forgotten
For our nation and its leaders, that laws and hearts may be shaped by a deep respect for life

All are welcome. Come, even if only for a few moments, and place the gift of life into the loving hands of Christ. 

We’re so excited to welcome our Loaves & Fishes and Mustard Seeds families back to a new month of Family Faith Formation! Our theme for January is The Sacraments of Initiation, and the sessions will be led by Kelly Meraw, Director of Pastoral Care and Liturgy. 

We will learn what a sacrament is and what is meant by “sacramental grace.” We’ll focus in particular on the three Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation.  These are the sacraments that welcome us into the Christian community and provide the foundation for our lifelong journey in the faith…