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

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

“Steadfast Spirits in an Age of Upheaval”

A Column in Global Sisters Report – January 30, 2026 by Colleen Gibson, SSJ

A few weeks ago, I found myself in a local coffee shop with a woman I had never met before. She was interested in religious life, and through a mutual friend, I had been deemed a fitting conversation partner.

Looking at her across the table, I wondered what, if anything, might come of our conversation. She was about my age, late in her thirties and pondering if and to what God might be calling her. Gripping my mug of tea, I listened attentively as she told me about the sisters she had met in her discernment journey thus far.

She had met with several women religious already and our friend thought I might be able to offer a friendly ear free of the pressures of a more formal conversation…

Watch the Recording: “Contemplative Prayer in a Polarized World” with Guest Speaker Dr. Brian Robinette

On Tuesday, February 3, “Evening for Women” welcomed Dr. Brian Robinette, Professor of Theology at Boston College (and St. Paul’s Parishioner!) to speak about the theology and practice of contemplative prayer and how contemplation can help us in the context of a polarized world.

We wanted to share his engaging lecture with the whole Collaborative!

Winter Walk Postponed to Sunday, March 22!

From the organizers: “Due to external factors directly associated with the impact of the recent record snowstorm and sustained frigid temperatures, the Winter Walk event cannot be set up on Boston Common this month, and has been rescheduled to March 22, 2026.”

If you already registered, registrations and donations for “Capuchin Mobile Ministries” will carry over to the new date.

Stay tuned for more information about plans for Sunday, March 22!

An Update on the Progress at St. John Paul II Church in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, Cameroon

Last year’s Lenten Gift campaign supported BUILD THE FAITH’s project to construct a church for the St. John Paul II community in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, Cameroon where Fr. Gabriel and Fr. Lesley both served as pastor. This thriving, faith filled community was celebrating the sacraments in a converted chicken coop that only held about half the congregation.

Our gift is helping BUILD THE FAITH turn the dream of a proper church where the community could worship together into a reality! Please see this post from last spring for an important recap of this amazing project – and check out the amazing progress pictures below!

Family Faith Formation: Salt & Light (6-7) this Sunday, February 1 at 4pm at St. John

This is a Family Session – students accompanied by a parent/guardian. Children may not be “dropped off” without a parent or guardian for Family Sessions.

This Family Session will begin with an opening prayer and “Focus on Faith” reflection on “The Sacraments of Initiation” with Sr. Colleen Gibson. We will talk about what a sacrament is and what is meant by “sacramental grace,” focusing 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…

Important Update from the Pastoral Care Team

Kelly Meraw, Director of Pastoral Care and Liturgy, will be away from the Collaborative on medical leave following a planned surgery from January 29 until mid-March.

During this time, please reach out to Sister Colleen Gibson SSJ, Coordinator of Pastoral Care, for all Pastoral Care concerns. Sister Colleen can be reached by email at cgibson@sjspwellesley.org or by calling either parish office.

We will, as a Collaborative community, hold Kelly in our prayers while she recovers. Please know that she will continue to hold us in hers.

Archbishop Coakley: “Your prayers matter. Your acts of love and works of justice matter…”

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, released the following reflection and invitation on Wednesday, January 28:

“Many people today feel powerless in the face of violence, injustice, and social unrest. To those who feel this way, I wish to say clearly: your faithfulness matters. Your prayers matter. Your acts of love and works of justice matter.

I am deeply grateful for the countless ways Catholics and all people of good will continue to serve one another and work for peace and justice. Whether feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, caring for the sick, accompanying the lonely, visiting the imprisoned, or striving daily to love their neighbors, no work of mercy or act of justice is ever wasted in the eyes of God. While proper laws must be respected, works of mercy, peacefully assembling, and caring for those in your community are signs of hope, and they build peace more surely than anger or despair ever could…”

February 3 Evening for Women: “Contemplative Prayer in a Polarized World” with Guest Speaker Dr. Brian Robinette

February 3, 2026 at 6:30pm
St. John the Evangelist Church – Lower Level

“Evening for Women” is excited to welcome Dr. Brian Robinette, Professor of Theology at Boston College (and St. Paul’s Parishioner!) to speak about the theology and practice of contemplative prayer and how contemplation can help us in the context of a polarized world.

Followed by a potluck dinner in Powers Hall – bring a friend and a dish to share!

Please visit the Evening for Women page for more information and the full schedule for the year.

Saturday, February 07 2026

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, February 08 2026

Second Collection: Our Special Monthly for the Parish (Click for more details and links...)
7:30 am Mass at St. Paul Church
9:00 am Family Mass at St. Paul 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. Paul Church (Click for more details...)

Monday, February 09 2026

9:00 am Mass at St. Paul Church
5:00 pm Seasons of Hope (Click for more details and links...)

Tuesday, February 10 2026

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...)

Wednesday, February 11 2026

9:00 am Mass at St. Paul Church
10:00 am "The Chosen" Discussion Group at St. Paul (Office Lower Conference Room) (Click for more details and links...)

Thursday, February 12 2026

Psalm Study: "Calling Out From The Depths" (Click for more details and links...)
7:00 am Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church
7:00 pm Collaborative Book Club (St. Paul) (Click for more details and links...)

Friday, February 13 2026

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

Saturday, February 14 2026

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

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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