April 2020 – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

Month: April 2020

Pope Francis asks Catholics to Pray the Rosary in May

Pope Francis has asked Catholics to make a special effort in May to pray the rosary, knowing that by doing so they will be united with believers around the world asking for Mary’s intercession in stopping the coronavirus pandemic. “It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual point of view,” the pope said in a letter addressed to all Catholics and released by the Vatican April 25. “For this reason, I want to

Announcing Matching Gift Funds for St. John and St. Paul Parishes

Since mid-March when Masses were suspended, we have asked parishioners to continue to make their gifts to the Weekly Offertory as we rely on these contributions to meet our operating expenses (including heating and maintaining our buildings and grounds, staff salaries and healthcare benefits, etc.) In response to our request, several generous parishioners have established two Matching Gift funds – one for St. Paul Parish and one for St. John Parish. For each dollar contributed to Weekly Offertory between May 1 and June 30, the Matching Gift Funds will also contribute a dollar to Weekly Offertory (until all of the funds

April 26: A Message from Fr. Jim on the 3rd Sunday of Easter

Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in

April 19: A Letter from Fr. Jim on the 2nd Sunday of Easter

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (Jn 20:19-21) My dear friends in Christ, As the disciples huddled together behind locked doors, they were gripped by many emotions.

Adult Faith Enrichment: A Virtual Book Conversation

At a time when we are removed from corporate worship, connect the moments of your ordinary day with the extraordinary practice of living the spiritual life. liturgy of the ordinary Wednesday Evenings from 7:00 – 8:30pm via Zoom Begins Wednesday, April 22nd with Chapter One: “Waking” Every week participants will be emailed discussion questions, relevant scripture and catechism reading, and meditations in Church tradition. purchase the book here or read it for free here email: kelly.meraw@sjspwellesley.org to get the zoom link to join

Divine Mercy Sunday Mass and Devotions

Cardinal Seán to Celebrate Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday Cardinal Seán will celebrate Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday this Sunday, April 19, from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. The Mass will be aired on Sunday morning at 8:00am on WLVI-TV CW56, and at 11:30am on CatholicTV (rebroadcast at 7:00pm.) Divine Mercy Devotion Beginning at 12:00pm on CatholicTV Cardinal Seán invites all Catholics to finish out the Octave of Easter by spending time with the merciful Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Join CatholicTV at 12:00pm for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a novena of prayers, Scripture readings and reflection, the Stations of the Cross and the

Why Did the Church Begin Celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday?

The world was in the midst of the Great Depression in 1931 and the memories of World War I were still alive in the minds of Europeans when in Poland a sister of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), is said to have been personally visited by Jesus. According to her diary, an image was revealed to her of the risen Lord, from whose heart shone two rays, with the words “Jesus, I trust in you” at the bottom. Faustina wrote in her diary that Jesus told her, “I promise that the soul that

Easter Sunday Ringing of the Bells from St. John

Cardinal Seán has asked parishes that are able to participate throughout the Archdiocese to ring their bells in unison at 12:00 noon on Easter Sunday. “Christians are experiencing this Holy Week of worship as never before – in the solitude of our homes and for first responders, in their places of work. In ordinary times, church bells are a call for people to gather in prayer. This year, in the midst of the pandemic, the bells remind us that we are a community of people who need to take care of each other in the power and strength of spiritual

He is Risen! A Message from Fr. Jim on Easter Sunday

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for

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St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative