“Evening for Women” – Tuesday, November 8 at 6:00pm at St. John

“Evening for Women” – Tuesday, November 8 at 6:00pm at St. John

All women of the Collaborative are invited to gather to learn about the “Angels Among Us” who oversee The Friday Café at First Church Cambridge. Rev. Kate Layzer, Minister of Street Outreach, and Alex Steinert-Evoy, Community Minister, will share the work they do at this weekly, daytime drop-in program. The Friday Café offers a welcoming space where homeless and housed adults can gather and get to know each other.  Serving an average of 150 guests a week (or as many as 300 on winter Fridays), it offers food, coffee, rest and resources to people living on the margins. 

Reflection and presentation will be followed by a pot-luck dinner.  RSVP to Carolyn Anderson at andersoncarolyn@verizon.net or 617-705-0456

St. John Christmas Wish 2022

St. John Christmas Wish 2022

We are happy to extend an invitation to participate in this year’s St. John Christmas Wish Program. The Christmas Wish Program has been one of the highlights of St. John’s holiday outreach since 1993. This Christmas, we hope to grant the special wishes for more than 400 children based upon the caring generosity of our parish community. Each child is provided with a new outfit of clothing and a special Christmas Wish gift they have requested. These gifts will go to the youngsters in our own parishes, as well as in our sister parishes of St. Katherine Drexel in Roxbury, St. Patrick in Lowell, St. Patrick in Brockton and the Julie Family Learning Program in Boston. 

If you are able to help make Christmas Wishes come true this year, please visit our Christmas Wish SignUp page to sign-up to sponsor a child/family…

Synod News: “Enlarge the Space of Your Tent” – Document for the Continental Stage Released

Synod News: “Enlarge the Space of Your Tent” – Document for the Continental Stage Released

On October 27, 2022, the Working Document for the Continental Stage – the fruit of the Syntheses resulting from the consultation of the People of God in the first phase of the synodal process – was released… The document, titled “Enlarge the Space of Your Tent” was produced by a team of 30 advisors who gathered in Frascati, Italy for two weeks in late-September and early October, the majority of whom were lay Catholics…

Please take some time to read the Working Document for the Continental Stage – you will find many of the major themes that were central in our own SJSP Collaborative Synod Synthesis Report are reflected in the document…

October 24: St. Paul Bell Tower Update

October 24: St. Paul Bell Tower Update

The refurbishment of our Bell Tower is on track to be finished by the end of November!  Once that is complete, the work to restore the bell’s ringing mechanism can begin.  As of October 24, we have received $131,394 in cash gifts toward our total budget of $487,200 for the renovation. Many thanks to all who have donated or made a pledge to the Bell Tower Fund.  If you have not yet had a chance to contribute, envelopes are available at the entrance to the church, and gifts may also be made online by scanning the QR code or by visiting our website at sjspwellesley.org

REMINDER! All donors giving $5,000 or more will have their names listed on a commemorative plaque to be installed in the church’s gathering area.

2022 Parish Annual Appeals Launched

2022 Parish Annual Appeals Launched

October marks the launch of the Parish Annual Appeals for both parishes. (As you know, the financial assets and obligations of each parish remain separate.) In the coming days,  all registered parishioners will receive a mailing with their parish’s Annual Financial Report and Annual Appeal. The Annual Financial Report provides a detailed picture of the financial health of your parish, and the Annual Appeal asks for your continued support in the days ahead.

Please take some time to prayerfully reflect on your contribution to your Parish Annual Appeal, and give as generously as you can. You make the mission of your parish possible, and your support of both the Offertory and the Annual Appeal is critical to ensuring that your parish continues to thrive in the years ahead.

Ways to Give…

St. Paul Giving Tree 2022

St. Paul Giving Tree 2022

St. Paul Giving Tree is an Advent tradition spreading Christmas cheer from our parish to hundreds of people through several local organizations.  Each year recipients express their deepest appreciation for the generosity of our parishioners. 

The annual Giving Tree Program will officially begin on the weekend of November 12th-13th!  As we did last year, we will have two boards in the St. Paul Sanctuary with tag requests.  Once the trees are put up over Thanksgiving weekend, the tags will be transferred to the trees.  The tags will be on the boards and trees through December 4th.  All gifts must be returned to St. Paul by Sunday, December 11th…

Time is Running Out – WYD Raffle Drawing Sunday, October 23!

Time is Running Out – WYD Raffle Drawing Sunday, October 23!

Time is running out to get your World Youth Day raffle tickets – the drawing will take place this Sunday, October 23rd after the Sunday 5pm Youth Mass! (Online ticket sales will end at 3pm on Sunday – tickets will still be available in-person at Mass!)

As you can imagine, the expense of participating in a week-long pilgrimage to Lisbon is significant – we need to ensure that cost will not prevent any of our young people from experiencing this event. Participating in this raffle is a great way to show your support for our young high-school-age pilgrims!

To purchase tickets…

Cardinal Requests a Special Hurricane Relief Collection This Weekend, October 15-16

Cardinal Requests a Special Hurricane Relief Collection This Weekend, October 15-16

Cardinal Seán has asked that a Special Hurricane Relief Collection be taken this weekend, October 15-16 in all parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston. Funds raised will support the efforts of the USCCB Bishops Emergency Disaster Relief Fund, which will work through local Catholic Charities diocesan agencies. The money will meet needs such as clean water, food, shelter, medical care and aid in long-term rebuilding and recovery efforts. It also will support the pastoral and social needs of the Church in areas affected by the hurricanes…

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