Meet Our Pilgrims! – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

Click on a name below to learn more about each pilgrim and to support them with your donations and prayers.

John Brosnahan
Sophomore at Wellesley High School

Abigail Coleman
Sophomore at Wellesley High School

Agnese DelVecchio
Sophomore at Wellesley High School

Grace LeVasseur
Sophomore at The Ursuline School (NY)

John McCurley
Sophomore at Wellesley High School

Eva Meraw
Sophomore at Wellesley High School

Mia Songer
Sophomore at Newton South High School

Andrea Villalba
Freshman at Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, CT)

Vanessa Villalba
Junior at Saint Joseph Prep (Boston, MA)

Edward Voldins
Sophomore at Wellesley High School

CHAPERONES

Luke DelVecchio
Youth Minister

James Hastings
Youth Minister

Kelly Winter Meraw
Director of Pastoral Care

Patricia Amend Bombara
Director of IT and Communications

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A Recap of World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 – A Truly Life-Changing Journey
August 15, 2023
Hundreds of you supported our 11 Pilgrims and their chaperones by your prayers and donations as we journeyed these past few weeks to Lisbon, Portugal for World Youth Day 2023. We were joined by over 1.5 million other pilgrims from all across the globe. The physical embodiment of both the diversity and magnitude of our Church was a witness these teenagers will never forget...

The summit of the experience was a 6+ mile pilgrim walk (in almost 100 degree heat!) to the Vigil and overnight camp out culminating in Mass with the Holy Father. Pope Francis preached these words to the 1.5 million pilgrims: “As young people, you want to change the world and work for justice and peace. You devote all your energy and creativity to this, yet it still seems insufficient. Yet the Church and the world needs you, the young, as much as the earth needs rain.” […]
WYD Lisbon 2023: The Journey Begins on Friday, July 28!
July 24, 2023
After more than a year of planning, preparation, and hard work, our pilgrims depart this Friday, July 28! We are so grateful for your generous financial and spiritual support! Please continue to pray for us as we embark on this journey, and know that we will be praying for you! Sponsors, check your mail in the coming weeks for a postcard from your pilgrim(s)! We hope you will follow our journey online - we will be posting daily updates and photos on our WYD 2023 blog... […]
WYD Lisbon 2023 Update: Itineraries for Pope Francis – and for us!
June 29, 2023
It's official! Pope Francis’ itinerary for his apostolic visit to Portugal for World Youth Day has been released!

Our journey begins with an overnight flight on Friday, July 28 from Boston, arriving in Portugal early Saturday. After spending Saturday in Santarém, site of a Eucharistic Miracle, we travel to Fatima where we will celebrate Mass with Cardinal Sean on Sunday. On Monday we head to Lisbon - here's the preliminary schedule for the week... […]
WYD 2023 Update: 33 Days to Go!
June 24, 2023
Last weekend we participated in an event for all pilgrims traveling to WYD Lisbon with the Archdiocese of Boston - a group of more than 200 people. It was an extraordinary opportunity to experience the joy, excitement, and enthusiasm of those preparing to make this pilgrimage with us! In addition to winning the WYD Trivia Contest led by Chris Donoghue, Evangelization Consultant with the Secretariat for Evangelization and Discipleship, our group demonstrated that they are most likely to break out in song - and dance! We were moved by the Spirit - literally! […]
WYD Lisbon 2023 – Getting Ready!
June 10, 2023
Last weekend our WYD Lisbon students, along with their parents and chaperones gathered for a quick meeting to share trip updates and paperwork, followed by a trip to Level 99 in Natick. A great time was had by all - this is an amazing group of kids!

Next weekend we’re excited to be going to a gathering at St. Mary’s parish in Cambridge for all pilgrims travelling to WYD Lisbon with the Archdiocese of Boston - stay tuned for more updates! […]