We have a rich, full schedule of liturgies, programs, and events planned for Lent, centered around our theme of “Renew a Steadfast Spirit Within Us” – please join us on this Lenten journey!
Each year the season of Lent invites us to dive deeper into our faith. This season is one of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It reminds us that our faith is meant to be lived and that we are blessed on the journey of life to walk with a God who uniquely knows what it means to be human. In Jesus, God became human and in Lent, we sit with our own humanity and draw closer to the Living God who longs to be in deeper union with us.
That union is beautifully captured in the paschal mystery of our faith—the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus— that we remember especially in the Triduum. Yet, before we can come to these momentous days of Holy Week and Easter, we must first make our annual Lenten journey.
This year as a Collaborative our theme for this Lenten journey comes from Psalm 51: “Renew a Steadfast Spirit within Us.” (Psalm 51:12b)
In a day and age when many things may weigh heavily on us, the invitation of Lent is to find renewal and deepening of our faith. We pray in these days that we might be washed clean of our faults and reconciled in our relationships with God and with one another. We pray that we might find restoration in God, the One who walks with us as we journey, who knows our hearts and loves us all the more.
As the psalmist prays, “My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.”(v.19) Indeed, God welcomes us in this season of Lent to come home to the heart of who we are—to be and become beloved children of God who live out our faith, giving praise to the One who made us by reflect Christ’s love in the world.
To do that, we will need renewed spirits… spirits that rest in God and are firmly grounded in the faith we profess. As a community we pray for such renewal, both as individuals and as a Collaborative. To aid the Holy Spirit’s work in us, St. John- St. Paul will offer an array of programs this Lent. Our prayer is that in these offerings each of us may find something to spur our spirits on, so that with contrite hearts we may rejoice in the goodness of God that is with us each day and that is recalled especially at Easter.
Christ calls us to renewal here and now, may the days ahead stir up into flames the offering of our spirits and renew the face of the earth as we find renewal in the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
A Lenten Message from Fr. Jim
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear
to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
-Matthew 6:5-6, 16-18
My dear friends in Christ,
It is impossible to miss the irony of this passage from Matthew’s gospel as it is proclaimed on Ash Wednesday. As Jesus exhorts us to pray and fast in secret, we receive ashes on our forehead that proclaim to all we see that we are fasting! There is no magic in the ashes. Unlike the Eucharist, which confers grace, ashes are a sacramental, a sacred sign which disposes us to receive grace. Jesus is not decrying ritual or communal prayer. Rather he points to centrality of our “internal” transformation. Lent is a time for us to focus on that internal transformation by turning to the presence of the Triune God, who dwells within us.
I have read and re-read a book which has been very helpful in my own prayer. It is called The Impact of God: Soundings from St. John of the Cross by Fr. Iain Matthew, an English Carmelite priest. In expounding the teachings of John of the Cross, Fr. Matthew invites us to reverse the usual paradigm of prayer, that is, our seeking God. Rather, John of the Cross reminds us that God is actively seeking us. Our role in prayer: to make space for God’s approach.
During these holy days of Lent, let’s take the time in quiet prayer to make space for God’s approach. It is here that God “renews a steadfast spirit within us” (Psalm 51:12b). With our spirit renewed, we become more attentive to the needs of those around us. We are better able to see as God sees. The suffering in our troubled world and society can at times feel overwhelming. Even in the face of so much division, injustice, cruelty and hatred, we must never lose hope. May our inner transformation propel us forward as the instruments of God’s own compassion, healing and reconciliation in the world.
Much love in Christ,
Fr. Jim
Our Lenten Question of the Week
As a community of faith, we are called to practice the three Pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It can be temptingly easy to slide into old habits each Lent. Choosing to give up the same old thing (chocolate) or to turn exclusively inward (getting off social media). Yet, we must remember as Catholic Christians that we make this journey together. As we seek to renew and foster a steadfast spirit within ourselves and our community (see our Lenten theme this year!), our three-fold Lenten call encourages us to be washed clean as we gain new wisdom, seek new ways of being and becoming who God has made us to be, and find restoration in God’s invitation to a unique (and renewing) Lent.
As part of this practice, we invite you to once again take part in our Question of the Week program this year!
Each week in Lent we, as a Collaborative, will offer a Question of the Week which will be related to the Sunday readings. These questions will be published in the bulletin and on the website, and proposed briefly before the final blessing at every Mass during the Lenten season. This is an opportunity for our Collaborative community to pray in companionship with one another, while simultaneously examining our individual spirituality.
Consider this a collaborative-wide Lenten mini retreat!
Our Lenten Liturgies, Programs, and Events
Catholic Social Teaching – A Lenten Series with Fr. Ken Himes
Three Thursday Evenings: February 26, March 12, March 26
7-8:30pm at St. Paul Parish Hall or on Zoom
Catholic Social Teaching has been called the “best kept secret in the Catholic Church.” Join us as we dive deeper into this hidden gem of our faith with Fr. Ken Himes as a guide on the way! This three-session series will explore the pillars of Catholic Social Teaching and how they can call us to faith-filled action in our world today.
Drawing from life experience and Gospel principles, this program promises a foundational understanding of CST and will bolster you spirit in the season of Lent and beyond!
Offered in a hybrid-format – participate online via Zoom or in-person in the Parish Hall at St. Paul for fellowship and sharing as we learn from Fr. Himes and reflect together on the social implications of living out our faith!
PRESENTER: Fr. Ken Himes, OFM is a gifted teacher, Franciscan friar, and professor emeritus of Theology at Boston College. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Fr. Ken holds a PhD in religion and public policy from Duke University and is a former president of the Catholic Theological Society of America. The author or editor of nine books, including Christianity and the Political Order, he is presently Franciscan Scholar in Residence at Siena College, near Albany, NY.
Family Faith Formation
Lenten Family Retreat
Sunday, March 1 following the 9:00am Family Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church
Grade K-2 Mustard Seeds and
Grade 3-5 Loaves & Fishes
We will begin by gathering at 10:00am in the Upper Church for an Opening Prayer and an overview of the retreat activities. Parents and kids will move together through a series of Lenten activities before returning to the Upper Church for a closing song and prayer.
Evening for Women
Potluck Prayer
Tuesday, March 3
6:30pm St. John Chapel and Powers Hall
All women of the collaborative are invited to an hour of “Potluck Prayer” – a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel with an invitation for all gathered to share music, poems, readings, art, and anything else that may be preparing our hearts for our Lenten journey or inspiring our prayer life.
After our Holy Hour we will gather in Powers Hall for a potluck dinner and fellowship. Bring a dish or beverage to share and invite a friend or neighbor to come along!
Practicing Lent
Tuesday Evenings Beginning March 3
7-8:00pm St. Paul Blessed Sacrament Chapel
A Weekly Exploration of Different Prayer Practices Led by Members of Our SJSP Young Adult Ministry
ALL YOUNG ADULTS (AGE 21-40) WELCOME!
We are celebrating the Lenten season in a special way as a young adult community at St. John-St. Paul by “Practicing Lent”!
Every Tuesday in Lent, join us for a different prayer experience from 7-8PM in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in St. Paul Church. See the list for what prayer practice will be each week and join us as fellow young adults lead these experiences and we draw closer to God in prayer this Lent!
Lenten Loft Book Club
Tuesday, March 10 from 7:00-8:00pm St. Paul Church Loft
As we pray for steadfast spirits this Lent, join in this one-night discussion of Struck Down, Not Destroyed, a spiritual memoir by America Magazine’s Vatican Correspondent, Colleen Dulle. Exploring the inner workings of the Church and her own faith journey as a Millennial, Dulle’s story helps us reflect on our own journey of faith and what it means to claim our faith as our own in this day and age.
Join us for an evening of sharing and reflecting.
For more information, contact Sr. Colleen Gibson at cgibson@sjspwellesley.org
Teen Reconciliation and Worship Service
Friday, March 13 at 5:00pm at St. John the Evangelist Church
An open invitation to all teens – particularly those preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this spring – to experience God’s love and mercy.
There will be music, a brief reading from scripture, a short reflection, and a walk through an examination of conscience. The Youth Ministry team will help guide you through all the steps to leaving a little lighter and filled with God’s mercy! Interested, but not sure if you’ll feel ready to receive the sacrament? That’s OK – please come to the service anyway, and encourage your friends to come too! There will be no pressure, just an open invitation to experience God’s love and mercy.
All teens in Grades 6-12, particularly students in Salt & Light (6-7), Confirmation (8+), and Youth Ministry (9+) are encouraged to come! (Confirmation students attending the Spring Retreat will be participating as part of the retreat.)
An Evening With the Psalms
Music, Prayer, and Reconciliation
Wednesday, March 18 from 7:00-7:45pm
followed by the
Sacrament of Reconciliation
St. John the Evangelist Church
Centuries of faithful have prayed with the Psalms to wrestle, lament, petition, and give praise to God in every moment of their lives. This evening is an opportunity to pray with various interpretations of exemplary psalms while praying through the music of Duruflé, Palestrina, Byrd, Bruckner and Frisina, followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation at 7:45pm.
Young Adult Ministry
Theology at the Table
Saturday, March 21 at 6:00pm at St. John
Join us as we welcome Kelly Meraw, Director of Pastoral Care and Liturgy, to our table this month to explore the topic: “Women in Ministry: Then, Now, and Where the Spirit is Guiding.” Registration appreciated but not required!
Young Adults (age 21-40) from in and around the Collaborative are invited to this evening of reflection, enrichment, and fellowship as we feed our minds and nurture our spirits in community!
Our Collaborative Lenten Gift
Special Second Collection March 21-22
Each year, in preparing for Lent, we make the choice to reach out as a community to one particular place of need through our Lenten Gift. Last year, we reached across the world, helping Build the Faith construct a church for the St. John Paul II Christian Community in Bamenda, Cameroon. This year, we will stay very close to home, reaching into our own backyard to help students at our local community college be able to focus on their studies without undue financial stress.
Students at community colleges tend to be stretched thin between a multitude of obligations and financial strains. Many are faced each semester with a choice between purchasing the required textbooks for their courses or being able to make their rent, car, or utility payments.
Our gift to the MassBay Community College Foundation’s Essential Needs Fund for Textbook Assistance will help students prepare for a successful future regardless of economic barriers.
Throughout Lent, in the bulletin and here on the website, we will share this story with you as we prepare for our collaborative-wide Special Second Collection March 21-22.
Our Lenten Gift allows each of us to share in answering Lent’s clarion call to love extravagantly.
Young Adult Seven Churches Pilgrimage on Holy Thursday
Stations of the Cross During Lent
Fridays following the 9:00AM Mass at St. Paul Church
Deepen your union with Jesus and God’s people in the Lenten practice of Stations of the Cross. The Stations of the Cross fosters communion, teaches humility, strengthens our faith and hope and provides perseverance in suffering.
Sacrament of Reconciliation During Lent
Friday Mornings
Following the 9:00am Mass at St. Paul Church
Tuesday Evenings
7:00 – 8:00pm at St. Paul Church
Saturday Afternoons
1:00 – 2:30pm at St. John Lower Chapel