A Message from Archbishop Henning, Bishop McManus, Bishop da Cunha, and Bishop Byrne for the Clergy, Religious, and Lay Faithful of Massachusetts

A Message from Archbishop Henning, Bishop McManus, Bishop da Cunha, and Bishop Byrne for the Clergy, Religious, and Lay Faithful of Massachusetts

In June during his Apostolic Visit to Spain, our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV delivered an appeal to defend human dignity and protect life from conception to its natural end. “Every legislative task,” he said, “ultimately confronts a decisive question: what conception of the human person inspires laws, and what kind of society do those laws build?”

Just two months after the Holy Father’s address, Massachusetts passed one of the most expansive and permissive abortion laws in the nation, telling us what kind of society they desire for Massachusetts: one which leaves its most vulnerable citizens—children in the womb and their pregnant mothers—at perilous risk. This law is a tragedy, and the Catholic legislators who helped to enact it have caused grave scandal…

Will ‘nun girl summer’ give way to another season of sisters?

Will ‘nun girl summer’ give way to another season of sisters?

At the end of June, a post on Instagram by Cosmopolitan magazine named the trend that seemed to be sweeping social media. “Sister, it’s a nun girl summer,” the post pronounced in all caps, emblazoned over an image of a smiling religious sister perched in front of a podcasting microphone. 

As I scanned my own social media feeds, the trend was undeniable: Sisters were showing up in force. There were the Salesian Sisters who were rooting for the San Antonio Spurs as they pursued the NBA championship. In response, a group of Sisters of St, Joseph brought their own fandom to the pages of the New York Post for some sisterly competition as they blessed Madison Square Garden and rooted for their beloved New York Knicks…

Thursday, October 1 at 7pm: “Phoebe’s Daughters: Women, Service, and the Catholic Church” (St. Ignatius Parish)

Thursday, October 1 at 7pm: “Phoebe’s Daughters: Women, Service, and the Catholic Church” (St. Ignatius Parish)

The Church is in a historic moment.

Paragraph 60 of the Synod’s Final Document – now magisterial teaching – calls the whole Church to recognize women’s equal baptismal dignity, to fully implement the leadership roles already open to women under canon law, and to give women’s voices and contributions greater place in the life of the Church.

What does this new teaching actually say? What is the Vatican doing to implement it? And how can ordinary Catholics take part in this synodal chapter of our Church’s life?

Join us for a lively, hope-filled, and interactive conversation about this new teaching and what it means for our community…

Seasons of Hope: Fall 2026 Session Begins October 12

Seasons of Hope: Fall 2026 Session Begins October 12

Mondays from 6:00 -7:30pm
October 12, 19, 26, November 2, 9, 16
St. John the Evangelist Church – Powers Hall

If you have experienced the death of a loved one and are searching for meaning, consolation and companionship, we warmly invite you to join our Seasons of Hope group.

Centered on Jesus Christ, Seasons of Hope is grounded in the healing wisdom, traditions, and practices of the Catholic Church.  With sessions spanning over six weeks, each “season” utilizes scripture, prayer, reflection activities, and faith sharing to explore our experiences of grief.

Registration is required…

“Creation Narratives in Judaism and Christianity” – a 4-Week Exploration in Partnership with Temple Beth Elohim and Hebrew College (Begins October 19)

In this interactive textual exploration, we will examine several different Creation narratives from biblical and post-biblical sources, including medieval and modern interpretations of older materials — Jewish and Christian.

How did our ancestors understand the creation of the cosmos? How did they view the place of humankind within the natural world? How are these ideas similar and different from our own understandings today?

In our exploration, we will pay particular attention to sources of inspiration and insight relating to our responsibility to act as good stewards in an age of environmental challenge.

Please join us for this unique Interreligious learning opportunity! 

Special Second Collection September 26-27, 2026 for Our SJSP Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Special Second Collection September 26-27, 2026 for Our SJSP Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

As we approach the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul on September 27, and the close of our fiscal year, the St. John-St. Paul SVdP Conference would like to thank you for your vital support. Our mission to serve those in need is made possible through your financial contributions, your donations of clothes and other items (including appliances and bikes), and your volunteer assistance with deliveries, moves, and labor.

Over the past year, your generosity enabled us to provide $40,000 in direct assistance to 47 families (impacting 117 people.) Additionally, we connected many neighbors with partner organizations for support with food, housing, auto repairs, and household items. The level of assistance provided, as well as the number of friends helped, have both grown significantly over the past two years, a trend we expect to continue.

Thinking About WYD 2027? Important Webinar on Tuesday, September 22 at 7:00pm

Thinking About WYD 2027? Important Webinar on Tuesday, September 22 at 7:00pm

Dube Travel, the agency coordinating our pilgrimage, is hosting an important webinar specifically for SJSP families (teens and parents are encouraged to participate!) on Tuesday, September 22 to talk about our planned itinerary and trip details.

This will be a great opportunity to learn more and ask questions about this incredible opportunity to deepen your faith and connect with youth from around the world.

(The webinar will be recorded so even if you can’t make it at the scheduled time, please register to automatically receive the recording link.) 
To register…

Adult Faith Enrichment Discussion Group: “The Chosen” Begins October 7

Adult Faith Enrichment Discussion Group: “The Chosen” Begins October 7

Season 5, Episodes 1-8
Wednesday Mornings from 10:00am – 11:30am
October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18, 25
St. Paul Office – Lower Level Conference Room

Join us for an exploration of the Gospel through the lens of “The Chosen”, a video series about the life and ministry of Jesus, the people he met, and the people who followed him. It is primarily set in the first century and has been viewed by over 300 million people. All are welcome! Join in at any time – each session is a stand-alone discussion!

Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 10:30am: Our Annual Collaborative Outdoor Mass on the St. Paul Parish Lawn

Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 10:30am: Our Annual Collaborative Outdoor Mass on the St. Paul Parish Lawn

Please join us for our annual Collaborative Outdoor Mass and Fellowship event! This will be our fourth time celebrating Mass on the expansive lawn in front of St. Paul Church, recreating what Fr. Jim calls “our own Tanglewood East!” Please bring lawn chairs/blankets for seating.

Our SJSP Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapter is once again sponsoring a cookout after Mass, providing hotdogs, hamburgers, and veggie burgers for all – bring a side dish/dessert to share if you are able!

So that as many members of our community as possible can join together for this special liturgy and fellowship event, there will be a reduced Mass schedule at the parishes on the weekend of September 26-27…

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