Day 1: Tuesday, June 16 – Part 2 | Buenos Noche Leon

Day 1: Tuesday, June 16 – Part 2 | Buenos Noche Leon

As I write, we’re just coming to the end of our first 24 hours of travel. Two flights, three countries, and a bus ride later and we’ve made it safely to Leon, our starting point for the Camino.

Excitement fills the air as we gear up for an extended day of hiking tomorrow. We’ll cover about 18 miles when all is said and done. What a way to begin!

By the time we arrived in Leon (about a four hour drive from Madrid) we had time to treat ourselves to tapas (I discovered Morcilla de León (ox blood pudding) spread on fresh Spanish bread) and to visit the Cathedral in Leon – a beautiful example of Gothic architecture!

Day 1: Tuesday, June 16 | Hola León

Day 1: Tuesday, June 16 | Hola León

Today, our group arrives in Spain and gets acquainted with what lies ahead.

While it might seem that a pilgrimage begins on the departure day you’ve marked on the calendar, in reality, we begin our journey as soon as we decide to set out. For the pilgrim this means that the pilgrimage doesn’t begin the day you set out on the Camino, but it begins at home.

The same is true of a retreat. We begin as soon as we accept the Holy Spirit’s invitation (or inclination) to go deeper. The desire to pray (or the desire to want the desire to pray) is the first step. Who knows what taking that step might hold? We might have inklings, but truly only God knows…

The Pilgrim Journey: “Camino in Everyday Life” Mini- Retreat

The Pilgrim Journey: “Camino in Everyday Life” Mini- Retreat

On Tuesday, June 16, Sister Colleen will embark on a pilgrimage with students from Mount Saint Joseph Academy, a college preparatory school founded and sponsored by Sr. Colleen’s order, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia. Together with 24 young women, 4 staff chaperones, and another Sister of Saint Joseph, Sister Colleen will undertake the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James), walking across Spain for two weeks. As part of their journey, Sister Colleen is inviting members of the Collaborative to join her in prayer over these days. To do so, Sister has written a “Camino in Everyday Life” that offers a reflection for each day of the journey and invites each of us to delve deeper into our spiritual journeys this summer! Thank you for praying with and for Sister Colleen and those she accompanies as they make this trip!

Visit our A Camino in Everyday Life Mini Retreat page to follow along – you can sign up to receive Sr. Colleen’s daily reflection each morning right in your inbox!

The Pilgrim Journey: “Camino in Everyday Life” Mini-Retreat Begins June 16

The Pilgrim Journey: “Camino in Everyday Life” Mini-Retreat Begins June 16

On Tuesday, June 16, Sister Colleen will embark on a pilgrimage with students from Mount Saint Joseph Academy, a college preparatory school founded and sponsored by Sr. Colleen’s order, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia. They will be undertaking the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James), walking across Spain for two weeks. Sr. Colleen is inviting members of the Collaborative to join her in prayer over these days. To do so, Sister has written a “Camino in Everyday Life” that offers a reflection for each day of the journey and invites each of us to delve deeper into our spiritual journeys this summer! 

Visit our A Camino in Everyday Life Mini Retreat page to follow along – you can sign up to receive Sr. Colleen’s daily reflection each morning right in your inbox!

Massachusetts bishops urge the faithful to say no to physician assisted suicide

Massachusetts bishops urge the faithful to say no to physician assisted suicide

The Massachusetts Catholic Conference has been following two bills that would legalize Physician Assisted Suicide in Massachusetts. House Bill 2505 and Senate Bill 1486, “An Act relative to End-of-Life Options.” At present HB 2505 is in the Joint Committee on Healthcare Finance and SB 1486 is in Senate Ways and Means. However, the bills may come to the floor for a vote at any time.

Working together, we can join health care professionals, disability groups, senior citizens, the infirmed and countless individuals in saying NO to assisted suicide and to stop the legislation from moving forward this session…

Thursday, June 11, 2026: Sr. Colleen on CSSJ panel discussing Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas

Thursday, June 11, 2026: Sr. Colleen on CSSJ panel discussing Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, <i>Magnifica humanitas</i>

From the Sisters of Saint Joseph U.S. Federation:

Join us for a panel with respondents from across the CSSJ community who will offer initial thoughts on Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, which is focused on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence. Speakers include Sr. Colleen Gibson, SSJ who serves as Coordinator of Pastoral Care at St. John-St. Paul Catholic Collaborative in Wellesley, Massachusetts and Mr. Fred Robinson who is the Director of Technology for the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Brentwood, New York. The one-hour session will include Q&A from participants.

Click here for more information and to register!

Collaborative Summer Office Hours Begin Friday, June 12

Collaborative Summer Office Hours Begin Friday, June 12

Beginning Friday, June 12, our parish offices will be closed on Fridays through Labor Day. As always when the office is closed, if there is an emergency need for a priest you may call either office to leave a message in the Emergency voicemail box. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.

St. John Parish Office & Collaborative Offices
39 Washington St. 781-235-0045
Summer Office Hours: 9am – 4pm (Mon – Thu)

St. Paul Parish Office
502 Washington St. 781-235-1060
Summer Office Hours: 9am – 12pm (Mon – Thu)

Collaborative Giving to Second and Special Collections

Collaborative Giving to Second and Special Collections

Throughout the year, members of our Collaborative give generously to second and special collections that support important programs and provide much-needed relief in emergency situations. These include both Archdiocese of Boston collections and SJSP-sponsored second collections such as our Lenten Gift. 

The chart below shows giving to these Special and Second Collections during the first three quarters of Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (July 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026.) All proceeds from these collections are forwarded to the designated program or organization. 

Thank your for your generosity!

St. Francis House Adult Clothing Drive: June 20-21, 2026

St. Francis House Adult Clothing Drive: June 20-21, 2026

The clothing program at St. Francis House is the only free clothing program for adults experiencing homelessness and poverty in the greater Boston area. Every spring our Collaborative supports this program as a collective force. Your generosity is greatly appreciated by the thousands of people who rely on St. Francis House during their most challenging times.

Items may be dropped off between 9:00am – 5:00pm at both the St. John and St. Paul garages on the weekend of June 20-21.

Items St. Francis House Needs!

Two categories of adult clothing are needed. All should be gently used (or new),  clean, and in good condition, please…

×