Christmas in October???

Christmas in October???

Yes, that’s a scary thought!

But when it comes to fulfilling Christmas Wishes for 400 children we need to start thinking about Christmas in October! 

We only have a few weeks to recruit volunteers to sign up to sponsor a child this Christmas – will you be one of them?

Help make a child’s Christmas Wish come true this year by joining this collaborative-wide effort to grant the special wishes  of children from Brockton, Lowell, Roxbury and Wellesley.

When you sponsor a child (or multiple children) you will receive a wish list for clothing and a special gift that you will purchase and drop off at a local Wellesley home to be delivered to the families. Your wish list instructions will be emailed to you the week before Thanksgiving and gifts will need to be dropped off the week after Thanksgiving…

Family Faith Formation This Sunday, October 19: Grades 3-5 Loaves & Fishes

Family Faith Formation This Sunday, October 19: Grades 3-5 Loaves & Fishes

The Liturgical Year 10:15-11:00am in Powers Hall following the 9:00am Family Mass at St. John

 PLEASE NOTE: All sessions are Family Sessions (children and parent/s together.) Children may not be “dropped off” without a parent or guardian.  

After participating in the Sunday 9am Family Mass,  parents and children gather together for an opening prayer and a “Focus on Faith” reflection given by Fr. Jim about “The Liturgical Year.” After the reflection, the pastoral staff guides parents in small group discussions and reviews the at-home material for the coming month, while the Children’s Faith Formation team guides the children in a related activity. The session ends with all gathered together for a closing prayer…

Please Support Your Parish Annual Appeal

Please Support Your Parish Annual Appeal

This year, in the midst of all that is going on in our world and our church, St. John-St. Paul Collaborative is focusing on the theme of Renewal. From our Adult Faith Enrichment Programming to our Family Faith Formation Program, renewal is afoot. We are blessed by a vibrancy in our parishes that stems from our newest parishioner to those who have been a critical part of this community for many years. From the youngest to the oldest, the work of renewal is all ours to do. This is work we do WITH God and FOR God.

This week all registered parishioners will receive both physical and electronic mailings regarding this year’s annual appeal. These messages and reports offer a glimpse of the Holy Spirit’s work in our Collaborative. They are also an invitation to consider how each of us is being called to support this work in real and tangible ways…

October 23 Collaborative Book Club: “What Christians Believe: Understanding the Nicene Creed” by Bishop Barron

October 23 Collaborative Book Club: “What Christians Believe: Understanding the Nicene Creed” by Bishop Barron

Our next meeting will be Thursday, October 23 at 7:00pm in the St. Paul office – we discuss the second half of What Christians Believe: Understanding the Nicene Creed by Bishop Robert Barron.

Newcomers are always welcome! Meetings are in person on the 2nd and 4th Thursday evenings of each month.

For questions or information about joining us, email us at:  bookclub@sjspwellesley.org

Friday Morning Bible Study: First and Second Corinthians

Friday Morning Bible Study: First and Second Corinthians

A study of St. Paul’s First and Second Letters to the Corinthians will begin on Friday morning, October 31, from 10-11:30am in the rectory of St. Paul’s Parish.

Later meetings will be on Fridays: November 7, 14, December 5, 12. (Please note there will be no meetings on November 21 and 28.)

Our guidebook will be First and Second Corinthians, published by the Liturgical Press.  The book can be ordered from Liturgical Press or from Amazon 

Friday, October 24: “Women of the Spirit: Renewing the Face of the Earth” – An Evening Retreat Facilitated by Anne Mears

Friday, October 24: <i>“Women of the Spirit: Renewing the Face of the Earth”</i> – An Evening Retreat Facilitated by Anne Mears

Are you longing to encounter the Spirit of Hope?
To witness the fire of God’s love burning?
To rest by the refreshing waters of God’s peace?
Together, we will spend time in conversation, prayer and reflection as we open ourselves to the work of the Spirit; enlivening creation, gracing our lives, and empowering us to collaborate in the work of renewing the face of the earth.”

Dinner will be served – registration is required…

Archbishop Henning’s message following the release of the Holy Father’s Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi te

Archbishop Henning’s message following the release of the Holy Father’s Apostolic Exhortation, <i>Dilexi te</i>

Today, Pope Leo offered a meditation on the mystery of the Lord’s particular love for the poor and the summons for all disciples to participate in His compassion and solidarity by our own embrace of those who are poor in any sense of that term.

United with the witness of Pope Francis, Our Holy Father Leo XIV has offered a gospel vision of faith hope and love in a time of violence and division. I encourage all of us to make this important reflection a part of our own spiritual reading.

The Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi te, may be found here.

October 14: “Evening for Women” with Guest Speaker Kelley Tuthill, President and CEO of Catholic Charities, Boston

October 14: “Evening for Women” with Guest Speaker Kelley Tuthill, President and CEO of Catholic Charities, Boston

October 14, 2025 at 6:30pm
St. John the Evangelist Church – Lower Level

With Guest Speaker: Kelley Tuthill
President and CEO of Catholic Charities Boston

Followed by a potluck dinner in Powers Hall – bring a friend and a dish to share! 

Please visit the Evening for Women page for more information and the full schedule for the year.

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