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…
“As priests, we serve to minister to people in times of great loss and tragedy. Often words are not enough to help families and friends come to terms with the loss of a loved one. We look to God for answers. We seek to understand. Often, we simply cannot make sense of what has happened. But our faith sustains us, and in this moment of enormous pain, we know that God is with us always.
This week and for the weeks, months, and years ahead, the brutal and senseless murders of Gilda D’Amore, her husband, Bruno D’Amore, and Gilda’s mother, Lucia Arpino, will stay with us as we come to terms with this unimaginable loss. They loved Christ and the Church. On the day of their murders, Gilda and Bruno were to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at Our Lady Help of Christians. They lived their Catholic faith proudly and in service to the Church…”
The St. John-St. Paul Collaborative has been a part of the Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (Our Little Brothers and Sisters) family since 2017. You can learn more about the history of our partnership with NPH on our NPH: Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos page.
NPH will be providing periodic updates that we will share in the bulletin and on the website to help us stay current on their amazing work!
Dear Parishioners,
The mission of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) – meaning ‘our little brothers and sisters’ – is to transform the lives of vulnerable children in nine countries in Latin America and the Caribbean… I want to share a recent story of a young boy Modesto, who joined the home in Mexico in 2015, because his family lacked resources to take care of him…
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!
On June 20, the secretariat for the synod published the working document (known by its Latin title instrumentum laboris) for the first session of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on synodality that will be held in the Vatican from October 4 to October 29, 2023. The second session will be held in October 2024.
Cardinal Grech described the working document as “the fruit of a synodal process” that started on Oct. 10, 2021, and “involved the whole church” in an exercise of listening to the people of God…
We will continue with Chapters 5-6 of How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization, by Thomas E. Woods. (Available online and at local booksellers.)
In this short book, Professor Woods provides a survey of the Church’s contribution to literary preservation, education, science, art and architecture, law, economics, charity, and morality.
NEWCOMERS WELCOME! Meetings are in person on the 2nd and 4th Thursday evenings of each month at St. Paul. To register or make inquiries, please email: bookclub@sjspwellesley.org
REGULAR CONFESSIONS ARE CANCELLED AT ST. JOHN ON SATURDAY, JUNE 17 DUE TO OUR CELEBRANT’S SCHEDULES AND WEDDINGS AT THE CHURCHES. Our apologies for the inconvenience.
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!
Last weekend’s collection for St. Francis House was a huge success, exceeding expectations as always – both garages were overflowing with donations! It was a great response to the collection – in fact, it required two trips to transport two full
As you know, our 2023 Collaborative Lenten Gift raised awareness and funds for City of Goodness in Ukraine. City of Goodness was a social service and support center that, with the onset of the war, has become a shelter for women with children, and families (and their pets!) from all over Ukraine.
We are thrilled and grateful to let you know that our Collaborative has raised over $37,000 for City of Goodness! Our gift will help with construction costs and the constant need for food, medicine, hygiene items, pillows, baby food and formula, and clothing. We are currently working with Ukraine Forward, the U.S.-based non-proft that will disperse the funds to City of Goodness, and we will keep you updated! Thanks again to all who contributed so generously!