Sponsor Someone On Their Journey to Become Catholic Through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)

Sponsor Someone On Their Journey to Become Catholic Through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)

What is an OCIA Sponsor? Sponsors offer a welcoming presence and a familiar companionship that assists and encourages the Catechumen (a person seeking to become baptized member of the Catholic Church) or Candidate (a baptized Christian seeking full communion with the Catholic Church) through the various steps of the OCIA experience.

They may participate with the person they are sponsoring in some of the catechetical sessions, and they stand with the person they are sponsoring at the various liturgical rites. Most importantly, they provide a listening ear, an encouraging heart, spiritual support and a prayerful presence.

Being an OCIA sponsor is both an opportunity to share your faith with others and an opportunity to deepen your own experience of faith…

Do You Love to Knit/Crochet? Help Make Baby Items for our Mother’s Day “Baby Shower” for Pregnancy Help Boston!

Do You Love to Knit/Crochet? Help Make Baby Items for our Mother’s Day “Baby Shower” for Pregnancy Help Boston!

We will host our Annual Mother’s Day “Baby Shower” on May 9-10, 2026 to collect much needed items for the clients of Pregnancy Help Boston, a pregnancy resource center supported through the Archdiocese of Boston that provides compassionate, practical, life-affirming alternatives for women facing crisis pregnancies.

We also provided handmade baby items like hats and blankets for newborns, and the staff at Pregnancy Help have remarked on the quality of the knitted items – many women who come to Pregnancy Help are alone, so having such a unique and special item for their baby, knitted with love in magnificent colors, is a very special gift!

It’s time to get knitting!  We’re asking folks who love to knit/crochet to participate in this ministry once again…

A New Seasons of Hope: A Faith Sharing Group for Those Who Mourn

A New Seasons of Hope: A Faith Sharing Group for Those Who Mourn
Monday Evenings, 5:00 – 6:30pm
February 9, 16, 23, March 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 invite you to join our Seasons of Hope group here at the Collaborative.

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” of Seasons of hope utilizes scripture, prayer, reflection activities, and faith sharing to explore our experiences of grief.

Registration Required:  sjspwellesley.org/seasons-of-hope

Monday, January 19, 2026: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Monday, January 19, 2026: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

THE COLLABORATIVE OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 19 IN OBSERVANCE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

As Pope Francis wrote, “Dr. King’s dream of harmony and equality for all people, attained through nonviolent and peaceful means, remains ever timely. ‘Each one of us is called to be an artisan of peace, by uniting and not dividing, by extinguishing hatred and not holding on to it, by opening paths of dialogue’ (Fratelli Tutti, 284). In this way we will be able to see ourselves, not as ‘others’, but as neighbors, in the truth of our shared dignity as children of Almighty God. Only by striving daily to put this vision into practice can we work together to create a community built upon justice and fraternal love.”

Collaborative Book Club: Next Meeting Thursday, January 22

Collaborative Book Club: Next Meeting Thursday, January 22

Our next meeting will be this Thursday, January 22 at 7:00 pm in the St. Paul Office.  This week we begin our discussion of Jesus of Nazareth (Volume 1) by Benedict XVI, Chapters 1-4.

 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, please email us at: bookclub@sjspwellesley.org

January 11 Family Faith Formation Recap: Sacraments of Initiation with the Loaves & Fishes (Grades 3-5)

January 11 Family Faith Formation Recap: Sacraments of Initiation with the Loaves & Fishes (Grades 3-5)

During the  “Focus on Faith” reflection at the beginning of the session, we talked about what a sacrament is and what is meant by “sacramental grace.” The children learned that a sacrament is something we can see that is a symbol of something we can’t see, and that sacramental grace is a love that we can’t earn – it’s something given to you, as a gift.  We talked about and looked at some of the visible symbols of sacraments, including water, oil, bread, and wine.

In the second half of the session, while the children participated in activities with the Children’s Faith Formation team, parents gathered in small groups to discuss questions including: 

What compelled you to have your child baptized? Describe a feeling you have when receiving the Eucharist?

Psalm Study: Calling Out From The Depths

Psalm Study: <i>Calling Out From The Depths</i>

The evening of Thursday, January 8 marked the beginning of a beautiful Interfaith project between our Collaborative and Temple Beth Elohim.

Over 30 participants representing both the Catholic and Jewish faith traditions gathered to explore our shared sacred scripture. Led by Dr. Andrew Davis and Rabbi Or Rose, the group journeyed through the themes of the ‘Tehillim’  (Hebrew: Songs of Praise). 

The group will meet weekly to delve deeply into the Psalms raw dialogue between God and God’s people.

Holy Hour for Life: Friday, January 30 from 7:30-8:50am at St. Paul Church

Holy Hour for Life: Friday, January 30 from 7:30-8:50am at St. Paul Church

Our parish invites you to join us for a Holy Hour for Life, a time of prayer and Eucharistic adoration dedicated to the dignity of every human life—from conception to natural death. In the quiet presence of the Blessed Sacrament, we gather to pray:

For the unborn, especially those most vulnerable to abortion
For mothers and fathers facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies
For those who carry wounds from abortion, that they may know God’s mercy and healing
For the elderly, the sick, the disabled, and all whose lives are threatened or forgotten
For our nation and its leaders, that laws and hearts may be shaped by a deep respect for life

All are welcome. Come, even if only for a few moments, and place the gift of life into the loving hands of Christ. 

Young Adult Ministry – Advent and Christmas Happenings

Young Adult Ministry – Advent and Christmas Happenings

On Saturday, January 3rd, the Young Adults of St. John-St. Paul held their annual Three Kings Game Night. Welcoming new and old friends, the evening was full of fun and festivities, including a trip to see Fr. Jim’s Christmas tree!

This event marked an end to an Advent and Christmas season full of activities for our Young Adult Ministry, including a trip to the Light Display at the LaSallette Shrine in Foxboro (with Fr. James!) and Theology at the Table with Fr. Bryan Hehir!

Keep your eyes peeling in coming weeks for upcoming Young Adult Events for the Winter and Spring! To join the YA Email and Text List visit: sjspwellesley.org/young-adults

January Family Faith Formation: Loaves & Fishes (3-5) this Sunday, January 11 / Mustard Seeds (K-2) on Sunday, January 25

January Family Faith Formation: Loaves & Fishes (3-5) this Sunday, January 11 / Mustard Seeds (K-2) on Sunday, January 25

We’re so excited to welcome our Loaves & Fishes and Mustard Seeds families back to a new month of Family Faith Formation! Our theme for January is The Sacraments of Initiation, and the sessions will be led by Kelly Meraw, Director of Pastoral Care and Liturgy. 

We will learn what a sacrament is and what is meant by “sacramental grace.” We’ll focus in particular on the three Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation.  These are the sacraments that welcome us into the Christian community and provide the foundation for our lifelong journey in the faith…

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