NEW DATE: Tuesday, March 21 – Evening for Women: “Stations of the Cross through Mary’s Eyes” at St. John

NEW DATE: Tuesday, March 21 – Evening for Women: “Stations of the Cross through Mary’s Eyes” at St. John

All women of the Collaborative are cordially invited to a Lenten program on Tuesday, March 21 at 6:00pm at St. John the Evangelist Church.  Our program will begin in the Upper Church,  where we will walk the Stations of the Cross through Mary’s eyes.

Following the Stations, Kelly Meraw will offer a short Lenten reflection.  (The Stations and Reflection will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person: sjspwellesley.org/sj/live/)

After the program, we will share a pot-luck dinner downstairs in Powers Hall.  Please plan to bring a dish to share and RSVP by clicking here: sjspwellesley.org/evening-for-women/

Third Week of Lent: The Fourth Word – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Third Week of Lent: The Fourth Word – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Seeing the suffering Jesus and hearing how he prayed helps us to pray our way through our own sufferings. We realize again that he really entered into our human living and took on our heartaches and our pain.

Some questions to bring to prayer this week include: 

As you imagine this gospel scene, can you enter into conversation with Jesus about his suffering? 

Do you have your own experiences of feeling abandoned by God? How did/does it feel? How did/do you relate to God in those situations?

Pray for those who feel abandoned: spouses and children who have been deserted, the mentally ill and homeless who are uncared for, those who cling to ideals when others have folded to pressure.

Pray in gratitude for your faith- although it may seem weak at times- and for the faith of the community that sustains you in the midst of suffering…

Second Week of Lent: The Third Word – “Woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.”

Second Week of Lent: The Third Word – “Woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.”

Of all of the phrases uttered by our dying Lord, there are none so tender as these spoken to his mother and to his beloved disciple. This gesture seemed so important to Jesus that it seemed as if it had loomed as the last piece of unfinished business of his earthly life.

Some questions to bring to prayer this week include: 

How might this scene help you to care for the people whom you love in your life?

Do you feel free to ask others for help? Are there certain circumstances or certain people that make it easier or more difficult to ask?

How does this gospel scene impress you as an adult child? How does it touch you as a parent? Watch the news, read the paper, and recognize the faces of other parents who suffer because of their children’s suffering. Pray for them.
 

First Week of Lent: The Second Word – “Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

First Week of Lent: The Second Word – “Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

Can you recall a hurt that has taken hold of you, one that you can’t seem to let go? Have you noticed how it can drain your energy and attention? How it can turn you into the sort of person that you really don’t want to be? As you mediate on the words of Jesus this week, consider how he invites you to follow his example.

Here are some thoughts and questions for your consideration during this week:

Imagine this gospel scene. Speak to Jesus about his forgiveness for those who have hurt him.

How does this prayer of Jesus influence the way in which Jesus dies?

The Week of Ash Wednesday: The First Word – “I Am Thirsty.”

The Week of Ash Wednesday: The First Word – “I Am Thirsty.”

For what do you thirst? Can you be attentive to the words of Jesus as they reveal your own thirst?

Here are some thoughts and questions for your consideration during this week:

Recall your own experiences of thirst. How do they help you to relate to this scene of Jesus on the cross? In your prayer, express to him how you feel.

Consider the people around the world who suffer because of the poor quality or the inadequate supply of water. Remember them to Jesus in prayer. Imagine the face of Jesus.

For what do you thirst this Lenten season? Can you name it? Can you ask for it? How is Jesus the living water for you?

“Seven Last Words for Seven Weeks: Praying with Jesus on the Cross” with Sister Mary Sweeney, SC

“Seven Last Words for Seven Weeks: Praying with Jesus on the Cross” with Sister Mary Sweeney, SC

This Lent we are invited to truly walk with Jesus and journey through the Gospels as we pray simply over one phrase each week spoken by our dying Lord. 

The “Seven Last Words” that Jesus spoke from the cross are not really words, but sentences. No single Gospel account contains all seven last sentences; rather, they are compiled from the four Gospels and they capture the experience of the dying Jesus.

All groups will be facilitated by the author, Sr. Mary Sweeney, SC

Thursday Evenings – Beginning February 16 at 7:00pm on ZOOM

Friday Mornings  – Beginning February 17 at 9:30am at the St. Paul Rectory

Privately – Beginning February 19 Meditate on the seven last words each week in a dedicated section of our Lenten bulletins and on our website.

To learn more and register…

“Lent: A Time to Listen, A Time to Let Go, A Time to Laugh” – Saturday, February 25

“Lent: A Time to Listen, A Time to Let Go, A Time to Laugh” – Saturday, February 25

The SJSP SVdP Conference welcomes you to this free Lenten Retreat. Sr. Carlotta delves into the story of The Passion. What does it mean today? Sister helps bring it into practice as we enter Lent, and especially Holy Week.

Saturday, February 25 – 9:00am to 1:00pm

St. Joseph Spiritual Ministries
71 Walnut Park Newton, MA

Numbers are limited – to attend please RSVP to SVDP@sjspwellesley.org
Questions: Julia: 781-816-9748

Evening for Women: “A Life Rooted in Prayer” – Wednesday, February 15 at 6:30pm in St. John Chapel

Evening for Women: “A Life Rooted in Prayer” – Wednesday, February 15 at 6:30pm in St. John Chapel

All women of the Collaborative are invited to the Pre-Lenten program, “A Life Rooted in Prayer.” With Lent around the corner, we are called to think about prayer, fasting and alms giving. “A Life Rooted In Prayer”, led by Dr. Georgia Gojmerac-Leiner, will address prayer as a daily practice, and inspire participants to deepen their prayer during Lent and beyond. Georgia will provide copies of a contemporary Christian prayer book and lead participants in a creative activity. 

There will be no pot-luck dinner this month, but coffee/tea and refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by clicking…

Seasons of Hope – Winter 2023: A Group for Those Who Are Grieving

Seasons of Hope – Winter 2023: A Group for Those Who Are Grieving

If you have experienced the death of a loved one and are searching for meaning and consolation, we invite you to join one of our upcoming Seasons of Hope groups, which begin in February.

Seasons of Hope is a Christ-centered group where we will be able to share and learn from each other as we walk together in faith on our unique journey of grief.  We look forward to welcoming you with great love.  To register…

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