A Lenten Message from Fr. Jim

A Lenten Message from Fr. Jim

My dear friends in Christ,

Leper. That is all we know of him. Deemed ritually impure, he was banished from society. He had lost everything: his family, his community… even his name. Leper. This classification became his identity. That is, until he encountered Jesus. Perhaps Jesus could help him. He was desperate. It was worth a shot. He knelt down before him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.”

Jesus’ response is astonishing, beginning with the compassion which motivated his actions. Our translation “moved with pity” doesn’t begin to capture the power of the Greek verb σπλαγχνίζομαι (splanchnizomai). Jesus was moved from the depths of his being…

Lenten Study: “Revisiting ‘The Joy of the Gospel'”

Lenten Study: “Revisiting ‘The Joy of the Gospel'”

Tuesdays in Lent beginning February 20
6:30pm – 8:00pm St. Paul Parish Hall

Ten years after Pope Francis’ first apostolic exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel”, is an important reminder for every disciple to live in joyful, missionary witness…

Through this six  session study we will revisit this consistent theme and discuss what it means for our faith and Church today as we enhance our understanding of what it means to be a Synodal Church.

Registration is required…

Lenten Scripture Study: “The Book of Revelation”

Lenten Scripture Study: “The Book of Revelation”

Four Wednesdays in Lent: February 21 & 28 and March 13 & 20
Morning Group: 9:30am in St. Paul Parish Hall
Evening Group: 7:00pm on Zoom

 
Inarguably the most eccentric book of the Bible, “The Book of Revelation” stands in a unique place in the Canon. Its apocalyptic imagery and symbolism can both confound and intrigue the reader. It is also the only book of the Bible which promises a blessing over anyone who reads aloud and hears the words of the prophecy. Join a group this Lent to dive into John’s riveting eschatology! 

Registration is required…

Tuesday, February 6 at 6:30pm: “Evening for Women” Potluck Prayer and Supper at St. John

Tuesday, February 6 at 6:30pm: “Evening for Women” <i>Potluck Prayer and Supper</i> at St. John

All women of the collaborative are invited to an hour of “Potluck Prayer”.  “Potluck Prayer” is a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration with an invitation for all gathered to share music, poems, readings, art, and anything else that may be preparing our hearts for our Lenten journey or inspiring our prayer life. 

After our Holy Hour in the Lower Chapel we will gather in Powers Hall for a potluck dinner and fellowship.

Bring a dish or beverage to share and invite a friend or neighbor to come along!

To help us plan for the evening, please RSVP…

From The Pilot: Father Hehir addresses ethics of war

From The Pilot: Father Hehir addresses ethics of war

Father Bryan Hehir, secretary of health and social services for the Archdiocese of Boston, has been teaching about religion, ethics, and foreign policy for 40 years. He is fond of giving his students a challenging moral dilemma. He asks them to imagine themselves as a military leader during a conflict. An enemy tank factory has been discovered — but it is located next to a kindergarten, a school, and a hospital.

“We’ll do our best,” a commanding officer explains, “but we can’t guarantee that none of them would be killed.”

Would you approve an attack? Must civilian casualties be kept to zero at all costs? Or should the enemy target be neutralized by any means necessary? How many deaths is an appropriate price to pay for victory? Father Hehir attempted to answer these difficult questions from a Catholic perspective during “Two Wars: One Moral Framework,” a talk about the morality of the current conflicts in Ukraine and the Holy Land. Father Hehir delivered the talk to a packed house at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Wellesley on Jan. 25. . .

Sister Colleen Gibson, SSJ featured on “Catholic Women Preach” for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sister Colleen Gibson, SSJ  featured on “Catholic Women Preach” for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend, Catholic Women Preach is featuring Sister Colleen Gibson, the Collaborative’s Coordinator of Pastoral Care, as she preaches on the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In her reflection, Sr. Colleen invites us to delve deeper into our Gospel call while sharing about her own vocation as a vowed woman religious. Focused on how we are all called to embrace who we are and who God calls us to be, Sr. Colleen invites us to open our hearts to God’s abundant love, so that we might respond in kind.

Check out Sister Colleen’s preaching by visiting this link…

In Case You Missed It: Recording of “Two Wars: One Moral Framework” with Fr. Bryan Hehir

<i>In Case You Missed It:</i> Recording of “Two Wars: One Moral Framework” with Fr. Bryan Hehir

On Thursday evening, January 25, Fr. Bryan Hehir shared a lecture, “Two Wars: One Moral Framework”, on the current conflicts in the Middle East and Europe.  Fr. Hehir discussed the history of these conflicts, and of war itself, from secular, moral, and faith perspectives with a large and very appreciative audience.

If you were not able to attend Fr. Hehir’s lecture (or tune in to the livestream), the recording of the stream is now available…

Want to Continue Learning about Synodality and What it is Calling Us to as a Church?

Want to Continue Learning about Synodality and What it is Calling Us to as a Church?

Join world-renowned speakers Timothy Radcliffe, OP, Sister Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ, Arturo Sosa, SJ, Phyllis Zagano, and Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich (among many more) for a Massive Online Course (MOOC) set to launch in March! All videos will be facilitated virtually during the month of March 2024 and will be offered at no cost to participants worldwide.

Mark your calendars for this exciting opportunity to continue on the synodal journey with people around the world while growing in mind and heart as we learn to listen more deeply to the work of the Holy Spirit in us and among us at this important moment in our church! More information available…