Family Faith Formation – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

The Celebration of First Holy Communion at Our Parishes

Beginning this year, in keeping with our new Family Faith Formation model and the guidance of the Archdiocese of Boston, children will be receiving their First Holy Communion with their families at a Sunday Mass, the same way they will receive the sacrament throughout their lives. Groups of First Communicants will be receiving the Sacrament at our 9:00am Family Masses on April 26, May 3, May 10, and May 17. Several rows of pews in the center of the church will be reserved for the children and their families each Sunday as we celebrate this joyous occasion together as a parish family!

Our regular 9:00am Mass congregants are encouraged to attend these Family Masses and witness this important moment in the lives of these young children and families.

Join the Easter Children’s Choir – All Children in Grades 2-7 Are Welcome!

We are singing on Easter Sunday, April 5 at the 9:00am Family Mass at St. Paul Church .

We will rehearse this Saturday, April 4 from 3:00 – 4:00PM at St. Paul Church, and will meet at 8:30AM before Mass on Easter Sunday at St. Paul.

To learn more or ask questions please email William Endicott, Music Director

Family Faith Formation: Living Vocation

In these final sessions of Family Faith Formation for the 2025-2026 year, we have been talking about living vocation – recognizing and becoming who God has called us to be in this world.

Fr. Jim, Sr. Colleen, and Kelly shared their own unique experience of the call to vocation, and we talked about how each of us can think about and nurture our own vocations in the context of faith, family and community.

If you missed the session or would like to hear about Fr. Jim’s story of the first inkling of his vocation to the priesthood at the age of 5, or Sr. Colleen’s story of life with 400 sisters, you can watch the recording here on our website.

Family Faith Formation: Our Final Theme for the Year – Living Vocation!

Who has God called you to be? What are your innate God-given gifts? What are your child’s? How can we foster those gifts and bring them to our own unique place in the world?

This is Living Vocation!

In these final sessions of Family Faith Formation for the 2025-2026 year, Father Jim, Sister Colleen, and Kelly will share their own unique vocations and how you can nurture your own in the context of faith, family and community.

Sunday, March 15 at St. John 10:15-11am Loaves & Fishes (3-5)
Sunday, March 22 at St. Paul 10:15 -11am Mustard Seeds (K-2)
Sunday, April 12 at St. Paul 4:00-4:45pm Salt & Light (6-7)

This Sunday, March 1 at 10:00am: Family Faith Formation Lenten Retreat (Grades K-5) at St. John

Mustard Seeds (K-2) and Loaves & Fishes (3-5)
following the 9:00am Family Mass at St. John

We will begin by gathering in the Upper Church at 10:00am for an Opening Prayer and an overview of the retreat activities. Parents and kids will move together through a series of Lenten activities before returning to the upper church for a closing song and prayer.

What’s Been Happening in Family Faith Formation? The Sacraments of Initiation

In January, we welcomed families back to Family Faith Formation and our new theme – The 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.

In early January, Kelly Meraw, Director of Pastoral Care and Liturgy, led sessions for our Loaves & Fishes (3-5) and Mustard Seeds (K-2) families.

On February 1, Sister Colleen Gibson, Coordinator of Pastoral Care, led the Salt & Light (6-7) session on the Sacraments of Initiation for students and parents…

Family Faith Formation: Salt & Light (6-7) this Sunday, February 1 at 4pm at St. John

This is a Family Session – students accompanied by a parent/guardian. Children may not be “dropped off” without a parent or guardian for Family Sessions.

This Family Session will begin with an opening prayer and “Focus on Faith” reflection on “The Sacraments of Initiation” with Sr. Colleen Gibson. We will talk about what a sacrament is and what is meant by “sacramental grace,” focusing 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…

This Sunday, January 25: Family Faith Formation at St. Paul

We’re so excited to welcome our 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…

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?

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.

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