Christmas and Advent – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

24th Annual “Spirit of Sharing” Gift Collection for Saint Patrick Parish, Lawrence

Begun in our St. John – St. Paul Collaborative, Spirit of Sharing is a Christmas gift program that has brightened the Christmas season for thousands of young boys and girls living at risk for hunger in Lawrence, Massachusetts. When Rev. Paul O’Brien, uncle of three St. John’s School alumni, began serving as pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Lawrence, he discovered that many parents worked three jobs yet could not afford to provide Christmas presents to their sons and daughters.

Spirit of Sharing was founded to share our community’s time and treasure with members of this faithful, family-oriented, and financially impoverished community just about thirty miles away. With the help of many teen and adult volunteers, we collect donations from our area and then, on the Saturday before Christmas, categorize and display them, greet the parents, and assist them in selecting gifts for their children. We invite you to donate gifts for children and/or volunteer (adults and teens 14+) at the event on Saturday, December 20…

This Sunday, December 7: Advent Family Retreat for Mustard Seeds and Loaves & Fishes (Grades K-5)

“Waiting in Hope” – An Advent Family Retreat at St. John the Evangelist Church following the 9am Family Mass

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 Advent activities before returning to the upper church for a closing song and prayer – a great way to enter together into this season of waiting in hope!

REMINDER: All sessions for Grades K-5 are Family Sessions (children and parent/s together.) Children may not be “dropped off” without a parent or guardian.

Christmas Music and Flowers

Each year at this time we invite you to donate toward Christmas Music and/or Christmas Flowers at your parish in memory or honor of a loved one.

You may use the Flower and Music envelopes included with your offertory envelopes and drop them in the collection at Mass, or you may mail or drop your donation to either Parish Office. Please be sure to include the name(s) of those you want remembered in this special way, and please print clearly.

You can also donate online at sjspwellesley.org…

SJS Trees & Trimmings Christmas Market: This Saturday, December 6 from 8am-1:30pm

SJS <i>Trees & Trimmings Christmas Market:</i> This Saturday, December 6 from 8am-1:30pm

For nearly 50 years, Saint John School has hosted our annual Trees & Trimmings Christmas Market with Premium Fresh Cut Trees, Wreaths, and Greens, and more! Trees & Trimmings brings together SJS families, alumni, faculty, and staff, our St. John-St. Paul Collaborative parishioners, and our neighbors as we celebrate the season while supporting Saint John School.

In addition to the trees and greenery offerings onsite, Trees & Trimmings Christmas Market also offers the opportunity to bid on Winter Silent Auction items online. The Silent Auction is now live and will run until December 10th at 10:00PM

Sunday, December 14 at 2pm: A Service of Lessons and Carols at St. Paul Church

Sunday, December 14 at 2pm: <i>A Service of Lessons and Carols</i> at St. Paul Church

Come and hear the Christmas story in words and music during this season of preparation!

Lessons and Carols is a service of Scripture and song that dates to the late 19th century. Through poignant readings from the Old and New Testaments, interspersed with beautiful music sung by the combined choirs of St. John and St. Paul, the congregation is invited to reflect on the birth of Jesus in the context of its significance in salvation history.

Don’t miss this festive tradition presented by the Parish Choirs of St. Paul & St. John, led by William Endicott, Collaborative Director of Music.

Advent Resources from Catholic Climate Covenant!

Creation Awaits with Eager Expectation – A Daily Advent Journey of Prayer and Reflection, Catholic Climate Covenant

This collection features 26 daily prayers and reflections inspired by Romans 8:19—“For creation awaits with eager expectation for the revelation of the children of God.” Written by a beautifully diverse group of U.S. Catholics, these short prayers and reflections will accompany you throughout the Advent season. Register here

Saint John School Trees & Trimmings Coming Saturday, December 6 – Pre-Order Wreaths & Greens Now!

For over 50 years, Saint John School’s Annual Trees & Trimmings Christmas Market has helped to celebrate the season while also supporting Saint John School. Mark your calendar for this year’s market on Saturday, December 6th!

But why wait until then to support SJS? Order wreaths and greens now! Early Access WREATHS & GREENS are on sale NOW online at treesandtrimmings.com Advent Wreaths, boxwoods, wreaths, and mantle pieces can be ordered NOW online through November 20 for afternoon curbside pick-up on November 24 – 25.

Christmas Wish and Giving Tree All Wrapped Up!

Thank you to all who purchased gifts and gave so generously to the Giving Tree! We are so grateful for your support, which make a real difference in the lives of others each year at Christmas time. And thank you to the Religious Ed students and families who helped move and sort the gifts in the Parish Hall so they would be ready for pick up!

Through the overwhelming kindness and generosity of our parish, Christmas Wish was able to provide gifts and outfits to more than 345 children from 116 families in Brockton, Lowell, Roxbury, and Wellesley. We also raised enough donations for each family to get a $200 grocery gift card. And in addition we were able to donate another 336 $25 grocery gift cards to Julie’s Family Learning Program in South Boston…

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light…” A Christmas Message from Fr. Jim

<i>“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light…”</i> A Christmas Message from Fr. Jim

Forty years later, I still remember the darkness. It was all-pervasive in that December of 1984 in Leningrad, U.S.S.R. Aside from a short period of dawn in the late morning, day and night were the same. Dark and bitterly cold. Living through that winter gave me a new appreciation for the light I had so often taken for granted. I think of that darkness as I imagine Jesus as the Light, which Isaiah foretold: a light of power and searing warmth that transforms the darkest, coldest night into brilliant, glorious day. Jesus is the light that shines in darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)

Jesus’s light also illumines dark places that had been hidden…

Christmas Music and Flowers

Each year at this time we invite you to donate toward Christmas Music and/or Christmas Flowers at your parish in memory or honor of a loved one.

You can also donate online at sjspwellesley.org…

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