Important Announcements – Page 9 – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

Collaborative Staff Update

We are thrilled to announce that Angela DeProspo has joined our Collaborative Staff in the newly created position of Volunteer and Liturgical Life Coordinator.

Angela and her husband Tony have been parishioners at the Collaborative for the 16 years they have lived in Wellesley. Their daughter Mia graduated from Saint John School last year and is also active in the church. While Mia attended SJS, Angela served as the Faith Enrichment and Community Service PTO liaison, and she continues to train and coordinate altar servers for the Collaborative. Angela grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After receiving her Master of Education degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, she taught high school English at Boston Collegiate Charter School in Dorchester. In addition to her new responsibilities at the Collaborative…

IMPORTANT! OFFICES CLOSED and EVENING CONFESSIONS CANCELLED on Tuesday, February 28

Due to the forecast for snow and ice and hazardous travel, all Collaborative Offices will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, February 28.

In addition, the 7:00pm Confessions at St. Paul on Tuesday evening are cancelled.

Confessions have been rescheduled to Wednesday, March 1 at 7:00pm at St. Paul.

As always, these decisions are made with the safety of our parishioners, staff, and clergy always at the forefront of our minds. Please stay safe!

First Friday Adoration Cancelled Today, February 3

Due to the extreme cold, First Friday Adoration is cancelled today, Friday, February 3. Please be safe.

Father-Daughter Valentine’s Dance – Friday, February 10 at 6:30pm

Daughters, Fathers, Father-figures and special friends welcome!

Friday, February 10th

6:30 – 9:00pm

ST. PAUL PARISH HALL

Tickets: $25 for 2 ($30 limit per family)
Tickets will be sold at the door

DJ * DANCING * FREE RAFFLE * SNACKS * PUNCH * PRIZES FOR BEST DRESSED COUPLES * ALL AGES WELCOME *

A Message from Fr. Jim

I continue to be thankful to God for my recovery and for how well I continue to progress, and grateful to all of you for your prayers and patience. I am so thrilled to begin my return to ministry! As eager as I am to jump right back in, I am mindful of the need to start slowly as I continue to build my strength and endurance. For now, I will be celebrating one weekday Mass and one or two weekend Masses each week.

I have also started the process of resuming my pastoral and administrative responsibilities – responsibilities that Fr. Hehir generously took on after my accident, in addition to his many other responsibilities within the Archdiocese. We have been truly blessed by his wisdom, guidance, and steady hand during these trying times, and I know that you join me in deep gratitude for Fr. Hehir’s extraordinary service to our Collaborative…

No Coffee & Donuts this Sunday, January 15

There will be no Coffee & Donuts after the 9:00am Family Mass at St. John this Sunday, January 15 due to the long holiday weekend.

Coffee & Donuts will be back next Sunday, January 22 after the Family Mass at St. Paul.

Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, OFM Cap Statement on the Passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

“Today a loving God called Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI home to his eternal reward for a lifetime of dedicated service to the Church. That service included 71 years as a priest, 28 years as a Cardinal, and nearly eight years leading the Catholic Church as the Bishop of Rome and Successor to St. Peter. His life and his pontificate were based in a deep and abiding faith and an extraordinary record of theological scholarship. In the years leading to the Second Vatican Council and at the Council itself, Father Joseph Ratzinger made substantial contributions to the renewal of Catholic theology, and he played a significant role in the drafting of key conciliar documents…

Remembering Sr. Julie McDonough, SNDdeN, former Saint John School Principal

Sr. Julie McDonough, SNDdeN, principal of Saint John School for almost 25 years, went peacefully home to her good God on December 25, 2022 after 72 years of service to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

Sr. Julie will be remembered at the Saint John School Mass on Monday, January 9 at 9:00am at St. John the Evangelist Church, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The Mass is open to all members of our collaborative and school community to join in remembering and praying for Sister Julie.

A Christmas Message from Fr. Jim

As I write these words, we have just celebrated the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday. The rose vestments and candle on the Advent wreath remind us that the Lord is near. And therefore, there is always cause for rejoicing.

Six months ago, I was involved in an accident which nearly took my life. Today my heart is full of gratitude to God as I am restored in body, mind and spirit. And my heart overflows with gratitude to you! The support of your love and prayers during these months has been a balm to my spirit. God has heard your prayers. I begin my slow return to ministry with a renewed conviction that God is good, and that God is faithful. You have been Christ’s face to me!

Mary Campion, Coordinator of Pastoral Care, to Retire

Mary Campion, who has served as our Coordinator of Pastoral Care since August of 2021, will be retiring from ministry at the end of this year. We are grateful to Mary for sharing her gifts and talents with the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative community, and we know you join us in wishing her every blessing as she begins this new phase of her life.

Mary began her career with the Archdiocese of Boston in 1983 as a Spanish teacher in a diocesan high school. After working in the publishing industry, she returned to work for the Archdiocese in 2005 as a Director of Religious Education. She then became a Pastoral Associate and has worked in that capacity in three different parishes…