Service and Outreach – Page 17 – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

POWIR Update

Our recent arrivals have settled into the apartment and are doing well. They are 3 wonderful, enthusiastic young adult men. They have already made friends with other young men from Afghanistan living in the same apartment complex. A great community is developing.

Catholic Charities is working on the documents they need such as work permits. Jewish Vocational Services will be providing free English classes and career counseling. Our team will be tutoring them, taking them grocery shopping, doing banking and other errands, teaching them how to use the T, and more!

JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Twice a month, all the POWIR leaders in the area get together for information exchange and support. One of those leaders is trying to create a document of job opportunities in the greater Boston area that all of the refugees could benefit from. For example, they have identified an events company that wants seasonal workers. If you know of any job opportunities, please contact Mary Campion…

POWIR Update: Our New Residents Have Arrived!

Our POWIR team is pleased to announce that our new residents have arrived. Three wonderful young adult men are now settled in the apartment. Two of them speak English very well and were in the midst of university studies in Afghanistan. They would like to resume these studies once their English skills reach that level. They are polite, enthusiastic, grateful, and very engaging young men. They play soccer and volleyball and are very interested in American culture.

The team is looking for people who could take them on outings such as bowling, sightseeing in Boston, hiking, or other entertainment. They will need to learn things such as how to ride the subway. If you are interested in helping out and meeting these new, very engaging young men, please contact Mary Campion.

POWIR Update: Exciting News!

Our POWIR Team has exciting news to share about the Afghani refugee family our Collaborative has been supporting. On Sunday, January 9 the family departed for California, where they are relocating to be closer to their immediate family who have

Thank You from “Spirit of Sharing” for St. Patrick’s Parish in Lawrence

Thank you for so generously giving and volunteering to brighten Christmas for the 342 boys and girls chosen as beneficiaries of this year’s Spirit of Sharing, Lawrence, program. Although many of the parents of these children, often first-generation, work two to three jobs, they cannot afford to meet rent, utility, grocery and school-related expenses and also provide Christmas gifts to their sons and daughters. This year’s effort, a hybrid of online and in-person giving of items and funds, was challenging in light of the pandemic, but yielded an abundance of presents and good will. We believe this was the most robust year of giving since Spirit of Sharing’s beginnings at the turn of the millennium…

“Spirit of Sharing” Gift Collection for St. Patrick Parish in Lawrence

For over two decades, a group of St. John-St. Paul parishioners and St. John School families has organized a collection and distribution of Christmas gifts for children struggling with poverty and hunger in Lawrence. The Spirit of Sharing, is co-sponsored by Saint Patrick’s Parish in Lawrence under the leadership of Fr. Paul O’Brien. The program benefits hundreds of people in that community who lack the financial means to provide their children with Christmas gifts. Thank you to Fr. Jim Laughlin for his abiding support of Spirit of Sharing over the years and to all parishioners for your participation…

POWIR Update: Meet the Family!

On Friday, November 19, we welcomed with joy a beautiful Refugee Family from Kabul, Afghanistan. Iqbal (dad), Khatol (mom), Shahzad (2 year old boy) and Huda (1 year old girl) are settled into their home in Boston. Iqbal is eager to begin the process of finding a job, and with his solid English skills and strong work ethic, we are confident he’ll be employed quickly!

We can not thank you enough for your generosity in contributing to their resettlement efforts…

They’re Here!

Our POWIR committee is overjoyed to share with you the arrival of the Afghani family we will be supporting in the coming year. They arrived at Logan Airport on Friday afternoon at 4PM. Mom, Dad, 2 year old boy and 1 year old baby girl are happily settled into their new home in Boston. Our housing volunteers worked tirelessly on Thursday and Friday preparing a warm and welcoming home for the family thanks to all of your generous donations.

We are still gratefully accepting financial contributions to their resettlement efforts, and any volunteer support you feel prompted to give. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for making this massive contribution…

Thank You for Over a Decade of Thanksgiving Dinners for Bristol Lodge

After 11 years, our Thanksgiving feast for the guests at the Bristol Lodge in Waltham has come to an end. Just as the pandemic has changed many facets of our lives, the same is true at Bristol Lodge.

Many thanks to all the parishioners who participated in this ministry. Since 2009, rain or shine, you brought cooked turkeys and gravy, green beans, peas, carrots, corn, stuffing, sweet and regular potatoes, dinner roles as well as beverages to the school parking lot the day before Thanksgiving. Most of you then returned home to start cooking for your own family’s feast. What generosity! We had many families who participated year after year, even one family where multiple generations contributed…

Donations Needed for Afghani Family

Our St. John- St. Paul Collaborative POWIR committee is overjoyed to announce that in the coming weeks we will be welcoming a refugee family from Afghanistan. Our housing committee has secured an apartment in the Newton/Brookline area for the family.

Targeted donations for their apartment needs are being solicited in both churches this weekend – look for the envelopes on the clotheslines at the main entrances. Drop off for these specific items will be in Powers Hall at St. John’s from Tuesday, October 26 through Thursday, October 28.

We are in great need of financial contributions as well! We ask you to prayerfully consider assisting this family…

Retreat and Training for New and Existing Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors

Sister Evelyn Ronan, SND will be hosting a retreat and training for new and existing Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors in the Collaborative.

Whether you are feeling called to serve for the first time, or you’d like to renew your energy for the ministry and sharpen your skills, you’ll want to attend!

The need for liturgical ministers has never been more acute. Please consider offering your presence to God in one of these two ministries. ALL ARE WELCOME!

Eucharistic Ministers: Wednesday, November 3 from 7:00-8:30pm
Lectors: Wednesday, November 10 from 7:00-8:30pm
Both retreats will be held in the St. John the Evangelist Sanctuary. Please RSVP to: mary.campion@sjspwellesley.org