News and Updates – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

November 18: Raising Hope for Climate Justice: A Message from Pope Leo

Tuesday, November 18th at 7:00pm
Powers Hall, Lower Level St. John the Evangelist Church

Join the SJSP Care for Creation Committee for a Zoom webinar with Fran Ludwig, co-chair of Boston Catholic Climate Movement and delegate to the recent Raising Hope for Climate Justice conference in Rome. Hear about Pope Leo’s challenge to us to protect our common home and all who inhabit it — particularly the poor and vulnerable who are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation. Munchies will be served!

Can’t attend in person? Click here to register for the webinar…

November 15-16: Second Collection for Hurricane Melissa Relief

On October 28th, a category 5 hurricane with winds of 180mph slammed into Jamaica. In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, communities in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, as well as Cuba and the Bahamas, have experienced deaths, injuries, and widespread damage. Recognizing the immediate and expected need for assistance, Archbishop Henning has requested pastors consider taking up a voluntary special collection to support Catholic Relief Services (CRS). CRS is already on the ground and will provide lifesaving support—including emergency shelter, clean water, and essential supplies—to families most at risk.

St. John-St. Paul Collaborative will hold a special second collection next weekend, November 15-16. Parishioners are asked to address their checks to their parish (St. John or St. Paul) with “Hurricane Melissa Relief” in the memo.

Fall Confirmation Retreat: Beloved by God, Called to Be a Light in the World

On All Saints’ Day, more than 60 Confirmation candidates took part in the first Confirmation retreat of the year. In keeping with the feast day, the retreat focused on the call to holiness each of us is given as beloved children of God. Filled with witness talks, skits, walk & talk reflection time, and small group activities, the day was a wonderful opportunity for the young people of our Collaborative to see themselves through God’s eyes and to grow in faith and fun with one another as they prepare for Confirmation.

As night fell, the group joined in night prayer in St. Paul Church, where they lifted their voices in praise and worship…

Thursday, November 6: Collaborative Staff Day of Service, Parish Offices Closed

On Thursday, November 6, our parish offices will be closed as our staff participates in a day of service with Capuchin Mobile Ministries. We’ll be preparing sandwiches and writing notes of blessing to be shared with the unhoused people they serve.

Messages and emails to the office will be returned as soon as possible.

Watch Sr. Colleen Gibson’s Homily for All Souls Day

Who wants to think about death – their own or that of others? The temptation is to pass over talk of death in favor of new life. Yet if our faith teaches us anything, it is that the negative space of death has the ability, like negative space in art, to reveal the beauty of the bigger picture.

All Souls’ Day, coupled with All Saints’ Day, invites us right into that space. It invites us to bridge the gap between life and death. It asks us to put our faith on full display. Faith in the resurrection. Faith that in the dying and the rising of the everyday we grow closer to Christ. Faith that no matter who we lose in this life to death, they are never lost to God.

Click play to watch video…

Now that Halloween is Over… it’s “Officially” the Christmas Season!

And there are only 2 weeks left to sign up for Christmas Wish!

The deadline to sign up is November 12 and we still have many children in need of sponsors!
Please sign-up today!

SPONSOR A CHILD

When you sponsor a child (or multiple children) you will receive a wish list for clothing and a special gift that you will purchase and drop off at a local Wellesley home to be delivered to the families.

Your wish list instructions will be emailed to you the week before Thanksgiving and gifts will need to be dropped off the week after Thanksgiving…

Confirmation Enrollment Mass

Last weekend at a packed Sunday 5pm Youth Mass, our Confirmation candidates signed the Book of Enrollment in the presence of the community, signifying their desire for the sacrament and commitment to the process of preparation.

The candidates are committing to deepen their relationship with God through the process, explore what it means to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and to remain open to what God is asking of them at this moment.

As a community, we are asked to keep these young people in our prayers, and to be living witnesses to the faith with our lives, in and out of the parishes.

This Sunday, November 2: Grade 2 Sacrament Prep Session: Introduction to the Sacrament Year

10:15am in Powers Hall following the 9am Family Mass at St. John

This opening session will introduce children and families to this special year of preparation for the reception of the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday morning and are so excited to begin this journey with you!

IMPORTANT!This is a Family Session – children and parents together. Children may not be “dropped off” without a parent or guardian.

Bridging the Gap Between Life and Death – A Reflection by Sr. Colleen Gibson, SSJ

<i>Bridging the Gap Between Life and Death</i> – A Reflection by Sr. Colleen Gibson, SSJ

November 8-9: Hand Carved Olive Wood Religious Items from the Holy Land

Maysoon Khair will be present at our churches after Masses on the weekend of November 8-9 to share the work of over one hundred Christian families living in the Holy Land who make their living selling hand carved olive wood religious goods.

Please take a moment to visit the display of beautiful pieces, including nativity sets, crucifixes, rosaries, and other sacred statues, and consider helping to support these families living in the Holy Land.

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