Reinstatement of Sunday Mass Obligation Effective the Weekend of June 19-20, 2021

Reinstatement of Sunday Mass Obligation Effective the Weekend of June 19-20, 2021

Aware that the opportunity to participate in Sunday Mass is increasingly available and increasingly safe for our Catholic people, we are joining dioceses in the Boston Province (Boston, Fall River, Springfield, Manchester, and Portland) in lifting the dispensation of the Sunday and Holy Day Mass obligation, effective the weekend of June 19 and 20, 2021.

This obligation does not apply to those who are ill; those who have been recently exposed to COVID or any other communicable illness; those who are confined to their homes or to hospitals or other facilities due to illness, infirmity, frailty, or age; and those who are not yet able to be vaccinated, due to age or any health consideration. Parishioners should consult their local pastor if they have questions about the obligation.

Welcome to Our New Coordinator of Pastoral Care, Mary Campion!

Welcome to Our New Coordinator of Pastoral Care, Mary Campion!

It is with great pleasure we introduce our new Coordinator of Pastoral Care, Mary Campion, who will be joining us later this month. Mary is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and has a MA in Hispanic Studies from Brown University and a MA in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College. She has worked in the Archdiocese of Boston since 2005 and is a certified Pastoral Associate. She is very happy to be joining us in the St. John- St. Paul Collaborative. Mary’s past ministry has involved social justice, adult faith formation, ministry management, sacramental preparation and much more…

The St. John-St. Paul Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

The St. John-St. Paul Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples to “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Vincent de Paul, a great man of action was also a contemplative. His contemplation of God’s love overflowed into practical love for the poor. Please say a special prayer for the poor and forgotten, as you place your gift in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul poor box. There are donation boxes in support of the St. John – St. Paul Society of Saint Vincent de Paul located in the foyer of each church. Please help us help those in need. Have you considered answering the call to help serve the poor by joining the Society of St. Vincent de Paul?

Pilot Obituary: Father John J. Connelly, oldest priest of the archdiocese

Pilot Obituary: Father John J. Connelly, oldest priest of the archdiocese

He was the oldest priest of the archdiocese. He was the second in ordination seniority of Boston priests. He was the last Boston priest who was a veteran of military service in World War II. He was the last, of whom many priests would have saluted as the “greatest generation” of St. John Seminary faculty members (his late friends and fellow faculty members Father James O’Donohoe and Father Philip King would also be included). He was a consummate gentleman. He was a greatly loved pastor. He was a wise counselor. He was Father John J. Connelly — who died at Massachusetts General Hospital on June 28, 2021.

Collaborative Summer Mass Schedule Begins July 3-4

Collaborative Summer Mass Schedule Begins July 3-4

The Summer Weekend Mass Schedule for our Collaborative begins this weekend, July 3-4 and will remain in effect through Labor Day. This schedule balances the number of Masses at each parish, provides the capacity to accommodate all parishioners who wish to attend Mass in-person, and includes an outdoor Mass option for those not ready to come inside. All Masses will continue to be available to view via livestream with the exception of the Sunday 5pm Mass, which is moving outside for the summer…

Fr. John J. Connelly (1922 – 2021)

Fr. John J. Connelly (1922 – 2021)

The Reverend John J. Connelly passed into the hands of God after he had served for seventy-one years as a priest. He was 98 at this time of his death on June 28th, 2021.

Son of the late John J. and Helen (Murphy) Connelly and brother of the late Mary Margaret Connelly and Helen Connelly, Fr. Connelly, a Boston native, attended Boston Latin School and Boston College before entering the U.S. Army in 1943, serving until 1945. He was ordained from St. John’s Seminary by Cardinal Richard Cushing in 1950. He then earned a Doctorate in Theology from The Gregorian University in Rome. He served on the St. John’s Seminary faculty for 26 years, followed by 30 years as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Newton Center. Since 2013 he had been serving as a Priest in Residence at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Wellesley…

Fr. John Connelly

Fr. John Connelly

I am sad to let you know that our beloved Fr. John Connelly died yesterday afternoon. I was with him for several hours, along with Kelly Meraw, our Director of Pastoral Care, and both Kelly and Fr. Hehir were with him when God took him home. Fr. Connelly lived an amazing 98 years. I know that we have all loved having him with us for the last eight years.  We were all enriched by his intelligence, wealth of knowledge and quick wit.  He was kind, caring and compassionate and, of course, a man of deep faith.  This true disciple of Jesus has touched many lives, including ours, over the last 98 years.  We now have a new advocate in heaven, where, I feel certain, Fr. Connelly is basking in the love of the God he has served so faithfully.  Requiescat in pace.

Obituary and Services…

Outdoor Mass is Back! Sundays at 5:00pm at St. Paul Church

Outdoor Mass is Back! Sundays at 5:00pm at St. Paul Church

Bring your lawn chairs/blankets and join us for our Sunday 5pm Outdoor Mass at St. Paul Church beginning this Sunday, June 27 and continuing through Labor Day weekend. The Sunday 5:00pm Mass will remain outdoors at St. Paul all summer, as the space there lends itself better to larger crowds.

We are excited to be able to bring back some of the music from the Sunday 5pm Youth Mass at these outdoor Masses, and to introduce you to our new Youth Music Coordinator, Christian Wilson…

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