News and Updates – Page 11 – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

Religious Ed Registration Extended through June 10!

As we let you know earlier this year, the Archdiocese has lowered the age for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation to 8th grade. In response, we have several exciting updates to our program this year which impact Grades 6-10 and our sacrament preparation program, so please pay careful attention to the information below.

With these changes, it is more important than ever that families register their children for Religious Education as soon as possible. Registration extends through June 10. All registrations received after June 10 will incur a $25 late fee per child…

Thank You from NPH!

It is with sincerest gratitude that I thank you on behalf of the 8,000 children that Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) supports both living in our home full time and in the community.

Your generous donations to the Second Collection on April 27-28 raised almost $6,500 to help ensure the most vulnerable and orphaned children don’t have to worry about food, shelter, and medical care, and are provided with resources to exit the cycle of poverty and enter a better life for generations to come. NPH could not operate without thoughtful individuals like yourselves. Thank you!

Front Step Replacement at St. Paul Church

We are pleased to let you know that the work to replace the current brick steps with new granite steps has begun.

The work is expected to take 2-3 weeks and the front entrance will not be available during that time. You will continue to be able to enter the church by any of the four side doors.

Thank you for your patience during the construction process!

Celebrating Mary Lee Cirella!

Last Sunday we celebrated Mary Lee Cirella, our St. Paul Music Director and Organist for over 30 years!

After the 9:00am Mass a large crowd of friends, family, and parishioners old and new joined Fr. Jim and the St. Paul Choir in the Parish Hall to congratulate Mary Lee on her considerable legacy of Music Ministry to St. Paul Parish and to wish her well!

Please visit the Collaborative Photo Albums page for more photos from this wonderful event!

A Wonderful Update from the Rwamuhinda Family!

Many of you will remember the Rwamuhinda family, the first family our POWIR Ministry team supported from their initial arrival in this country to their new, independent lives… In March of 2020, Emile and Rosine and five of their six children landed at Logan Airport… Sadly, their eldest daughter, Peace, who was 21 at the time, had to remain at the refugee camp for several more months before finally arriving in Boston in August of 2020.

We wanted to share the wonderful news that Peace has just completed her degree in psychology at Middlesex Community College! She plans to continue with more studies in the hope of becoming a therapist for people with disabilities…

Introducing Our New Collaborative Director of Music Ministry!

It is with great joy we introduce our new Collaborative Director of Music Ministries, William Endicott. William has been serving as Music Director and Organist of Holy Name Parish in West Roxbury and the Director of Music and Conductor of the Harvard Catholic Center. He holds three music degrees including Bachelor of Voice Performance, Master of Music in Choral Conducting and Master of Sacred Music in Organ Performance…

William will begin his new role on the weekend of July 6-7. Please join us in warmly welcoming him…

U.S. Bishops Release National Synthesis for the Interim Stage of the 2021-2024 Synod

On May 28, 2024, the USCCB released the National Synthesis for the Interim Stage which will, along with the contributions of episcopal conferences worldwide, form the basis of the work to be engaged by the Catholic Church until the Second Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod in October 2024.

Below is the USCCB’s press release, which includes links to the document…

In Case You Missed It: Inaugural Bell Ringing at St. Paul!

On May 18 following the 4:00pm Mass we were overjoyed to hear the beautiful sound of the St. Paul Church bell ringing once again, after so many years of silence!

Here’s a quick video of the celebration in case you missed it –

A formal dedication, recognition, and blessing will take place this fall (stay tuned – more info to come!) but we couldn’t let the bell remain silent until then!

Thank You from Capuchin Mobile Ministries!

The Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of St. Mary wish to thank everyone at the St. John -St. Paul Collaborative for their generosity to Capuchin Mobile Ministries in their Lenten Gift of over $33,000.

With grateful hearts, we received the parish gift at the end of April. We also received contacts for potential volunteers who will 1) accompany the friar chaplains on our outreach trips and 2) make sandwiches for the outreach trips. May God richly bless you for your support. We want you to know that your assistance has already borne fruit! Your gift has enabled us to assign more friars to the chaplaincy team…