News and Updates – Page 17 – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

October 11-12: St. Vincent de Paul Fill-A-Truck Event at St. John!

Saturday, October 11: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday, October 12: 9:00am – 1:30pm

St. John the Evangelist Church Parking Lot

Items Needed:
Clothing: men’s, women’s, children’s, shoes
Accessories: handbags, costume jewelry
Linens: towels, sheets, blankets, comforters
Donations must be bagged and in good/clean condition.
NEW THIS YEAR! Books: hardcover and paperback (NO magazines, please!) Please bring books in boxes.

Questions? Can’t make the dates? We can pick up your donations – email svdp@sjspwellesley.org

Our New Children’s Faith Formation Programs Launch in October!

We are so excited to launch our renewed Children’s Faith Formation program in just a few weeks!

As we explained over the summer, we are renewing Children’s Faith Formation in our Collaborative by replacing our programming (previously known as “Religious Education”) with two new and innovative programs – a Family Faith Formation program for younger children and their families (Kindergarten – Grade 7) and a Small-Group Confirmation Preparation program for older students (Grade 8 and above.)

Please visit our Children’s Faith Formation page for more information about the programs, including a full calendar and a comprehensive FAQ with answers to questions about registration, logistics, sacrament preparation, and more!

Our Children’s Choir is Back – and Different!

We are so excited to be starting up the Children’s Choir this Sunday, September 14, at the 9am Family Mass at St. Paul.

As parents, grandparents, godparents, uncles, aunts, and siblings are the most impactful teachers of faith that our children have, we want our choristers to be able to sit with their families during the Mass – to ask questions, learn responses, watch how you make the sign of the cross, and build lasting memories as a family that worships together.

Our goal this year is to focus on learning a few songs really well that the choir will sing alone, rather than trying to learn every bit of the Mass music…

Celebrating the Feast of St. Phoebe!

A beautiful service of scripture, prayer, and song celebrating St. Phoebe!

Kelly Meraw preached on praying for a prophetic voice – “Let this be our prayer. Let us lift our prophetic voices in spaces where doors are open and perhaps even where doors are closed. Because what comes from the Hoy Spirit can and should not be stopped.”

Check out the recording of our Prayer Service below –

October 2-5: Cursillo Weekend for Men

Cursillo, a “short course” in Catholicism, is a joyful three day experience of learning, faith sharing, praying, and having fun. The goal is to deepen your faith and strengthen your ability to bring Christ’s love and grace to the world. Weekends run from Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon and are held at the Notre Dame Spirituality Center in Ipswich. The next weekend, for men, is October 2-5.

For more information visit bostoncursillo.org, check out @bostoncursillo on Instagram or contact Deacon Rick. Registration forms can also be found at the back of both churches…

September Update from NPH

Across Latin America and the Caribbean, where NPH homes are located, women face some of the highest rates of gender inequality and violence in the world. Female unemployment in the region is significantly higher than that of men (9.1% vs. 6.3%), and up to 40% of women have experienced violence in their lifetime.

At NPH, our program “Chicas Poderosas”, which means “Powerful Girls” in Spanish, empowers groups of young women to understand gender inequality, advocate for themselves, and take action to create a more just future…

Sunday 5pm Youth Music Group: Come Sing with Us!

Calling all teens in Grades 8-12 – do you sing or play an instrument? Join the Sunday 5pm Music Group!

We rehearse at 4:00pm before the 5pm Mass – we’re at St. Paul this Sunday, September 14 and at St. John next Sunday, September 21.

We’re a fun and easy-going group (promise!) – just show up and join in!

If you have any questions, please email Christian Wilson, Youth Music Coordinator, at christian.wilson@sjspwellesley.org

Starts this Sunday, September 14: Sunday Night Youth Group

Following the Sunday 5pm Youth Mass at St. Paul – join us in the Parish Hall from 6:15-7pm!

All high school students are invited and encouraged to attend – bring your friends! We’ll start getting to know each other and building our community as we plan together for the year ahead! (And yes, there will be food!)

If you can’t make it this Sunday, that’s ok – come next Sunday after the 5pm Mass at St. John – it’s going to be a regular thing!

For more info and updates visit the website sjspwellesley.org/youth ministry and follow us on Instagram @sjspyouthministry

Our Collaborative Outdoor Mass

Please join us on Sunday, September 28 at 10:30am on the St. Paul Lawn for our annual Collaborative Outdoor Mass and fellowship event! This will be our third time celebrating Mass on the expansive lawn in front of St. Paul Church, recreating what Fr. Jim calls “our own Tanglewood East!”

Our SJSP Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapter is once again sponsoring a cookout after Mass, providing hotdogs, hamburgers, and veggie burgers for all! Please plan to bring a side dish/salad to share if you are able!

So that as many members of our community as possible can join together for this special liturgy and fellowship event, there will be a reduced Mass schedule at the parishes on the weekend of September 27-28…

October 11-12: St. Vincent de Paul Fill-A-Truck Event at St. John!

Saturday, October 11: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday, October 12: 9:00am – 1:30pm

St. John the Evangelist Church Parking Lot