News – Page 2 – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

They’re Here! Some Good News in a Difficult Time…

It is with hearts brimming over with joy we announce the truly miraculous arrival of our new POWIR family, Emile and Rosine Rwamuhinda and their children, in Boston! The family landed at Logan Airport today at 2:20pm. During these unimaginably difficult days and circumstances, Catholic Charities and our POWIR Team remained uncertain whether they would actually be able to come until the very last moment. As we explained in last week’s bulletin, Emile and Rosine and their children fled the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2007, and they’ve been living in a refugee camp ever since. We were notified during

Cardinal Seán: “We need to take care of each other”

CARDINAL SEÁN P. O’MALLEY OPENING REMARKS ST. PATRICK’S DAY MASS The Cardinal taped a video message of his remarks in English, Spanish and Portuguese which we are pleased to share with you today. For the English version click here. For the Spanish version click here. For the Portuguese version click here. March 17, 2020 As a people, community, and as a nation we are being forced into a stance of social distancing to ward off a potential health disaster. Even as we embrace a methodology of physical isolation, we must reject any stance of alienation and individualism. Our motivation cannot be

Cardinal Seán to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Mass Today

Watch live on television on the CatholicTV channel (consult local cable providers or network listings for your channel) or online at CatholicTVLIVE.com.

The Mass will be rebroadcast on the CatholicTV channel tonight at 8:00pm, or you can watch online at CatholicTV.com/Masses.

Updated Guidance on the Sacrament of Confession

We have learned that scheduled confessions are not possible at this time due to the possible numbers of people gathering in the church together. Individual confessions may be requested and heard during this time. We are awaiting further guidance from the Archdiocese of Boston, and will keep you informed. Again, we thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these difficult times.

A Message from Fr. Jim

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind

Cardinal Suspends All Daily and Sunday Masses

The announcement below, issued late this afternoon by the Cardinal, suspends all daily and Sunday Masses and religious services in the Archdiocese of Boston beginning tomorrow, Saturday, March 14 at 4:00pm, and continuing until further notice. During the suspension, confession will continue to be available at the Collaborative by appointment. We are awaiting guidance from the Archdiocese as to whether we can offer regular confession times. We appreciate your patience, and as we continue to get updates we will share them with you. For more detailed information on this and other directives as well as important information about activity at our parishes, please read these Updated Directives from

COVID-19: Updated Directives from the Archdiocese of Boston and the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative

Updated Directives from the Archdiocese of Boston All Masses and, except as provided below, religious services in all Archdiocesan parishes, missions, and campus ministries are suspended until further notice. This suspension begins at 4:00pm on Saturday afternoon, March 14. The Cardinal has issued a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass during this time to the Catholics of the Archdiocese of Boston. Baptism, Confirmations, weddings and funerals may proceed but attendance should be limited to only immediate family. All religious education, faith formation and related activities (e.g. adult faith formation, youth ministry, etc.) are suspended until further notice. All other social events,

Welcome Emile and Rosine and Family, Arriving in Boston on March 18!

As many in the collaborative heard during last week’s Masses, we have exciting news to share regarding our partnership with Catholic Charities to assist in the resettlement efforts of Immigrant and Refugees into the Boston area. On March 18, 2020 our SJSP POWIR Group will be welcoming Emile and Rosine, and their five children, from a refugee camp in Rwanda. The family fled the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2007. They’ve been living in a refugee camp ever since and their two youngest children were born there. As many of you know we’ve been praying for the opportunity to assist a

COVID-19 UPDATE: Important Information from the Archdiocese of Boston and the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative

As you know, the progression of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a rapidly developing situation. We are monitoring these developments closely, and are implementing the directives, guidance, and best practices we are receiving from the Town of Wellesley, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Archdiocese of Boston, as we move forward. As always, our foremost concern is for the health and safety of God’s people – our parishioners, our school students and their families, the dedicated staff and many volunteers at our parishes and school – and the wider local and global community. Directives from the Archdiocese of Boston Cardinal Seán, in

Religious Education Classes Cancelled Sunday, March 15 – Wednesday, March 18

After careful consideration, and in keeping with the recommendations from the Commonwealth to postpone, cancel, or hold virtually any discretionary events or programs, we have made the decision to cancel all Religious Education classes at St. John and St. Paul scheduled for this Sunday, March 15, Monday, March 16, and Wednesday, March 18. As you know, this is a rapidly developing situation, and our foremost concern is for the health and safety of our students, catechists, and their families. We are monitoring these developments, as well as the guidance we are receiving from the Town of Wellesley, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,