Saturday, December 2, 2023
12:00pm – 5:30pm
St. Paul Parish Hall
502 Washington Street Wellesley, MA 02482
Registration is required.
To register, please click here…
Grief Retreat: “Loving Deeply in Loss – Grieving During the Holidays”
Service: “College Behind Bars” Mentoring Program – Zoom Info Session Thursday, November 30
In an effort re-launch our Prison Ministry work, our Collaborative Service Commission is working with a local organization, Partakers, to help recruit mentors for their College Behind Bars program. Partakers pairs mentors with incarcerated men and women earning college degrees from Tufts University, Emerson College, Boston College, and Boston University… If you’re interested in learning more about the program and what being mentor involves there will be a Zoom Info session on Thursday, November 30 at 7pm. Please RSVP by completing the form available…
St. Paul Giving Tree – Take a Tag or Scan a Code Starting this Weekend!
This year’s Giving Tree program begins this weekend, November 11-12, with two boards set up in the St. Paul Sanctuary with gift tag requests. To participate:
Choose a tag or tags from the board/tree
Fill out each tag with your name and phone number
LEAVE the small detachable portion in the box near the board or tree
KEEP the remaining portion of the tag and attach it securely to the wrapped gift so it can be sorted and distributed to the correct location and person
New this year – support the Giving Tree with a click from your phone! Several of the organizations we are supporting this year have provided Amazon Wish Lists to make giving easier…
Mass of Remembrance and Healing for Pregnancy & Infant Loss
The Pro-Life Office and Project Rachel ministry of the Archdiocese of Boston will sponsor a Mass of Remembrance and Healing for Pregnancy and Infant Loss on Wednesday, November 15 at 7:00pm at Bethany Chapel in the Pastoral Center in Braintree. Celebrant and homilist will be Rev. J. Bryan Hehir. A light reception and opportunity for Sacramental Reconciliation (Confession) will also be available after Mass.
A special invitation is extended to parents, grandparents and siblings who grieve the death of children as a result of miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion or early infant death. These losses may be recent or extend over many years…
At the Collaborative this Weekend, November 11-12: Star of Bethlehem Handicrafts
A representative from Star of Bethlehem Handicrafts will be at both parishes on November 11-12 representing over 100 Christian families living in the Holy Land who make their living by selling hand carved olive wood religious articles.
After all masses this weekend there will be a display of these beautiful pieces, including nativity sets, crucifixes, rosaries, and other sacred statues. Please stop by and purchase some early Christmas gifts, while also helping to support these Christian families living in the Holy Land.
Synthesis Report for the First Session of the Synod on Synodality Released
In the late afternoon of Saturday, October 28, 2023, the members of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops adopted the “Synthesis Report of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.” The report, which summarizes discussions at the assembly of the Synod of Bishops, said the church may need more welcoming pastoral approaches, especially to people who feel excluded, but also acknowledged fears of betraying traditional church teachings and practices. Among the topics addressed in the report were clerical sexual abuse, women’s roles in the church, outreach to poor and the concept of “synodality” itself.
After the voting on the synthesis concluded, the pope said he wanted to remind everyone that “the protagonist of the synod is the Holy Spirit.” He briefly thanked the synod officers and joined members of the assembly in giving thanks to God…
Collaborative Book Club – Thursday, November 9: “The Diary of a Country Priest” –
The SJSP Book Club will meet this Thursday, November 9 at 7:00pm in the St. Paul Rectory to begin our discussion of The Diary of a Country Priest by Georges Bernanos.
This novel recounts the life of a young French country priest who grows to understand his provincial parish while learning spiritual humility himself. This week we will discuss chapters 1-4.
Newcomers welcome! For questions or information about joining us, please email bookclub@sjspwellesley.org
“Welcoming the Stranger” – Our Collaborative Response
Cardinal Seán O’Malley has alerted every parish in the Diocese regarding our readiness to assist in an ever-expanding immigration crisis beyond the state’s capacity to respond effectively.
To help make it easier for our parishioners to participate in responding to this critical need, our Collaborative Service Commission has set up “Welcoming the Stranger” donation lines in both churches. Attached to the lines are individual cards listing specific items of clothing, toiletries, and personal care needs.
At Mass this weekend, please pick out and take cards for as many items as you’d like to contribute – the cards serve as a reminder of your commitment to welcoming the stranger. If you miss the chance to pick out specific cards this weekend, know that all items listed below will be welcomed…
“Evening for Women” with Kelly Meraw – Tuesday, November 7 at 6:30pm at St. John the Evangelist
All women are invited to join us for the opening session of our Collaborative “Evening for Women” program on Tuesday, November 7 at 6:30pm in the Lower Chapel at St. John the Evangelist Church.
Our featured speaker this month will be our Director of Pastoral Care, Kelly Meraw. She will be sharing about the most recent events in the Church’s Synod on Synodality and what they mean for the important topic of ‘Rethinking Women’s Participation.’
After our program in the Lower Chapel (more info coming soon!) we will gather in Powers Hall for a potluck dinner – please bring a dish or beverage to share! Invite a friend or neighbor to come along! To help us plan for the evening, please RSVP…
It’s the First Sunday of the Month – Family Mass and Youth Mass are at St. John’s this Weekend!
Just a reminder that this Sunday, November 5 is the first Sunday of the month, and that means that the Sunday 9:00am Family Mass and 5:00pm Youth Mass will be celebrated at St. John Church.
Yes, we were at St. John last Sunday too, but that’s because October had three Sundays and we’re at St. John on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays of the month. And yes, it’s a little confusing, but luckily it doesn’t happen too often!
Did you notice flags on the parish lawns this week? When you see a green flag flying on the lawn, that means the Sunday 9AM Family Mass and 5PM Youth Mass are being celebrated at that church…