St. Paul Giving Tree: Take a Tag or Scan a Code Starting this Weekend!

St. Paul Giving Tree: Take a Tag or Scan a Code Starting this Weekend!

St. Paul Giving Tree is an Advent tradition spreading Christmas cheer from our parish to hundreds of people through several local organizations. 

This year’s Giving Tree program begins this weekend, November 17-18, with two boards set up in the St. Paul Sanctuary with gift tag requests.

Several of the organizations we are supporting have also provided Amazon Wish Lists to make giving easier – simply scan the QR codes on the posters in the church, select the items you would like to gift, and they will be shipped directly to the organizational representative…

November 16-17: Special Collection for Hurricane Relief

November 16-17: Special Collection for Hurricane Relief

As you know, people across multiple southern states are experiencing the impacts of two deadly hurricanes within two weeks of each other: Helene and Milton. These storms created paths of destruction exceeding hundreds of miles. The death toll for both storms is at 280 people and there are still approximately 100 people reported missing. 

In response, earlier this month Cardinal Seán asked the parishes of the Archdiocese to once again step forward with a special collection to help our brothers and sisters in need. 

Catholic Charities USA is providing immediate disaster relief with necessities such as water, hygiene kits, diapers, and blankets among many other items…

Called to Serve: Catholic Women’s Stories of Obstacles and Opportunities – A Conversation in the Spirit

Called to Serve: Catholic Women’s Stories of Obstacles and Opportunities – A Conversation in the Spirit

An interactive webinar hosted by the Women in the Church Working Group of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests (AUSCP).

Women, bring your clergy! Clergy, bring women from your parish or ministry. Registration is open for our next Conversation in the Spirit, Called to Serve: Catholic Women’s Stories of Obstacles and Opportunities, on Wednesday, November 20 at 3:00PM.

This webinar seeks to inspire conversation around the callings women have.  What barriers are encountered? Where is there abundance? What longings need to be heard to move from prayer to being?  

November 12 Evening for Women: “Speaking of God with Julian of Norwich”

November 12 Evening for Women: “Speaking of God with Julian of Norwich”

With guest speaker Anne Mears

Tuesday, November 12 from 6:00 – 8:00pm
St. John the Evangelist Church

(Powers Hall and Lower Chapel)

All women of the Collaborative are warmly invited to come and join us in a space of reflection and inspiration as we explore the powerful and nurturing images of God which come to us through the writings of one of the great women mystics: Julian of Norwich. Anne Mears will guide us as we explore how Julian’s work can enrich our spiritual lives and the life of the Church today. 

 Stay for our pot-luck supper – bring a dish to share. Invite a friend! To help us plan for the evening, please let us know if you’re coming…

Update: Good Friday and the Wellesley Public Schools Academic Calendar

Update: Good Friday and the Wellesley Public Schools Academic Calendar

As we explained in last week’s bulletin, the WPS Academic Calendar Task Force has presented a recommended option to the School Committee that retains Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Lunar New Year as holidays. It also adds either Eid Al-Fitr or Eid Al-Adha (depending on the year) and removes Good Friday and Diwali as holidays.

Kelly Meraw, our Director of Pastoral Care and Liturgy, spoke at the School Committee meeting on October 29.

Fr. Jim Laughlin, our pastor, hopes to speak at the meeting on November 12.

All are encouraged to share comments with the School Committee via email at: School_Committee@wellesleyps.org or during the public comment…

Young Adult “November Community Dinner” – Friday, November 15 from 6-8pm at St. John

Young Adult “November Community Dinner” – Friday, November 15 from 6-8pm at St. John

Young Adults of the Collaborative (age 21-40) are invited to our November Community Dinner on Friday, November 15 from 6-8PM at the St. John Parish Rectory.

Join us for an evening of meeting new friends, sharing casual conversation, and enjoying delicious food!

This month’s gathering is a potluck, so bring a dish to share and a friend to join the fun.

Please REGISTER to let us know you’re coming and what you’re hoping to bring…

Young Adult Ministry “Scripture & Service” – Sunday, November 10 at St. Paul

Young Adult Ministry “Scripture & Service” – Sunday, November 10 at St. Paul

Young Adults (ages 21-40) are invited to help with Coffee & Donuts on Sunday, November 10 at St. Paul. We will gather in the St. Paul Parish Hall at 9:00am to set up and share faith around the Sunday Readings. We’ll serve Coffee & Donuts right after the 9:00am Family Mass, then we’ll head over to the church to go to the 11:00am Mass together!

Questions or to find out how you can help more – email Sr. Colleen at cgibson@sjspwellesley.org

This Weekend’s Second Collection: The Missionary Childhood Association

This Weekend’s Second Collection: The Missionary Childhood Association

As part of the annual Missionary Co-Operative Program, Maureen Crowley Heil, representing The Missionary Childhood Association, will speak at all Masses this weekend. The Missionary Childhood Association is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies in the Archdiocese of Boston. Maureen will share stories of the missions and help us build a spiritual connection to others whose daily lives may be very different from ours. The Missionary Childhood Association is the official mission agency of the Catholic Church dedicated to assisting and supporting laypeople, priests, and religious in their evangelizing missionary work with children under the age of fourteen. 

Envelopes are in the pews for this weekend’s second collection…

Archbishop Richard G. Henning

Archbishop Richard G. Henning

On Thursday, October 31, Archbishop Richard G. Henning was installed as the tenth bishop and seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston.

We welcome Archbishop Henning with joy, and offer our gratitude to Cardinal Seán O’Malley for his many years of service to the Archdiocese of Boston and the Church.

Please hold them both in your prayers during this time of transition.