There will be no 9:00am Mass or Adoration at St. Paul Church on Patriot’s Day, Monday, April 17 due to complications with Marathon logistics.
Both churches and all offices will remain closed on Monday.
“On April 15, 2013, Boston experienced an unprecedented attack that took the lives of Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, Lingzi Lu, MIT Police Officer Sean Collier and Boston Police Sgt. Dennis Simmonds. We will never forget them. Each of their lives was a unique expression of love, concern for others, and courage. They will remain in our prayers as will their loved ones who continue to mourn their loss. Hundreds were injured that day and, in their recovery, have inspired us with their courage and determination to not let hate deter them from living their lives…
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) have issued the North American Final Document for the Continental Stage of the 2021-2024 Synod: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission (also available in Spanish and French.)
Begun in late 2022, the Continental Stage of the Synod was the second stage of the three-year process initiated by Pope Francis in October 2021. For the North American Continental Stage, the United States and Canada held twelve virtual assemblies: seven in English, three in Spanish, and two in French between December 2022 and January 2023. In total, 931 delegates and 146 bishops from Canada and the United States were appointed to participate in one of these twelve assemblies to share their reflections and responses…
From the Easter joy that was felt around our Sacred Fire at the Vigil on Saturday evening to the very last blessing on Sunday, the SJSP family rejoiced in the resurrection of Our Lord!
Here are some scenes from Holy Week and Easter at the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative –
TThe Women’s Night Planning Committee is excited to announce that Dr. Jaime Waters will be our speaker on Tuesday, April 11! Dr. Waters is an Associate Professor of the Old Testament at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry with a particular interest in women in Scripture. In this Easter Season, Dr. Waters’ presentation will focus on The Women Surrounding Jesus at His Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection.
Please join us in the St. John Chapel (lower level of the church) for Dr. Waters’ presentation at 6:00pm, followed by supper in Powers Hall. Dinner will be provided – please bring a dessert to share! Please RSVP at https://sjspwellesley.org/evening-for-women/
Dr. Waters’ presentation will be streamed live on our website for those who cannot attend in person…
Mary Magdalene had barely slept for two nights. When she would begin to drift off, she was filled with an overwhelming sense of doom. Had she just had a nightmare? Then she would awake to the awful reality that it had really happened. She had stood there and seen all her hopes evaporate. Her relationship with Jesus had completely changed her life. She had lost her equilibrium. What did her life even mean without him?< In her grief, she and her friend Mary made their way to the tomb that Sunday morning. Maybe it would bring her some comfort to be close to where his body lay. When she arrived, she was shaken from her stupor. An earthquake. An angel. The stone rolled back. Could it be? Then the light of hope pierced the gloom that had overtaken her. He was alive! He had risen! And she would soon learn that she would never have to live without him. He would promise, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20) And that is Jesus’ promise to you and me…
It is our joy and privilege to assemble so that together we might enter into the Sacred Triduum: three days beginning with Holy Thursday evening, through Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and ending on Easter Sunday evening. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery. Our liturgies clearly illustrate this reality – you will notice that Thursday’s liturgy has no dismissal, and Good Friday’s liturgy has no entrance and no dismissal.
Once we have entered into this sacred space and time, even when we return home, our hearts and minds remain in a very real way with the Lord Jesus.
Every Easter, all parish collections support Clergy Trust so that they can continue to care for the health and well-being of all active and senior priests in good standing. Our priests have dedicated their lives to serving others, and through their ministry, they create stronger and more compassionate communities. Please consider a generous donation to the Easter collection and join us in supporting the Clergy Trust.
Please take a minute to watch this very brief video featuring Fr. Gerald Souza, pastor of Ascension Parish in Sudbury, who joyfully shares his favorite parts of being a parish priest…
Registration for the 2023-2024 program is now open.
PLEASE REGISTER NOW.
The registration period will extend through May 31. Registrations received after May 31 will incur a $25 late fee per child.
To register please visit: https://sjspwellesley.org/religious-education/
Of all the seven last words, the words, “It is finished” sound more like words of self-reflection than any others. They are not like the interactive words spoken to Mary and John; neither are they like the reconciling words spoken to the repentant thief; nor, it seems, are they like the words of anguish and committal addressed to the Father. Instead, these words seem to be those of a man who, at the point of dying, looks back at his living to see it as a unified whole. He has come to do the will of the One who sent him. Here are some thoughts and questions for your consideration this week:
Can you look back on your life and see a pattern? Can you see how God’s will has been at work in it?