News and Updates – Page 5 – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

“The synod is far from over”

Below is Sr. Colleen Gibson’s recent article published in the National Catholic Reporter.

A few weeks ago, in the run-up to the opening of the second session of the synod on synodality, the Prayer of the Faithful in our parish offered an intention for the synod and its delegates. Together we prayed: “For the synod: that as delegates gather in Rome this week, they may carry with them the cares and concerns of the communities they represent — speaking freely, listening deeply and engaging prayerfully in their efforts to follow the Spirit’s guidance.”

After Mass, a parishioner stopped me in the church foyer. “Is that still going on?” they asked.

My face clearly revealed I didn’t know what they were talking about…

Thank You from SVdP!

The St. John-St. Paul Society of St. Vincent de Paul would like to thank our collaborative community for their tremendous support of our recent Fill-the-Truck event. The response to helping those in need was tremendous – may God bless you all!

We will be back next fall with our next Fill-the-Truck event!

SVDP Fill-A-Truck Event! This Weekend, October 12-13 in the St. Paul Church Parking Lot

Saturday, October 12: 9:00am – 5:00pm

Sunday, October 13: 9:00am – 1:00pm

St. Paul Parking Lot
(behind the church – enter from Atwood St.)

Items Needed:
Clothing: men’s, women’s, children’s, shoes
Accessories: hats, scarves, costume jewelry
Linens: bedding, towels, sheets, blankets, kitchen linens
All donations must be bagged and in good/clean condition.

Clean out your closets and help those in need – let’s fill the truck! Thank you for helping us help others.

Questions? Need pickup for your donations? Email svdp@sjspwellesley.org during the week of October 6.

Saturday, October 26 at 10:00am – “Hope for Our Common Home: Catholics Care for Creation” (Webinar)

Join the Archdiocese of Boston Social Justice Ministry in collaboration with the Boston Catholic Climate Movement for an important webinar: “Hope for Our Common Home: Catholics Care for Creation.”

In Laudato Si’ Pope Francis urges us to listen to the cries of the poor and the cries of the earth. We are called to protect life and preserve all that sustains life on earth. How do we respond?

In this webinar we engage with Social Justice Leaders to contemplate the moral imperatives of caring for God’s creation. Please join us as we discover opportunities to work together in caring for creation.

To register…

Update from the Synod: Day 5 – The Last Day

Today is Sunday, which is supposedly a day of rest. But we were excited to get up and go to Mass at the Jesuit English-speaking Oratory of St. Francis Xavier of Caravita.

Four of us were asked to take part in the liturgy. We foolishly thought that taking a taxi rather than walking a mile with the rest would get us there in plenty of time. We waited and ordered Ubers and taxis that never came. With twenty-five minutes to go, we ran to the church, pushing aside tourists packed around the Trevi Fountain and rushing into the church with one minute to spare. The priests were lined up and, without catching our breath, we were leading the procession!

A Letter of Gratitude from Fr. Kevin

I write to express my deep gratitude for the incredible hospitality and generosity you have shown me during my time here at St. Paul’s Parish.

From the moment I arrived in July, through the months of August and September, you welcomed me with open hearts and made me feel part of your parish family. Your kindness, warm conversations, and spiritual support have made my stay not only comfortable but deeply enriching. I found another home away from home.

The memories of our shared moments at Mass, parish gatherings, and the many expressions of friendship and care will remain with me as I continue my journey of faith and study in Rome…

Update from the Synod: Day 4 – Deacon Day!

On this day we found ourselves in the Saint Lawrence Basilica, built as a diaconiae (not to be confused by that word). A diaconiae started as a simple structure to serve the needs of the poor in the area. Over time it was developed and expanded to include an oratory where deacons could gather in prayer. To this day, this oratory contains the Easter Candle as well as the ambo for the proclamation of the Gospel. Eventually a sanctuary was added to the oratory. This three-part design of the oratory and the sanctuary is a graphic reminder of the deacon’s threefold ministry of the Word (oratory), Sacrament (sanctuary) and Charity (the nave). These three make up one sacred reality! Pope Francis resumed the ancient custom of entrusting a church to a Deacon…

Updates from the Synod: Day 3 – “For every Francis, a Clare.”

Early in the morning we went to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

The Basilica ties its origins to a miracle that occurred in the fourth century: a snowfall on August 5 in Rome—a sign revealed to Pope Liberius in a dream. To commemorate that event every year on that date a snowfall of white rose petals cascades down over the altar. It felt dreamlike to be here! We had a special opportunity to celebrate Mass in one of the side chapels. Our two priests presided with their backs to us, tucked into that side altar in a church with snowfalls, Bernini statues, marbled mosaics and a relic from the nativity crib!

In the afternoon, Discerning Deacons and CEAMA (Amazonian Ecclesial Conference) hosted a panel in Pope Pius XI Hall…

October’s Evening for Women Program: “Women in Sacred Music”

This past Tuesday, October 1, we gathered at St. John for our first Evening for Women program of the 2024-2025 season. Guest speaker William Endicott, our new Collaborative Director of Music, spoke about the significant contributions of women in sacred music.

From sorting out the myths and facts surrounding St. Cecilia, the official patron saint of music, to a discussion of St. Hildegard of Bingen (c. 1098-1179), composer and Doctor of the Church, to more modern women composers of sacred music, including Florence Price and Theophane Hytrek, SSSF, it was an enlightening evening for all!

“Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

As we begin the month of October, a month the Church sets aside in intentional prayer for the dignity of life and the flawless witness of our Blessed Mother, it seems only fitting that we remind one another of the abundance of life in our own Collaborative.

Our Sunday 9AM Family Mass is not the only place where you will find the faithful witness of young families gathered to participate in the celebration of the Mass. Voices and hearts of all ages make up the fabric of each of our Masses. We are so grateful that at the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative it is rare to experience a Mass without the simultaneous presence of those with a lifetime of devotion and wisdom under their spiritual belts as well as little hearts learning to know and love Jesus…