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.

Good Friday and the Wellesley Public Schools Calendar

Good Friday and the Wellesley Public Schools Calendar

Since the 1990s, Wellesley Public Schools have been closed on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Good Friday, in addition to the mandated statewide legal holidays. In recent years, requests have been made to add additional religious/cultural holidays to the calendar, and in December 2023 the School Committee voted to add three holidays to the 2024-2025 calendar: Lunar New Year, Eid al-Fitr, and Diwali. This past spring, a task force was appointed to study the recognition of religious/cultural holidays and make recommendations. The Task Force considered several options, ranging from a statewide-holidays-only option to this year’s 6-holiday option.

Last week, the Task Force presented their recommended option to the School Committee. This option 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…

October 31, 2024: Installation Mass for Archbishop-designate Richard G. Henning

October 31, 2024: Installation Mass for Archbishop-designate Richard G. Henning

Archbishop-designate Richard G. Henning will be installed as the tenth bishop and seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Due to limited space, the Installation will be by invitation only, yet participation in the event is possible via livestream. All are invited to watch the Installation Mass live on CatholicTV, beginning with the procession at 1:30 p.m.

The installation will begin with Archbishop-designate Henning entering the cathedral. It is traditional for him to knock on the cathedral’s doors, and be welcomed by Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, who will present the new archbishop to the assembly…

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