News and Updates – Page 56 – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

Service: “College Behind Bars” Mentoring Program

The Corporal Works of Mercy are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ in disguise. One of the Corporal Works of Mercy – to visit the imprisoned – is at the heart of Prison Ministry programs.

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…

October 4, 2023: The Synod on Synodality Opens in Rome

Prior to the opening of the Synod on Synodality, voting delegates gathered at Fraterna Domus in Sacrofano for a three day retreat in spiritual preparation for the Synod. A series of meditations were prepared for the retreat by Rev. Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., a Dominican Friar and former Master of the Order of Preachers.

In the meditation titled “Friendship”, Fr. Radcliffe shared:

Preaching the gospel is never just communicating information. It is an act of friendship…

St. Paul Bell Tower Project Update

After vendor and supply-chain delays which added months to the project timeline, the structural work on the St. Paul bell tower, including new beams to support the weight of the bell, is now 100% complete.

We have moved into the final phase of the project, which is the replacement of the bell’s electronic ringing mechanisms.

This work is scheduled to be completed within three to four months – we will keep you posted!

Important! Upcoming Work at St. Paul Church and Temporary Mass Changes: October 17 – 20

We are thrilled to let you know that we finally have a date for the replacement of the old speakers at St. Paul Church! The sound system work will begin on Tuesday, October 17 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the day on Friday, October 20. We will not be able to celebrate Mass (including funeral Masses) in the church while this work is taking place.

The 9:00am Weekday Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Church on the following dates:

Wednesday, October 18: 9:00am Mass at St. John
Friday, October 20: 9:00am Mass at St. John

The First Global Assembly of the Synod on Synodality Opens October 4

In a letter addressed to bishops and eparchs from all over the world, Cardinal Mario Grech, General Secretary of the Synod, invites the faithful from around the world to prayerfully participate in the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that opens in the Vatican this Wednesday, October 4.

The Cardinal reminds everyone that the Synodal Assembly is above all an event of prayer and listening that involves not only the members of the Assembly, but every baptized person. All of us are called to unite in prayer and invocation of the Holy Spirit to guide us in discerning what the Lord is asking of the Church today…

Pray the Rosary With Us! Weekdays in October at 8:00am on Instagram Live

By tradition, the Church dedicates each month of the year to a certain devotion. October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, the best known of all Catholic devotions. Join members of our Collaborative Staff and the Adult Faith Enrichment (AFE) team (and some special guests!) as they pray the rosary on Instagram at 8:00am every weekday morning in October.

We look forward to growing our relationship with the Blessed Mother this month as she intercedes for us to her son and Our Lord Jesus Christ…

St. Vincent de Paul Celebration and Second Collection

Join us this Sunday, October 1, to celebrate the Society of St. Vincent de Paul!

Community Walk from St. Paul to St. John Immediately following the St. Paul 11:00am Mass, join us for the 2.4 mile walk from St. Paul Church to St. John Church along Washington St.

Celebration and BBQ Lunch at St. John The festivities begin at the conclusion of the St. John 12:00pm Mass with the arrival of the walkers from St. Paul who will join us for a BBQ, games, raffle and more in the Saint John School parking lot. You do not need to participate in the Walk to come to the BBQ – all are welcome!

Adult Faith Enrichment Bible Study: The Catholic Epistles

All parishioners are invited to participate in a Bible study using the book: Texts Less Traveled: Exploring Hebrews, the Catholic Epistles, and Revelation by Thomas D. Stegman, SJ (Paulist Press).

We will discus the Catholic Epistles: James; 1 and 2 Peter (Jude); and 1, 2, and 3 John. The last session will be an introduction to the Book of Revelation.

We shall meet in the St. Paul Parish Hall at 10:00am on the following Wednesdays: October 4, 11, 18, 25, November 1

For more information or to sign up please email: biblestudy@sjspwellesley.org

“Evening for Women” with Sr. Colleen Gibson – Tuesday, October 3 at 6:30pm at St. John the Evangelist

All women of the Collaborative are invited to our opening “Evening for Women” program on Tuesday, October 3 at 6:30pm at St. John the Evangelist Parish. Our featured speaker will be our very own Sister Colleen Gibson, SSJ, who will explore the topic “Wandering in Wonder: Finding Ourselves and God along the Way” as she invites us into the story of her own faith journey as a means of discovering the ways God calls each of us to be and become exactly who we’re meant to be.

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…

Scenes from Our Collaborative Outdoor Mass

Thank you to the many hundreds of parishioners who came together on a beautiful Sunday morning to celebrate Mass together – the spirit and joy were palpable!

A special thank you to Anne Mears, our official photographer, and others, for these amazing photos that capture the essence of the day!