Ash Wednesday, February 14 Collection for Catholic Charities

Ash Wednesday, February 14 Collection for Catholic Charities

The collection at all Masses in the Archdiocese of Boston on Ash Wednesday is taken up for Catholic Charities Boston. Catholic Charities helps thousands of families within our own communities who are facing critical challenges – homelessness, food insecurity, poverty, lack of affordable childcare, access to education and job training, legal advocacy and support for refugees and immigrants – to help achieve stability and reach self-sufficiency.

Donation may be made during the collection on Ash Wednesday or online by visiting ccab.org/donate
Any amount you can give directly helps our neighbors in need. Thank you so much.

Lenten Study: “Revisiting ‘The Joy of the Gospel'”

Lenten Study: “Revisiting ‘The Joy of the Gospel'”

Tuesdays in Lent beginning February 20
6:30pm – 8:00pm St. Paul Parish Hall

Ten years after Pope Francis’ first apostolic exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel”, is an important reminder for every disciple to live in joyful, missionary witness…

Through this six  session study we will revisit this consistent theme and discuss what it means for our faith and Church today as we enhance our understanding of what it means to be a Synodal Church.

Registration is required…

Lenten Scripture Study: “The Book of Revelation”

Lenten Scripture Study: “The Book of Revelation”

Four Wednesdays in Lent: February 21 & 28 and March 13 & 20
Morning Group: 9:30am in St. Paul Parish Hall
Evening Group: 7:00pm on Zoom

 
Inarguably the most eccentric book of the Bible, “The Book of Revelation” stands in a unique place in the Canon. Its apocalyptic imagery and symbolism can both confound and intrigue the reader. It is also the only book of the Bible which promises a blessing over anyone who reads aloud and hears the words of the prophecy. Join a group this Lent to dive into John’s riveting eschatology! 

Registration is required…

Tuesday, February 6 at 6:30pm: “Evening for Women” Potluck Prayer and Supper at St. John

Tuesday, February 6 at 6:30pm: “Evening for Women” <i>Potluck Prayer and Supper</i> at St. John

All women of the collaborative are invited to an hour of “Potluck Prayer”.  “Potluck Prayer” is a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration with an invitation for all gathered to share music, poems, readings, art, and anything else that may be preparing our hearts for our Lenten journey or inspiring our prayer life. 

After our Holy Hour in the Lower Chapel we will gather in Powers Hall for a potluck dinner and fellowship.

Bring a dish or beverage to share and invite a friend or neighbor to come along!

To help us plan for the evening, please RSVP…

From The Pilot: Father Hehir addresses ethics of war

From The Pilot: Father Hehir addresses ethics of war

Father Bryan Hehir, secretary of health and social services for the Archdiocese of Boston, has been teaching about religion, ethics, and foreign policy for 40 years. He is fond of giving his students a challenging moral dilemma. He asks them to imagine themselves as a military leader during a conflict. An enemy tank factory has been discovered — but it is located next to a kindergarten, a school, and a hospital.

“We’ll do our best,” a commanding officer explains, “but we can’t guarantee that none of them would be killed.”

Would you approve an attack? Must civilian casualties be kept to zero at all costs? Or should the enemy target be neutralized by any means necessary? How many deaths is an appropriate price to pay for victory? Father Hehir attempted to answer these difficult questions from a Catholic perspective during “Two Wars: One Moral Framework,” a talk about the morality of the current conflicts in Ukraine and the Holy Land. Father Hehir delivered the talk to a packed house at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Wellesley on Jan. 25. . .

An Important Message about Music at the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative

An Important Message about Music at the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative

Over the course of the almost 9 years since our parishes came together as a Collaborative in 2015, we have worked to establish a Collaborative Pastoral Council, Collaborative Adult Faith Enrichment and Service Commissions, and Collaborative Religious Education and Youth Ministry programs. This work has made our Collaborative, and our parishes, even stronger and more vibrant.

Now, in 2024, the time is right to put the last piece of the collaborative puzzle in place by creating the new role of Collaborative Director of Music, replacing the current structure of separate parish music directors. Reporting directly to the pastor, the Collaborative Director of Music will have responsibility for and oversight over all facets of music ministry within the Collaborative, including the music of every Mass as well as our adult, teen, and children’s choirs.  Over time, we have created unique musical cultures at each of our Masses, and our desire is to honor and retain that uniqueness moving forward…

Announcement Regarding Lowering Age of Confirmation

Announcement Regarding Lowering Age of Confirmation

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops sets the ordinary age of Confirmation between the age of discretion (around age eight) and about sixteen years of age, as determined by the local bishop. In the Archdiocese of Boston, the ordinary age has been Grade 10. Recently, the Archdiocese of Boston announced that Cardinal Seán has approved a proposal that will lower the ordinary age of Confirmation within the Archdiocese of Boston from Grade 10 to Grade 8, to be implemented over the next 2-3 years.

Why is this change being made? For some time, the Archdiocese has been involved in an extensive consultation on a question of great importance: how to strengthen the participation of young people and their families in the life of faith in Jesus Christ lived out in our parishes, schools, and communities…

Celebrate Catholic Schools Week!

Celebrate Catholic Schools Week!

Catholic schools have an irreplaceable role in the Church’s evangelizing mission. Building on the central goal of Catholic schools to form saints, Catholic schools teach and embrace the whole person, body, mind, and spirit. The fact that all members of a Catholic school community share the Christian vision of faith that Christ is the foundation of Catholic education is what unites the school as a faith-filled community.

This week, we celebrate Saint John School in a special way…