“Ukraine: War, Morality, and Religion” – A Lenten Lecture with Fr. Bryan Hehir on Monday, March 27 at 7:30pm at St. John Powers Hall

“Ukraine: War, Morality, and Religion” – A Lenten Lecture with Fr. Bryan Hehir on Monday, March 27 at 7:30pm at St. John Powers Hall

(Please note the new date – Monday, March 27.)

Please join us Monday evening, March 27 for this important lecture with Fr. Bryan Hehir on the current situation in Ukraine.

This lecture is especially timely in light of our Lenten Gift supporting City of Goodness in their work to shelter and care for displaced women with children, orphans, and elderly people from all over Ukraine. 

Please note: Fr. Hehir’s lecture will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person: https://sjspwellesley.org/sj/live/

Telling the Story – Part 3: Building a New History of the City of Goodness

Telling the Story – Part 3: Building a New History of the City of Goodness

Since the onset of war over a year ago, City of Goodness has become a shelter, a home that gives security, comfort, and love for women with children (and their pets!), elderly and disabled people, and evacuees from  orphanages – children from birth to 7 years. They are now in the process of constructing additional buildings so hundreds more children and moms can be safe.

This place will become a rescue for those who lost their home due to war… for those who have no parents waiting for their loving families… for those who need home and comfort… While our buildings are looking for their patrons and are built brick by brick, hundreds of children, dozens of mothers, several elderly, our rescued pets are waiting in the already created and functioning buildings… they are waiting for food, medication, rehabilitation, treatment, psychologist services after experiencing terrible events… and every day we provide residents with everything they need, because they are our family and our great responsibility… All of us together are building a new history of the City of Goodness… brick by brick… window by window…

NEW DATE: Tuesday, March 21 – Evening for Women: “Stations of the Cross through Mary’s Eyes” at St. John

NEW DATE: Tuesday, March 21 – Evening for Women: “Stations of the Cross through Mary’s Eyes” at St. John

All women of the Collaborative are cordially invited to a Lenten program on Tuesday, March 21 at 6:00pm at St. John the Evangelist Church.  Our program will begin in the Upper Church,  where we will walk the Stations of the Cross through Mary’s eyes.

Following the Stations, Kelly Meraw will offer a short Lenten reflection.  (The Stations and Reflection will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person: sjspwellesley.org/sj/live/)

After the program, we will share a pot-luck dinner downstairs in Powers Hall.  Please plan to bring a dish to share and RSVP by clicking here: sjspwellesley.org/evening-for-women/

Please Support the 2023 Catholic Appeal

Please Support the 2023 Catholic Appeal

Please support the 2023 Catholic Appeal, which was launched last weekend in our Collaborative.

To donate online, please click HERE. (Please be sure to select St. Paul, Wellesley or St. John the Evangelist, Wellesley as your home parish when donating online.)

Donations and pledges may also be made by using the Catholic Appeal envelopes available in the pews at both churches – completed envelopes may be dropped in the regular offertory collection at Mass or at either parish office.

Through the goodness of thousands of generous people, the Church is able to provide assistance, support, and encouragement to the essential ministries within the Archdiocese of Boston. In his announcement regarding the launch of the 2023 Catholic Appeal, Cardinal Seán stated, “Parishes and parishioners are putting their faith into action. It begins with all of us.”

The Catholic Appeal provides ongoing and wide-ranging operational support and assistance to our parishes as they focus on building vibrant parish communities and fulfilling Christ’s mission to help those most in need…

Third Week of Lent: The Fourth Word – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Third Week of Lent: The Fourth Word – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Seeing the suffering Jesus and hearing how he prayed helps us to pray our way through our own sufferings. We realize again that he really entered into our human living and took on our heartaches and our pain.

Some questions to bring to prayer this week include: 

As you imagine this gospel scene, can you enter into conversation with Jesus about his suffering? 

Do you have your own experiences of feeling abandoned by God? How did/does it feel? How did/do you relate to God in those situations?

Pray for those who feel abandoned: spouses and children who have been deserted, the mentally ill and homeless who are uncared for, those who cling to ideals when others have folded to pressure.

Pray in gratitude for your faith- although it may seem weak at times- and for the faith of the community that sustains you in the midst of suffering…

Telling the Story – Part 2: Ukraine One Year Later

Telling the Story – Part 2: Ukraine One Year Later

It has now been just over a year since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Army expected quick victory, but instead were met with fierce resistance from the Ukrainian Army and Ukraine’s many citizen militias. Russia has received widespread international condemnation, with the United Nations General Assembly condemning the invasion and demanding a full withdrawal of Russian forces. 

The invasion has caused tens of thousands of deaths on both sides and instigated Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II, turning more than 8 million Ukrainians into refugees, with another 8 million people displaced inside Ukraine. Many Ukrainian men face mandatory conscription and many more, including teenagers, have opted voluntarily to join the resistance. This means that most refugees are women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

City of Goodness was originally established as a social service agency and shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence situations. With the onset of war their mission has expanded…

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner – Saturday, March 18 from 5:00-8:30pm at St. Paul Parish Hall

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner – Saturday, March 18 from 5:00-8:30pm at St. Paul Parish Hall

Join Us for Dinner, Drinks, Music, Coffee and Dessert!

Adult Options: Corned Beef Sandwich, Turkey Sandwich, Vegetarian Sandwich
Children: Cheese Pizza

Attention Bakers! Please bring a dessert to share!

Tickets are $20 for Adults and $10 for Children (family with children maximum $50)

Please make your reservations by March 15 to help with planning – thank you!

Please reserve online NOW! Click this link:  sjspwellesley.org/st-patricks-dinner

Collaborative Staff Update

Collaborative Staff Update

We are thrilled to announce that Angela DeProspo has joined our Collaborative Staff in the newly created position of Volunteer and Liturgical Life Coordinator.

Angela and her husband Tony have been parishioners at the Collaborative for the 16 years they have lived in Wellesley. Their daughter Mia graduated from Saint John School last year and is also active in the church. While Mia attended SJS, Angela served as the Faith Enrichment and Community Service PTO liaison, and she continues to train and coordinate altar servers for the Collaborative. Angela grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After receiving her Master of Education degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, she taught high school English at Boston Collegiate Charter School in Dorchester. In addition to her new responsibilities at the Collaborative…

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