News and Updates – Page 8 – St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative

Our Regular Summer Mass Schedule Returns This Weekend, August 10-11

We are excited to announce that beginning this weekend, August 10-11, we are able to return to our regular Summer Mass Schedule.

Saturday 4:00pm Vigil Mass at St. Paul
Saturday 5:00pm Vigil Mass at St. John*
Sunday 9:00am Mass at St. Paul*
Sunday 11:00am Mass at St. John

The St. John parking lot will be open for Weekend Masses and funeral parking (but may be closed at other times to facilitate ongoing work on fencing, gets, etc.)

Please drive slowly and carefully while entering, parking, and exiting, and park in the normal layout…

Cardinal Sean’s Message to the Archdiocese of Boston Regarding Archbishop-elect Richard G. Henning, S.T.D, as Archbishop of Boston

August 5, 2024

Dear Friends,

This morning the Holy Father announced that he has named the Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, S.T.D. as the tenth bishop and seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston.

Archbishop-elect Henning is currently the Bishop of the Diocese of Providence.

On behalf of the entire Archdiocese of Boston, including our priests, religious, deacons, and laity we welcome Archbishop-elect Richard Henning. We extend our deep gratitude to the Holy Father for this appointment demonstrating his ongoing pastoral care for the people of the Archdiocese…

Wellesley Interfaith Lay Dialogue (WILD)

In late April, Temple Beth Elohim hosted a beautiful night of Shabbat services and interfaith sharing. Members of faith communities throughout the Wellesley community were invited to worship together and hear reflections from representative clergy.

From that beautiful event the idea for an interfaith lay ministry arose. Members of various congregations met together and formed WILD (Wellesley Interfaith Lay Dialogue), whose aim is to explore opportunities for lay conversation and collaboration.

Our first event, facilitated by Kelly Meraw, will be held on Thursday, September 12 at 6:00PM at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley. The topic of the evening’s dialogue will be “Synodality: A Language of Listening”…

St. John Parking Lot Reconstruction: Week 3

It’s been a busy week! Work on the new gates and fencing is in full swing, and by the time you read this the top coat will have been applied! We are on schedule to reopen the parking lot next weekend, August 10-11, and return to our Regular Summer Mass Schedule.

Summer Weekend Mass Schedule – August 10-11 Through Labor Day Weekend:
Saturday 4:00pm Vigil Mass at St. Paul
Saturday 5:00pm Vigil Mass at St. John*
Sunday 9:00am Mass at St. Paul*
Sunday 11:00am Mass at St. John *Livestreamed Masses

IMPORTANT: Beginning Saturday, August 10 the parking lot will be open for Weekend Mass and funeral parking, but may be closed at other times to facilitate ongoing work.

Caring for Our Common Home – Roof Garden Experiment!

In Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter, “Laudato si’ – On Care for Our Common Home”, he notes that scripture tells us to “till and keep” the garden of the world (cf. Gen 2:15). “Tilling” refers to cultivating, ploughing or working, while “keeping” means caring, protecting, overseeing and preserving. He calls on all of us to consider how even our smallest daily actions and decisions can shape the future of the planet, for better or for worse.

This winter, staff members in the Collaborative Offices (the former Saint John Convent building) came up with the idea of using the roof of the former sunroom to “till and keep” a vegetable garden – the kind of small step that can help shape a better future. Rooftop gardens can have a positive environmental impact, because the increased surface area of vegetation lowers the surrounding air temperature, and the vegetation helps absorb and purify rainwater and storm runoff…

St. John Parking Lot Reconstruction: Week 2

Our general contractor, Ernest Guigli & Sons, Inc., has been making excellent progress! During the first week, the demolition of the old parking lot, compacting of the surface, and binder coat was completed. This past week, while the binder layer cures, asphalt curbing was installed along the fence lines. The curbing acts as a safety measure for people and vehicles and also adds a protective element for our existing trees, improving their health and the health of future plantings. The statue of the Blessed Mother in front of the Parish Center has been moved closer to the building where a small gathering area will be created for prayer and quiet reflection.

Work on the new driveway gates will begin this coming week, and the application of the top coat will happen over the next two weeks, so we are on schedule…

The St. Paul Church Front Entrance is Now Complete!

The installation of the new front steps at St. Paul Church was completed this week. The new granite steps, in addition to being beautiful, will be much safer and much easier to keep clear in the winter than the previous brick steps.

The crew is still working on a few small repairs to the side entrances, which should be completed very soon. We thank you again for your patience as we complete this important work…

Kelly Meraw Preaching for the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene on “Catholic Women Preach”

Please take a few moments to watch Kelly’s reflection on the readings for July 22, the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene.

Kelly reminds us of Mary’s deep listening to Jesus’ call, and her courage and perseverance in answering his call to “go and tell.”

“He is here. He is alive. He is speaking to us. And we’ve got to tell everyone!”

Click the Play button below to watch the video –

Thank You for Your Prayers!

It was with great joy that I was able to be a part of the General Chapter for my congregation, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia, at the end of June.

For ten days, a group of 189 sisters gathered at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia to pray together, discern our future, and ask God’s guidance on the next five years of our Congregation.

As our Chapter theme called us we spent our days “Listening Deeply & Loving Courageously,” not just for our own life but for the life of the world and the many communities we serve. Truly it was blessed time to be together, filled with sacred sharing, heartfelt reunions, and a healthy dose of laughter along the way…

St. Katharine Drexel Food Pantry Collection – This Sunday, July 21 at St. John Church

The St. Katharine Drexel Food Pantry Collection will take place as scheduled this Sunday.

As always, please double bag your donations and drop at the Glen Road entrance to the church any time before 11:00am on Sunday morning.

Thank you for your continued generous support of our Food Pantry Collections, especially during the summer months when other resources such as school-based programs are unavailable and the need is great!