Family Faith Formation Advent Retreat – “Waiting in Hope”

Family Faith Formation Advent Retreat – “Waiting in Hope”

Last Sunday over 100 families took part in our Family Faith Formation Advent Retreat for families of students in Grades K-5!  Focused on the theme of “Waiting in Hope,” the retreat invited families to take a moment to reflect more deeply on the Advent season and Christ’s coming into our lives. 

Beginning right after the 9AM Family Mass, families gathered in St. John Church for an opening prayer that called everyone to open their hearts and minds to the hope, peace, joy, and love that Advent invite us to. Families were then given the opportunity to take part in four different stations throughout the building…

Kids – Come Sing in the Collaborative Children’s Choir on Christmas Eve! Rehearsal on Saturday, December 20

Kids – Come Sing in the Collaborative Children’s Choir on Christmas Eve! Rehearsal on Saturday, December 20

If your child is interested in joining us to sing at the 4pm Mass at St. John on Christmas Eve, come to our rehearsal on Saturday, December 20 at 9am at St. John.

But why wait – start singing at the Family Mass now!

The Collaborative Children’s Choir sings the 9:00am Family Mass weekly during the school year. The Choir is open to children in grades 3-7 (with some flexibility, just ask!)  We meet at 8:30am Sunday mornings to rehearse before the 9:00am Family Mass  – come join us! To express interest or with any questions please email Music Director William Endicott.

24th Annual “Spirit of Sharing” Gift Collection for Saint Patrick Parish, Lawrence

24th Annual “Spirit of Sharing” Gift Collection for Saint Patrick Parish, Lawrence

Begun in our St. John – St. Paul Collaborative, Spirit of Sharing is a Christmas gift program that has brightened the Christmas season for thousands of young boys and girls living at risk for hunger in Lawrence, Massachusetts. When Rev. Paul O’Brien, uncle of three St. John’s School alumni, began serving as pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Lawrence, he discovered that many parents worked three jobs yet could not afford to provide Christmas presents to their sons and daughters.

Spirit of Sharing was founded to share our community’s time and treasure with members of this faithful, family-oriented, and financially impoverished community just about thirty miles away. With the help of many teen and adult volunteers, we collect donations from our area and then, on the Saturday before Christmas, categorize and display them, greet the parents, and assist them in selecting gifts for their children. We invite you to donate gifts for children and/or volunteer (adults and teens 14+) at the event on Saturday, December 20…

Christmas Music and Flowers

Christmas Music and Flowers

Each year at this time we invite you to donate toward Christmas Music and/or Christmas Flowers at your parish in memory or honor of a loved one. 

You may use the Flower and Music envelopes included with your offertory envelopes and drop them in the collection at Mass, or you may mail or drop your donation to either Parish Office.  Please be sure to include the name(s) of those you want remembered in this special way, and please print clearly.

You can also donate online at sjspwellesley.org…

Sunday, December 14 at 2pm: Lessons and Carols at St. Paul Church

Sunday, December 14 at 2pm: <i>Lessons and Carols</i> at St. Paul Church

Come and hear the Christmas story in words and music during this season of preparation! Lessons and Carols is a service of Scripture and song that dates to the late 19th century.

Through poignant readings from the Old and New Testaments, interspersed with beautiful music sung by the combined choirs of St. John and St. Paul, the congregation is invited to reflect on the birth of Jesus in the context of its significance in salvation history.

Don’t miss this festive tradition presented by the Parish Choirs of St. Paul & St. John, led by William Endicott, Collaborative Director of Music.

Thank You From Our SJSP Conference of St. Vincent de Paul

Thank You From Our SJSP Conference of St. Vincent de Paul

As we enter the Christmas season, the SJSP St. Vincent DePaul Conference wishes to thank the parishioners of the St John- St. Paul Collaborative for their generous support of our efforts. We raised over $23,000 through the Special Second Collection in September at the Outdoor Mass, and our SVDP Fill-a-Truck drive filled the truck for the SVDP thrift stores.

Our fundraising is on-going throughout the year. Donations can be made online on our SVdP page through the parish online giving sites as well as in the SVDP donation boxes at the entrances of the churches. These funds allow us to continue to support those in need in our neighborhoods as well as the overall Boston Diocese.

Each year at Christmastime, we visit parishioners who are home bound, and this year the visits will take place on Saturday, December 13. If anyone desires a visit, please contact either parish office…

This Sunday, December 7: Advent Family Retreat for Mustard Seeds and Loaves & Fishes (Grades K-5)

This Sunday, December 7: Advent Family Retreat for Mustard Seeds and Loaves & Fishes (Grades K-5)

“Waiting in Hope” – An Advent Family Retreat at St. John the Evangelist Church following the 9am Family Mass

We will begin by gathering in the Upper Church at 10:00am for an Opening Prayer and an overview of the retreat activities. Parents and kids will move together through a series of Advent activities before returning to the upper church for a closing song and prayer – a great way to enter together into this season of waiting in hope!

REMINDER: All sessions for Grades K-5 are Family Sessions (children and parent/s together.) Children may not be “dropped off” without a parent or guardian. 

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