Monthly Archives: May 2013

May 12: My Faith Map

Posted on May 10, 2013 | Comments Off on May 12: My Faith Map

My Faith MapMy Faith Map by Anne Wachtmeister
I suppose my Faith Map began with questions at my Baptism and continued throughout my religious education with more questions – some of which had answers and some I was left to ponder. Now as an adult member of the faith community, the questions come in the form of invitations to participate more fully. With every affirmative response to these opportunities my faith has grown and deepened. Amazingly, this has led to more questions, and so the journey continues.

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation

May 12: News from the AFFC

Posted on May 10, 2013 | Comments Off on May 12: News from the AFFC

AFFC LogoSunday, May 19 7:30 pm: 38th Social Justice Forum at Sacred Heart Understanding Islam and the Role of Women with Zilka Spahic Siljak. Professor Siljak is currently a visiting lecturer at the Harvard Divinity School, where she teaches a course entitled “Women, Spirituality and Peace”.  Free admission, open to the public.  Sponsored by the Sacred Heart Parish Justice and Peace Committee – click for more information. Sacred Heart Parish (Lower Church) 1321 Centre St., Newton Centre

Faith Maps: As we know, during this Year of Faith, there is a great emphasis on evangelization, the act of spreading the Good News, sharing the message and life of Jesus Christ.  At a recent meeting of our Parish Adult Faith Formation Commission, the group explored the idea of inviting parishioners to witness and share their experience and journey in faith. These stories, personal and different, identified or anonymous, will appear in the Sunday Bulletin, with the heading,  My Faith Map. Please send your Faith Map story to Frank McConville by e-mail or snail mail: 59 Thackeray Road, Wellesley, 02481.

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation

May 12: News from Religious Education

Posted on May 10, 2013 | Comments Off on May 12: News from Religious Education

Religious-Education-Contemporary_SMALLReligious Education registration packets for the 2013-2014 school year were mailed to all families recently. If you have not received a packet in the mail, it is available for download on the Parish website.  The deadline for registering before the late fee is assessed is MAY 31. We are always looking for teachers who are willing to teach any of the grades 1 – 10. If you are interested, please contact the Religious Education Office at 781.235.5337 (grades 1 – 6) or 781.237.0141 (grades 7 – 10).

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Posted in Religious Education Program

Letter from Fr. Nestor Nongo from the Central Republic of Africa

Posted on May 8, 2013 | Comments Off on Letter from Fr. Nestor Nongo from the Central Republic of Africa

St. John was fortunate enough to have Summer assistance from the Society of Missionaries of Africa (SMA) from 2005 until 2010. Fr. Nongo, whose homeland is the Central Republic of Africa, was the first SMA priest to arrive at St. John’s. At that time Fr. Nongo was studying in Strasbourg, France. Last July, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocesan of Bossangoa located in the North West section of the Central Republic of Africa. Below is another letter we received from Fr. Nongo which mentions the tremendous suffering and faith of his Nation. We request your prayers for him and for the citizens of the Central Republic of Africa.

Hi Father,
Human nature seems to be crazy when we consider some of the behaviour people put up. The recent happenings in Boston during the marathon and the socio-political crisis in the Central African Republic stand as proof to that.

Mostly for economic reasons, human dignity has been neglected. Some of the so called democratic countries have sponsored rebellions to get rid of a man, the ousted president. The coup has been followed by a lot of atrocities: raping, kidnapping, looting, destruction of private and administrative proprieties, getting hold of people’s houses, killings/murder, maiming and the like. The rebellions have been organized by the French who used the president of Chad. Most of the rebels are mercenaries from Chad and Sudan.

Beyond the political agenda, the real intention of those who got to power is to establish sharia law in the country. They want to destabilize the catholic church. That is why they committed a lot of destruction to our various institutions: theft of cars, garage and technical materials, destruction of clinics, schools, radios… In my diocese, there are parishes and religious communities where every thing has been stolen. The priests and sisters don’t have a place to lie their head. Even spoons, forks, and knives have been taken away. The situation is near to chaos. There seems not to be a solution to this crisis so far; those who consider themselves to be the leaders persist in falsehood and lie. We keep on praying for peace so that God will help overcome this crisis.

I wish to record my appreciation to you for the financial help you sent me for the development of my diocese. I intended using this money to complete the donation I received in view of establishing a dental clinic in Bossangoa. In the present situation of instability, I’d better wait a little bit. My regards to all the parishioners from Saint John the Evangelist. – Nestor

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Posted in Important Announcements

From the Service Commission: 2013 Lenten Gift Update and Thank You

Posted on May 8, 2013 | Comments Off on From the Service Commission: 2013 Lenten Gift Update and Thank You

Final1_CroppedThank you so much for your support of this year’s Parish Lenten Gift: Rebuilding in Faith – Supporting St. Margaret Mary Parish, Staten Island, NY.  The final collection totaled $26,672 and resulted from big and small donations from so many parishioners as well as various Religious Education classes. The check was personally delivered by a Service Commission member who met the parish staff of St. Margaret Mary, visited the church and toured the Midlands Beach area of Staten Island. The St. Margaret Mary Disaster Relief Fund has chosen to help the family of four featured in one of our Lenten bulletin messages (please see thank you note below). Thank you for being a true witness to Christ’s love by giving of yourself to people you don’t even know, because you have chosen to “love one another as I have loved you” John 13:34.

Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on Earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks with compassion on this world.
St. Theresa of Avila

***A letter from Bob Dennis, St. Margaret Mary Parish Manager***

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Faith,

It is difficult to put into words the feelings we have that would adequately express our overwhelming sense of gratitude for the people of St John the Evangelist. Through the generosity of your parish you will make a substantial difference in the life of Carl (a NYC Policeman), his wife Marilyn, a daughter Alivia (who has Crohn’s Disease) and his son Carl Jr., parishioners of St. Margaret Mary. The 2 bedroom bungalow they shared was so damaged that everything, except a new bathroom they put in a year ago, has to be replaced – all interior walls, floors, ceilings furniture and personal belongings have been either lost or damaged. The piles of rubble outside his home remain as testament to the damage caused by Sandy.

Carl helped his neighbors and strangers to escape the quickly rising water, at the cost of his own personal property. Jim Miller from your parish was gracious enough to come to Staten Island and see Carl’s house and hear his story, again thank you for taking the time to do that. It was my great pleasure to show you around.

You will always be in our prayers,

Bob Dennis, Parish Manager

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Posted in 2013 Lenten Gift, Important Announcements, Service Commission

Appreciation Weekend May 18-19

Posted on May 6, 2013 | Comments Off on Appreciation Weekend May 18-19

All Masses will be in Thanksgiving for you who make our parish all that it is and continues to become!
Thank You All!
Please join us Sunday morning for refreshments after the 7:30am, 9:00am, and 11:00am Masses.

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Posted in Children, Family Mass, Important Announcements, Special Events, Special Liturgies

Meg Meeker, M.D., Leading Author on Parenting Issues to speak at St. Paul Parish – Tuesday, May 7 at 7pm

Posted on May 2, 2013 | Comments Off on Meg Meeker, M.D., Leading Author on Parenting Issues to speak at St. Paul Parish – Tuesday, May 7 at 7pm
Meeker_MegSaint Paul Parish in Wellesley will recognize Mother’s Day a week early this year, with a special presentation by Meg Meeker, M.D., a nationally-known authority on parenting and children’s health issues.  Dr. Meeker will visit St. Paul Parish at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7 to discuss her latest book,  “The Ten Habits of Happy Mothers: Reclaiming Our Passion, Purpose and Sanity”, which was inspired by her work with numerous families over the course of her career.  The event is free of charge and open to the general public.  No reservations are required.

The author of six books and many magazine articles, Dr. Meeker has spent the past 25 years practicing pediatric and adolescent medicine while also helping parents and teens communicate more deeply about difficult topics.   She is a frequent speaker on parenting and teen health issues, and has made numerous appearances on nationally syndicated radio and television programs, including The Today Show, Teresa Tomeo’s Catholic Connection, CNN American Morning, and Dateline.  Dr. Meeker is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Detailed biographical information is found at her website.

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Posted in Family Mass, Important Announcements

May 5: My Faith Map

Posted on May 2, 2013 | Comments Off on May 5: My Faith Map

My Faith MapMy Faith Map by Linda Colozzi
Like Bartimaeus, the blind man that Jesus healed, I was blind to the light of faith and called out to God for help. I cried out, “Who are you, God? Where are you? I want the truth!” God answered me with a sense of peace that day and called me into prayer the next day….and the next. I first prayed to the “One”, then it was the “Holy One”, then I came to know the “Holy Spirit” who revealed Jesus as God to me. That began a 40-year practice of daily prayer that led me from Judaism into the Catholic Church through the RCIA program in 1991. Continuing to say, “Yes” to wherever God leads me has brought me more happiness than I ever knew possible, though not without struggle and pain. Today, I serve as Chaplain and Director of Spiritual Care at Elizabeth Seton Residence where I have been for over 12 years. In addition, I began to journey with the Sisters of Charity – Halifax as an Associate over 10 years ago. Bringing “joyful witness to God’s love” through conscious and intentional community building is the call I hear today.
All is gift. All is God. All is grace.

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation

May 5: News from the AFFC

Posted on May 2, 2013 | Comments Off on May 5: News from the AFFC

AFFC LogoSunday, May 19 7:30 pm: 38th Social Justice Forum at Sacred Heart Understanding Islam and the Role of Women with Zilka Spahic Siljak. Professor Siljak is currently a visiting lecturer at the Harvard Divinity School, where she teaches a course entitled “Women, Spirituality and Peace”.  Free admission, open to the public.  Sponsored by the Sacred Heart Parish Justice and Peace Committee – click for more information. Sacred Heart Parish (Lower Church) 1321 Centre St., Newton Centre

Faith Maps: As we know, during this Year of Faith, there is a great emphasis on evangelization, the act of spreading the Good News, sharing the message and life of Jesus Christ.  At a recent meeting of our Parish Adult Faith Formation Commission, the group explored the idea of inviting parishioners to witness and share their experience and journey in faith. These stories, personal and different, identified or anonymous, will appear in the Sunday Bulletin, with the heading,  My Faith Map. Please send your Faith Map story to Frank McConville by e-mail or snail mail: 59 Thackeray Road, Wellesley, 02481.
To begin and as an example, please read  My Faith Map by Linda Colozzi.

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, Important Announcements

May 5: This Week in Religious Education

Posted on May 2, 2013 | Comments Off on May 5: This Week in Religious Education

Religious-Education-Contemporary_SMALLThis Week: Sunday, May 5
Grades 1 – 6 Class 10:00 – 10:45 AM
Monday, May 6 – Thursday, May 9
First Communion Practice 3:30 – 4:45 PM*
(as assigned)
Saturday, May 11
First Holy Communion 9:00 & 11:30 AM

* Each student was assigned to attend specific practice dates. It is important your child attend at the correct time. Please contact Linda Messore if you are unsure which practices to attend.

Religious Education registration packets for the 2013/2014 school year were mailed to all families recently. If you have not received a packet in the mail, it is available for download on the Religious Education page of the Parish website. The deadline for registering before the late fee is MAY 31. We are always looking for teachers who are willing to teach any of the grades 1 – 10. If you are interested, please contact the Religious Education office at 781.235.5337 (grades 1–6) or 781.237.0141 (grades 7–10).

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Posted in Important Announcements, Religious Education Program