Monthly Archives: November 2013

Evening for Women: Tuesday, December 3 at 6:30pm

Posted on November 30, 2013 | Comments Off on Evening for Women: Tuesday, December 3 at 6:30pm

heart-of-godThis year’s theme –  Becoming a Space for God… A Journey Into the Heart of Life – invites us to travel down new avenues of seeing and hearing to experience the grace in everyday life. Through reflection, prayer, sharing, with a fabulous potluck, we’ll travel this road together every first Tuesday evening. Join us on Tuesday, December 3 at 6:30pm in the Social Hall.  (Bring a favorite Fall recipe!)  All Welcome!
Moderator: Sr. Evelyn Ronan, SND

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, Important Announcements

Collaborative FAQ 19: Any Surprises From Phase 1?

Posted on November 29, 2013 | Comments Off on Collaborative FAQ 19: Any Surprises From Phase 1?

SJSP Collaborative Logo_SmallQuestion 19: Since Phase One is underway already, has the Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Commission noted any challenges or surprises with these initial Collaboratives?

As we all know, change is rarely easy! Phase One Pastors have embraced major change: they left familiar  surroundings and started working with new staffs and parishioners. They are learning the culture of their new parishes while trying to keep up Mass schedules and levels of involvement with their parishioners. These Pastors have committed themselves to grow strong, intentional, and effective centers for the Archdiocese’s New Evangelization.  One area which posed some surprising false starts for the Collaboratives was IT. Getting the proper networking, internet, phone, and wiring in twelve Collaboratives up and running proved to be more complex than anticipated. Things are going more smoothly now; patience and persistence is paying off.

We welcome your comments and feedback. Please email your questions or comments about Parish Collaboratives to: stjohn.stpaul@gmail.com 

For more information and to the view this entire series of “Frequently Asked Questions” please visit the St. John – St. Paul Collaborative News page on our website.

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Posted in Disciples in Mission, Important Announcements, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Planning - FAQ

First Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 1

Posted on November 29, 2013 | Comments Off on First Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 1

advent2Brothers and sisters:
You know the time;
it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.
For our salvation is nearer now
than when we first believed;
the night is advanced, the day is at hand.
Let us then throw off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light…

Romans 13:11-12

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Sunday, December 1

Posted in Important Announcements

December 1: News and Events from the AFFC

Posted on November 27, 2013 | Comments Off on December 1: News and Events from the AFFC

AFFC LogoAFFC BLOG: For the month of December, the Adult Faith Formation Commission is discussing ADVENT. Please visit our blog –  FAITH MATTERS  – to find reflections written by parishioners as well as links to lots of great information. “Like” us on Facebook to receive regular updates on our monthly theme!

Tuesday, December 3 at 6:30pm: EVENING FOR WOMEN
This year’s theme “Becoming a Space for God… A Journey Into the Heart of Life” invites us to travel down new avenues of seeing and hearing to experience the grace in everyday life. Through reflection, prayer, sharing,
with a fabulous potluck, we’ll travel this road together every first Tuesday evening. The next gathering is this Tuesday, December 3 at 6:30 p.m. Starts in the Social Hall. All Welcome! (Bring a favorite Fall Recipe!) Moderator: Sr. Evelyn Ronan, SND

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Posted in Important Announcements

December 1: This Week in Religious Education

Posted on November 27, 2013 | Comments Off on December 1: This Week in Religious Education

Religious-Education-Contemporary_SMALLThis Week: No classes.

Next Week: Sunday, December 8
Grades 1-6 Class 10:00 – 10:45 AM
*Grades 9-10 Teen Mass with St. Paul’s students at
5:00 PM

*Grades 9 & 10 are expected to attend this Mass to which the 9th and 10th grades from St. Paul’s have been invited.  Attendance will be taken. Grades 7 & 8 are encouraged and most welcome to attend the Mass; however, no class is scheduled for these grades.

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Posted in Important Announcements

Pope Francis Presents His Vision for His Papacy, and a Questionnaire on Family Life

Posted on November 26, 2013 | Comments Off on Pope Francis Presents His Vision for His Papacy, and a Questionnaire on Family Life

Francis_VaticanPope Francis issued his first major written work today, a papal pronouncement known as an “apostolic exhortation,” calling on Catholics to battle what he called the “globalization of indifference.”  Called “Evangelii Gaudium,” (the Joy of the Gospel), the document calls for “a new phase of evangelization, one marked by enthusiasm and vitality.”  Pope Francis calls on parishes to be a point of “contact with the homes and the lives of its people,” and not a “useless structure out of touch with people or a self-absorbed cluster made up of a chosen few…”  You can read the complete Apostolic Exhortation EVANGELLI GAUDIUM on the Vatican website, or download a copy here.

Also, the Vatican, in preparation for a Synod in 2014 has sent a questionnaire to all members of the Church.  If you are interested in reading it you may find it on our website:  Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization.  Responses that parishioners send will be shared with the Parish Council and a collective summary will be sent to the Diocese. We have been informed that the due date for the input is December 17.

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Posted in Pope Francis

Parish Thanksgiving Mass at 8:30am

Posted on November 26, 2013 | Comments Off on Parish Thanksgiving Mass at 8:30am

Thanksgiving Prayer With Border and Leaves_Big

Wishing a happy and blessed Thanksgiving to all!

Please join us for our Parish Thanksgiving Mass on Thursday, November 28 at 8:30am.

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Posted in Important Announcements, Special Liturgies, Special Mass Schedule

Registration is CLOSED for Christmas Youth Choir

Posted on November 25, 2013 | Comments Off on Registration is CLOSED for Christmas Youth Choir

Music_Youth Choir LogoFor children already registered, rehearsals continue as follows:

12/08 10:50-11:50am
12/15 10:50-11:50am
12/22 10:00-11:00am*

*Please note: the December 22nd rehearsal is 10AM- 11:00 AM.

Children will participate in the Parish Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 8 AND/OR the Christmas Eve 5:30 Family Mass. All rehearsals are in St. John’s Chapel.  For more information, please call Maria Wardwell at 781-237-2148.

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Posted in Music, Youth Choir

Advent Wreaths from Trees and Trimming Available This Weekend, December 1st

Posted on November 25, 2013 | Comments Off on Advent Wreaths from Trees and Trimming Available This Weekend, December 1st

advent-wreath-fully-litAdvent wreaths will be available for purchase this  weekend, December 1st (first Sunday of Advent),  after the 7:30am, 9am, 11am and 5pm Masses, as well as at the 5pm Mass on  Saturday, November 30th. No preorder necessary!

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Posted in Saint John School

St. Katharine Drexel Food Pantry Collection Needs Your Help

Posted on November 25, 2013 | Comments Off on St. Katharine Drexel Food Pantry Collection Needs Your Help

feed the hungryAs you know, we collect food items for the Food Pantry at our sister Parish, Saint Katharine Drexel, on the second Sunday each month. This November, food assistance benefits dropped for nearly 48 million Americans, including 22 million children. The benefit cut will reduce Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly know as food stamps) benefits, which are already modest, for all households by 7 percent a month. It seems unlikely that Congress will enact legislation to remedy this problem. With this reduction in SNAP benefits it’s important to consider its effect on food pantries, especially at St. Katherine Drexel.

Our next collection will be Sunday, December 8 and we’d ask you to be as generous as your means allow.  Thank you.

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Posted in Homeless/Feed the Hungry, Important Announcements, Service Commission