CONVERSATIONS IN PRAYER: Prayer is always God’s initiative. It is our response to God’s presence in our lives. Various forms of meditative and contemplative prayer can help us be more open and present to God. Missed the first session of Meaningful Conversations about Prayer? Please join us this week, Oct 21st for Session 3 in the Parish Hall Chapel from 7:00 – 8:30 pm.
AFFC BLOG: For the month of October, the Adult Faith Formation Commission is discussing Mary, the Mother of God. Please visit our website to find reflections written by parishioners as well as links to lots of great information, such as St. John’s on Facebook to receive regular updates on our monthly theme!
BOOK GROUP: Upcoming Book Selections
November 14: New Seeds of Contemplation, Thomas Merton
December 5: Faith in Poetry, TS Eliot – The Journey of the Magi and more
January 16: Tenth of December, Donald Saunders
February 13: Paul Among the People, Sarah Ruden
March 13: Pope Francis I, Selected Articles
April 10: Trent: What Happened at the Council?, John W. O’Malley
May 8: Life of the Virgin: Maximus the Confessor, Stephen J. Shoemaker
OCTOBER, THE MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: The Rosary has been loved for generations as a scripture – based prayer honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. During October we encourage you to experience this beautiful devotion. To assist you there are some rosaries and pamphlets at our Church entrance. Also, every Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. you are welcome to pray the rosary with parishioners in the lower Chapel.
AFFC Calendar:
Mondays, October 21 & 28 Conversations in Prayer
7:00–8:30 p.m., Parish Center
Wednesday, October 30 John Allen Lecture at B.C.
The Francis Papacy: Reform, Renewal and Resistance,
6:00 p.m., Robsham Theater, BC
Saturday, November 9 Film/Supper Night
Following the 5:00 p.m. Mass, Social Hall
Tuesday, November 12, Liam Bergin Lecture
7:00 p.m., Social Hall
St. John’s is starting a Prison Ministry group led by long-time parishioner, Julie Songer. As an opportunity to learn what a prison and prison ministry is about, Julie is hosting a group to attend Mass at the Chapel at MCI Framingham, the state’s only women’s prison. Many of the women are incarcerated for short periods as a result of mental illness or addictive behavior. They are mothers, sisters and community members who have made some bad decisions. They very much appreciate any indication of support or validation from “the outside” when they are locked-up in prison and told they do not matter.
This Week: Sunday, October 20
As temperatures drop it’s time to think about cleaning out your coat closets for the annual Coats for Kids collection, organized by Anton’s Cleaners. We are collecting coats of all sizes for children, teens, adults and babies. Please be sure they are of good quality with no rips, tears, broken zippers or permanent stains. We will be collecting the coats in the Rectory garage during the first two weekends in November: the 2nd/3rd and the 9th/10th. Any questions? Please call Deirdre Heilbron at 617-894-4416.
Who is ‘Mary’? As far as the gospels tell us she is the mother of Jesus. Nothing more is revealed about her; mother of Jesus is her identity. Interestingly most of the other women in the gospels are also called Mary too! This fact reminds me of how it is assumed that every Irishman’s name is Paddy or every Scotsman is called Jock, even after their true name has been given. It is as if their real name had no consequence – they have no consequence. Is this how women were viewed in Mary’s time? Apart from her motherhood, does this mean that Mary is a blank canvas upon whom the hopes and dreams (and fears) of the developing Christian Church are expressed? 
Question 12: It is my understanding that each Catholic parish has its own local governing body, the Parish Council. How will this work once we start our Parish Collaborative?
Celebrating Who We Are and How We Care
The “Faith Maps” Lecture Series is back, with 
Adult Faith Formation Commission