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, beginning October 1, 6:30 p.m. start in the Social Hall. (Bring a favorite Fall recipe!) All Welcome!
Moderator: Sr. Evelyn Ronan, SND
2013-14 Evening for Women Program Begins October 1
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Posted in Adult Faith Formation
Blessing of the Animals – Sunday, September 29 at 2pm
Join us on Sunday, September 29 at 2pm for the “Blessing of the Animals”. All loved animals are welcome – real, toy and photo! Free balloon animals for kids of all ages! (Behind the Church)
For their safety, all real animals should be leashed or in a carrier. Please consider donating gently used blankets and towels for local animal shelters.
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Posted in Children, Special Events
September 22: News from the AFFC
Inspired by the Year of Faith which began last October with Pope Benedict and will be brought to a close this November with our new Pope Francis, the AFFC has been providing opportunities to grow and share our faith. From ongoing programs such as the Book Group and Women’s Evenings to new initiatives like the Film/Supper Nights and the Faith Map Lectures, the AFFC is committed to providing resources and programming that will assist adults who seek to grow in faith. To this end we are always adding to the lending library in the lower level of the church and continually expanding our use of the Parish Website. For example, during the month of September, we are exploring the life of our new pope, Francis. Visit Faith Matters to find reflections written by parishioners as well as links to lots of great information, including St John’s on Facebook to receive regular updates on our monthly theme! Please take time to check out these resources.
With regards to this year, we will be putting a spotlight on Prayer. One new offering this Fall will be a four-part video/discussion series entitled Conversations in Prayer. We do hope you will join us. We welcome your ideas and input on both current and future programming. Below you will find highlights of our October events.
October 1 Evening for Women, 6:30 p.m., Social Hall
October 5 Film/Supper Night featuring The Kings Speech following 5 PM Mass, Social Hall. Bring a favorite recipe to enjoy! If you would like to join a hosting committee, please contact Barbara.Neem@gmail.com
October 7, 14, 21 & 28 Conversations in Prayer 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., Parish Center
October 10 Book Group – Reluctant Saint: The Life of St. Francis Assisi, Donald Spoto, 7:30 p.m., Parish Ctr.
October 30 Lecture at BC by John Allen – The Francis Papacy: Reform, Renewal, and Resistance 6:00 p.m., Robsham Theater, B.C.
Comments/Questions: Contact us at affc@stjohwellesley.org
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Posted in Adult Faith Formation
Family Mass Collection Volunteers Needed
We are looking for a few adults who usually attend the Family Mass to help oversee the collection during this Mass. It is a very easy volunteer position (as well as very important!) that involves making sure there are enough age appropriate children volunteers, guiding the children to the right pews, and collecting the money back from the children. You do not need to be at the Mass each week – we just need to have enough adults “on the lookout” during collection time to make sure there are enough adults overseeing the process. If you are interested in helping out please email Chrissy Cassa or come on back during collection time – and feel free to bring your child/ren with you!!
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Posted in Children, Family Mass, Volunteers Needed
FAITH MATTERS… Jorge Mario Bergoglio: A Life of Service to the Church
Pope Francis is a pope of firsts: he is the first pope from the Americas, he is the first Jesuit to be elected pope, and he is the first pope to take the name Francis. He is a man of deep personal faith and he is profoundly committed to the Catholic Church, and he has a different pastoral style than his predecessor, Benedict XVI. When he was first elected, many people were unfamiliar with him – many of us thought, “WHO?” when his name was first announced. To help get a sense of who Francis is, lets explore a bit of his biography and some of the theological ideas that have become associate with him so far.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 17, 1936. His parents were Italian immigrants. He has four siblings; his father was an accountant and his mother was a stay-at-home parent. He worked briefly as a chemical technician. He became seriously ill in 1957, developing pneumonia and eventually loosing his right lung. Shortly thereafter, in March of 1958, he entered the Jesuits. He took his first vows on March 12, 1960 and spent the next nine years as a student of philosophy and theology at the San Miguel Seminary in Buenos Aires and as a secondary school teacher. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 13, 1969. Fr. Jorge served the Jesuits in a variety of posts: as master of novices and vice chancellor of the San Miguel Seminary (1971-73), as superior of the Jesuit province of Argentina and Uruguay (1973-79), and as rector and theology teacher at Colegio Maximo (1979-85). After finishing his doctoral dissertation in Germany, he is ordained auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires on June 27, 1992 and become coadjutor (an assisting bishop with the right to become the next bishop of a diocese) archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1997. On February 28, 1998, he is installed as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and is elevated to cardinal on February 21, 2001. On March 13, 2013, he was elected pope by a conclave of 115 cardinals.
In his few months as pope, Francis has made a significant impression on Catholics around the world. While it is obviously impossible to predict how Francis’ papacy will develop, it is interesting to note a couple of themes that are emerging so far. First and almost immediately, Pope Francis has displayed a personal style that is far simpler and less “pomp-and-circumstance-y” than his predecessors. On the evening he was elected, appeared without all of the regalia that marks a new pope, choosing just the simple white cassock. He asked the crowds to pray for him before he blessed them. Since then, he has stunned people with his acts of simplicity and humility: paying his hotel bill, choosing not to live in the papal palace, saying daily mass at the Vatican guesthouse, washing the feet of young convicts on Holy Thursday, and reaching out to greet people, especially children.
Second, Francis has reminded us of the church’s commitment to service. In choosing to name himself after St. Francis of Assisi, the pope has recalled for us that to follow Jesus means living a life of service, poverty, and simplicity. And, in living that life of service, the church is called to serve especially those who are the most marginalized and excluded – the sick, the poor, the exploited, the unloved.
And third, along side of his emphases on simplicity and service, this pope is a very learned man. Like John Paul II and Benedict XVI, Pope Francis has an extensive background in theology and spent most of his career as a teacher – both at the high school level and at the graduate level. In addition, he spent a good part of his career guiding the formation of priests – both as novice master and as vice-chancellor and then rector of the seminary. Thus, to dismiss Francis as “merely a pastor” would be to ignore is long career as a teacher of theology and his commitment to ensuring that the church is well-served by its priests and theologians.As Pope Francis continues his service as pope, we will come to understand more and more about his thoughts, his spirituality, his style, and his concerns for the church. And it will be an exciting time!
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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, AFFC-blog
Collaborative FAQ 9: What Will Happen to Our Religious Education Programs?
Question 9. Given that St. John’s and St. Paul’s are forming a Parish Collaborative, will religious education programs at our churches merge into one mega-program?
The structure of the Religious Education Programs will be left to the discretion of the Pastor in each Collaborative. The Pastor will seek input from his Pastoral Team and Pastoral Council members on this matter. The Archdiocese expects that in some Collaboratives, the programs will merge, and it some cases, they will remain separate. In each Collaborative, the Pastor will make his decision based on what he sees as the most effective way to promote the goals of the New Evangelization.
We welcome your comments and feedback. Please email your questions or comments about Parish Collaboratives to – stjohn.stpaul@gmail.com
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Posted in Disciples in Mission, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Planning - FAQ
Parish Family Picnic – Sunday, September 22
Please join us this Sunday for the St. John Parish Family Picnic Brunch following our Sunday morning Masses. We will have pancakes along with games, pony rides, a petting zoo, and much more! We look forward to seeing you there!
Note: There are still spaces for Confirmation Candidates who would like Community Service hours. Go to our Volunteer Sign Up Page and select the shifts you would like to serve. If you require slightly different hours but would still like to help, please email Susan Calcio. Thank you to all the parishioners who have offered to lend a hand – we can put you to work as needed when you drop by to enjoy the day!
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Posted in Children, Family Mass, Important Announcements, Special Events
Welcome Weekend September 21-22
Come, join us to make this year the best!
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Posted in Important Announcements, Special Events
“Prayer and Intelligence” – A New Blog from Fr. John Connelly
Dear Parishioners of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Sacred Heart Parish, and St. John the Evangelist Parish,
Some friends have suggested to me that I open a blog. Their motive, I am sure, is to keep me busy and out of trouble in my year(s) of retirement. As I envision things at this time, the blog will offer theological reflections directed primarily to the parishioners of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Wellesley Hills, and to the parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish and Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, now happily joined as the first collaborative in the Garden City of Newton. My plans at the moment are to offer some reflection on the mystery of God’s grace – won for us by the Paschal Mystery of the risen Christ and distributed so generously to those who believe by the work of the Holy Spirit, working especially through the sacraments of the Church.
My message in this little notice is to say to prospective readers in the above-mentioned parishes – Check it out (Prayer and Intelligence), if you are so moved, and let me know if you come to the conclusion whether this project has a future.
Father John Connelly
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Posted in Fr. John Connelly, Important Announcements
Parents of Little Ones Playgroup (P.O.L.O) Starting September 25th!
Are you looking to meet other parents from St. John’s or make a friend for your little one? Then come by the Church Social Hall on Wednesdays from 9:00am to 11:00am for the new Parents Of Little Ones playgroup. A group organized by parents where they can stop by anytime to meet and socialize with other parents and children. Bring your coffee, snacks and toys. No need to RSVP – just drop in between 9:00 am – 11:00am on Wednesday mornings – the door will be open! (Be sure to use the stroller friendly Ledyard Street entrance.) If you have questions or would like to be put on the email list please contact Chrissy Cassa at chrissy.cassa@stjohnwellesley.org
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Posted in Children, Family Mass