Collaborative FAQ 8: Does a “Collaborative” Mean One of the Churches in Wellesley is Closing?

Posted on September 16, 2013 | Comments Off on Collaborative FAQ 8: Does a “Collaborative” Mean One of the Churches in Wellesley is Closing?

SJSP Collaborative Logo_SmallQuestion 8. I keep hearing that St. John’s and St Paul’s are forming a Parish Collaborative. Does this mean that one of the churches here in Wellesley will be closing?
No. Both St. John’s and St. Paul’s will remain open, which happily is a key benefit of the new Pastoral Collaborative program. The Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Commission, over the last several years, evaluated the resources (the number of priests, new vocations, church buildings, etc) available in the Boston area for the foreseeable future and has determined how to allocate these resources in a manner that will enable the mission of Christ and the Catholic Church to grow stronger. Think of our Collaborative as an “affiliation of parishes” – not a new parish. St. John’s and St. Paul’s will each maintain its own identity – each with its own name, buildings, canonical rights, bank accounts, books, financial assets, and financial obligations.
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

Planning Study Summary

Posted on September 13, 2013 | Comments Off on Planning Study Summary

church_frontBelow is the Planning Study Summary that we recently received from Cornerstone Fundraising.  Please review the report and contact the Rectory Office (781-235-0045) if you have any questions.

Planning Study Summary

Personal Interviews conducted: 23
Focus Groups: 4 focus groups- 47 participants
On-line survey: 125 participants
Case Statement: Sections of the original part of the church, most notably the tower, are in need of significant repair and reconstruction. The heating and cooling systems need updating and the parking lot needs repaving and improved lighting. Estimated cost: $1,100,000

Study Highlights

St John- St Paul Collaborative
There is some misunderstanding regarding the parish collaborative. While some understand that the collaborative is primarily about “staffing” others fear there is a possibility of merging with a neighboring parish. It would be helpful for the parish to once again address the issue- through a bulletin article, homily, or by the Planning Committee.

Prioritize Fundraising Projects
Several parishioners suggested that the maintenance projects should be prioritized according fundraising goals achieved.

Fr. Powers, St. John’s Parish gets highly favorable ratings
Participants gave highly favorable ratings to the parish for its welcoming and vibrant community. They are especially grateful for the spiritual leadership of Fr. Powers, Sr. Evelyn and Fr. Hehir. They believe Fr. Powers has the ability to lead the parish through a successful fundraising effort.

Nearly all participants said they would give to capital campaign
Nearly all (91%) of those interviewed and participating in focus groups, with few exceptions, said they would contribute to a capital campaign. They clearly understand the need to address the maintenance issues. They also stressed the need for wide participation in the campaign, regardless of economic status; the need for equal sacrifice, not equal gifts.

The parish budget and maintenance
Several active parishioners noted the need to address on-gong maintenance issues by allocating more funds in the annual budget. While there are some parish reserves, they would like to see additional funds being dedicated to future maintenance.

Sample of Survey Questions

Question 2: Do you consider yourself an active parishioner?
Yes: 71%   No: 9%   Somewhat: 20%

Question 3: How would you rate St. John the Evangelist Parish, taking into consideration the parish staff, the worship, the
religious education program and the parish organizations and ministries?
Very good: 87%   Good: 12%   Fair: 1%   Poor: N/A

Question 4: What is your reaction to the Case Statement?
Favorable: 71%    Unfavorable: 2%     Mixed: 27%

Question 5: In addition to the list of projects noted, are there other areas of need not addressed that you see as a priority?  Common response: Church sound system; Safety issue regarding Ledyard Street entrance

Question 7: With regard to your own involvement would you… give to a Campaign?
Yes: 91%   No <1%   Maybe 9%

RECOMMENDATIONS

The results of the Planning Study indicate that St. John the Evangelist Parish is in an excellent position to conduct a Capital Campaign to address the needs identified by the Parish Building Committee.

Taking into account the annual income of the parish, the strong support for the case, general concerns raised regarding the economy, the initial number of parishioners willing to commit to a campaign (91%), and the early indication of pledges, we believe St. John the Evangelist Parish should set the campaign goal at $1,250,000.

Respectfully submitted by: Cornerstone Fundraising. LLC 
223 Low Street Newburyport, MA www.CornerstoneFundraising.com

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Posted in Capital Campaign, Important Announcements

Saint John School Open House

Posted on September 13, 2013 | Comments Off on Saint John School Open House

SaintJohnSchool_LogoPre-School through Grade 6:  We invite you to visit Saint John School on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 from 8:00 – 9:30am and 6:30 – 8:00pm to tour the school, meet teachers, visit classrooms, and speak to our Principal and parents.  Come and see how Saint John School sets a standard of excellence for academic achievement and life long impact.  Saint John School is a wonderful academic choice for a bright future. Our school is a place where a spirit of faith is celebrated in a community of shared values.  At the open house you will have the opportunity to learn about our Spanish program and iPad initiative.  Saint John School is located next to Saint John the Evangelist Church at 9 Ledyard , Wellesley Hills, MA.  For more information please visit us on the web at www.saintjohnschool.net or contact Principal Bob Arsenault at 781-235-0300.

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Posted in Saint John School

September 15 – News from the AFFC

Posted on September 13, 2013 | Comments Off on September 15 – News from the AFFC

AFFC LogoSAVE THESE DATES! Details to follow…
Tuesday, October 1: Evening for Women, 6:30pm, Social Hall
Saturday, October 5: Film Night and Potluck Dinner, following the 5:00pm Mass, Social Hall
Thursday, October 10: Book Group – Reluctant Saint: The Life of St. Francis Assisi  by Donald Spoto,  Parish Center, 7:30 to 9:00pm. For information: Peter Mongeau at pmongeau@verizon.net or John Stewart at 617 969-0950
Wednesday, October 30: The Francis Papacy: Reform, Renewal, and Resistance Boston College, Robsham Theater, 6:00 p.m. Vatican analyst John Allen shares insider stories of the emerging papacy of Francis and presents his observations on how this humble pastor is renewing the Catholic Church of the 21st century. Seating is limited.

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation

September 22: Religious Education Class Begin: Schedules and Opening Day Procedures

Posted on September 13, 2013 | Comments Off on September 22: Religious Education Class Begin: Schedules and Opening Day Procedures

Religious-Education-Contemporary_SMALL2013/2014 Class Schedule
Classes for all grades will begin as follows:
Grades 1 – 6: Sunday, 9/22 from 10–10:45AM or Wednesday, 9/25, from 3:30-4:45PM
Grades 7 – 10: Sunday, 9/22, from 6 – 8 PM
A final calendar can be downloaded from the Parish website.
Opening Day Procedures
Grades 1 – 6:  All parents and students should report to Philbin Hall in the lower level of St. John’s School to receive class room assignments.  Assignments will be posted on the wall in alphabetical order.  Parents should accompany their children to their classrooms, which will have class lists posted.  Parents, please introduce yourselves to your child(ren)’s teachers.  Volunteers will be available in the corridors to help guide parents and students to classes.  If you have not filled out a registration form and/or have not paid your registration fee, please report to the registration desk in Philbin Hall.  Students will be dismissed to the coned off area in the parking lot to be picked up, unless other arrangements
have been made with the teacher.  As a reminder, dismissal times are 10:45 AM on Sunday and 4:45 PM on Wednesday.
Grades 7 – 10: Classes meet Sunday evening, as scheduled, from 6 – 8 PM
All 9th and 10th grade students should report to Philbin Hall in the lower level of St. John’s School at 6PM for room assignments. All 7th and 8th grades students should report at 6PM to the Parish Center located across the parking lot from the school for room assignments.

Please be considerate and register your child prior to the first class meeting. We may not be able to accommodate your child in the most appropriate classroom (i.e. with children from his/her elementary school, or with friends) if you do not register in advance. Wednesday classes for several grades are at maximum capacity and are now closed. The registration form is available for download on the Parish website found at www.stjohnwellesley.org. The late registration fee now applies; please include $25/child in addition to the stated fee.

Our Parish’s Confirmation preparation is a two year program beginning in grade 9. Except for those enrolled in Catholic schools, all students must complete the two year program prior to being Confirmed. All 10th grade Catholic school students planning to be Confirmed in May 2014 must fully participate in the second year of the Parish Religious Education Program. If you have any questions, please contact Jane Leonard at jane.leonard@stjohnwellesley.org or at 781.237.0141.

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Posted in Important Announcements, Religious Education Program

FAITH MATTERS… Who is St. Francis of Assisi Anyway?

Posted on September 13, 2013 | Comments Off on FAITH MATTERS… Who is St. Francis of Assisi Anyway?

StFrancis

 Pope Francis chose to name himself after St. Francis of Assisi.  Why is this saint so popular after nearly 800 years?  This reflection on St. Francis’ life might provide some clues.  Why do you think St. Francis speaks so clearly to us today?

Most people have heard of St. Francis of Assisi, but how much do we actually know about him?  We see his statues in gardens and have a vague idea that he was poor and liked animals, but if this is all he was, then why is he still so popular nearly 800 years after his death?

St. Francis of Assisi was born in 1181 and, at his baptism, was given the name Giovanni.  His father, a wealthy silk merchant, loved all things French and gave his son the nickname Francesco.  Francis had a fairly typical upbringing for a boy of his time and, as a young man, he was known to enjoy the music of the troubadours, bright clothing, rich friends, and good times.  As a young adult, he became a soldier, but was captured at his first battle and spent a year as a captive.

Continue reading →

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Posted in AFFC-blog

FAITH MATTERS… A New Blog from the AFFC

Posted on September 11, 2013 | Comments Off on FAITH MATTERS… A New Blog from the AFFC

Faith MattersPlease take a moment to visit Faith Matters, a new blog from the Adult Faith Formation Commission.  Each month we will explore some aspect of our shared Christian faith, with reflections written by some of our fellow parishioners and links to lots of great information from a wide variety of web resources. “Like” St. John’s on Facebook to receive regular updates and fun facts on our monthly theme.  
This Month’s Theme: Pope Francis

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, AFFC-blog

Collaborative FAQ 7: How Can One Pastor Handle the Job?

Posted on September 8, 2013 | Comments Off on Collaborative FAQ 7: How Can One Pastor Handle the Job?

SJSP Collaborative Logo_SmallQuestion 7:  How can one Pastor handle the job of being Pastor for both St. John’s and St. Paul’s?! What type of training will he receive to enable him to tackle such a big job?
Although there will be just one Pastor for each Collaborative, he will not be the only person carrying out the work of the Church. He will leverage his time by utilizing a team of appointed Clergy (Parochial Vicars and Deacons), a Pastoral Team, Pastoral Council members, Finance Council members, and School Board members. Many of these individuals will undergo formal training with the Central Ministries of the Archdiocese. Training will focus on New Evangelization, Catholic Leadership, and the mechanics of Collaboration. In addition, the pastor and pastoral service team will be developing a pastoral plan that will include opportunities for laity in both parishes to support various parish ministries and activities.
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

Rehearsals for the Family Mass Music and Contemporary Music Groups Begin this Weekend!

Posted on September 6, 2013 | Comments Off on Rehearsals for the Family Mass Music and Contemporary Music Groups Begin this Weekend!

Music_Youth Choir LogoIf you attend the 9:00 a.m. Family Mass and enjoy the upbeat, children-friendly, hand-clapping hymns we sing each week, we are always seeking new singers and instrumentalists to join our ranks. All ages are welcome!  Our first rehearsal will be this Sunday, September 8 at 8:00am.  During the school year, we rehearse each Sunday morning at 8am to prepare for that day’s 9am Mass, and we also prepare special liturgies for Grade Level Masses, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Palm Sunday, Easter, and Pentecost. The Christmas and Easter Youth Choirs, directed by Maria Wardwell (781-237-2148 or Maria.Wardwell@stjohnwellesley.org), also join forces with the Family Mass Musicians at those special times of year and have a separate rehearsal schedule.  Please contact Chris Holownia (617-513-0823 or christopher.holownia@gmail.com) for more information about how to get involved. 

CME_PhotoThe genre for the the 5:00pm Mass on Sunday evenings tends to be more contemporary, appealing to the young adults/teens and their families, and we seek both vocalists and instrumentalists to rehearse at 4:15 p.m. each Sunday before the Mass that same night. We occasionally plan programming to coincide with the teen Masses and other special events. Please contact Chris Holownia (617-513-0823 or christopher.holownia@gmail.com) if you are interested in getting involved! Our first rehearsal will be Sunday, September 8, 2013 at 4:15pm.

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Posted in CME, Family Mass, Family Mass Music, Music

Saint John School Principal

Posted on September 6, 2013 | Comments Off on Saint John School Principal

St John School_NewAfter five years as Principal and many years as a teacher, Ms. Kathi Aldridge has moved on from St. John School.  With more than 20 years at St. John School, Kathi built several reputations during her long tenure.  As a faculty member, she was utterly devoted to her students, providing a life foundation for class-after-class of students and introducing all of them to the magic and joy of learning. Her contributions helped to build the brand and reputation of St. John’s as a school devoted to exploration, learning, and Catholic-based values.  As Principal, Kathi guided our efforts over the past five years to improve our technology education, and most recently, led our efforts to introduce a foreign language offering into our curriculum.  We offer our prayers and good wishes to her.   The new Principal is Mr. Robert Arsenault and he comes to us after many years as Principal of elementary schools in Wilmington and Winchester. We are privileged to have a person with such extensive experience, coupled with an abundance of personal gifts as the leader of St. John School. We extend to him our warmest welcome, and we are sure that he will experience the genuine hospitality that is characteristic of St. John School.

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Posted in Important Announcements, Saint John School