For six whole days our country was washed in the light of Pope’s Francis’ message of love, inclusion and mercy. Let us keep the fire burning! One opportunity is to meet and share our reflections of the visit. We can begin with Pope Francis’ speech to Congress on his first day. Please join us after the 11:00 Mass this Sunday, October 18th in the Parish Center. Bring a bag lunch!
Sunday, October 18 at 12:00pm – “The Pope Francis After Effect”
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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, Important Announcements
This Weekend (October 17 & 18): St. Francis House Men’s Clothing Drive
Reminder: This weekend is our new Winter Men’s Clothing Drive for St. Francis House. We will be collecting men’s gently-used everyday clothing such as jeans, shirts, sweatshirts, coats, hats, and gloves as well as *new* socks for their Foot Clinic, which provides foot care and new socks to homeless clients. Donations may be dropped off over the weekend of October 17 & 18 in the garage (behind the church) any time during the day (until 5pm.)
The items in highest demand for winter include:
• Footwear (men’s sneakers or winter boots)
• Men’s pants (especially jeans – given out on a daily basis)
• Sweaters & Sweatshirts
• Coats, hats, gloves, and scarves (Men’s coats most needed during winter)
• T-shirts (extremely important – given out on a daily basis)
• New (unused and still packaged) socks & undergarments (men’s)
• Backpacks/duffel bags
They DO NOT accept children’s items or used under garments or discolored items. If you can put your items in boxes or secured bags, and label it with the general contents, it would be a great help with sorting. Thank you for your generosity!
Questions? Please email Shilan Yeung or call 781-707-8290.
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Posted in Important Announcements, Seasonal Initiatives, Service Commission
What is Your Next Step? RCIA Program Begins October 18
We are all on our individual spiritual journeys, yet come together to join in community at Mass each week. If you, or someone you know, are seeking greater participation and understanding of our faith and practices, we invite you to the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or RCIA.
This is a wonderful opportunity for those who may have been baptized but who have not received the sacraments of Eucharist or Confirmation. We also warmly invite those of other faiths and those who are seeking God and who feel drawn towards the Catholic Church.
We are also calling for volunteers to journey with those in the RCIA process this year. We are looking for individuals to join us in our welcome. The experience is enriched by the presence of other Catholics who are willing to listen and learn and pray for one another. Please consider deepening your own faith by being a participant or a sponsor. RCIA will meet on Sunday,
October 18 at 10:00 a.m. in the Rectory.
If you have any questions, please contact the Parish Office (781 235-0045) or Svea Fraser at (781) 237-7560 or sveafraser@gmail.com
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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, RCIA
October 11: Adult Faith Formation Update
COMING UP AT ST. JOHN
THE POPE FRANCIS “AFTER EFFECT”
Sunday, October 18 after 11:00am Mass
For six whole days our country was washed in the light of Pope’s Francis’ message of love, inclusion and mercy. And the sun shone on us all. Many of us watched and listened, our hearts burning inside! Most of us were unable to see every minute. However, thanks to the miracle of technology, we can see and hear every speech, every homily, every blessing Pope Francis gave. They are available on YouTube or any of the major media sites (CNN, NYT, etc.) John Allen writes in the Boston Globe (9/30/15 p. B1) “A papal visit like this is an opportunity for all of us to reflect upon our own ideals and the transcendence of God and his presence in our lives.” Let us keep the fire burning! One opportunity is to meet and share our reflections of the visit. We can begin with Pope Francis’ speech to Congress on his first day. Please join us after the 11:00 Mass next Sunday, October 18th in the Parish Center. Bring a bag lunch!
Contact: Svea Fraser
Fr. Richard Lennan on Karl Rahner
The Theology of Karl Rahner, SJ, one of the major Catholic theologians of the twentieth century
Wednesday, November 4, 7:30pm
Powers Hall (Social Hall)
Rahner’s impact on the church at large was profound, especially through his contribution to the Second Vatican Council. Rahner’s theology continues to offer rich resources for the life of Christian faith in our complex world.
Speaker: Richard Lennan is a priest of the diocese of Maitland-Newcastle (Australia) and was ordained in 1983. He holds a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Oxford and a Doctorate in Theology from the University of Innsbruck in Austria. He is a former President of the Australian Catholic Theological Association and is currently Professor of Systematic Theology in the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College.
BOSTON COLLEGE LECTURES
Tuesday, October 13, 2015 , 5:30 p.m.
Forgiveness and the Pursuit of Justice: A Conversation with Richard Moore
Richard Moore will address how in the face of conflict and violence people and communities can practice forgiveness and create justice.
B.C., McGuinn Hall, Room 121
October 19, 2015, 6:00 p.m.
Book Launch, Catholic Sacraments a Rich Source of Blessings
Presenters: John F. Baldovin, S.J. & David F. Turnbloom
B.C., Murray Function Room, Yawkey Ctr.
Sponsors: C21 Center and STM
October 22, 2015, 5:30 p.m.
Sowing and Growing the Seeds of Faith: It is (Almost) All in the Family
Presenter: Thomas Groome, Director, C21 Center
B.C., The Heights Room, Corcoran Commons,
Sponsors: STM
October 29, 2015, 530 p.m.
Thomas Merton: A Prophet for Our Time
Presenter: Colleen Griffith, Associate Professor of the Practice of Theology and Director of Spirituality Studies
B.C., The Heights Room, Corcoran Commons
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Posted in Important Announcements
October 11: Religious Education Update
This Week: Sunday, October 11
No Classes – enjoy Columbus Day Weekend.
Wednesday, October 14
Grades 1- 6 Class 3:30 – 4:45 p.m.
Next Week: Sunday, October 18
Grades 1 – 6 Class 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Parent Meetings
Parents of students in grades 1, 2 and 10 are strongly
encouraged to attend informational meetings as follows:
Grade 10 – Sunday, October 18 @ 6:00 p.m.
Grade 1 – Sunday, October 18 @ 7:00 p.m.
Grade 2 – Sunday, October 18 @ 7:30 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Jane Leonard or Linda Messore.
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Posted in Religious Education Program
Attention Young Singers! Christmas Youth Choir Rehearsals Begin November 8
Our 15th Annual Christmas Youth Choir sign-up and first rehearsal will take place Sunday, November 8th: 10:50-11:50am. All students in grade 1-8 are invited to participate. High School (grades 9-12) Assistants are also welcome (counts towards confirmation community service credit)! There will be 7 rehearsals, and children will participate in the Parish Christmas Concert 12/13 AND/OR Christmas Eve 5:30 Family Mass. All rehearsals are in St. John’s Chapel. For more information, please email Maria Wardwell (or by telephone at 781-237-2148. )
Christmas Youth Choir: 2015
11/8 10:50-11:50- Chapel – Sign up and first rehearsal
11/15 10:50-11:50- Chapel – Sign up closes
11/22 10:50-11:50- Chapel
11/29* 10:00-11:00 Chapel
12/6 10:50-11:50- Chapel
12/13 10:50-11:50- Chapel
12/13 2:00 PM Christmas Concert
12/20* 9:45-11:00 Chapel and Church (we’ll be back in Chapel by 10:45)
12/24 Arrival at 4:00 PM, Candlelit Procession at 5:00 PM, Mass at 5:30 PM
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Posted in Music, Youth Choir
Training for New and Returning Altar Servers: October 23 & 30
Training for new servers and refresher training for returning servers will be held on Friday, October 23 and October 30 at 3:30 p.m. in the Church. Any child who has made his or her First Communion is eligible to serve. New servers should attend both training sessions. Returning servers who need a refresher may attend one or both. If you have any questions, please email us or call the office at 781-235-0045. Thank you for your service to the St. John’s community.
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Posted in Children, Family Mass, Volunteers Needed
Collaborative Pastoral Council Nominations Due by October 30
The Collaborative Pastoral Council (CPC) will be comprised of an equal number of parishioners from each parish. The CPC advises the Pastor in his role in forming and implementing the mission of the parishes in the collaborative.
The selection process begins with nomination. An individual can nominate him/herself or a parishioner may nominate a person they believe will be able to fulfill the expectations of the role. Ballots and ballot boxes have been placed at the entrance of each Church. Please place cards with your nomination(s) for the Collaborative Pastoral Council in the ballot box at the Church entrance. (Cards may also be submitted to either the St. John or St. Paul parish office.) Please submit your nominations as soon as possible – nominations will close on Friday, October 30, 2015.
The names will be vetted and confirmed. During one of the Masses in each parish, following a prayer to the Holy Spirit, Fr. Sepe will draw the names from a
basket for the selection. The pastor may appoint additional members in order to assure appropriate representation of parishioners. Although each parish will have equal representation on the CPC, its members are reminded that they are distinct from a Parish Pastoral Council in that they are expected to understand that their view of church is as a collaborative.
Qualifications: (1) Be a Catholic who is registered and active in one of the Collaborative Parishes, (2) Participate in the sacramental life of the Church, (3) Be 18 years of age or older.
Expectations include: Ongoing meetings (up to twice a month initially), participation in council training sessions for Disciples in Mission where three topics will be addressed at three separate training seminars, and an individual meeting with the Pastor.
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Posted in Important Announcements, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Pastoral Council
October 12: “Answering the Call – An Interfaith Gathering for Climate Action”
A special interfaith gathering on Monday, October 12, 6:30 pm at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley. Join people of many faiths to share Pope Francis’ encyclical message Laudato Si’ and share messages of hope, inspiration and action
for healing our world. Fr. Bryan Hehir will be participating in this event. To assist planning, kindly register at www.tbewellesley.org/climate
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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, Important Announcements
Thank You!
On the weekend of August 30-31, St. John Parish took up a special second collection for the Society of African Missions. Thanks to St. John’s, the missionaries received $5,616 and Fr. Emmanuel collected $3,735 for the purchase of a car for the mission.
Thank you for your generosity and kindness!
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Posted in Important Announcements, Special Collections