September 1: Religious Education Update

Posted on September 1, 2015 | Comments Off on September 1: Religious Education Update

Religious-Education-Contemporary_SMALLWednesday classes for Grades 1 – 4 are still over capacity so we are unable to open those at this time unless there are new volunteers to teach. Please contact Linda Messore to volunteer.  The new Grade 5 and Grade 6 curriculum is such that we can accommodate more students so those Wednesday classes are open to registrations again. We are also looking for volunteers to teach or team teach Grades 8 and 10 on Sunday evenings. Please contact Jane Leonard if you’re able to help.

2015/2016 Class Schedule
Classes for all grades will begin as follows:
Grades 1–6: Sunday, 9/27, from 10-10:45 a.m. or
Wednesday, 9/30, from 3:30-4:45 p.m.
Grades 7–10: Sunday, 9/27, from 6–8 p.m.
All registered families should have recently received an email detailing opening day procedures with links to the final calendar and program information on the Parish website.

Teachers: The kick-off meeting for all teachers is Sunday, September 20, at 10AM in Philbin Hall. Please make every effort to attend.

Cluster Families: The opening meeting for those registered as clusters will be held on Monday, September 21, at 7:30PM in the Parish Center Chapel room. Lesson plans will be distributed.

If you have any questions, please contact Jane Leonard, jane.leonard@stjohnwellesley.org, or Linda Messore, linda.messore@stjohnwellesley.org.

 

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Posted in Religious Education Program

Thank You!!!

Posted on September 1, 2015 | Comments Off on Thank You!!!

Emmanuel Dim NigeriaAs I come to the end of my stay here in St. Paul’s and St. John’s Wellesley Collaborative, I thank God for the gift of every one of you, you have been so hospitable to me. I have got the chance to visit new places, meet new people and do new things (play golf and Red Sox etc.). I want to thank the Fathers for their wonderful fraternal support and warm welcome into the rectory community. To everyone, I appreciate your smiles and the interest you have shown in knowing my story and mission in Africa. You all are good and may God continue to bless you all abundantly. May we continue to keep the contacts and I would be very glad to continue to update and share with you my mission experiences. When I go home I will tell my people that I met the most wonderful people in the world. Hearty Cheers to you all!

~ Fr. Emmanuel Dim SMA
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish
P.O Box 126
Vereeniging 1930 • South Africa
Email: bobolo426@yahoo.co.uk

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Posted in Important Announcements

Wednesday Availability: 5th and 6th Grade Only

Posted on August 29, 2015 | Comments Off on Wednesday Availability: 5th and 6th Grade Only

Religious-Education-Contemporary_SMALLWednesday classed for Grades 1 – 4 are over capacity, so we are unable to accept registrations for these classes unless there are new volunteers to teach.  (Please contact either Linda Messore  to volunteer.)  Grade 5 and Grade 6 can still accommodate students so are open to registrations.  We are happy to continue taking registrations for our Sunday morning classes.

 The Registration Form and directions are available for download on the Religious Education page. Please note, a $25/child late fee applies to all registrations. 

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A Missionary Call for Help – Special Second Collection August 29-30

Posted on August 25, 2015 | Comments Off on A Missionary Call for Help – Special Second Collection August 29-30

SMA_logoAfrica is a large continent, very cultural and dynamic. The Church is growing and there is a great future of the Catholic Church in Africa. The Church is also one and we can all contribute to stimulate this growth by our own prayers and contributions. I joined the Society of African Mission (SMA) because of their missionary charisms. SMA was founded to respond to missionary need to the most abandoned in the society especially in Africa. We strive to go to areas found to be too difficult to survive. We go to the interior of Africa, the villages and bush and anywhere where the most needy are found. Though it is a difficult mission, we draw our strength from the different pool of people who are there praying and supporting us morally and by their material contribution.

As I thank you for your generosity in the past, I humbly continue to appeal to your generosity to help us to put smiles on the faces of people. Your contribution will help to train SMA seminarians. In Africa, we have young people who are willing to be missionaries but do not have the means to support their seminary expenses. Your contributions will help our projects in remote villages, like building and running of churches, hospitals and schools. In these places, missionaries become the only hope of people when faced with hunger, sicknesses or the need to be educated. Your contribution will also give food and drink to people through our St. Vincent de Paul group, and it will empower and give future to children, women and youth, and help to sustain the Priests on mission.
Where I work, our churches and outstations are far apart, and it becomes difficult to go say Mass or visit the needy and sick in emergencies with the car we have at the moment, which keeps breaking down and requires constant pushing before it will start. This is not due to lack of maintenance, but because it is very, very old and would have long been replaced if the means were there. Please, I beg for your help towards getting a better mission car that will help us to be more efficient in our work. As the phrase goes, “some go to mission by giving something, some give to mission by going themselves.” In either way, we are all missionaries. May the Lord bless your generosity.

FR. EMMANUEL DIM, SMA

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Posted in Important Announcements, Special Collections

Important Update on Wednesday Availability

Posted on August 21, 2015 | Comments Off on Important Update on Wednesday Availability

Religious-Education-Contemporary_SMALLWe are now able to add another Grade 2 class on Wednesday afternoons thanks to a new volunteer teacher, and the new Grade 5 and Grade 6 curriculum is such that we can accommodate more students, so those Wednesday classes are open to registrations again. Grades 1, 3 and 4 are still over capacity so we are unable to open those at this time unless there are new volunteers to teach.  Please contact either Linda Messore or Jane Leonard to volunteer.

We are also piloting a new program as an extension of our Wednesday Religious Education classes. This program is offered as a multi-age program for grades 1-3. The program is designed to benefit children who are most successful in small group, multi-sensory learning environments. We DO have space in this class, so please email Andrea Fay if you are interested in registering for this class and/or would like more information.

We are happy to continue taking registrations for our Sunday morning classes.  The Registration Form and directions are available for download on the Religious Education page. Please note, a $25/child late fee applies to all registrations. 

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Teachers Needed: Sunday Mornings and Evenings, Wednesday Afternoons

Posted on August 16, 2015 | Comments Off on Teachers Needed: Sunday Mornings and Evenings, Wednesday Afternoons

Religious-Education-Contemporary_SMALLWe are in need of teachers on Sunday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. A Sunday evening teacher for grades 8 and 10 is also needed. Please consider sharing your time with this very fulfilling ministry. Training is provided as necessary and support throughout the year is readily available. Please contact either Linda Messore or Jane Leonard to volunteer.

The Religious Education program’s Wednesday afternoon classes have reached capacity, therefore registration for Wednesday classes is now closed. We are happy to continue taking registrations for our Sunday morning classes.  The Registration Form and directions are available for download on the Religious Education page. Please note, a $25/child late fee applies to all registrations. 

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Posted in Religious Education Program

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Posted on August 7, 2015 | Comments Off on Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Assumption of Mary_ContemporaryThis Saturday, August 15 is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since the feast falls on a Saturday in 2015, the holy day of obligation is abrogated and therefore not a holy day of obligation. Mass will be celebrated on August 15 at 7am and 5pm.

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Posted in Holy Days, Important Announcements

Important Religious Education Update: Teachers Needed!

Posted on August 7, 2015 | Comments Off on Important Religious Education Update: Teachers Needed!

Religious-Education-Contemporary_SMALLWe are in need of teachers on Sunday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. A Sunday evening teacher for grade 8 is also needed. Please  consider sharing your time with this very fulfilling ministry. Training is provided as necessary and support throughout the year is readily available. Please contact either Linda Messore or Jane Leonard to volunteer.

The Religious Education program’s Wednesday afternoon classes have reached capacity, therefore registration for Wednesday classes is now closed. We are happy to continue taking registrations for our Sunday morning classes.  The Registration Form and directions are available for download on the Religious Education page. Please note, a $25/child late fee applies to all registrations. 

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Important Information About St. Paul School

Posted on July 25, 2015 | Comments Off on Important Information About St. Paul School

St_Paul_SchoolOver the past several years St. Paul’s Parish School has faced a steady decline in enrollment. An attempt to secure solid commitments from parents for the upcoming school year was insufficient. Sadly it is not possible for St. Paul’s School to open in September. I am sorry to share such difficult news, particularly at this time in the summer, and appreciate the efforts of all who did their best to keep the school open.

I am grateful to the Catholic School Office for their guidance and support as they assist our teachers with potential positions available throughout the Archdiocese. The RCAB Human Resource Department is assisting our teachers with transition benefits. I offer my heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Eileen Lix, who so generously accepted the position of Assistant Administrator, as well as to all our dedicated teachers, aids and administrative staff who have been so committed to Catholic education.

With prayerful gratitude,
Fr. Sepe

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Posted in Important Announcements

A Message from Fr. Kevin Sepe on the SJSP Collaborative

Posted on July 24, 2015 | Comments Off on A Message from Fr. Kevin Sepe on the SJSP Collaborative

SJSP Collaborative Logo_SmallDisciples in Mission
In the midst of summer, I thought it would be helpful to review with you some of the key characteristics of a Collaborative. Then in September, when vacationers have returned, we will be ready to take some further steps together.

CHARACTERISTICS

  • Separate parishes coming together, under a common Collaborative Pastoral Plan focused on the New Evangelization.
  • Each Parish retaining its identity and integrity including: its name, its real estate (church, rectory, etc.), control over its budget and assets as well as responsibility for its financial obligations.
  • Parishes within a Collaborative, being served by a common central staff, i.e. their Pastor and Pastoral Team.
  • The Pastor being advised by a single Parish (Pastoral) Council. Each parish will have representation on this council. Parish specific issues may be dealt with through sub-committees.
  • Each Parish will maintain its own Finance Council. Finance Councils will normally meet at the same time and place, to work with each other and advise the Pastor.
  • Each Parish being expected to contribute to their portion (fair share) of Collaborative costs (such as salaries, priest living expenses, shared programs, etc.)
  • All Collaboratives will be held to the same expectations of forming a Pastoral Team, participating in training on new Evangelization, Leadership and Administration, and developing a Collaborative Pastoral Plan.

The Collaborative does not replace the parish. Each parish remains characterized by:

  • A Community of Catholics who come together to celebrate Mass at a particular Church
  • An independent identity (e.g. its own name)
  • Responsibility of its own financial assets and liabilities
  • One Pastor to lead it
  • Staff that supports the ministerial efforts of the Pastor
  • A Pastoral Council and Finance Council that advise the Pastor

It is worth remembering that this effort of forming Collaboratives is a means of fostering common pastoral action and a common vision. While the common Collaborative Pastoral Plan provides the unifying vision, all are expected to support unity and identity of each parish, and encourage the parish communities to work together for the common good and the mission of the new evangelization. The plan is by that working together, parishes will become stronger.

More information on ‘Disciples in Mission’ can be found on the Archdiocese of Boston website: www.disciplesinmission.com

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Posted in Important Announcements