Category Archives: Book Discussion Group

We will discuss six chapters in this most important book by Gerhard Lofink. Please email  John Stewart for further information and to arrange to pick up copies of the selected chapters or call  (617) 969-0950.
Thursday, January 14
7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Parish Center

As Christians we spend a decent amount of time pondering the range of difficult and fundamental questions surrounding the end of earthly lives — our own and those of others. Over the years we have been given a number of very helpful books on the whole subject of dying, for example Rabbi Harold Kushner’s When Bad Things Happen to Good People, C.S. Lewis’ A Grief Observed, Father Benedict Groeschel’s After This Life: What Catholics Believe About What Happens Next, the current best-seller, Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal and What Matters in the End, and Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson.

The Book Group will use the wonderful study of the last days of Morrie Schwartz and his observations on the meaning of life as the basis for our December discussion. We all have thoughts and opinions on these questions, as well as hard experience. It is helpful from time to time to share these with others, to try to deepen our understanding and make our prayers about the process of death more fruitful. For further information contact Peter Mongeau, John Stewart, Anita Martin, Frank or Julie McConville
Thursday, October 10
7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Parish Center

St. John’s Book Discussion Group will continue the conversation on “Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home”, Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter. Sponsored by the St. John’s Book Discussion Group Thursday, October 8, 7:30 p.m. Parish Center. Chapters 4-6 will be discussed at this session. Please email John Stewart for a copy of the questions to be discussed and for any additional information (or 617-969-0950).

Some suggested resources for helpful reading:

Embracing Our Limits The Lessons of Laudato Si’  by Rowan Williams published in Commonweal Magazine, September 23, 2015

A Readers’ Guide To ‘Laudato Si’  by Thomas Reese published in the National Catholic Reporter June 26, 2015

 Evening for Women Begins October 6

Evenings for Women begin again for the 16th year. We gather every first Tuesday, beginning October 6 at 6:30 p.m., in the Church/Social Hall (Powers Hall) for an evening to reflect, pray, share and enjoy a wonderful potluck! Pope Francis sets the theme for this year’s program with the announcement of his Jubilee Year of Mercy. Putting Out Into The Deep… Where Mercy Dwells So come join us for this year’s journey into the Deep  – All Welcome! Moderated by: Sr. Evelyn Ronan, SND (Bring your favorite Fall recipe)

Book Discussion Group October 8

St. John’s Book Discussion Group will continue the conversation on “Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home”, Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter. Sponsored by the St. John’s Book Discussion Group Thursday, October 8, 7:30 p.m. Parish Center. Chapters 4-6 will be discussed at this session. Please contact John Stewart for a copy of the questions to be discussed and for any additional information. at (617) 969-0950, email johnstewart@alum.bu.edu.

 B.C. School of Theology and Ministry

Our Common Home: An Ethical Summons on Climate Change
Monday, September 28 – Thursday, October 1
This conference explores the implications of Pope Francis’s newly released encyclical on the environment and climate change, “Laudato Si’ (Praised Be): On Care for Our Common Home.”  Each evening event will take place at 4:30 p.m. in Robsham Theater, Chestnut Hill Campus. No Registration; Seating will be first come, first served. Free of Charge.  More information is available on the website.

Evening for Women Begins October 6

Evenings for Women begin again for the 16th year. We gather every first Tuesday, beginning October 6 at 6:30 p.m., in the Church/Social Hall (Powers Hall) for an evening to reflect, pray, share and enjoy a wonderful potluck! Pope Francis sets the theme for this year’s program with the announcement of his Jubilee Year of Mercy. Putting Out Into The Deep… Where Mercy Dwells So come join us for this year’s journey into the Deep  – All Welcome! Moderated by: Sr. Evelyn Ronan, SND (Bring your favorite Fall recipe)

Book Discussion Group October 8

St. John’s Book Discussion Group will continue the conversation on “Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home”, Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter. Sponsored by the St. John’s Book Discussion Group Thursday, October 8, 7:30 p.m. Parish Center. Chapters 4-6 will be discussed at this session. Please contact John Stewart for a copy of the questions to be discussed and for any additional information. at (617) 969-0950, email johnstewart@alum.bu.edu.

Book Discussion Group Begins September 17

On the evening of September 17 the St. John’s Book Discussion Group will hold a conversation on “Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home”, Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter. Participants are urged to read the encyclical before the meeting. It is easily available from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and wherever books are sold, for about $13, or it can be downloaded free from the Encyclicals page of the Vatican website. For further information contact John Stewart at (617) 969 0950.

B.C. School of Theology and Ministry

Our Common Home: An Ethical Summons on Climate Change
Monday, September 28 – Thursday, October 1
This conference explores the implications of Pope Francis’s newly released encyclical on the environment and climate change, “Laudato Si’ (Praised Be): On Care for Our Common Home.”  Each evening event will take place at 4:30 p.m. in Robsham Theater, Chestnut Hill Campus. No Registration; Seating will be first come, first served. Free of Charge.  More information is available on the website.

The selection for this month’s Adult Faith Formation Book Discussion Group is “The Joy of the Gospel” by Pope Francis.  Join us on Thursday, October 9 at 7:30pm in the Parish Center.

St. John’s Adult Faith Formation Commission
Email: AFFC@stjohnwellesley.org

For the past ten years a group of men and women have met monthly from September to May to talk about a book on some aspect of our Catholic faith. The books have been of modest length, fiction and non-fiction, and on a broad range of topics. Participants choose the books and one person serves as moderator. Often before the meeting, a few questions or points for consideration are distributed to guide the discussion.

There are no dues or other requirements of membership. Our goal is simply one of enlightenment – to help each other better understand the concepts, ideas, people, events, institutions and relationships that make up the Catholic experience. We come together as humble men and women who share an unshakable faith in Jesus Christ, along with the realization that God has blessed us with inquiring minds and the freedom to travel along a variety of paths in our quest for a better understanding of our responsibilities as important parts of creation.

Please join us on a journey of faith, learning and Christian fellowship. We invite you to become active in the Book Discussion Group. Our first meeting is Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 7:30 pm in the Parish Center to discuss The Joy of The Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium) by Pope Francis. If you would like a complete listing of the books that will be discussed in 2014/15, please visit our page on the Parish website. If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact one of the members of the 2014/2015 coordinating committee: Peter Mongeau (Chair), John Stewart, Anita Martin and Frank McConville

Please join our e-mail list for updates/discussion questions – e-mail Peter at: pmongeau@verizon.net