Category Archives: Christmas

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Mass Schedule

This year we have revised our Collaborative Christmas Mass Schedule. Our parishes of St. John & St. Paul are staffed by two assigned priests namely myself and Fr. MacKay. We are blessed to have two active Senior Priests who are glad to assist us, as well as Fr. Hehir who resides with us at St. John. Between the two parishes last year a total of 10 Christmas Eve Masses were celebrated. Currently we have only two assigned priests to carry the majority of our scheduled Masses. In light of this we had to eliminate one Mass from each parish on Christmas Eve. We have four 4:00 p.m. Masses. St. Paul has one in the Church and one in the Church Hall. This year at St. John, in order to help accommodate a greater number of parishioners, the second 4:00 p.m. Mass will be celebrated in Philbin Hall (St. John School Hall). Please note that Philbin Hall is not handicapped accessible. We plan to have close circuit TV simulcast the Church Mass into Powers Hall (Social/Church Hall) which we hope to reserve for those needing assistance. While it is understandable that this revised schedule will disappoint some, we could not realistically expect our available priests to cover a total of thirteen Masses in the collaborative for Christmas. ~Fr. Sepe

St. John Parish Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 13 at 2pm

Christmas ChoirThis coming Sunday, December 13 at 2:00pm is our Annual Parish Christmas Concert Each of the music groups which support our liturgies throughout the year will be performing seasonal music for you to enjoy.  The Family Mass Musicians, the Christmas Youth Choir, the Parish Choir and the newly formed Teen Choir will be sharing some of the music they’ve been practicing these past weeks – now you can hear them! Joining us for the third year in a row will be the Puppet Nativity.  They are coming to us from Rochester, NY.  Their participation in our concert is truly a welcome addition. Please come – admission is free – all are welcome! Parking is available in the school lot on Ledyard Street and the Church is wheelchair accessible.

“Trees & Trimmings” – Saturday, December 5 from 9am to 5pm

T&T 2015 PosterPlease join us for Trees & Trimmings, Saint John School’s annual holiday market filled with everything you need for a magical Christmas: freshly cut trees from Wilson Farm; our legendary custom decorated wreaths; boxwoods, poinsettias and roping; delicious homemade baked goods in Santa’s Bake Shop; a Toy Raffle with this year’s hottest toys; and Kids Corner  Boutique.  NEW this year – a Professional Photograph with Santa by Eric Barry! Please visit www.treesandtrimmings.com to book your photo & skip the 2 hour mall line! Both print & digital photos available – don’t miss this fantastic opportunity for your Christmas Card photo!

Our fresh and beautiful Advent Wreaths will be available for purchase on the first weekend of Advent. Saturday, November 28th, after the 5:00 p.m. Mass and Sunday, November 29th, after the 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Masses. No preorder necessary!

Please consider contributing the great tradition of Santa’s Bakeshop by baking any of the following: cut-out cookies, brownies, fudge, peppermint bark and more. Please contact Amy Baughman for questions & be sure to drop off all treats at Philbin Hall on Friday, December 4! Thank you! Questions about Trees & Trimmings or for volunteer opportunities, please email Tricia Parmele  or Julie LaValle.

In Loving Memory… Christmas Flowers and Music

christmas_candle_litOur Christmas flowers and music are given in loving memory of your loved ones who are being remembered during our Masses this Christmas Tide.

A Special Thank You…

Christmas_Thank YouWe would like to thank everyone who helped make this Christmas Season so very blessed for everyone:

  • For the music directors, cantors, choirs and instrumentalists who made beautiful music permeate our Church at the Christmas Concert and during the Christmas Liturgies.
  • For all who helped transform our Church into such a place of beauty for the Christmas season.
  • To everyone who helped make Christmas Wish a great success and brought joy to so many families.
  • For those who were involved in making the Christmas Pageant a delight which brought joy to our hearts.
  • For everyone who made Trees and Trimmings a success by raising money for the school and bringing a community together.
  • To all of you who sent a card or delivered flowers to those who were ill or alone, bringing a little cheer into their lives.
  • And for all of you whose presence at Christmas Masses made the celebrations complete.

We thank you all for your time, treasure and talents!

The Cardinal’s Christmas Message

Cardinal_Message_2014From the Archdiocese of Boston: With gratitude to CatholicTV, we are providing a link to the Cardinal’s Christmas message. Merry Christmas!
Link: https://m.soundcloud.com/catholictv/merry-christmas-from-cardinal-sean-omalley-2014

Christmas 2014

O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!Small_Creche_Cover_Bright
Wishing you peace, love and joy this Christmas
and throughout the New Year.

Christmas Collection for the Clergy Retirement Trust

Christmas_Collection_Clergy_RetirementEvery Christmas Catholics across the Archdiocese of Boston join together to honor and thank our priests. Your gift to the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust helps to ensure the highest quality of care and quality of life programs that provide for the health and well-being of our 628 active and senior priests. Our priests have been there for us in our times of need. Now it is our turn to care for them when they need us. All are welcome to make a gift online at www.clergyfunds.org or use the in-pew envelopes that will be provided. Thank you in advance for your prayers and generous support of our priests.

Sacrament of Reconciliation on Christmas Eve

Christmas_PeaceThere is no better way to prepare for Christmas! Come for this special gift of Confession on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the Chapel.