Category Archives: Important Announcements

Posts that need to appear on the front page of the website go in this category.

Christmas 2017

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.

Sacrament of Reconciliation – Saturday, December 23

Christmas_PeaceThere is no better way to prepare for Christmas! Come for this special gift of Confession on Saturday, December 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the Chapel.

(Confession will also be offered on Saturday at the regular time of 3:30pm.)

Special Mass Schedule for the Fourth Sunday of Advent – Sunday, December 24

This Sunday, December 24 is the Fourth Sunday of Advent.  There will be a special schedule of Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent on December 23 and 24.

Saturday, December 23:
4:00pm at St. Paul
5:00pm at St. John

Sunday, December 24:
7:30am at St. John and St. Paul
9:00am at St. John and St. Paul

Please note: there will be NO 11:00am Mass at either parish on Sunday, December 24. Please see the special schedule of Christmas Masses for Sunday evening, December 24, and Monday morning, December 25.

 

Coming Up in Religious Education

Religious-Education-Contemporary_SMALLThis week: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10
Grades 1 – 6: Class 10:00 – 10:45am
HS Retreat: 11:00am– 6:00pm
Grade 9 – 10: 5:00pm Teen Mass w/St. Paul students. Grades 9 & 10 are expected to attend this Mass to which the 9th and 10th grades from St. Paul’s have been invited. A Christmas celebration follows in the Social Hall.
Grades 7 & 8 are encouraged and most welcome to attend the Mass; however, no class is scheduled for these grades.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13
Grades 1 – 6 Class 3:30 – 4:45pm
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16
Christmas Pageant Practice 2:30pm
Next Week: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17
Christmas Pageant 9:00am Family Mass
No classes.

Updates from our Seminarians: A Reflection from Chris Holownia

Dear Parishioners,

Happy Advent! In the spirit of this season of transition, renewal, thanksgiving, and conversion, I wanted to share with you a reflection I wrote on Luke 16:1-15 for Mass on November 11, 2017. The story of the dishonest steward is one of Jesus’ most puzzling parables, yet its meaning was made known to me through my experience working as a chaplain at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. In our consumerist and individualist culture, it’s sometimes difficult to remember that everything we call our own, even life itself, is a gift from God. We are not entitled to anything we call “mine,” and any control or agency we may seem to enjoy over our human condition is ultimately illusory. So thanks be to God for the unconditional love with which He sustains us and for the many blessings He showers upon us.

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!
Chris Holownia, n.S.J.

Please click to read: A Reflection from Chris Holownia

Friday, December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Immaculate ConceptionMASS SCHEDULE
7:00am at St. John
9:00am at St. John with Saint John School – all welcome!
9:00am at St. Paul
12:00pm at St. John
7:00pm at St. Paul

December 9-10: Build the Faith with Girl Scout Troop 73848

Girl Scout Troop 73848 is pleased to announce that Build the Faith will be present at all Masses on December 9-10 at St. Paul and St. John. Build the Faith is a non-profit organization established by Christina, a sixth grader at St. John Parish. Christina’s dream is to spread the Catholic faith to rural areas of economic distress around the world. To reach her goal, Christina’s foundation designs lovely rosaries which are sold for $25. All of the monies raised go to the construction of churches. These rosaries make a thoughtful Christmas gift, First Communion, Confirmation or other notable occasion – the gift of devotion to Mary, the gift of Catholicism and community for the economically disadvantaged and the gift of making a young girl’s dream come true. For more information, please visit buildthefaith.org.

Christian Service Forum: A Message from Fr. Jim

Over 60 parishioners from the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative joined on November 7 to discuss a shared vision of what constitutes Christian Service and how we can achieve expanded opportunities to answer Christ’s call as we move forward as a collaborative. There was great energy and excitement in the room as members of both parishes got to know each other in the context of discussing an issue vital to our lives as Catholic Christians. Led by Carol Yamartino, a professional executive coach and leadership meeting facilitator, the ideas flowed freely as the attendees focused on many of the communities among us who are crying out for help – the hungry, poor, elderly, immigrants, prisoners, the homeless and the list goes on. The group also considered such topics as the extent of our outreach and the kinds of service we should seek to provide. The evening concluded with a discussion centered on potential models for implementing the ideas expressed.

The meeting was part of the consultation process that allows the voices of parishioners to be heard as the Collaborative Pastoral Council and I contemplate the creation of a Pastoral Plan for our collaborative. We also anticipate an additional forum in 2018 that will focus on family life as we move forward with the overall effort of exploring topics of importance to our parishioners.

How blessed we are to have such wonderful parishioners, passionate about living your faith through Christian Service. I feel very blessed indeed to serve as your pastor!

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Jim

Coming Up in Religious Education

Religious-Education-Contemporary_SMALLThis week: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12
No classes – Happy Veterans Day!
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Grades 1 – 6 Class 3:30 – 4:45pm
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17
First Reconciliation 5:30pm
Next Week: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Grades 1 – 6 Class 10:00 – 10:45am
Grades 7 – 8 Class 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Friends for Good 7:00 – 8:00pm
Grade 9 Class 7:00 – 8:00pm
Grade 10 Friends for Good 6:00 – 7:00pm
Class 7:00 – 8:00pm

Our Annual “Coats for Kids” Collection Continues November 11-12

Each year in November, St. John’s participates in the Coats for Kids drive by Anton’s Cleaners, a Boston-wide coat collection campaign for children, teens, adults and babies. Anton’s cleans all the donated coats and coordinates their distribution to those in need.  Please bring gently used, warm, winter coats to the Rectory garage after Mass on the weekends of November 4-5 and 11-12.