Category Archives: Important Announcements

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March 20, 2012: Important Pastoral Planning Meetings and Online Survey – Your Input is Needed

Posted on March 20, 2012 | Comments Off on March 20, 2012: Important Pastoral Planning Meetings and Online Survey – Your Input is Needed

Saturday 3/24 & Sunday 3/25 after every Mass
Monday 3/26 at 7:30pm

Now is your opportunity to provide much-needed input regarding the proposed Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan for our parishes, which focuses on “Strengthening our Parishes as Primary Communities of Faith”. The proposal creates a new structure called a Pastoral Service Team (PST) comprised of both laity and clergy who will provide pastoral services to multiple parishes, which partner with one another to exercise the mission of evangelization. This plan hopes to provide pastoral services to parishes without altering the parishes themselves. It is hoped that PST’s will enable each parish to determine how best to use their resources through a culture of partnering and collaboration. Each grouping will be known as a Pastoral Collaborative.  We have been paired with St. Paul’s Parish, based on four general principles and specific criteria (please click here for more information.)

Members of the Parish Pastoral Council, the Parish Finance Committee and the Pastoral Planning Group will be available after every Mass on March 24 and 25, as well as on Monday, March 26 at 7:30pm, in the Social Hall (downstairs in the Church) to give everyone an opportunity to review the proposed draft, to ask questions, and to offer comments. All parishioners are encouraged to make time to participate in one of these six meetings. To help you prepare, and to maximize our time together, we have a prepared a brief survey with important questions for your consideration and input.

You can view these important questions and complete the survey online using this link: Pastoral Planning Survey

A summary of your input will be given to the Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Commission (APPC) by May 1, 2012. After all the parishes in the archdiocese have responded, the APPC will prepare a final recommendation for the Cardinal.

For more detailed information on the proposed Pastoral Collaborative and Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning, please visit our parish website as well as the Archdiocese of Boston Pastoral Planning website.

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Posted in Disciples in Mission, Important Announcements, Pastoral Planning Group, Special Events

Parish Choir Rehearsals for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter

Posted on March 20, 2012 | Comments Off on Parish Choir Rehearsals for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter

Parish Choir rehearsals for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter are in progress. This is a marvelous opportunity to blend your voice in song with other choir voices during some of the most important, moving and solemn days of the year. Rehearsals take place on Sunday evenings (March 18, 25 and April 1), 6:15-8pm in the Music Office. You should consider joining the Sunday morning rehearsals at 10am in the Music Office for extra help. Please join us.

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Posted in Important Announcements, Music, Parish Choir

2012 Lenten Gift: Giving Hope to East Africa – The Dadaab Refugee Camps

Posted on March 10, 2012 | Comments Off on 2012 Lenten Gift: Giving Hope to East Africa – The Dadaab Refugee Camps

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”    Matthew 25:35

The recent drought in East Africa, coupled with insecurity in South Central Somalia, has drastically increased the number of Somali refugees coming into the Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya. Built to accommodate 90,000 people 20 years ago, the camps have now swelled to 400,000, with as many as 1,500 people arriving daily. Continue reading →

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Posted in 2012 Lenten Gift, Christmas & Lent, Important Announcements, Service Commission

Adult Faith Formation Update March 11 – Events This Week

Posted on March 8, 2012 | Comments Off on Adult Faith Formation Update March 11 – Events This Week

AFFC LogoVatican II: The Fiftieth Anniversary – What Difference Has It Made?  Lenten Lectures with Father Bryan Hehir  Monday, March 12 and Monday, March 19 – 7:30 pm

St. Augustine’s Sermons on Lent  Discussions led by Stephen Brown, B.C. Professor of Theology  Tuesday March 13 and Tuesday March 27, 7:30am Social Hall

Book Discussion Group – Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
by Eric Metaxas  March 15, 7:30pm Parish Center

“Catholicism: A Documentary Video”

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Vatican II: The Fiftieth Anniversary – What Difference Has It Made?  Lenten Lectures With Father Bryan Hehir
Monday, March 12 and Monday, March 19
7:30 pm St. John Church

It is for more than nostalgia that we commemorate Vatican II.  Understanding what happened in Rome a half century ago can give us a good perspective on the challenges facing the Church today and the critical decisions that lie ahead.  Fr. Hehir’s lectures will help us understand better the implications of this historic event. Please bring your friends!

St. Augustine’s Sermons on Lent
 Discussions led by Stephen Brown, B.C. Professor of Theology
Tuesday March 13 and Tuesday March 27, 7:30am Social Hall

St. Augustine lived from 354 to 430. He was a bishop, a very major figure in the affairs of the church and one of the most influential thinkers and writers in the history of western civilization. He is someone we should all know better! Reservations are not necessary, but if you are planning to participate it would be helpful to drop us an email note at AFFC@stjohnwellesley.org.

Book Discussion Group – Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
by Eric Metaxas
March 15, 7:30pm Parish Center

In 1944, Rev. Bonhoeffer wrote from his prison cell in Germany, just before his execution: I’m still discovering, right up to this moment, that it is only by living completely in this world that one learns to have faith. I mean living unreservedly in life’s duties, problems, successes and failures, experiences and perplexities. In so doing, we throw ourselves completely into the arms of God. Join us for the discussion of this courageous man (even if you have not read the book!)

“Catholicism: A Documentary Video”

This production has been described by noted columnist George Weigel as “the most important media project in the history of the Catholic Church in America.” Father Robert Barron narrates ten episodes focusing on the whole range of Catholic beliefs, traditions and culture. Marie and Stephen Brown have generously offered to host in their home theater gatherings of twelve or so members of St. John’s parish to view individual segments and participate in a discussion. For information and reservations contact Marie Brown at marienklbrown@gmail.com

 

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, Important Announcements, Special Events

Posted on March 8, 2012 | Comments Off on

Confessions
Wednesday from 6:30pm to 8:00pm
 Holy Saturday from 10am to 12pm
In the Chapel

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Posted in Important Announcements

Lenten Lectures With Father Bryan Hehir

Posted on March 8, 2012 | Comments Off on Lenten Lectures With Father Bryan Hehir

Vatican II: The Fiftieth Anniversary
What Difference Has It Made?
Monday, March 19 at 7:30pm in the Church

It is for more than nostalgia that we commemorate Vatican II. Understanding what happened in Rome a half century ago can give us a good perspective on the challenges facing the Church today and the critical decisions that lie ahead. Father Hehir’s lectures will help us understand better the implications of this historic event. All Welcome!

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Posted in Important Announcements, Special Events

Dinner for Rosie’s Place Volunteers:
Reminder – Food Drop Off on Saturday, March 3 between 3:15 and 3:30

Posted on March 2, 2012 | Comments Off on Dinner for Rosie’s Place Volunteers:
Reminder – Food Drop Off on Saturday, March 3 between 3:15 and 3:30

Thank you to everyone who volunteered for this effort!   We look forward to seeing you when the food is dropped off on Saturday, March 3rd between  3:15 and 3:30 at St. John’s school parking lot.  On behalf of the women at Rosie’s, thank you.  If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Tully at btully87@comcast.net, (781)235-6182 or Pam McCourt at mccourtpam@comcast.net, (781)235-0612.

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Reminder – Food Drop Off on Saturday, March 3 between 3:15 and 3:30

Posted in Homeless/Feed the Hungry, Important Announcements, Service Commission

2012 Catholic Appeal – This Weekend, March 3 – 4

Posted on February 23, 2012 | Comments Off on 2012 Catholic Appeal – This Weekend, March 3 – 4

On the weekend of March 3-4, our parish will join with the other 287 parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston to participate in the 2012 Catholic Appeal. This annual effort Directly supports the 50 ministries that benefit hundreds of pastoral, charitable and educational programs. This  worthwhile effort is the most effective way for our parish to join in the Church’s universal work of caring for those among us who are in need. At every Mass during Appeal weekend, we will be asked to pledge our support for this year’s Appeal.  Please prayerfully consider how God is calling you to be the Good Samaritan through your support of the Catholic Appeal. For more information about the Catholic Appeal or to make a pledge to our parish campaign, please visit: www.BostonCatholicAppeal.org.

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Posted in Important Announcements, Special Collections

February 26, 2012: Pastoral Planning – Your Feedback is Needed

Posted on February 23, 2012 | Comments Off on February 26, 2012: Pastoral Planning – Your Feedback is Needed

The Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Commission (APPC) has begun a series of 20 vicariate consultations with parish pastoral and finance council members to discuss proposals to strengthen parishes for the mission of evangelization in the Archdiocese. We ask parishioners to join the Commission’s work by prayer and by visiting the planning website for important information on the proposal and the Commission’s work to date at www.planning2012.com.  The APPC is asking pastors and their councils to conduct Town Hall meetings or other sessions over the next several weeks to discuss pastoral planning efforts in the Archdiocese. Parishioners who wish to take a web survey on pastoral planning can find it at the www.planning2012.com website.

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Posted in Disciples in Mission, Important Announcements, Pastoral Planning Group

Adult Faith Formation Update – February 26

Posted on February 23, 2012 | Comments Off on Adult Faith Formation Update – February 26

Stephen Brown, a member of St. John’s parish and a distinguished theologian at Boston College, has generously offered to meet on three Wednesday mornings in Lent to talk about “St. Augustine’s Sermons on Lent”.  These will be relatively small, informal sessions in the parish Social Hall (lower level of the church) from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. on February 28, March 13 and March 27.  In addition to his teaching Professor Brown is director of the Boston College Institute of Medieval Philosophy and Theology. The discussions are open to all! Reservations are not necessary, but if you are planning to participate it would be helpful to drop a note to AFFC@stjohnwellesley.org.

Many members of the parish have participated in previous sessions of the program “Bridges to Contemplative Living”, focused on Thomas Merton.  Svea Fraser will lead a group on the topic of “Becoming Who You Are”, on Wednesday evenings, 7:30, in the Parish Center. The first meeting is February 29. For information and to register write to sveafraser@comcast.net.  Despite the fact that he died more than forty years ago Thomas Merton remains one of the most widely-read Catholic writers, and an inspiration to people of all ages.

These are but two of the many faith formation efforts available during Lent.  Check the parish website for details or contact the Adult Faith Formation Commission.  The full schedule is below:

February 28 “St. Augustine’s Sermons on Lent”, Professor Stephen Brown
February 29 “Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton”, Svea Fraser
March 1 “Faith Maps: Ten Religious Explorers”, John Stewart
March 3 Men’s Group, Deacon Tom Smith
March 3 “Word on Fire: Catholicism, a Documentary Video”, Pat Kelleher
March 4 “Word on Fire: Catholicism, a Documentary Video”, Pat Kelleher
March 4 “Faith Maps: Ten Religious Explorers”, Sr. Evelyn Ronan
March 6 Program for Woman, Sr. Evelyn Ronan
March 12 “Vatican II, the Fiftieth Anniversary”, Fr. Bryan Hehir
March 13 “St. Augustine’s Sermons on Lent”, Professor Stephen Brown
March 14 Book Discussion, “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy”, Peter Mongeau
March 19 “Vatican II, the Fiftieth Anniversary”, Fr. Bryan Hehir
March 27 “St. Augustine’s Sermons on Lent”, Professor Stephen Brown

St. John’s Adult Faith Formation Commission: Patrick Blomberg, Linda Colozzi, Marcia Grondin, Pat Kelleher (chair), John Salvati, John Stewart, and Anne Wachtmeister Sister Evelyn Ronan (advisor)

Email: AFFC@stjohnwellesley.org

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, Important Announcements