Category Archives: Important Announcements

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

St. John the Evangelist Parish Annual Appeal

Posted on October 20, 2018 | Comments Off on St. John the Evangelist Parish Annual Appeal

October marks the release of our Annual Financial Report and the launch of our 2018 Annual Appeal for St. John the Evangelist Parish. A mailing with the Annual Financial Report, prepared by the Parish Finance Council, will be arriving at the homes of all registered parishioners this week (the report can be viewed now by clicking the link above.) Fr. Jim will be speaking at all Masses at St. John this weekend (October 20-21) to highlight the critical importance of the Parish Annual Appeal in fulfilling the mission of St. John parish. Your parish needs your financial support so that the many ministries within the parish – and the many outreach efforts beyond the parish – can continue to thrive and to grow. Please spend some time prayerfully reflecting upon your contribution to the Parish Annual Appeal.

The mailing includes both a Parish Annual Appeal pledge card and a return envelope. Your pledge card/donation may be returned by mail, dropped at the Parish Office, or placed in a collection at Mass (please be sure to note “Annual Appeal” on your check.) Additional Parish Annual Appeal envelopes are available at the back of the church, along with extra copies of the Annual Financial Report.

Donations can also be made at any time through WeShare, our online giving program – anyone can make a secure, One-Time Donation using a credit card without setting up an account.  Or, if you prefer, you can create a Recurring Donation to spread your contribution to this year’s Parish Annual Appeal over a period of weeks or months of your choosing.  Either way, just click the button below to get started:

Thank you for your continued support of St. John the Evangelist  Parish!

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Posted in Finance Council, Important Announcements

“Evening for Women” – Tuesday, November 6 at 6:30pm at St. John

Posted on October 17, 2018 | Comments Off on “Evening for Women” – Tuesday, November 6 at 6:30pm at St. John

All women of the collaborative are invited to join us for an evening of prayer, song, food and sharing.  In keeping with our theme, “Blessed is She”, Kelly Meraw, Coordinator of Pastoral Care, will share her reflections on our sisterhood in Christ and the eight beatitudes of our Savior.

A special note:  November 6th is voting day!  Get to the polls early, then join us in Powers Hall at St. John at 6:30 with a dish to share (if you are able.)  The program will begin in the chapel promptly at 6:45.

Here is a peak at upcoming programs!

December 4
Camino Journey Svea Fraser and Barbara Viechnicki

February 5
Seasons of Hope (Grief) Laurie Jacob, MA in Theology and Ministry

March 5
Shrove Tuesday Desserts, Desserts! Lenten Reflection

April 2
Reflections Katherine Twitchell

May 7
Mass Fr. Jim Laughlin

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Posted in Important Announcements

Seasons of Hope – A Faith Sharing Group for Those Who Mourn

Posted on October 17, 2018 | Comments Off on Seasons of Hope – A Faith Sharing Group for Those Who Mourn

A unique Christ-centered support group for the bereaved will be offered in the Collaborative starting on Thursday, November 8. For more information, please pick up a brochure at the back of the church or email Laurie Jacob or call her at 339.222.0335.

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, Important Announcements

Attention Young Singers! Christmas Youth Choir Sign-Up and First Rehearsal November 4

Posted on October 12, 2018 | Comments Off on Attention Young Singers! Christmas Youth Choir Sign-Up and First Rehearsal November 4

Our 18th Annual Christmas Youth Choir sign-up and first rehearsal will take place Sunday, November 4 from 10:50-11:50am. All students in grade 1-8 are invited to participate. High School (grade 9-12) Assistants are also welcome (counts towards confirmation community service credit!) Seven rehearsals will take place on the following dates and times (which do not conflict with Sunday Morning Religious Education):

November 4:  10:50-11:50am
November 18:  10:50-11:50am
*November 25:  10:00-11:00am
December 2:  10:50-11:50am
December 9:  10:50-11:50am
*December 16:  10:00-11:00am
*December 23:  10:00 – 11:00am

*Note earlier time.

Children will participate in the 5:30pm Family Mass on Christmas Eve. All rehearsals are in St. John’s Chapel. For more information, please email Maria Wardwell (or by telephone at 781-237-2148. )

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Posted in Family Mass, Important Announcements, Music, Youth Choir

Special Second Collection for Cor Unum – October 6-7

Posted on October 5, 2018 | Comments Off on Special Second Collection for Cor Unum – October 6-7

We are holding a special second collection this weekend, October 6-7, to support the important work of Cor Unum in light of the recent disaster in Lawrence.

In Lawrence, MA, thousands of our brothers and sisters suffer from hunger. The combination of economic poverty and an unusually expensive housing market leaves many people in Lawrence without enough money to adequately feed themselves. The majority of those who are hungry are members of families who work and do not earn enough income to pay for both housing and food. Cor Unum serves nutritious meals seven days a week to hungry people in Lawrence and welcomes and serves all who are in need with dignity, love and respect.

Cor Unum was seriously impacted by the recent tragic events in Lawrence. It lost electricity for a few days, and then went several weeks without gas for cooking. In the interim, Cor Unum was able to provide “to go” bags during regular meal service hours to ensure that no person went hungry. Cor Unum has now successfully converted to propane, and is once again able to provide hot meals to its clients. Our donations will be used to help offset associated increased costs, as well as the costs of the considerable increase in the volume of diners due to the recent disaster.

Donations can be made during the special second collection at all Masses on the weekend of October 6-7. Please make checks payable to your parish (St. John Parish or St. Paul Parish), noting “Cor Unum” in the memo; we will total funds received from all sources and present one check to Cor Unum. Checks may also be mailed to the Collaborative Business Office (39 Washington St. Wellesley, MA 02481) or dropped at either parish office during business hours.

Donations can also be made online using WeShare. Anyone can make a secure, one-time donation using a credit/debit card or online check – no need to set up an account!

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

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Posted in Important Announcements, Special Collections

A Message from Our Friends at NPH

Posted on September 24, 2018 | Comments Off on A Message from Our Friends at NPH

Last year, for our Collaborative Lenten Gift, we reached out as a community to our friends at Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (NPH) in Mexico, as they worked to recover from a devastating earthquake. Our gift was specifically directed toward the rebuilding of the boys and girls dormitories in Miacatlán, which were severely damaged. Below is a message from our friends at NPH, a year after the earthquake.

“It has been a full year since the 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Mexico damaging the dormitories, classrooms, and other structures at NPH Mexico. Reconstruction is well underway and many of the damages have been fully repaired. None of this would be possible without the generosity of communities like the one in Wellesley who raised over $20,000 this spring to aid in the reconstruction efforts. Please take a moment to view the gratitude from the children and youth of NPH Mexico in this video.

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Posted in 2018 Lenten Gift, Important Announcements, Service Commission

Fr. John Connelly to be Honored at the Elizabeth Seton Residence Annual Dinner on Thursday, October 11 at 6pm at the Wellesley Country Club

Posted on September 17, 2018 | Comments Off on Fr. John Connelly to be Honored at the Elizabeth Seton Residence Annual Dinner on Thursday, October 11 at 6pm at the Wellesley Country Club

From Elizabeth Seton Residence: 

Reverend John J. Connelly of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Wellesley Hills is a long-time friend and supporter of the Elizabeth Seton Residence. In addition to celebrating mass for the Sisters of Charity in the Mount St. Vincent chapel, Fr. Connelly’s sisters, Mary and Helen called the Elizabeth Seton Residence home in their later years and are fondly remembered by all.

Born and raised in St. Peter’s parish in Dorchester, Fr. Connelly attended the Boston Latin School and Boston College before entering the US Army and serving in World War II. Ordained in 1950, he went on to complete his graduate studies in Rome, Italy and then embarked on a teaching career that spanned over three decades. In 1983 Fr. Connelly was called to serve at the Sacred Heart parish in Newton where he was the beloved Pastor for thirty years until his retirement in 2013. He is now a senior priest in residence at St. John the Evangelist in Wellesley Hills.

We are honored to recognize Fr. Connelly for his outstanding service to the shared communities of Newton, Wellesley and the Elizabeth Seton Residence. We hope you will join us in making this a special and memorable evening as we celebrate our friend, Fr. John J. Connelly.

Please visit Elizabeth Seton Residence for more information or to purchase tickets online.

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Posted in Important Announcements

Our New Collaborative Sunday 5pm Mass Schedule

Posted on September 10, 2018 | Comments Off on Our New Collaborative Sunday 5pm Mass Schedule

As young Christians… you are not only a part of the future of the Church; you are also a necessary and beloved part of the Church’s present! You are the Church’s present!

Pope Francis, Homily at the Closing Mass for the 6th Asian Youth Day, August 2014

Pope Francis reminds young Christians – and all of us – that young people are not just a part of the Church’s future, but an important and much-needed part of the Church’s present. Here at the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative, we are conscious of this reminder as we work together with our young people to renew and strengthen their connection to God, the Church, their parish and wider community, and to each other.

To this end, we have launched a Collaborative Sunday 5pm Mass that will be a more deliberately youth-centered liturgy, with our high-school-aged young people central to and actively involved in all aspects of the Mass. From the music, to the homilies, to the Spirit-filled sense of vibrancy and joy, we are prayerfully approaching a liturgy that will touch the hearts and minds of our young people and all who come to celebrate the Mass and grow in faith together.

This new Sunday 5pm Mass will be a truly collaborative liturgy, rotating from week to week between St. John Church and St. Paul Church. On the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays of the month, the Sunday 5:00pm Mass will be at St. John, and on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, the Mass will be at St. Paul.

Schedule for September: 
Sunday, September 9 – St. Paul Church
Sunday, September 16 – St. John Church
Sunday, September 23 – St. Paul Church 
Sunday, September 30 – Collaborative Outdoor Mass/Special Mass Schedule

The full schedule for the year is available on our website  – you can add the schedule to your iPhone or Google calendar so you always know where the Mass is week to week.  (More information will be available soon about signing up for reminder emails and texts.)

All are encouraged to experience and support this new initiative with their prayers and their presence.

Remember, you can always attend the Masses within the collaborative that best meet your needs and schedule, and still support your home parish. Simply place your envelope (or check  made out to your home parish) in the collection at Mass and it will be sent to your parish. Envelopes for both parishes will also be available at the back of the churches so you can direct cash donations as well.

Now would be a great time to consider Online Giving. Online giving makes donating to your home parish simple and easy, regardless of where you are or the time of year, and this in turn provides your parish with more consistent and stable contributions. Please visit your home parish’s website (St. John or St. Paul) to sign up or for more information.

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Posted in Important Announcements, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events, SJSP Confirmation, SJSP Youth Ministry

Candlelight Vigil Tonight – Monday, September 10 at St. Paul

Posted on September 10, 2018 | Comments Off on Candlelight Vigil Tonight – Monday, September 10 at St. Paul

Tonight, Monday, September 10, we will gather at 8:30pm for a Candlelight Vigil at St. Paul Parish (in the event of rain, the vigil will be held inside the church.)  Together we will sing and pray first and foremost for the victims and survivors of sexual abuse, and also in support of our faithful priests.  Events will be held at both parishes throughout the week. Please click HERE for a complete listing of all events.

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Posted in Important Announcements, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events

“Out of the darkness is born the light…”

Posted on September 7, 2018 | Comments Off on “Out of the darkness is born the light…”

The faith community of St. John-St. Paul is experiencing an upheaval in the wake of the clergy sex abuse crisis. We are brokenhearted at the alarming reports that continue to engulf our Church. We are outraged, concerned, overwhelmed, and grieving over the revelations of the past month. However, with Jesus Christ as our example in times of great trial, we will not lose hope. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit we come together as a community of faith to begin the work of healing, restoration, and reform.

As always, the survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of the clergy are at the forefront of our prayers.

Next week, beginning on Sunday, September 9, will be a week consecrated to the immediate critical care of the faithful Catholic community of the St. John – St. Paul Collaborative. The week opens with a vital opportunity to listen to one another and share what is in our hearts and minds concerning the events that have rocked our Church in the past weeks. Please join us on Sunday, September 9, from 12:30-2:00pm in Powers Hall at St. John the Evangelist Church for Laity and Clergy Walking Together.

The following evening, Monday, September 10, we will gather at 8:30pm for a Candlelight Vigil on the lawn of St. Paul Church. Together we will sing andpray – first and foremost for the victims and survivors of sexual abuse, and also in support of our faithful priests.

Events will be held at both parishes throughout the week, including Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Lectio Divina, Stations of the Cross, and Contemplation of the Rosary, all in support of survivors of sexual abuse.

Please click HERE for a complete listing of all events.

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Posted in Important Announcements