Category Archives: Lent

Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14

Lenten CrossCOLLABORATIVE SCHEDULE
7:00am Mass at St. John
9:00am Mass at St. Paul
9:00am Mass at St. John
(with Saint John School – all welcome!)
12:10 Mass at St. John
2:10 Ash Service at St. Paul
(with St. Paul Rel Ed – all welcome!)
5:30pm Mass at St. John
7:00pm Mass at St. Paul

The St. John-St. Paul Collaborative has a rich, full schedule of Lenten liturgies, programs and events – click here for more information: Lent 2018

Please join us on this Lenten journey!

Today is Easter Sunday, April 16

White Flower near Christian Cross7:30am Mass at St. John (Upper Church)
7:30am Mass at St. Paul (Main Church)

9:00am Family Mass at St. John (Upper Church with simulcast in Powers Hall)
9:00am Mass at St. Paul (Main Church)
9:00am Mass at St. Paul (Parish Hall)

11:00am Mass at St. John (Upper Church with simulcast in Powers Hall)
11:00am Mass at St. Paul (Main Church)
11:00am Mass at St. Paul (Parish Hall)

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. PS 118:24

Today is Holy Saturday, April 15

Holy Saturday_Easter Vigil

Morning Prayer followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation
9:00am at St. Paul

Sacrament of Reconciliation
10:00am – 12:00pm at St. John

Mass of the Easter Vigil
8:00pm at St. John
8:00pm at St. Paul

Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God. PS 42-2

Today is Good Friday, April 14

Good_Friday_CrucifixionMorning Prayer followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation
9:00am at St. Paul

Walk with the Cross
12:00pm at St. John (Led by Religious Education – all welcome!)

Living Way of the Cross
12:00pm at St. Paul (with Religious Education – all welcome!)

Stations of the Cross
3:00pm at St. John

Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
3:00pm at St. Paul
7:30pm at St. John

 “Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name.” PHIL 2:8-9

Today is Holy Thursday, April 13

last supper paintingMorning Prayer followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation
9:00am at St. Paul

Mass of the Lord’s Supper
7:30pm at St. John followed by Adoration
7:30pm at St. Paul followed by Adoration

I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you. JN 13:34

Holy Week at the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative

HOLY THURSDAY, April 13

Morning Prayer followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation
9:00am at St. Paul

Mass of the Lord’s Supper
7:30pm at St. John followed by Adoration
7:30pm at St. Paul followed by Adoration

GOOD FRIDAY, April 14

Morning Prayer followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation
9:00am at St. Paul

Walk with the Cross
12:00pm at St. John   (Led by Religious Education – all welcome!)

Living Way of the Cross
12:00pm at St. Paul   (with Religious Education – all welcome!)

Stations of the Cross
3:00pm at St. John

Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
3:00pm at St. Paul
7:30pm at St. John

HOLY SATURDAY, April 15

Morning Prayer followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation
9:00am at St. Paul

Sacrament of Reconciliation
10:00am – 12:00pm at St. John

Mass of the Easter Vigil
8:00pm at St. John
8:00pm at St. Paul

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 16

7:30am Mass at St. John (Upper Church)
7:30am Mass at St. Paul (Main Church)

9:00am Family Mass at St. John (Upper Church with simulcast in Powers Hall)
9:00am Mass at St. Paul (Main Church and Parish Hall)

11:00am Mass at St. John (Upper Church with simulcast in Powers Hall)
11:00am Mass at St. Paul (Main Church and Parish Hall)

Monday, April 10 at St. Paul: Lenten Lecture Series with Fr. Jim Laughlin

Fr_JimWhen All Seemed Lost:  Waiting for the Third Day
Monday, April 10 at 7:30pm
St. Paul Church
For Peter, it had all begun at the Sea of Galilee. Here Jesus had called him… and his life would never be the same. He had witnessed miracles, walked on water and had even seen Lazarus raised from the dead. And at the darkest hour, he denied even knowing the One he loved. He thought that all was lost when Jesus was crucified. But there, at the Sea of Galilee…they would meet again.

Monday, April 3 at St. John: Lenten Lecture Series with Michael Meraw

Daffodils_Closeup_2014How Music Leads Us through Lent to the Joy of Easter
Monday, April 3 at 7:30pm
St. John Powers Hall
The Second Vatican Council in her Sacrosanctum Concillium said “The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy.”  Come and acquaint yourselves with some of the treasures that have help guide the faithful through Lent, and how this music can deepen your communion with our Lord and His Passion.

Monday, March 27 at St. John: Lenten Lecture Series with Donna Maria Ticchi

Christ_Carrying_the_CrossArt as narrative, memory, and prayer: ‘Christ Carrying the Cross’ at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Monday, March 27 at 7:30pm
St. John Powers Hall

Christ Carrying the Cross, painted by the Circle of Giovanni Bellini in the early years of the High Renaissance, was Isabella Stewart Gardner’s favorite painting. We’ll discuss the background of this painting and the stories it tells us.  We’ll look at why the placement of this painting at her Museum was so important to Mrs. Gardner and what that reveals about faith and memory.   Lastly, we’ll consider how Mrs. Gardner’s relationship with this painting demonstrates how the affective nature of art helps us to be more fully human.  We’ll see how art – as a meditative tool – opens our hearts to God.

CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK TO LISTEN TO A PODCAST OF THIS LECTURE: Lenten Lectures 2017: “Art as narrative, memory, and prayer: ‘Christ Carrying the Cross’ at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum” with Donna Maria Ticchi (3/27/17)

Week Three – Voices from Bakhita House

This week we have ‘witness statements’; the first one is from a parishioner who is a physician who works at Massachusetts General Hospital, and volunteers at the MGH/Freedom Clinic one day/week. The MGH Freedom Clinic was launched in April, 2015 to care for victims and survivors of human trafficking in the Boston area. The Clinic offers free primary and preventative care for victims and survivors of human trafficking ages 13 years and older.

“I have been privileged to meet the residents of Bakhita house as patients. Through my work as a primary care physician at the MGH Freedom clinic I see many young women who have found refuge at Bakhita house. Their feelings are a mix of fear and relief. For some they have come straight off the streets – extracted from the hands of an abusing trafficker. For others – they have been saved from servitude in a job they were never paid for and worked 7 days a week. All are damaged. They have a deep mistrust in the health system because often times they may have been seen by a nurse or doctor who failed to see the signs that they were victimized.”

“One young woman had come to the US to work as a nanny. She had her passport taken away as soon as she arrived and the host family neglected to pay her, for months. She worked 14 hour days and was given no time off. She had hoped to make some money to send home to her family in the Philippines, but was unable to even communicate with them as her phone was taken away too. Thanks to her own savvy – this young woman called the Human Trafficking hotline (1-888-373-7888) and was freed. She stayed at Bakhita House where the nuns provided a loving home while she healed from her ordeal. She is now living in her own apartment, working a paying job, and sending money home to her family.”

“Another young woman, a New England native, was part of a forced prostitution ring. She was freed thanks to local law enforcement cracking the case and was brought to Bakhita House. She is still fragile. Her past life included opioid addiction and she is now trying to leave that behind. I work with wonderful counselors who also help these women recover from their trauma. The journey to recovery is long.”

“I treat sore throats and asthma flares, nightmares and addiction, and have learned volumes about the vulnerabilities and needs of this special population, all from the survivors themselves. I am continually impressed by their grace and strength. For many, faith plays a role in the ongoing hope. As one survivor writes: ‘To Love is to Believe. May we so love as to believe!'”

The second statement is from a guest at the Bakhita House. It attests to the unique ambiance of the house, created by the wonderful sisters who provide 24/7 coverage at the house, every day of the year.

“The Bakhita safe house is a one of a kind, as are the women who run it. They can be tough as nails and yet offer a soft place to land. They are well prepared for the challenge of working with girls like us: the ups and the downs that we go through are challenging! Some days we can be angry and defensive and some days we just need a shoulder to cry on; some days we want to run away or give up. When I moved in, they made me realize I was now a part of something – I became like family to them. When I need something they are a phone call away.”

“I honestly don’t think I would be where I am today without them. When you come out of a situation like being trafficked, you are skeptical of everyone, but you can count on the women who staff Bakhita House. And anyone they trust I trust! The volunteers they select are the cream of the crop. If you let them, they’ll be with you every step of the way no matter how scary it can be. This isn’t a shelter this is a family & I hope it never dies.”  Rhonda (not actual name)

PLEASE VISIT OUR COLLABORATIVE LENTEN GIFT PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION