Category Archives: Service Commission

News from the Service Commission

POWIR Update – “Who is a Refugee?”

Posted on October 2, 2019 | Comments Off on POWIR Update – “Who is a Refugee?”

As many parishioners are now aware, we are in the formative stages of a partnership with Catholic Charities to welcome a Refugee family this year. A group of over forty parishioners have committed to helping the effort in the areas of housing, pre-arrival and post-arrival needs. As we prepare for this family to arrive, our passionate volunteers have created this communication space to answer any questions that may surface throughout the process. Stay tuned here for all the exciting developments! We trust in God’s timing and purpose as we wait in anticipation of a family who could arrive from any country!

What is a refugee? A refugee is an individual or family who have been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. There are currently 65.6 million persons who have been forcibly displaced worldwide.

Is the family we are welcoming here legally? Absolutely. Refugees resettled by Catholic Charities have undergone a 15-step legal process which includes interviews with the United Nations and U.S. officials, vetting, security, medical, and fingerprint screenings, and cultural orientations.

The ceiling for refugee arrivals has been set for the fiscal year 2020 at a historic low of 18,000 individuals. We ask for your prayers that we may be able to help one of these individuals as we seek ways to “welcome the stranger”.

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Posted in Homeless/Feed the Hungry, Service Commission, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events, SJSP Service

Catholic Charities POWIR Training Session at St. John – September 25 at 6:00pm

Posted on September 15, 2019 | Comments Off on Catholic Charities POWIR Training Session at St. John – September 25 at 6:00pm

Our Collaborative, in partnership with Catholic Charities’ Refugee and Immigration Services, will be welcoming a refugee family in the coming year.  If you are interested in volunteering, please come to this training session by the expert team at Catholic Charities on Wednesday, September 25 at 6:00pm in St. John’s Powers Hall.

Email kelly.meraw@sjspwellesley.org for more information or if you would like to help.

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Posted in Important Announcements, Mobile, Service Commission, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events, SJSP Service

Thank You from St. Francis House

Posted on June 21, 2019 | Comments Off on Thank You from St. Francis House

Dear St. John and St. Paul Parishioners,

We at St. Francis House would like to thank you and all those who participated in the clothing drive at your Parish for the generous donations of clothing, which will help provide our guests with the vital resources they need to reclaim their dignity and rebuild their lives.

Your support means so much, and your contributions of much-needed clothing helps St. Francis House provide a broad range of life-changing services to the poor and homeless in Boston. In fact, loyal supporters like you have helped us keep our doors open for over 34 years, offering a warm welcome to as many as 500 guests each day who come through our doors seeking support. Last year our clothing department had 13,306 scheduled contacts with our guests and gave out over 50,000 articles of clothing.

For our guests, walking through those doors is an important step in their process of rebuilding their lives. Thanks to you, St. Francis House is able to continue helping guests leave homelessness behind.

Thank you for choosing to be a part of the St. Francis House community.

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

June 1-2: Annual Men’s Clothing Drive for St. Francis House

Posted on May 21, 2019 | Comments Off on June 1-2: Annual Men’s Clothing Drive for St. Francis House


Each spring our community comes together to support St. Francis House with a Men’s Clothing Drive, and each year the drive is a huge success because of your generosity and grace. This year’s drive will take place June 1-2.  St. Francis House serves approximately 50 clothing appointments per day (Monday-Friday) which is 250 full sets of clothing per week to their guests in need. Please join us in helping by donating clean, practical clothing. Your efforts and generosity are appreciated by the thousands who come to St. Francis House each year for a fresh pair of clothes in times of need.

MOST NEEDED ITEMS INCLUDE:

  • Men’s pants (especially jeans size 30-40)
  • T-shirts, shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, & spring coats
  • Footwear (walking shoes and sneakers)
  • Backpacks/duffel bags/tote bags
  • Summer hats (baseball caps, beach hats)
  • NEW underwear and undershirts (in original packaging)
  • NEW socks (for their Foot Clinic)

ALSO ACCEPTED: Women’s everyday clothing

NOT ACCEPTED: Children’s clothing; used socks, underwear, and sleepwear; household items (including linens); damaged or discolored items

WHEN: Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2 from 9:00AM to 5:00PM

WHERE: Drop off items at the St. John the Evangelist Church garage (behind the church)

HOW: If you can put your items in boxes or secured bags and label them with the general contents it would be a great help with sorting.

Thank you for your generosity!

If you have any questions please call the St. John (781-235-0045) or St. Paul (781-235-1060) parish office.

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Posted in Homeless/Feed the Hungry, Seasonal Initiatives, Service Commission, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events, SJSP Service

April 6-7: Our 2019 Collaborative Lenten Gift Collection

Posted on April 4, 2019 | Comments Off on April 6-7: Our 2019 Collaborative Lenten Gift Collection

As you know, each year in Lent we reach out as a community to one particular place of suffering, amid so many in the world, through our Collaborative Lenten Gift. This Lent, we open our eyes and hearts to the plight of those who are suffering right here in our own community – and who are so often unseen amid the abundance that surrounds us. With our Collaborative Lenten Gift, we reach out to help through our newly formed St. John-St. Paul Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Society is best described by their mission statement: A network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with, and service to, people in need.

The Society offers tangible assistance on a person-to-person basis through local Conferences. It is this personalized involvement that makes the work of the Society so unique. The St. John-St. Paul Conference, which was established last year by members of both parishes, has already begun this work, with outreach and home visits to individuals and families in need in our community. Our Collaborative Lenten Gift will give the Conference a sound financial base from which to provide much-needed assistance.

A Special Second Collection will be taken up at all Masses in both parishes this weekend, April 6-7, for the St. John-St. Paul Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Checks should be made payable to your parish, noting “Lenten Gift 2019” in the memo. Donations may also be made online by clicking here, or mailed to or dropped at the parish offices. We will total the gifts received from all sources and present one check to the Conference.

The three Lenten disciplines recommended by the Church are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This is our opportunity as a Collaborative to show Christ-like love for our neighbors in distress, and for each of us to answer Lent’s clarion call to love extravagantly. On behalf of the Collaborative Service Commission, we ask that you be as generous as your means will allow. Thank you.

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Posted in Service Commission, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events

The Wellesley Townsman: “Wellesley parishes form new group to help needy neighbors”

Posted on March 25, 2019 | Comments Off on The Wellesley Townsman: “Wellesley parishes form new group to help needy neighbors”

When a fledgling nonprofit comes knocking at your door or email account, it is often looking for a check to fund staff or office space. But a new volunteer group in town is searching for something more: neighbors in need…

Please visit The Wellesley Townsman to read more…

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Posted in Christmas & Lent, Service Commission, SJSP Collaborative

Our 2019 Collaborative Lenten Gift

Posted on March 17, 2019 | Comments Off on Our 2019 Collaborative Lenten Gift

Each year, through our Collaborative Lenten Gift, we reach out as a community to one particular place of suffering, amid so many in the world. Over the years, our reach has extended around the globe, as far as the Central African Republic and as close as the streets of Boston. This year, we will open our eyes and hearts to the plight of those who are suffering right here in our own community – and who are so often unseen in the midst of the abundance that surrounds us – and reach out to help through our newly formed St. John –  St. Paul Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Throughout Lent, here and in the bulletin, we will share this story with you – the story of the need, and the story of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – as we prepare for our collaborative-wide Special Collection on April 6-7. Throughout Lent, here and in the bulletin, we will share this story with you – the story of the need, and the story of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – as we prepare for our collaborative-wide Special Collection on April 6-7.  Please visit our 2019 Collaborative Lenten Gift page  for weekly updates.

Our gift will allow each of us to share in easing the suffering and to answer Lent’s clarion call to love extravagantly.

 

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Posted in Service Commission

Collaborative Service Commission Informational Meeting: Wednesday, February 27 at St. John

Posted on February 2, 2019 | Comments Off on Collaborative Service Commission Informational Meeting: Wednesday, February 27 at St. John

Our Collaborative has developed in so many fruitful ways since we began this journey in 2015. Our two parishes, each unique and rich in tradition, culture, and ministry, have continued to thrive as distinct faith communities while simultaneously entwining themselves in organic and God-glorifying ways. The Holy Spirit continues to work with deliberate timing as we discern God’s will for our collaborative, revealing opportunities for even deeper connection for worship, enrichment, and ministry together. It is with great joy that we enter a new phase of collaboration in our service and outreach ministries with the establishment of a Collaborative Service Commission.

During last year’s Collaborative Forum on Christian Service, we began to discuss a shared vision of what constitutes Christian Service and how we can continue to respond to Christ’s call to serve as we move forward as a collaborative. We are blessed to have many meaningful and diverse service initiatives at both parishes, with so many dedicated parishioners bringing the comfort and compassion of Christ to those in need, in our community and beyond. Our new Collaborative Service Commission will be a support mechanism to provide assistance and encouragement, as needed, to our existing programs and those engaged in service, as well as a channel for exploring and incorporating new programs and new opportunities to serve. We invite all parishioners interested in becoming more involved in the work of service to consider serving on the Commission.

Why serve? Christ’s foundational command to love is at the heart of the Gospel message. It is a love that is beyond human comprehension – it grows and builds by the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. There is no better expression of our love than the imitation our Lord Jesus Christ who came to serve and not to be served. We serve by the grace of faith, through the strength of God’s supply. Service allows us to discover and develop our personal spiritual gifts and to experience the joy of obedience to God’s will; it surrounds us with other Christians who support us in our walks with Christ and it increases our faith. During the wedding at Cana Jesus performs a miracle. The guests at the wedding aren’t witnesses to that miracle (although they gratefully enjoy its fruits.) The servers at the wedding witness the miracle. Water turns to wine before their eyes. God’s grace is poured out. Serving allows us to witness miracles. Service allows us to see God’s direct hand in the most beautiful parts of His creation.

What holds us back? It’s easy to become overwhelmed with doubt and fear – that we don’t have the right skills, or enough time, or that we aren’t needed or sufficient. Remember that God has used those who doubt and fear to perform unbelievable tasks in His name. From Moses to David to Paul, and of course the Blessed Virgin Mary, God proves we need only say ‘yes’. Indeed, He doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.

If you feel called to serve out of gratitude for what God has done for you in your life; if you want to share God’s goodness with others; if you want to bring the face of Christ into the lives of our collaborative community and beyond, please come to an informational and developmental session of the Collaborative Service Commission on Wednesday, February 27 at 7pm in the Collaborative Boardroom in the St. John Parish Center. To RSVP please email either Kelly Meraw (kelly.meraw@sjspwellesley.org) or Anne Mears (anne.mears@sjspwellesley.org)

If you are unable to attend but would like to learn more about the Collaborative Service Commission and/or other service opportunities within the collaborative, please let us know. We ask for all of your prayers as we begin this new journey in faith together.

 

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Posted in Service Commission, SJSP Service

Christmas Wish Kicks Off This Week… Help Make Wishes Come True!

Posted on October 28, 2018 | Comments Off on Christmas Wish Kicks Off This Week… Help Make Wishes Come True!

Christmas Wish and TreeSome children wish upon a star. This year, about 400 children will wish upon the caring generosity of our parish community through the St. John Christmas Wish program, which has been making wishes come true since 1993. Needed clothing and a special Christmas wish gift will go to youngsters in our own parish and in parishes in Roxbury, Lowell and Brockton. Christmas Wish invitations with Helper and Applicant forms have been mailed to all parishioners.  If you find your family needs assistance this Christmas season, you are invited to complete a confidential Applicant form.

HELP MAKE WISHES COME TRUE!

 

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Posted in Christmas & Lent, Christmas Wish, Service Commission

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Thanksgiving Dinner for Bristol Lodge

Posted on October 28, 2018 | Comments Off on Thanksgiving Dinner for Bristol Lodge

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and with it comes our commitment to serve Thanksgiving dinner to approximately 80 guests at Bristol Lodge in Waltham. Please consider helping with this important outreach program. Volunteers are needed to provide cooked turkeys, stuffing and vegetable dishes, cranberry sauce, rolls, and beverages. (The turkeys and other side dishes may be cooked as early as the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving.) The food is dropped off  on Wednesday, November 21 between 12:00pm and 2:00pm in the Saint John School parking lot.  For more details and to sign-up to help please visit our SignUp page:

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Posted in Seasonal Initiatives, Service Commission