Category Archives: Christmas & Lent

News from the Service Commission’s Christmas & Lent program

2012 Lenten Gift: Giving Hope to East Africa – One Family’s Plight

Extreme hunger is a harsh daily reality for more than 12 million people in East  Africa because of what many are calling the worst drought in 60 years.  Further compounding this natural disaster are political violence in Southern Somalia and drastic increases in food prices. These numbers have swelled the already overcrowded Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya to a half a million people. Crowded conditions in Ethiopian and Kenyan camps, and in urban areas in Somalia, pose huge health concerns. Cases of cholera and measles outbreaks are on the rise. Somalia is the hardest hit of the East African countries stricken by drought. The UN estimates that more than 3 million people are suffering from inadequate nutrition. And nearly 250,000 Somalis are at risk of starvation if immediate lifesaving interventions do not reach them. Continue reading

2012 Lenten Gift:Giving Hope to East Africa – Supporting East African Refugees Fleeing Drought and Famine

St. John’s Parish will again show its solidarity with others who are in need by collecting funds for a Lenten gift. This year’s gift will be: “Giving Hope to East Africa” – Supporting East African Refugees Fleeing Drought and Famine. Throughout Lent, the plight of these refugees will be shared with you in our weekly parish bulletins and on the parish web site. Continue reading

A Christmas Wish Thank You!

The Christmas Wish Committee would like to thank all the parishioners who participated in the 2011 Christmas Wish Program. We volunteered to sponsor, shop for, or donate funds to help buy Christmas gifts and clothing for over 320 children in 137 families. The contributions from St. John assisted families and children of St. Patrick’s in Brockton, St. Patrick’s in Lowell,  St. Katharine Drexel in Roxbury, St. John the Evangelist in Wellesley, and Julie’s Family Learning Program in South Boston. Over 200 St. John families took part in the program to bring the true meaning of Christmas through family sponsorship, financial donations, and program coordination.  A special thanks to Sue and Bill Logan of McCabe Movers who generously donated moving services to transport clothing, toys and wrapping materials to these parishes. We would also like to thank Kathy Maher, Christine Kehoe, Becky Kannam, Peg Tally, Paula Gomez, Marcia Gargone, Pat Colton, Joyce Farah, Corinne Spinale, Donna Buckley, Joanne Sheppard, and Steve DuFour for a great job on the committee.  We extend a special invitation to all parishioners to join us next year in the 2012 Christmas Wish to share the joy of this program.  Happy Holidays!

Can You Help Make A Christmas Wish Come True? Volunteers Needed to Shop for Christmas Gifts

The St. John Christmas Wish program brings the joy of Christmas to hundreds of children and families from 5 parishes: St. Patrick’s in Brockton, St. Patrick’s in Lowell, St. Katharine Drexel’s in Roxbury, St. John the Evangelist in Wellesley and St. Julie’s Family Learning Program in South Boston.  We appreciate all of the parishioners who have already contributed to the program and we want to invite parishioners to consider volunteering as a shopper or sponsor for the program.  A shopper typically will shop to purchase clothing for families (an outfit and toy for each child) and all shopping expenses will be reimbursed through the program.  Volunteers typically shop for 5 children. Sponsors purchase clothing and a special gift for children in a family age 18 and under.  Approximate value of sponsorship is $50-75 per child.

Please contact me this weekend  if you would like to participate as a shopper or sponsor for Christmas Wish.  Thank you in advance for your generosity in making this program a success.

Warm regards,

Christine Kehoe
c.kehoe@verizon.net
781-237-5940