Category Archives: SJSP Collaborative

Lenten Discussion Series: A Look at Temptation and Fortitude

Posted on February 17, 2018 | Comments Off on Lenten Discussion Series: A Look at Temptation and Fortitude

NEXT SESSION: TUESDAY, MARCH 6
Consider the cunning ways of the devil to lure us into temptation by delving into The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. These fictitious letters from a senior demon of Hell, Screwtape, to his protégé, Wormword, give us a peek into the world of temptation and fortitude, and provide a bountiful landscape for discussion of sin, vice, virtue, and the inner working of the human conscience. Please join us on these Tuesday evenings: February 20, March 6, March 13, and March 20 from 7:00-8:00pm in St. John Powers Hall.

 Led by Jennifer Foster, DRE, St. Bartholomew Parish in Needham. The book is available at bookstores and online, but it is not necessary to read the letters before attending a session, and you do not need to attend every session to benefit!   Come to one session or all four!

 

 

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, Important Announcements, Lent, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events

A Lenten Message from Fr. Jim

Posted on February 17, 2018 | Comments Off on A Lenten Message from Fr. Jim

At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. (Mark 1:12)

Which voices do we listen to?  The world is a noisy place and we are bombarded by voices telling us what to wear, what to buy, what to believe, what is beautiful.  During this holy season of Lent, we are invited to enter the desert with Jesus.  Here we will learn, like Jesus, to discern the voice of our loving God against the din of competing voices.  As we allow God’s voice to speak deep in our hearts, we discover ourselves as loved unconditionally, as beloved.  As we come to know ourselves as God’s beloved, we are more able to see the face of God in the needy around us and to become instruments of God’s love and mercy to those we encounter.

Pope Francis encourages us “to lose ourselves decisively on the path of Jesus, the path which leads to life…Let us enter into the desert without fear, because we are not alone; we are with Jesus, with the Father and with the Holy Spirit.  In fact, as it was for Jesus, it is the Holy Spirit who guides us on the Lenten journey; that same Spirit descended upon Jesus and has been given to us in Baptism.  As we cross the Lenten ‘desert’, we fix our gaze toward Easter, which is Jesus’ definitive victory against evil, against sin and against death.”

We invite you to enter fully into this Lenten journey into the desert.  Take  advantage of the offerings of our collaborative for prayer and reflection, for service and for reconciliation.  Let’s listen together to the voice of God.

Fr. Jim

 

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, From the Pastor, Important Announcements, Lent, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events

Father-Daughter Valentine’s Dance at St. Paul’s – Saturday, February 10 from 6:30-9:00pm

Posted on January 29, 2018 | Comments Off on Father-Daughter Valentine’s Dance at St. Paul’s – Saturday, February 10 from 6:30-9:00pm

Father-Daughter-DanceFathers, Father-figures and special friends are invited to bring their daughters (of any age) to spend quality time with each other and experience an evening of dance and fun!  Tickets are $25 for two, max $30 per family.  This includes a DJ, dancing (with a dance contest), snacks, drinks & free raffle.  Tickets will be sold after the 9:00am Masses on January 28th and February 4th as well as at the door the night of the dance. We are hoping that our friends from St John’s will come and join us for this year’s dance!

For more information or to help with the event contact:  Eric Laplaca at 617-365-5063 or laplacaericw@gmail.com

Please note that the dance is on Saturday this year not Friday as in previous years.

 

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Posted in Children, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events, Special Events

Evening for Women: Tuesday, February 6 at 6:30pm at St. John

Posted on January 29, 2018 | Comments Off on Evening for Women: Tuesday, February 6 at 6:30pm at St. John

cross_impressionist“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” ~ Psalms 73:26

All women of the collaborative are invited to Evening for Women on Tuesday, February 6 at 6:30pm in Powers Hall at St. John the Evangelist.  Please join us for chapel reflection and a discussion of Palliative Care. Palliative Care is often misunderstood, and sometime thought to be exclusively for people receiving Hospice Care at the end of their lives. Rather, it is a comprehensive approach to care for those with serious illness from the moment of diagnosis, with a goal of improving the quality of life for both patient and family.  It is consistent with Catholic teaching, continuing the holistic healing ministry of Jesus Christ. The presenter will be Diane McCarthy, Parish Education Coordinator for the Archdiocese’s Initiative for Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning.

Kindly bring a favorite Winter dish to share.  After Linda Colozzi leads us in prayer and reflection in the chapel, the program will take place during dinner. Hope to see you then!  Bring a friend!

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events

St. Paul Youth Group “Blades and Burritos” Outing

Posted on January 8, 2018 | Comments Off on St. Paul Youth Group “Blades and Burritos” Outing

Calling all High School students! Join us for Blades and Burritos – Friday, January 19

Skating on the Frog Pond and Dinner at Anna’s Taqueria. Wear warm clothes and bring $35 if you need to rent skates, $23 if you have your own skates.  This amount should cover the T, skating and dinner. Permission forms are required for Under 18s. Please contact anne.mears@sjspwellesley.org for permission form or pick one up at the back of either church.

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Posted in Important Announcements, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events

Men’s Fellowship Group at St. Paul – Wednesday, January 10

Posted on January 8, 2018 | Comments Off on Men’s Fellowship Group at St. Paul – Wednesday, January 10

The St. Paul Catholic Men’s Fellowship Group meets next on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 7:30 PM in the St. Paul Parish Hall (behind St. Paul Church). We will cover Chapter 3 “Why It Can’t Be Like it Was” of Archbishop Chaput’s book, Strangers in a Strange Land, Living the Catholic Faith in a Post-Christian World.  All men of the Collaborative are invited to come and participate in a lively discussion about our faith in the 21st century.

“At a time when many American Christians feel like ‘strangers in a strange land,’ one of the country’s most courageous and respected prelates has given us much needed words of wisdom for the challenges ahead. This forward-looking guidebook should be on every Catholic’s bookshelf.” (Mary Ann Glendon, former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Learned Hand Professor of Law, Harvard University)

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events

Special Mass Schedule for the Fourth Sunday of Advent – Sunday, December 24

Posted on December 17, 2017 | Comments Off on Special Mass Schedule for the Fourth Sunday of Advent – Sunday, December 24

This Sunday, December 24 is the Fourth Sunday of Advent.  There will be a special schedule of Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent on December 23 and 24.

Saturday, December 23:
4:00pm at St. Paul
5:00pm at St. John

Sunday, December 24:
7:30am at St. John and St. Paul
9:00am at St. John and St. Paul

Please note: there will be NO 11:00am Mass at either parish on Sunday, December 24. Please see the special schedule of Christmas Masses for Sunday evening, December 24, and Monday morning, December 25.

 

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Posted in Advent, Christmas, Important Announcements, SJSP Collaborative, Special Mass Schedule

Evening for Women RSVPs are Now Closed

Posted on December 4, 2017 | Comments Off on Evening for Women RSVPs are Now Closed

We’re sorry – the attendee list is now closed.  We cannot accept any additional RSVPs for this event because we have reached capacity in Powers Hall.

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events

Christian Service Forum: A Message from Fr. Jim

Posted on November 19, 2017 | Comments Off on Christian Service Forum: A Message from Fr. Jim

Over 60 parishioners from the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative joined on November 7 to discuss a shared vision of what constitutes Christian Service and how we can achieve expanded opportunities to answer Christ’s call as we move forward as a collaborative. There was great energy and excitement in the room as members of both parishes got to know each other in the context of discussing an issue vital to our lives as Catholic Christians. Led by Carol Yamartino, a professional executive coach and leadership meeting facilitator, the ideas flowed freely as the attendees focused on many of the communities among us who are crying out for help – the hungry, poor, elderly, immigrants, prisoners, the homeless and the list goes on. The group also considered such topics as the extent of our outreach and the kinds of service we should seek to provide. The evening concluded with a discussion centered on potential models for implementing the ideas expressed.

The meeting was part of the consultation process that allows the voices of parishioners to be heard as the Collaborative Pastoral Council and I contemplate the creation of a Pastoral Plan for our collaborative. We also anticipate an additional forum in 2018 that will focus on family life as we move forward with the overall effort of exploring topics of importance to our parishioners.

How blessed we are to have such wonderful parishioners, passionate about living your faith through Christian Service. I feel very blessed indeed to serve as your pastor!

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Jim

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Posted in Important Announcements, Service Commission, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Pastoral Council

December 5: Evening for Women with Special Guest Sr. Evelyn Ronan

Posted on November 16, 2017 | Comments Off on December 5: Evening for Women with Special Guest Sr. Evelyn Ronan

All women of the collaborative are invited to a special evening of prayer and friendship on Tuesday, December 5 in Powers Hall.  It is with great anticipation that we welcome back Sr. Evelyn Ronan, SND, whose vision created the Evening for Women program many years ago.  I know we will be inspired by Sister Evelyn’s reflection, “The Heart of Advent… Reflections On Becoming the Yes of Love.” In celebration of Advent, you are invited to be our guest at dinner, sponsored by the collaborative.  In lieu of bringing a dish to share, please bring a non-perishable food item that we will donate to those in need.

So that we can plan for dinner, kindly click this link to let us know that you will be joining us:  RSVP

(If you are unable to respond electronically please call either parish office to add your name to the attendee list.)

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Posted in Adult Faith Formation, SJSP Collaborative, SJSP Collaborative Programs and Events