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, beginning on Sunday, September 9, we are launching 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.
Mass Schedule for the Collaborative
Special Collaborative Mass Schedule on the Weekend of September 29-30
There will be an ongoing development meeting of the Collaborative Immigrant and Refugee Services Committee on Monday, June 25 at 7:00pm in Powers Hall at St. John. This group was established as a sub-committee of the individual parishes’ service committees. It was born out of the fall Collaborative Service Forum and is committed to the creation and development of service opportunities in the field of immigrant and refugee support. Fr. Bryan Hehir will be sharing his expertise regarding the global migrant and refugee crisis and ways in which our collaborative can serve in this mission field. All are welcome to attend.
The Collaborative Faith Enrichment Team is offering a summer course on the Gospel of Mark. Our 10 sessions use the Little Rock Scripture Study program. Meetings will alternate between parish locations.