CONFIRMATION NEWS

            On Wednesday evening, February 1^st at 8:00pm, there will be a Mass in the Chapel for all 10^th grade Confirmation II students.  Sunday classes and home groups are expected to attend.

As always, parents, sponsors and families are most welcome.

If you have any questions, please call Karen Flaherty at 617 846-3100.

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BLESSING OF THE THROATS

            Friday, February 3^rd is the Feast of St. Blaise.  There will be a blessing of throats during the 9am Mass in the chapel.  All are welcome.

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FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

First Reading:  Deuteronomy 18: 15-20

            The events in today’s reading take place as the Israelites are camped on the shore of the Jordan River ready to enter the Promised Land.  Moses is near death and is giving final instructions.  He promises that after his death, God will still be with them through another prophet.  Both Jewish and Christian readers have seen this as referring read more » »

MEMORIAL GIFT DONATIONS

Memorial Gift Donations have been received in memory of:

~Joanne Bagley                                    ~Nora Fiandaca

~Jerald J. DiLorenzo                ~Marguerite King

~James Paci

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            “The Gospel of Life is at the heart of Jesus’ message.  Lovingly received, day after day by the Church it is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as “good news” to the people of every age and culture.”

Blessed John Paul II

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SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

First Reading:  1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19

            Today’s reading takes place 11 centuries before Christ at an Israelite shrine, which is referred to as a “temple” in the text.  At the shrine was the “Ark of God”, a wooden chest overlaid by gold in which the ten Commandments were kept.  Eli was the high priest at the shrine.  Samuel was a young man in Eli’s service.  We will hear how God called Samuel to be a prophetic leader of Israel.

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20

            Today and for the next few Sundays, our second reading will be from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians.  Corinth, a port city in ancient Greece, was noted for its widespread immorality.  Anything and everything was thought permissible.  Paul doesn’t counter this attitude by putting down the human body as evil or of little worth.  Rather, he does just the opposite.

Gospel:  John 1:35-42 (The First Disciples)

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THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

            The Lord Jesus is come to save all human kind, Jews and non-Jews alike.  Today we feast the revelation of that great mystery.  God’s grace-filled covenant is open up to all.  The “wise men”, and all wise women and men seeing with a child’s eyes, discover the star-marked babe in the arms of his mother, Mary.  Humbly offering their gifts, they receive the Gospel, the good news of the Lord’s arrival amongst his people.  God shows himself to us in Jesus and so begins his saving work for each of us.  Come let us adore him.

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WINTHROP FOOD PANTRY

This Weekend – January 7^th/8^th

            The Winthrop Food Pantry serves those in need in our community. They rely on your help and you have never failed them.  At the present time they are in need of pasta, however, whatever non-perishable food you may bring will be greatly appreciated.  We thank you for your thoughtfulness.

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Beginning January 15^th, you will have the opportunity to have flowers placed on our altar in memory of loved ones.  The flower piece will be one basket placed in front of the main altar.  The parish makes arrangements for the flowers.  The names of your loved ones and the donor will be placed in the bulletin for that weekend.  The donation is $50.  The Sundays of Advent and Lent are excluded as flowers are not permitted during these Liturgical seasons.  Please call the rectory if you are interested in donating flowers for a particular weekend.  617 846-7400.

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EPIPHANY

First Reading:  Isaiah 60:1-6

            The last part of the book of Isaiah contains the words of a prophet who lived after the Jews returned from exile from Babylon (which is modern-day Iraq).  They found read more » »

Click here for the print version of the bulletin. 

            The Parish Staff would like to thank you for your cards, greetings, gifts and baked goods over the past several weeks.  We would also like to thank all those who assisted in making our celebration of Christmas special. 

            Thank you to those who donated flowers and those who arranged the flowers to make our church more beautiful for our celebration of Christmas.  We thank Stephen Lee, our Music Director, Tina Talvi, our Cantor and the Choirs for the beauty of music and song which helps us to join the angel throng and sing our Glory to God in the Highest.

We thank each and every member of our parish community, friends and visitors who celebrated with us, for what we celebrate during the season is God with us.

Fr.Bourke, Fr. Graziano, Sr. Jane and Deacon Jim

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A word about RCIA:  RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a process by which adults “after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God…..By God’s help they will be strengthened spiritually during their preparation and…..will receive the sacraments fruitfully”.  The RCIA program includes: read more » »

Click here for the print version

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS

            The blessings of Christmas and any other time of the year is knowing that we are loved by God.  The coming of Jesus into the world as Savior is a sign of that love.  “God so loved the world that He sent His only Son…”  The caring and kindness that we show each other are likewise signs that God loves us.  Perhaps this Christmas Season you can share your Faith in God’s love.  Invite someone who doesn’t worship to pray with us at Mass.  It would be a great way to experience and share God’s blessings!

On behalf of St. John’s Parish Staff, we wish you a joyous and prayerful Christmas Season.  Together may we rejoice in God’s love for us manifested in the birth of Jesus.

Fr. Bourke, Fr. Graziano, Sr. Jane and Deacon Jim

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BLUE CHRISTMAS

            Blue Christmas is a prayer service for those who have experienced a loss.  The content of the service has been chosen to emphasize the peace and hope of the season for everyone, especially for those for whom the usual celebrations and seasonal memories may be a cause of anguish and pain.  The service will be held on Tuesday, December 20^th, at 7:00pm in the chapel.

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A word about RCIA:  RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a process by which adults “after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God…..By God’s help they will be strengthened spiritually during their preparation and…..will receive the sacraments fruitfully”.  The RCIA program includes: people who were never baptized; those baptized in another faith; and those who were baptized Catholic but have never received the sacraments of Eucharist or Confirmation.

If you are interested in the Catholic Faith, or have a friend or relative who may be interested in making this journey of faith, please invite the person to contact Sister Jane at the rectory.

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            Sister Jane’s next Faith Sharing Group will meet on Tuesday January 3^rd, 2012 at 11am in the rectory.  All are welcome!

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            Sister Jane is available to anyone who is interested in spiritual direction.  For more information or if you have questions, please contact her at 617 846-7400.

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ADULT CONFIRMATION

            Any adult who has been baptized Catholic and has received First Communion but has not been confirmed and would like to be, please contact Sister Jane at the rectory, 617 847-7400 or j_iannaccone320@hotmail.com

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Winthrop Food Pantry is looking for volunteers to bring the donated food to the Pantry on Bowdoin Street after the 12noon Mass on the second Sunday of the month.  This will be only 4 times a year as they will have other teams alternating each month.  If you can spare an hour or two every fourth month, please call Beverly Phipps at 617-846-0818.  Thank you.

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Come and spend some time with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament at Adoration on Monday evening, December 19^th.  Deacon Jim Leo will present a short reflection at 6:40; Divine Mercy Chaplet at 7:00; Benediction at 7:50.  All are welcome!

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