Weekly Bulletin January 18/19

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(A PDF version of the bulletin as printed is available here)

Celebrating Dr. King, and Addressing the Work Left To Do

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Weekend, there will be no Family Religious Education classes this Sun, Jan 19. The Paulist Center office will be closed on Mon, Jan 20; there will be no 12:00pm Mass that day.

Looking for a way to observe the holiday?

Mon, Jan 20 will be the 39th observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Dr. King delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963. In his speech, Dr. King called for equal rights for all citizens, regardless of race.  He shared many dreams including: “one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.”  He also “dreamed” that one day his children would “live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by their character.”  The speech became a powerful voice for the demands of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, many of which have seen progress but are not yet fulfilled.

The Racial Justice Advocacy group (RJAG) invites you to read Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech on that day.  Think about how far we have come since 1968, and what work we have yet to do.  What volunteer work can you do in your community and at the Paulist Center to advance Dr. King’s vision for America?

And please join community members at the Strand Theater, 543 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA at 1pm on Jan 20 for a free celebration of Dr. King and what he stood for, including music by the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra (spirituals and freedom songs), readings that present the “power and promise” of Martin Luther King, and a keynote address by Dr. Keith Lezama, the founder and CEO of Building Bridges Education.

Week Of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025

The guiding biblical text for the 2025 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity comes from John 11:17-27. The theme for the week, “Do you believe this?” (v. 26), takes its cue from the dialogue between Jesus and Martha when Jesus visited the home of Martha and Mary in Bethany following the death of their brother Lazarus.

This theme, by offering a way to see that faith is not just a static set of beliefs, but an active means of receiving grace, is most appropriate for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. If faith can raise the dead and conquer all fear, surely faith will bring us the miracle of unity as Christians. Remembering that division, separation and rejection are symptoms of sin, the healing of the Church comes about in the power of the Holy Spirit. God wills us to reconcile. God wills us to love one another. God will give those who profess the faith of all the holy ones who have gone before us, the precious gift of unity.

On this Inauguration weekend, we pray for all members of the new Administration and Congress that God may grant them humility, wisdom and compassion in addressing the most pressing needs of the nation. May they work tirelessly in developing policies that uphold the dignity and well-being of each person. Amen

Live-Streaming

Find all the livestreams and recordings on youtube.com/ThePaulistCenter

Sun, Jan 19, 10am, 2nd Sunday In Ordinary Time
YouTube Link      Order of Worship Link

At the time of each livestream, the appropriate Order of Worship will be available at paulistcenter.org/order-of-worship.

First Holy Communion 2025 at the Paulist Center

Our First Holy Communion preparation classes will begin on Sun, Jan 26 from 11:15am – 12:30pm.   This is a meeting for both parents and children looking to celebrate the Sacrament of First Holy Communion at the 10am Mass on Sun, May 18 at the Paulist Center.

The Rite of Enrollment for First Communion will take place on Sun, Feb 2 at the 10am Mass. Primarily a home preparation program using Pflaum Publication’s Together In Jesus curriculum, families join in larger group activities over the course of the 5-month preparation period.  Additionally, participants share a Seder meal (date TBD), learn experientially, and reflect on the significance of the Eucharist at a retreat and rehearsal.

 **Please register online for all sacramental prep programs at FREP Registration Form or contact Susan Rutkowski at susan@paulistcenter.org with any questions or concerns.

Annual Paulist Appeal

We are still working out the details, but I want you to know that we hope to have our Annual Paulist Appeal (APA) take place close to the Paulist Fathers’ feast day of January 25 – The Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle.  This year we lift up in gratitude three Paulists who live in residence here at the Center.  Jubillarians Tom Ryan, John Duffy and Michael McGarry will each mark 50 years of priestly service!   We look forward to honoring them later this spring.  More to come…

Parent Preparation for Infant/Child Baptism

The Paulist Center offers a preparation session on Saturdays, from 10am – 12pm.  The next two (2) dates are Jan 18 and March 15 in the 3rd Fl Library/Chapel.  Expecting parents are invited to attend before their child is born/adopted. To register for the session, please contact Fr. Rick at rick@paulistcenter.org.

Can You Help Buy Supplies for Our Service Project?

Please support our FREP children and the Immigration Advocacy Group in a service project to create hygiene kits for the migrant shelters supported by Catholic Charities Boston.  Kits will be assembled after the 10am Mass on Sun, Feb 9 in the auditorium as part of our FREP curriculum. We need enough of the following items to assemble 330 kits:

  • new socks
  • packs of hair ties
  • new hair brushes
  • new hand towels
  • men’s and women’s deodorant
  • toothpaste
  • toothbrushes
  • soap
  • menstrual pads

You can shop directly for these items on our Amazon wish list (https://tinyurl.com/4dx6x6fd) or you can drop items off in the Mary alcove. We appreciate your help! 

Tax Donation Letters

If you gave to the Center in an identifiable way this past calendar year, you will be sent a tax donation letter by the start of February.   There is no need to specifically request a letter, unless you don’t receive one by early February. If you have any questions, contact Patty Simpson at  patty@paulistcenter.org or 617-948-2428.  

Thank you so much for your generosity to the Center.  We are greatly appreciative!

Immigration Advocacy Group (IAG) Community Meeting

We are called by the Church to assure that migrants’ human rights are respected, and that their basic physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are met. As a community, we need to figure out how we can best help. Please join us at our quarterly community meeting on Sun, Feb 2 after the 10am Mass in the 3rd Fl Library.
We’ll gather as a community for a listening session in response to the changing priorities of the Trump administration. We’ll also learn about the various activities at the Paulist Center to support our brothers and sisters in Christ who are also immigrants.
For further information, email us at paulistcenterimmigration@gmail.com   

Young Adult Ministry at the Paulist Center

Welcome to Young Adult Ministry!  We are a community of young adults (18-39 yrs) focused on living out our faith through community, service, and spirituality. Even if you don’t consider yourself Catholic, we’d love to welcome you! To learn more, please reach out to our Young Adult Minister, Gus Kellerman, by emailing him at youngadults@paulistcenter.org.

Schedule a 1-on-1 Meeting with Gus: If you’re a young adult looking for community, please feel free to reach out to Gus to express interest in a 1-on-1 meeting at http://tinyurl.com/PC1-on-1
1-on-1’s are a great way to learn more about Young Adult Ministry, to share your ideas and past experiences, and to talk about getting involved at the Paulist Center!

The Greater Boston LGBTQIA Catholic Collective

The Greater Boston LGBTQIA Catholic Collective – sponsored by seven Catholic communities (including the Paulist Center) – provides support and resources for Catholics whose loved ones identify as members of the LGBTQIA community.  They host a monthly Zoom meeting  “My Beloved Child”  the 3rd Sunday of each month, 2 – 3:30pm.  Please email: GreaterBostonLGBTQIACatholics@gmail.com for the Zoom Link.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observed

The Paulist Center will be closed on Mon, Jan 20 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. There will be no Family Religious Education Program classes on Sun, Jan 19. There will be no confessions or Mass on Mon, Jan 20.

Wednesday Night Supper Club

Every Wednesday night in the Paulist Center auditorium, volunteers serve a hot, delicious, dignified, sit-down meal for our neighbors who are hungry. Please consider coming in on a Wednesday to help serve (5:30pm) and clean up (7pm). If you can plan on coming, please email supperclubfood@gmail.com to let our team know.  If it’s last minute, no worries. Just show up and we’ll put you to work!  Thank You!

Stewardship

​The Paulist Center receives no funding from outside sources. All costs to operate our ministries for both members and the wider Boston community, maintain the building, and pay our staff are supported solely by your financial donations. We are so grateful for your financial support!  See paulistcenter.org/give/ways-to-give for a variety of ways to give to the Paulist Center.
Two options include:

Give a one-time or recurring donation using your bank account or credit card by visiting tinyurl.com/DonatePaulistCenter or scanning the QR code on this page outlined in blue. You can use this method for donations for specific programs, too, and, if you are a registered member with us, these donations will be included in a year-end tax statement sent to you for any donations that are tax deductible per IRS regulations. Giving by this method helps us with our budgeting and stewardship efforts.

Use Apple Pay or Google Pay by visiting donorbox.org/paulistcenter, scanning the QR code on the red cards in the pews, or scanning the QR code on this page outlined in red. Please note that these donations will not be included in any year-end giving tax records, and they solely support our general operations.

Community Gift

The Paulist Center gives 5% of our annual offertory to 52 other charitable organizations with missions consonant with our own. These organizations receive an equal amount from our annual offertory.

The weekend of Jan 18 – 19 we  raise up Church in Latin America which provides support for pastoral projects in financially poorer dioceses in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Consider Including the Paulist Center in Your Estate Planning

Thank you for considering remembering The Paulist Center in your estate planning/will.  For information on our legal name and tax ID, please contact our Administrator, Patty Simpson, at patty@paulistcenter.org.  We and future Paulist Center members thank you!

Mass Intentions

Please stop by the reception area during the week, email Sal Whooley at sal@paulistcenter.org, or call 617-742-4460, if you would like to arrange for a Mass and/or purchase a Mass card:

  • in memory of someone who has died,
  • in honor of a special occasion,
  • or for the special intentions of yourself or a loved one

Paulist Center Rosary Circle

All are welcome to the Paulist Center Rosary Circle which meets every Monday at 7:30pm via Zoom. ID: 487 503 158; passcode: 021078.
Do you have a special intention that you would like the Paulist Center Community to pray for?  Our weekly Rosary Circle is happy to include your intentions (may be anonymous).  Go here for the form.

Low-Gluten Hosts

Low-gluten hosts are available upon request. Please see the presider in the Chapel or Sacristy fifteen minutes before Mass and indicate where you will be seated in the Chapel so the communion minister in that section will have the low-gluten host for you at communion.

Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Direction is an opportunity for one to reflect and share one’s life and prayer experience and be guided in one’s search for God.  Spiritual Direction is available at the Center from Sister Kathleen Hagerty, CSJ, or Christopher O’Rourke.
Sister Kathleen can be reached at 617-755-9729.
Christopher can be reached at 617-817-3977.