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THE WEEKLY MISSIVE
April 24, 2026
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With Boundless Gratitude
Dear Friends,
Happy spring! It is time for flowers, unpredictable weather, longer days - and major events at the Paulist Center.
We are excited for our annual auction fundraiser, this year called A Mediterranean Journey, which will be held on Saturday May 2nd at 6:15pm. There are still a few seats available (as of 5pm on April 23rd!) so if you haven't bought your ticket yet and want to join the fun, you can do so on our website. Next week, we will send an email to the community with the silent and live auction items that will be available and offer the opportunity for absentee bidding if you're interested in an item but unable to attend in person. This is an enjoyable evening to spend in community - hope to see you there!
Additionally, on Sunday May 3rd many Paulist Center community members will be participating in the Walk for Hunger. In 1969, a group from the Paulist Center Community established the very first pledge walk in the country. An estimated 2,000 people walked 29.6 miles through Quincy, raising $26,000. The Walk had two purposes: 1.) raise funds to help people experiencing hunger, and 2.) stand together for social justice and social change that would eventually eliminate hunger. From this seminal event, Project Bread was born! Please join us as we gather at 8:30 am on May 3rd in front of our chapel doors for a blessing and then head over to the start of the 3 laps around the Boston Common. If you'd like to support one of the walkers you can do so on the Project Bread website - 60% of what we raise comes back to the Paulist Center to support the Wednesday Night Supper Club ministry!
In the bulletin this week, we have included an insert with a financial progress report with information on both fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year 2026. Thank you for your generosity to the ministries and mission of the Paulist Center! We are in a stable place financially due to your ongoing support - and the positive emotional impact this has had on the staff can not be overstated. There are a lot of ways we can use our resources in the world and we are deeply grateful for both the physical and financial ways that each of you contribute to the work of healing, justice, and reconciliation.
Deb, on behalf of the Paulist Center Staff
Alvaro, Deb, Dorothy, Gus, Norm, Fr. Rick, Rob, Sal, Susan, and Timmy
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Spirit of Hecker Awards
Congratulations to Pastoral Team members Susan Rutkowski, Norm Gouin and Deb Heimel for being honored by the Paulist Fathers at the Spirit of Hecker Awards. This Saturday evening, they will receive a "Spirit of Hecker Award" in recognition of their tremendous efforts this past year in keeping the Center's programming and administrative systems running while updating new internal systems, evaluating future staffing needs, and helping the community to develop a pastoral plan. They did all this while maintaining a positive and uplifting office environment.
The awards program can be watched on our social media, YouTube and online at https://paulist.org/heckerawards/ on Saturday, April 25 at 8:30pm Eastern Time.
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- FREP - 4/26
- Paulist Center Auction! - 5/2
- Celebration IMO Jane O'Connor - 5/3
- Walk for Hunger - 5/3
- FREP - remaining activities
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- Catholic Social Teachings - 5/17
- Families Planting Trees - 5/30
- FY24/25 Financial Summary
- Stewardship/Community Gift
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Family Religious Education Program (FREP)
This Sunday, April 26, is the last regularly-scheduled FREP class for the year.
Please see the bulletin for the remaining FREP activities for
the 2025-2026 year.
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43rd Annual Paulist Center Auction
Set Sail Together:
A Mediterranean Journey
Saturday, May 2 - 6:15pm
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Get ready to weigh anchor because the Paulist Center Auction is setting sail NEXT Saturday!
Our Mediterranean banquet promises an unforgettable evening of coastal charm and community spirit, but the clock is ticking to join the voyage.
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Ticket Sales: This weekend - April 25/26 - marks our last in-person after Mass ticket sales, so be sure to secure yours before we embark!
You can also buy tickets online at https://tinyurl.com/Auction26Tickets
And, if you cannot come, we will open in-absentia bidding next week once our program is ready. Our webpage will have the contact information along with the Program available at paulistcenter.org/auction2026
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Donations needed by ... We are sending our ship’s manifest (Program) to the printer, so we need to have your sponsorships, and donated items in hand by the end of this weekend! Don’t be left in port!
Call for decorators and servers ... We are looking for a few more deckhands to help us decorate or to help serve. If you would like to be involved please reach out to Maggie or Jordan at auction@paulistcenter.org.
The night will have all the usual hits, including coffee and tea service and a bar featuring wine, cocktails, and artisan mocktails. Please keep in mind that the bar will only accept cash or check.
We can't wait to see you aboard!
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Celebration In Memory of Jane O’Connor
The 6:00pm Mass on Sunday, May 3 will be celebrated in memory of The Fabulous
Jane 0’Connor…
on the occasion of her 80th Birthday.
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There will be birthday cake after Mass in the 3rd Floor Library.
We hope you will be able to join as we celebrate a wonderful woman …
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Lessons from Catholic Social Teachings -
Last Session
The last session of our Catholic Social Teaching series is scheduled for Sunday, May 17 at 7 pm.
It will be led by the talented Dr. Raúl E. Zegarra, Community member and Asst. Prof. of Roman Catholic Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School.
Dr. Zegarra will focus on Dilexi te: I Have Loved You (Leo, 2025) for our final gathering.
We will meet in the 3rd Fl Library - pizza will be served.
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Families Planting Trees!
Save the Date - Saturday, May 30
Our very last Family Religious Education activity is planned as an intergenerational session with our Creation Care Ministry team on Saturday, May 30 from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Together, with Catholic Climate Covenant, the Catholic Cemetery Association, and along with Speak for the Trees, Boston, we will help plant 10 trees in Roslindale and Mattapan. This is an activity for all ages!
We need strong teens and adults to dig and plant and we need smaller children to fill holes and help spread mulch. Speak for the Trees, Boston is designing specific child friendly activities for the day.
We hope you’ll join us by planting, preserving and advocating for trees in under canopied, underserved neighborhoods to combat climate change and address environmental justice.
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Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Summary
The Finance Committee has included an insert in this week's bulletin which offers:
¨ a summary on the draft financials for fiscal year 2025 (Sept 2024-August 2025), as well as
¨ a progress report for fiscal year 2026.
Please contact Interim Administrator Deborah Heimel at deborah@paulistcenter.org if you would like more information.
Another report will be provided this summer when the FY25 numbers are finalized.
We are grateful for your continued generosity and support of the Paulist Center!
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Come Celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter
with Us!
We hope to see you at Mass in person, but if you can't make it through the big red doors,
we welcome you to join us online:
| Remember: all of our live streams are available in real time on our YouTube channel & available there afterwards as recordings. | |
4th Sunday of Easter
10am, Sunday, April 26
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Ongoing Opportunities/Needs & Notes
The most comprehensive listing of what's going on at the
Paulist Center is in the bulletin. Check it out!
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Encouragement to sustain our vibrant liturgies and our mission of healing, reconciliation, & justice through your financial investment in the Paulist Center. We prefer that you donate electronically through our website, but you can also use Apple Pay or Google Pay to donate via DonorBox if you do not require an annual tax donation statement. More info in the bulletin.
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For the Community Gift the weekend of April 25 - 26 we raise up Lay Ministry Grant which offers tuition money to an active Roman Catholic lay student for a first level graduate theological or pastoral degree program.
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How can the Paulist Center Community accompany you on your faith journey?
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Mass Cards - Please stop by the Front Office 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.
| | | | Attentive to the Holy Spirit and nourished by vibrant liturgy, we are a Catholic community that welcomes all, fosters healing and reconciliation, and acts for justice. | | Follow us on social media, and please share our posts with others! | | | | |
