THE WEEKLY MISSIVE

January 9, 2026

Another Christmas is Drawing to a Close

Dear Friends,

I know that for most people Christmas ended when the day came to an end on December 25.

But as many of us know the liturgical season of Christmas does not end until the last liturgy honoring the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated.

This year I found myself so wrapped up (pun intended) in preparing for the liturgies and attending to the pastoral work, I didn’t get the chance to listen to my favorite Christmas music until January! I have truly enjoyed listening to my CDs that range from traditional songs of the season to some newer compositions by younger artists such as Sufjan Stevens and Gwen Stefani. 

Just prior to Christmas I came across a website whose owner had a large collection of old Christmas LPs that he would transfer onto CDs.

I was able to buy the tire manufacturer Firestone collection. Some of you may remember that Firestone and their competition, Goodyear came out with these Christmas albums after Thanksgiving as a way of boosting winter tire sales (back in the days before radial tires were invented).

The music brought back memories of sitting in front of the fireplace with family members and singing along with Julie Andrews and Vic Damone among others.

Maybe it was because this past year’s political developments so altered my view of our country and our place in the world, that I was subconsciously acting in a nostalgic way by purchasing these old records.

As we proceed into this next “Year of Grace 2026”, I feel that our faith community will face the future with our usual optimistic spirit. Given what we have heard through our pastoral planning sessions of last year, this new year promises a recommitment to the Paulist spirit of ministry, namely, “to present the same old truths in new forms, fresh new tone and air and spirit.”

It's time to start moving ahead. Stay tuned!

Fr. Rick, on behalf of the Paulist Center Staff



Alvaro, Barbara, Deb, Dorothy, Gus, Liz, Norm, Fr. Rick, Rob, Sal, Susan, and Timmy

In This Week's Bulletin

• Change in PC bookkeeping - Thank you Barbara!
• FREP/RJAG - Intergenerational session
• 1st Holy Communion Classes
• FREP/Mosiac Interfaith - Teens
• Christmas Flower Donors - Thank You!

• Brains & Blessings Trivia Night
• FREP Community Service Project
• Martin Luther King Jr Day observed - PC closed
• Auction, Save the Date - 5/2
• Stewardship/Community Gift

Change in Paulist Center Bookkeeping 



Barbara Dunay has been on staff as the Bookkeeper for the Paulist Center for over 30 years. In late 2025, she decided to step back from this work in order to focus on her health and we have hired Christian Brothers Financial Services to manage the day to day bookkeeping. Interim Administrator Deborah Heimel is working with Barbara and Christian Brothers to ensure a seamless transition and will continue to collaborate with them for oversight of the Center's books and financial practices. Utilizing Christian Brothers as an outsourced bookkeeping service will be a permanent change for the Center's financial management. 

Barbara will continue to offer her knowledge and experience to the Center as needed in the coming months.

We are extremely grateful to Barbara for the integrity she brought to her work for so many years. She has been a consistent presence, offering guidance to the staff and the necessary rigor to ensure the complexities of the Center's finances are managed accurately and honestly.

Her work has been behind the scenes but integral to every aspect of ministry at the Paulist Center.

Thank you Barbara! 

FREP Intergenerational Session with RJAG -

This Sun, Jan 11

All religious education classes will take place at 11:15am in the auditorium, along with parents and teachers, for an intergenerational session hosted by our Racial Justice Advocacy Group (RJAG).

Coffee and refreshments will be served.

Please join us to learn about the Saintly Seven, the group of inspiring Black Catholics from the US on the path to sainthood. 

The hour will include a child-friendly approach to introducing these saints and writing a letter to the Pope advocating for them.

First Holy Communion Classes

The first meeting is on Jan 25 at 11:15am.  

This is a meeting for both parents and children looking to celebrate the Sacrament of First Holy Communion on Sun, May 17 at the Paulist Center.

If you have not signed up and would like to register, the registration form is posted on our website. Here is the link.

Please contact Susan Rutkowski at susan@paulistcenter.org with any questions.

FREP - Teens!

Jan 19th Event - Register by Jan 12th!

Monday, January 19

2:00–5:00 PM

Bethel AME Church

TEENS! This month's Circles of Action gathering will take place as part of Mosaic Interfaith Youth Action’s MLK Day Service-Learning Event.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, youth will spend the afternoon engaged in dialogue, service, and advocacy focused on the impact of gun violence and what collective action for peace can look like.

Please be sure to register by Jan 12

Registration link: https://forms.gle/Tw4kSjhxiUAtr5mA7

Please see bulletin for further details.

THANK YOU!

We extend our thanks to those who donated to the flowers and art and environment for the Christmas season.

There is an insert in this week's bulletin listing the donors and their loved ones.

Additionally, here is a link to an online version of this list.

Brains & Blessings Trivia Night

at the Paulist Center! 



The Pastoral Council is hosting

Brains & Blessings Trivia Night on

Friday, February 6.

It will be held in the auditorium from 7 - 9pm.

$20 per person at the door includes pizza, salad, and non-alcoholic beverages.

RSVP: email Mares at supperclubfood@gmail.com

Teams will be decided on February 6. 

FREP Third Annual

Community Service Project

FREP students will once again be collecting items for hygiene kits to be donated to Catholic Charities. These kits are even more important this year as federal funding cuts are hitting people who use Catholic Charities services hard.

Our goal is to assemble 400 hygiene kits.

You can help:

¨ by donating items through our Amazon wish list

¨ by decorating You Are Loved cards

¨ by helping to assemble kits on Sun, Feb 8 after the 10 am Mass

The Amazon wish list can be accessed through this website: https://tinyurl.com/2kssp9sf 

or by using the QR code.

More information about the event is here: 

https://sites.google.com/view/frep-service-project/home.

You can also contact Brigid Rowlings at brigidrowlings@gmail.com.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observed

The Paulist Center will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of

Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

There will be no 12pm Mass on Monday, January 19.

There will be no Family Religious Education Program classes on

Sunday, Jan 18.

Mark Your Calendar for Sat, May 2 - 

Annual Paulist Center Auction!

Based on Triduum dates and school vacation, the auction has been scheduled for the evening of Saturday, May 2.

Similar to last year, the auction will be sharing a weekend with the Walk for Hunger, another major fundraiser for the Center, falling on the morning of May 3.

We acknowledge that this is a busy weekend and hope that you will be able to join those of us who will be attending both.

Come Celebrate

  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.

The Paulist Center's Immigration Advocacy Group deplores the recent killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother and poet, by a federal agent in Minneapolis on January 7. We join Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of Minneapolis in his call for prayers during this volatile investigation.

The Immigration Group continues to stand with the US Bishops expressing deep concern over several issues affecting immigrants including the profiling and violent enforcement of immigrants, the vilification of immigrants and the separation of families as a result. 

Along with the bishops, we continue to work for meaningful reform of immigration laws and procedures, advocating for policies that respect the fundamental dignity of all persons, which is an integral part of our Catholic Social Teaching.

If you're not already on the Immigrant Advocacy Groups Email list, join our immigrant support network by emailing paulistcenterimmigration@gmail.com.

Ongoing Opportunities/Needs & Notes



The most comprehensive listing of what's going on at the

Paulist Center is in the bulletin. Check it out!

• 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.

• The Community Gift the weekend of January 10 and 11 is Church in Latin America which provides support for pastoral projects in financially poorer dioceses in Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Young adults (ages 18-39), whether or not Catholic, are welcome to schedule a one-on-one conversation with our Young Adult Minister, Gus Kellerman.

How can the Paulist Center Community accompany you on your faith journey?

• Our Rosary Circle meets 7:30pm via Zoom on Mondays.

ID: 487 503 158; passcode: 021078. 

Submit a prayer request.

• 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.