THE WEEKLY MISSIVE

August 7, 2026

Cherishing Community

Dear Friends,

I just finished reading Fredrik Backman’s new novel My Friends. I am a sucker for fiction books about friendship and community. I sit on my couch and read for hours - and admittedly keep a box of tissues nearby. The authenticity of his writing about human fallibility and love and relationships gets me every time. 

So maybe it’s timely that I’ve been reading it this week while preparing to launch our new membership directory Realm Connect - as we begin a process of creating new ways to be in community together and enhance connection.  

Realm Connect will be rolled out in phases in the coming year. This first phase is essential because it allows us to update our contact information and ensure we have accurate emails, mailing addresses, and phone numbers all in one place. It starts as a membership directory, and from there will build into a communications tool and source of up-to-date information and event details. Our intended calendar of next steps includes:

Phase 1 (Fall 2026): Update profile and giving information. In Realm Connect, you will be able to see your giving history.

Please note: giving history is currently available through March 2026; we will be updating giving information in the coming weeks. Additionally, donations made through the QR code in the pews is not currently available in Realm Connect, but will be updated in the coming weeks.

Phase 2 (Winter 2026-2027): Use Realm Connect as an additional platform for communication about events and announcements

Phase 3 (Spring 2027): Use Realm Connect to access information on ministries and volunteer opportunities

We hope you will join us for one of the coming weekends –

August 8 & 9, August 15 & 16, or September 12 & 13 - when we will be available in the auditorium after all the Masses to answer questions about Realm Connect - and to introduce our new Executive Director Colleen Burns to the community! Colleen has officially started in her role and we are excited to share in her enthusiasm for the future of the Paulist Center. 

Thank you for being part of this community.

With gratitude,

Deb, on behalf of the Paulist Center staff

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

In this Week's Bulletin

• Meet Colleen!
• Eat Ice Cream!
• Join the Realm Team!
• 1 FREP teacher still needed
• Beware Spear Phishing!
• Adult Confirmation Classes
• New Community members

• FREP 2026
• Young Adult Ministry, Summer Faith-Sharing Groups
• Young Adult Ministry needs your feedback
• Stewardship
• Community Gift

Meet Colleen! - Eat Ice Cream! - Join the Realm Team!

Aug 8/9 and Aug 15/16

We invite you to meet our new

Executive Director Colleen Burns

after each of the Masses on

August 8 & 9 and

August 15 & 16. 

At each of these meet-and-greets,

we will serve ice cream while you

get to know Colleen and learn Realm.

There will be in-person guidance and laptops available to help you get up and running on Realm Connect.

Still Looking for One Teacher for

Grade 4-6 Class! 

Our energetic and inquisitive 4^th through 6^th graders are so much fun! 

They have big questions about faith, science, and the meaning of life (why CAN'T I have more screen time???)  

Help them navigate the answers this fall with a supportive group of teachers here at the Center. Curriculum, training and snacks all provided! 

Please contact Susan Rutkowski at susan@paulistcenter.org or 617-948-2426.

Beware Spear Phishing



This past week, several Paulist Center community members and staff received fake email messages, claiming to be from staff and other members, asking for gift cards, and/or sending

fake E-Invitations.

DO NOT CLICK ON LINKS OR RESPOND! 

For tips from the state of Massachusetts on how to identify and respond

to social engineering and phishing attempts, here is the link:

https://www.mass.gov/guides/how-to-use-email-securely

Summer Adult Confirmation Classes

at the Paulist Center

Four Consecutive Thursday Evenings -

starting on August 13

6:30pm to 8:30pm

August 13: 

Introduce self…why are you here?

• Faith journey that got you to this point?
• What does it mean to be Catholic?
• Where is God in your life?
• How do you pray?

Prayer:

August 20: 

Baptism, Eucharist, Mass, Scriptures

August 27: 

Confirmation and Holy Spirit

September 3: 

Healing Sacraments:

• Anointing of the Sick
• Reconciliation

Vocation/Service Sacraments:

• Marriage
• Ordination

A Confirmation Mass will be scheduled with the Archdiocese of Boston.

Please contact Fr. Rick Walsh, CSP at rick@paulistcenter.org for more information.

Welcome To The Paulist Center!

The Paulist Center warmly welcomes recently registered members:

Claire Marie Kathleen Kuhn &

Benjamin Cole Skillin

from East Boston, MA

Welcome to a New FREP Year

Continuing the work of re-imagining our Family Religious Education Program (FREP)!

Building on Last Year’s Foundation

Re-imagining FREP has been at the top of the pastoral plan for the past year. Last year, we began Phase 1 by streamlining the curriculum and placing special emphasis on the social justice theme of the dignity of all human beings. We met with teachers to streamline the curriculum and with parents to better understand what families need to raise children who love God and know that God loves them. Our goal was to keep what works and re-imagine how our program can continue to grow. 

Please see the bulletin for details and further information on the below topics:

What’s New This Year

The Details

• Traditional Religious Education Classes
• Family Pods 
• Parent Faith Formation 
• Inclusive Confirmation Program 

Looking Ahead

The finalized calendar will be available next week, but please mark Sun, Sept 20 as our FREP Kick-off celebration and social!

Please Register!

Please take a moment to fill out your FREP registration at

https://www.paulistcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/FREP-Registration-Form-2026-2027.pdf

You can pay the registration fee online HERE or send a check to

Paulist Center, 5 Park Street, Boston, MA 02108. 

If you have any questions or concerns about any part of our programming, please contact Susan Rutkowski at susan@paulistcenter.org or 617-948-2426. 

Thank you for your continued support of our Family Religious Education Program!

Paulist Center Young Adult Ministry (YAM)

Needs Your Feedback!

If you've ever felt the desire to be involved in, have had a gripe with, or, have enjoyed being a part of YAM, we NEED to hear about it.



In a moment of transition for the Young Adult Group, we have put together an anonymous survey to assist in discerning the future of the ministry. Please scan the below QR code to access the survey.

We appreciate your honesty and sincere suggestions as we aim to cultivate a community of friendship, spiritual care, and commitment to service.

Summer Schedule

Young Adult Ministry

Faith-Sharing Groups

This summer young adults (ages 18-39) are invited to join Young Adult Ministry's weekly faith-sharing group on Sunday evenings immediately following the 6:00 pm Mass in the 3rd Fl Library.

Gatherings will include:

• an invitation to check-in,
• a reflection on a brief text, and
• light snacks.

These gatherings are a great way to get to know other Paulist Center young adults, and 'center' yourself as the week begins.

The last faith sharing group sessions for the summer:

August 9th and 16th

Come Celebrate

the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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.

Nineteenth Sunday

in Ordinary Time

Sun, August 9, 10am



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.

• For the Community Gift the weekend of August 8 - 9, we raise up My Brother's Table. Their mission is to nourish the community every day through hospitality, free meals, and unconditional love. It is the largest soup kitchen on the North Shore.

• 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.