THE WEEKLY MISSIVE

January 16, 2026

We have a dream, too

Dear Friends,

This Monday, January 19, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

This day honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader whose most well-known areas of advocacy include civil rights and racial equality, voting rights, nonviolent resistance, economic justice, fair housing, and opposition to militarism and poverty.

MLK Day commemorates Dr. King's leadership in the American civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Through peaceful protests and powerful speeches, he challenged racial segregation and inspired a nation to pursue social justice.  

We too have a dream of transformative justice and reconciliation. As a Christ-centered faith community, social justice is a core value that lies at the heart of who we are. Grounded in the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching, we commit ourselves to act for justice and peace. The following statement, offered by the Chairs of our Social Justice Ministries and appearing in this week’s bulletin and Missive, gives voice to our shared solidarity in responding to ongoing assaults on the dignity of life.

As we mark this weekend honoring the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., congregations across the nation—of every faith and tradition—are lifting their voices in the call for justice. Recent events in Venezuela, Minneapolis and elsewhere only underline the urgency of this moment.

Rooted in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, we add our voices to these faith communities. Our faith demands that we not only speak, but act—standing with those who suffer, confronting systems of oppression, and working for the common good. 

In this time of division and uncertainty, may this shared witness of faith shine like a beacon—guiding us toward courage, compassion, and hope. The Paulist Center’s social justice ministries urge you to make your faith visible: to speak truth, to act for justice, and to respond boldly to the moral crises facing our nation.

If you would like to become more involved with any of our social justice ministries or any of the ministries at the Paulist Center, you will find specific contact information below in this missive and our bulletin.  

We pray for an end to the current onslaught of senseless violence.

Susan, 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

• Social Justice Ministries Speak Out
• FREP
• Martin Luther King Jr Day observed
• FREP Community Service Project
• 1st Holy Communion Classes

• Auction Kick-off Meeting
• Brains & Blessings Trivia Night
• Prayer and Auction in Troubled Times
• CORI forms
• Stewardship/Community Gift

Social Justice Ministries Speak Out

As we mark this weekend honoring the legacy of

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., congregations across the nation—of every faith and tradition—are lifting their voices in the call for justice.

Recent events in Venezuela, Minneapolis, and elsewhere, only underline the urgency of this moment.

Rooted in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, we add our voices to these faith communities. Our faith demands that we not only speak, but act—standing with those who suffer, confronting systems of oppression, and working for the common good. 

In this time of division and uncertainty, may this shared witness of faith shine like a beacon—guiding us toward courage, compassion, and hope. The Paulist Center’s social justice ministries urge you to make your faith visible: to speak truth, to act for justice, and to respond boldly to the moral crises facing our nation.

If you are interested in becoming more involved, please contact one of us. If you are unable to access the links below, send an email to Susan Rutkowski, email below.

In Christ,

Peter McLoughlin and Trudy Macdonald (Creation Care)

Mi-Rang Yoon and Chris O’Keeffe (Immigration Advocacy)

Rebecca Heimel and Bob Bordone (LGBTQ+ Group)

Tom Sharkey (Racial Justice)

Emily Hankle (Supper Club)

Susan Rutkowski, Pastoral Minister for Social Justice, susan@paulistcenter.org

Family Religious Education Program (FREP)

There are no FREP classes this Sunday - January 18.

Classes resume next Sunday, January 25. 

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.

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.

The Paulist Center’s

43rd Annual Auction

Kick-off Meeting

Monday, January 26 at 7pm via Zoom

Please join us for the Auction Kick-off Meeting! 

Believe it or not, it’s time to begin planning for the Center's biggest fundraiser and community building event of the year. The Auction is a time to come together as we share a meal, enjoy each other’s company, and participate in silent and live auctions. 

At this kickoff meeting, we will select the theme for this year’s special evening. 

All are welcome to join and provide input to the theme.

We will meet from 7:00 - 8:30pm via Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/PCCAuctionKickoff2026

The auction will be held on Saturday, May 2; more information will be coming in February about how to get involved - you don’t want to miss it!

The Auction also provides many opportunities for volunteering- a great way to become more connected to each other.

Two very important roles that we need your help with right now are:

1. Graphic designer
2. Lead decorator

If you are interested, please contact us at auction@paulistcenter.org or speak to one of the co-chairs.

Thank you! 

Maggie Keefe and Jordan Johnson, Auction Co-Chairs 2026

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.

CORI

The Paulist Center appreciates everyone in our community who donates their time and volunteers with us in our ministries, projects, events, and more.

All volunteers and staff must fill out a CORI (Criminal Offender Record of Information) form with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts every year in order to comply with our safety guidelines.

This background check helps us ensure the safety of our community and those we serve.

Liz will be available before and after Mass on Saturdays and Sundays through January and February to assist everyone.

Part of this process includes ID verification, so please bring a government-issued identification with you if you intend on filling out a CORI form. An email will be sent out to previous volunteers explaining this process in more detail. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to Liz Framski via email at liz@paulistcenter.org.

Prayer and Action in Troubled Times:

Lessons from Catholic Social Teachings

Join us for our next session on key documents from our Catholic Social Teachings that have challenged and inspired our faith tradition over time. 

We will learn about them and consider what insights and actions they inspire as we face myriad assaults on social justice today. 

Raúl E. Zegarra, a community member and Asst. Prof. of Roman Catholic Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School, will lead the sessions.

Sunday, February 8 at 7pm in the 3rd Fl Library

Pizza will be served.

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.

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 17 and 18 is The Massachusetts Bail Fund (MBF). The MBF pays bail to secure freedom from pre-trial incarceration so that those who cannot afford their bail can be in their community to fight their case. Pre-trial freedom allows individuals, families, and communities to stay productive, together, and stable.

• 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.