Paulist Center Groups
The Paulist Center hosts a number of groups and ministries. If your group is not listed here and you want it to be, please contact the webmaster. Names in red are links to more detailed information about that group.
| Name of Group | Contact Person | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Education Program | Mary Burke | Sponsors varied educational courses and offerings throughout the year. |
| Auction Committee | Patricia Simpson | Plans the annual fundraising auction for all the ministries of the Paulist Center. |
| Book Discussion Group | Mary Burke | Welcomes anyone who loves to read and has time to read one book a month and join in discussion. Meets monthly. |
| Bread Baking Ministry | Susan White | The Bread Ministry have a dedicated and talented group of people who bake the communion bread for our weekend liturgies and for our liturgical celebrations. |
| Centering Prayer | A method of recapturing the ancient way of contemplation. Meets Saturdays at 4:45pm. | |
| Community Breakfast / Meals | Volunteers prepare breakfast and hospitality every third Saturday for people who are hungry. | |
| Divorced Catholic Group (DCG) | Paul Huesing, CSP | First of its kind in the U.S. Offers support and understandIng to people who are going through or have gone through the pain of separation, divorce, or the death of a spouse. Comprised of both Catholics and non-Catholics in all stages of the healing process. DCG is organized into self-help groups and an active social component. |
| Emergency Food Pantry | Susan Rutkowski | Opened every non-holiday Tuesday and Thursday afternoon for those with an immediate, critical need for food. Donations of non-perishable items are always needed and can be left by the Mary Altar after the weekend liturgies. |
| Eucharistic Ministers | For further information on participating in the liturgical activities of the Paulist Center. | |
| Family Labs | An innovative program involving the whole family. Four to seven families meet once or twice a month for lab-planned religious education, social and service activities. | |
| Family Religious Education Program | FREP offers a variety of ways for families to learn and grow together in faith. Programs are described in a FREP brochure available at the Center. | |
| Finance Committee | Paul Huesing, CSP Patricia Simpson |
The finance committee is responsible for recommending fiscally sound budgets and good fiscal practices to the Director of the Center and the pastoral council. Its members also make the annual financial report to the community. Members are appointed by the Pastoral Council. If you are a community member with a business background, understand financial statements, have an interest in the broad view of the Center and its ministries, and would like to be considered for membership on the committee, please contact us. |
| Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice | Given annually to an individual or group in recognition of the outstanding commitment of a North American Catholic to building a more just and peaceful world. Past recipients include Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez, Archbishop Hunthausen, and Rev. Thomas Doyle. | |
| Investment Committee for the Paulist Center Endowment | Sonia Caus Gleason Mary Lesko Patty Simpson |
The Investment Committee is responsible for the ongoing oversight and management of The Paulist Center Endowment. This includes monitoring performance of the portfolio and adherence to the Center's socially responsible investing principles by the professional service providers, reporting performance results to both the Pastoral Council and the community, recommending annual distribution amounts to the finance committee, and working with the Pastoral Council, social justice minister and adult education committee to further engage the community in the pursuit of shareholder activism and positive social change. If you are a community member with professional experience in investment and/or experience with socially responsible investing practices and would like to be considered for membership on the committee, please contact us. |
| Junior High Program | Meets twice a month on Sundays from 11:15am - 1:00pm; includes community service and social activities in addition to as well as religious education. | |
| Landings International (see Outreach and Reconciliation as well) | Pat Arcand | The Paulist Center is home to Landings: A Paulist Ministry of Reconciliation with Returning Catholics, established by Fr. Jac Campbell, CSC. Dioceses and parishes interested in arranging training sessions or continued contact should contact the national office representative rather than the local Landings group. |
| Lectors | Michael Kurley | For further information on participating in the liturgical activities of the Paulist Center. |
| Lesbians, Gays and Friends | John Bowman | For men and women who celebrate their lives in the context of a faith community and seek support. |
| Little People's Program | Mary Lou Ruch | Parents work in pairs to provide structured religious education and activities with 3-1/2 to 5 year olds during the 10:00am Sunday liturgy. |
| Liturgical Art & Environment | For further information on participating in the liturgical activities of the Paulist Center. | |
| Liturgical Dance | Christine Monterio | Providing liturgical dance and prayer during special liturgies. |
| Liturgy of the Word With Young People (LWYP) | Between September and May, children at the 10 AM Liturgy have the opportunity to hear the Word in language they can understand and to reflect on it in their own words. During the Liturgy, adult Leaders of the Word present readings adapted for children aged 6-12 (Grades 1-6) and help engage the children in reflection. | |
| Marriage Preparation | Huesing, Paul CSP | Thinking of Marriage is a pre-marriage program for couples planning to be married in the Church. |
| Musicians | Michael Kurley | Each weekend liturgy has its own music group, playing what is considered contemporary liturgical music with the tried and tested hymns also part of the repertoire. New members who can sing in tune, especially against another vocal part, or who can play instruments are always welcome. Contact Michael Kurleyto schedule a "no pressure" audition. |
| Outreach and Reconciliation | Bob Bowers | Through a coordination of efforts including a local Landings International group, which provides a safe place for returning Catholics to explore their faith and their future with the Church, work with the current community to increase Paulist Center membership, reach out to the poor and marginalized, and continually challenge our community to live out the Gospel message. |
| Pastoral Council | Máiréad Nolan | The Pastoral Council meets in order to discuss issues relative to the management of the Paulist Center. Currently chaired by Bill Wood |
| Pax Christi-Boston | Cornelia Sullivan | A City-wide group of Catholics formed to promote peace via prayer, education and action. Some activities: Closing the School of the Americas, Anti-Death Penalty, correspondence with a man on Death Row. Gathers every 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 pm at the Paulist Center. |
| RCIA and RBCFC | The process wherein adults receive the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. Community members are invited to journey with those seeking initiation. | |
| Sacristans | Michael Kurley | For further information on participating in the liturgical activities of the Paulist Center. |
| Sacramental Preparation | Susan Rutkowski | Programs preparing children and teens for Baptism, Eucharist (generally 2nd grade), Reconciliation (generally 3rd or 4th grade), and Confirmation (10th and 11th grades, offered every other year). |
| Senior Youth Group | Usually meets twice a month on Sundays from 11:15 am - 1:00 pm for faith formation. Additional opportunities for social and service events. | |
| Sister Community Group | Helps to facilitate a sister relationship with Hacienda Vieja, a community in rural El Salvador, meeting the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. Our respective communities seek to accompany one another through sharing our life experiences and faith stories. Activities include exchange of visitors, political advocacy, and spiritual and material support. | |
| Spiritual Direction | Spiritual Direction is offered at the Center by Kathleen Hagerty, CSJ, a trained spiritual director. She can be contacted at 617-746-2046 for an appointment. | |
| Sunday Co-Op | Susan Rutkowski | Graded classes (1st - 6th grade) meet after the 10:00am Liturgy, from 11:15 - 12:15pm. Community members volunteer in a variety of ways, including teaching, assisting, providing snacks, etc. |
| Ten Point Coalition | A Boston-based coalition of predominantly African-American and Latino churches mobilizing to work against a culture of violence and to work for hope for our youth. The Paulist Center, as a member of Ten Point Coalition, continues a Saturday morning tutoring program, among other activities. | |
| Voice of the Faithful | Ron DuBois | The Paulist Center chapter of VOTF was formed on June 30th, 2002 to support VOTF's three goals: support those who have been abused, support priests of integrity, and shape structural change in the church. |
| Walk for Hunger | Founded by and at the Paulist Center, this annual 20-mile walk takes place the first Sunday of May. Volunteers help plan, coordinate, and walk to raise funds for Project Bread and the many meal programs and food pantries throughout Massachusetts. Now sponsored by Project Bread. | |
| Wednesday Night Supper Club | Volunteers host a meal for our neighbors who are hungry. The meal is offered weekly in the Paulist Center Auditorium and is funded by Project Bread's Walk for Hunger as well as donations from groups and individuals | |