SJPII Parish Organizations & Outreach

In 2010 there were two separate women's organizations in the St. John Paul II Parish:  the St. Thomas Rosary Sodality and the Ladies of St. Anne. After a joint meeting, the two organizations voted separately and unanimously to merge. The newly consolidated sodality took the name of the Parish and became the St. John Paul II Rosary Sodality. In March of 2022, the Sodality voted to invite the women of St. Mary of Assumption Church in Cheshire to join them.

The St. John Paul II Rosary Sodality promotes devotion to the Blessed Mother in providing spiritual growth and social activities that enrich their members and our Parish community. Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday in the months of September through December and March through June. The Sodality Spiritual Advisor, Deacon Greg LaFreniere, provides educational and spiritual leadership.

The Sodality donates to various charities and contributes numerous items of bedding, clothing and supplies to veterans. They volunteer to work at the Fall Fest Bazaar, and during celebrations such as Confirmation, the members provide refreshments. They attend Mass as a group in October to celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of The Rosary.  In May they request a Mass and attend as a group to pray for their nursing home members. During the Mass, roses are blessed and delivered to various nursing homes. They pray at the wakes of their deceased members, or form an Honor Guard at their funerals. One of their projects is the funding of a Scholarship Program, which provides a scholarship to a graduating senior who attends Mass regularly and who is active in the parish ministries beyond the requirements for Confirmation.

All women of St. John Paul II Parish and St. Mary of Assumption Parish are invited to join. If you are not sure that you would like to join, please attend one of the meetings as our guest. If you need more information, please call Josephine Laliberte 413-743-5692.

A small group of parishioners knit and crochet comforting hand-knitted blankets and apparel for everyone from cradle to old age. They knit blankets, caps and sweater sets for preemies; Christening blankets for every child Baptized in the parish; children's slippers; chemo-caps, prayer shawls and blankets for cancer patients undergoing treatment; and lap blankets to warm elderly, shut-ins and nursing home residents.

The knitting is done at home with yarn usually supplied by the knitters themselves. They will, however, gladly accept yarn donations. When the knitting is done, the group gathers to package the items and decorate them so that they look like gifts with bows and ribbons.

This group is an extension of the Family Life Committee.

For more information, or to join the group, please contact Linda Troy by phone at 413-743-4978 or by e-mail at [email protected].