August 6, 2003


U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

Re:    John Hancock Sovereign Bond Fund-(the "Trust")
        -John Hancock Bond Fund (the "Fund")
       File No.  811-2402 and 2-48925


       CERTIFICATE UNDER RULE 497(j)

Gentlemen:

Pursuant to 497(j) of Regulation C, under the Securities Act of 1933, in lieu of
filing under paragraph (b) or (c) of Rule 497, I hereby certify that the form of
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information dated August 5, 2003 for the
above-captioned registrant that would have been filed under paragraph (b) or (c)
of Rule 497(j) does not differ from that contained in the most recent
registration statement amendment and the text of most recent registration
statement has been filed electronically.

Sincerely,



/s/Marilyn Lutzer
-----------------
Marilyn Lutzer