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Read: Scripture for Life by Mary McGlone (8-2-26)

Our Pastor’s Message
Inseparable

By Father Jim

Unlike his other epistles to early Christian communities, Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans does not address a particular issue or controversy. It serves instead as Paul’s way of introducing himself and the Christian faith to believers living in the Eternal City. Although historical evidence is limited, it is possible that Paul writes after an imperial order was lifted that banned Jews from living in Rome. So, he addresses a growing community of faith that is comprised of both Gentiles and Jewish converts. Either way, Paul shares a message grounded in hope.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1817).” Hope is not simply optimism. Hope is deeper, harder, and requires diligence. Hope calls us to faith, humility, trust in God’s will, and surrender to God’s slow work in our lives. As Pope Francis (1936-2025) wrote: “Hope is the virtue of the little ones. The great ones, those who are satisfied, do not know hope (On Hope, 8).”

This weekend, we pray with a brief passage from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans. In addition to an abiding faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, these verses serve as foundation stones for hope. Saint Paul writes: “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35; 37-38).”

In other words, our nexus with Jesus Christ is inseparable. Our friendship with Jesus is indivisible, indissoluble, inextricable, and impossible to separate. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. No death, no event, no failure, no person, no ideology, no suffering, and no act of violence can break the bond of love and mercy that unites us with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Nothing means nothing. One prominent scripture scholar, Paul Achtemeier (1927-2013) writes with enthusiasm: “God is on our side. Gone forever the temptation to assume ill fortune is evidence of God’s rejection of us! Banished once and for all the temptation to conclude that when things go badly, it means that God has deserted us. Nothing significant can therefore be against us (Interpretation: Romans, 149).”

Professor Achtemeier says this assurance is “perhaps the most compelling statement of the basis for Christian confidence in all of Paul’s letters (149).” True that. Around the world and sometimes just around the corner, we see evidence to the contrary. War. Hunger. Sickness. Torture. Cruelty. Poverty. Loneliness. Environmental degradation. The sin of indifference. And yet, as a people united forever by faith, hope, and love in the Lord, we know that good will prevail. Peace will prevail. Truth will prevail. Justice will prevail. Pope Francis says: “Evil will not triumph forever. There is an end to suffering. Despair is defeated because God is among us (On Hope, 12).” In this way, despair, in whatever form it takes, is already defeated because nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from the God who loves us beyond all measure. We are inseparable. This is the triumph of hope.

Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
frjim@ccgronline.com

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (8-2-26)
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Call to Prayer
On Hope

Words of Wisdom From Pope Francis

Every ‘yes’ we say to God is a seed of hope.

To hope means and entails a humble heart, a poor heart.

Entrusting ourselves to God means entering his plans
without demanding anything,
and also accepting that his salvation and help
come to us in ways that differ from our expectations.

Optimism disappoints, but hope does not.

We ask the Lord for life, for health, for love, for happiness,
and it is right to do so, but with the understanding
that God is able to bring life even from death,
that we can experience peace even in sickness,
and that there can be calm even in loneliness,
and happiness even in tears.

Hope is never still; hope is always journeying.

The Good News entrusted to us is urgent.

We too must run like the messenger on the mountains,
because the world cannot wait;
humanity is hungry and thirsty for peace, truth, and justice.

To speak of hope to those who are desperate,
it is essential to share their desperation.

To dry the tears from the faces of those who are suffering,
it is necessary to join our tears with theirs.

The hope that we have been given
never divides us from others;
much less does it lead us to discredit or marginalize them.

Prayer leads us forward in hope,
and when things become dark,
more prayer is needed,
and there we will find even more hope.

In the Christian life,
we are called to spread hope
by supporting and encouraging one another.

We are called to be men and women of hope.

No one learns to hope alone.

Source: On Hope by Pope Francis

Watch: Pope Francis Reflects on Home (3 Minutes)

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Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Help Us Help Others

The Saint Vincent de Paul Society is an international organization that is dedicated to responding to any request from any person or family in need. Here on Cape Ann, we work through the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport to serve the poor in our midst.

We are seeking new members to help us serve our brothers and sisters in need with dignity and compassion. Members of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society are honest, humble, and selfless workers in the vineyard of the Lord.

We call those who can help us help others! We call those who will listen to our brothers and sisters and respond to their needs. We call those who desire to grow in faith, hope, and love by seeing the Lord in the least among us.

We offer our services by responding to the needs of every person and every family that asks for our help. We also meet with both individuals and families in order to respond to their needs in God’s style of closeness, compassion, and tenderness.

If you seek to live the Gospel, share God’s love, and rebuild the Church, then please prayerfully consider becoming a member of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. We meet once every month to reflect on our experiences and to be good stewards of your generous gifts.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19th at 4:00pm in Our Lady’s Hall. For more information about how you can share your gifts and talents with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, please contact Marty Bolcome at 978-821-3499; Cindy Cafasso at 978-473-2312; or Robert Weeks at svdpmember1@gmail.com. Thank you for your generous support! May God bless you!

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Words of Wisdom from Federic Ozanam

When one does a deed of charity,
one need not worry
about where the money comes from,
it will always come!

Learn More: Blessed Frederic Ozanam

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Sacrament of Baptism
Gateway to Life in the Spirit

The Sacrament of Baptism is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation in the Roman Catholic Church. The two others are Holy Eucharist and Confirmation.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism, we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission (CCC 1213).”  In July, Father Jim baptized the following young disciples:

Georgiana Eleanor Kelleher Dundin
Nora Jean Lombardozzi
Jonathan Joseph Parker
Natalia Catherine Psalidas
Robert Forrest Schellenberg.

The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated during any Sunday Mass at 10:00am in Saint Joachim Church; on the second Saturday of the month at 11:30am in Saint Ann Church; and on the third Saturday of the month at 11:30am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. For more information about having a child or grandchild baptized in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Sheila McCarthy Durkin at smccarthy@ccgronline.com.

If you are an adult (age 18 and over) who has not received one or more of the Sacraments of Initiation and are interesting in preparing for them in our parishes, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@ccgronline.com. Our program of preparation, which we call The Way, begins this fall!

United in prayer, fellowship, and service, we pray for our newly baptized young disciples, and their parents, godparents, and grandparents! May God bless all families! Peace, blessings, and congratulations to all!

Learn More: Sacrament of Baptism (1 Minute Video)

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Our Lady of Good Voyage
Summer Carillon Concerts
Begins Friday, August 14th

A popular summer tradition is returning to Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish and the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport! Our Summer Carillon Concerts begin on Friday, August 14th at 6:30pm! This year, Luann Pallazola, Cynthia Cafasso, and Thomas Dort have prepared programs that include faith-filled hymns, patriotic melodies, and classical and international music, along with selections especially for children!

Installed in 1922, the carillon at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church is the first toned bell set ever in the United States. The carillon’s thirty-one bronze bells hang from a steel beam within the west tower. And our bells range in weight from 16 pounds to 3,000 pounds. The carillon bells at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church were forged by the Taylor Foundry in Loughboro, England.

In order to avoid the payment of a tariff upon their arrival in Gloucester, the church was declared a warehouse by the Collector of Customs in Boston, who happened to be a friend of the local congressman. Soon after, a bill declaring them a “work of art” was passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Warren G. Harding.

Although our bells can be heard from blocks away, the sound is always best near the church. Once again this year, Our Lady’s Guild will be selling snacks, cold drinks, and raffle tickets to support the parish. Our Summer Carillon Concerts are an awesome opportunity for the whole family to enjoy the gift of music with friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners!

Additional concerts are scheduled for Friday, August 21st at 6:30pm; Friday, August 28th at 6:30pm; and Friday, September 4th at 6:30pm. For more information, please contact Luann Pallazola at lpallazola@gmail.com. Save the dates! Bring a friend! Bring your family! All are invited! All are welcome!

Watch: Our Lady of Good Voyage Carillon

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The Assisi Project
We Pray for You!

Intercessory Prayer Ministry

Founded in 2007 by Father Jim and Brother Patrick, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers around the world. Our mission is to help believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of the Poor Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi.

Members of the Assisi Project range in age from 18 to 102. Each of us serves our parishes in some way. But our most important contribution is the gift of prayer. So we pray each day for all who ask for our prayers. If you would like our fellowship to pray for you, your family, or your special intention, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com.

In communion with Pope Leo XIV and in solidarity with people of faith and goodwill everywhere, we also pray each day for peace, truth, and justice in our world; and for the poor, the persecuted, and the unjustly imprisoned. You can pray with us by visiting assisiproject.com! May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace!

Learn More: The Assisi Project

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Words of Wisdom from Saint Therese

Miss no single opportunity
of making some small sacrifice,
here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word;
always doing the smallest right thing
and doing it all for love.

Learn More: Saint Therese of Lisieux

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