Watch: Sunday Mass with Father Jim (7-12-26)
Listen: Pray As You Go Daily Meditations
Read: Scripture for Life by Mary McGlone (7-12-26)

This Week’s Message
Reaching for Heaven

By Brother Patrick

My hermitage in Maine rests on the northeastern slope of a small mountain that rises approximately 850 feet above sea level. In autumn, leaves change early. Winter lasts longer. Spring arrives slowly. And summer flowers take their time to bloom. Among these, the hemerocallis fulva, more commonly known as the ditch daylily, begins its short season in mid-July. As we say up home, these lilies are “gone by” in just a few short weeks.

Last Friday morning, I walked one of my dogs along our dirt road before the worst of the day’s heat. I passed the daylily patch near the corner. Delight and surprise filled my heart. Alone among hundreds of daylilies, one had blossomed with the sunrise. Its orange flower was rich with color as it reached for the sun, as it reached for the heavens. As Henri Nouwen once wrote: “Just as a whole world of beauty can be discovered in one flower, so the great grace of God can be tasted in one small moment.” This was one of those moments.

Seconds later, Father Jim called and shared the awful news about Father Ben’s sudden passing. Our pastor could hardly speak. His voice choked with emotion. A whole world of beauty was suddenly dark. The great grace of God was suddenly gone. I felt a cry rise up from my heart, from the core of my being, but it presented itself as a brutal silence beneath a withering sun. I could not cry. I could not speak. I just walked into the shade and stared at the daylily.

Pope Francis (1936-2025) once said: “Grief, especially when it is so excruciating and without explanation, needs only cling to the thread of prayer that cries out to God day and night, that sometimes expresses itself in the absence of words, that does not attempt to resolve a crisis, but on the contrary, inhabits questions that keep returning: ‘Why, Lord? Why did this happen? Why did you not intervene? Where are you?’” In this sense, the cry that manifested itself as a cold and hard silence is a kind of prayer. Asking ‘Why?’ is also a form of prayer.

We all know why this happened. We know that people with power make decisions that can destroy the lives of people without power. At the same time, we know that Father Ben would not want us to be angry. He would not want us to lash out. Father Ben would want us to pray, make peace, love each other, and forgive again and again those who created the circumstances that led to his death. He would want us to overcome darkness with light and goodness.

Since joining our pastoral team four years ago, Father Ben delighted us with his joy, his kindness, his singing, and his good example. His love for God, love for God’s word, and love for God’s people made me want to be a better person, a better hermit-monk, a better sharer of God’s love and mercy. Whether meeting him in church, in the confessional, or at the Azorean Restaurant for a Sunday lunch, Father Ben always left me with something to pray about. That something always brought me closer to Jesus, and in a way, closer to all of you.

The daylily teaches us about the beauty and brevity of life. It teaches us to appreciate every day, every gift, and every blessing. It teaches us to focus not on how tragically a person dies, but on how beautifully a person lives this one short life. My heart is shattered by our friend’s death. But from that brokenness rises a bud of gratitude for a life of service, for a new angel to watch over us, and for a new intercessor to pray for us. May Father Ben find eternal peace in the loving embrace of Jesus, our merciful redeemer, friend, and brother. Amen.

Brother Patrick Garvey
Associate Minister & Diocesan Hermit
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
brpatrick@ccgronline.com

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (7-12-26)
Bringing Home the Word (7-12-26)
The Kids Bulletin (7-12-26)

New!
Watch: Grief, Grace & Letting Go
With Father Mark Soehner
(1.25 Hours)

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Praying for Father Ben
A Prayer of Commendation

We commend you dear friend,
Father Benjamin Madu,
to God our Father.
We entrust you to our Creator.
May you rest in the arms of our Sweet Lord
who formed you from the dust of the earth.
May Holy Mary,
all the saints and all the angels
welcome you now
as you go forth from this life.
May our Lord Jesus Christ,
who was crucified for you
bring you a place of peace and freedom.
May our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for you,
welcome you into the garden of paradise.
May our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Good Shepherd,
embrace you as one among his flock.
May God the Father
forgive your sins and shortcomings
and set you free
among those he has chosen.
May you see our Redeemer face to face
and enjoy the vision of Almighty God
now and forever. Amen.
Glory to the Father,
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pray: Holy Rosary – Sorrowful Mysteries

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Grieving for Father Ben
Words of Wisdom from the Saints

The world is thy ship, not thy home.
Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)

Live so as not to fear death.
For those who lived well in the world,
death is not frightening,
it is but sweet and precious.
Saint Rose of Viterbo (1233-1251)

My Lord, it is time to move on.
Well then, may your will be done.
My Lord and my Spouse,
the hour that I have longed for has come.
It is time for us to meet.
Saint Theresa of Avila (1515-1582)

We must draw the comparison
between time and eternity.
This is the remedy for all of our troubles.
How small will this present moment appear
when we enter that great ocean.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1174-1821)

I trust, in whatever way I die,
that I shall not be deprived of God’s mercy,
without which my eternal ruin
would be inevitable,
whether I die an unexpected death
or whether I long anticipate my end.
Saint Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)

Remember that when you leave this earth,
you can take with you nothing
that you have received,
but only what you have given:
a full heart enriched by honest service,
love, sacrifice, and courage.
Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

Learn More: Understanding Our Grief (Overview)

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Knights of Columbus
Tuesday, July 14th

The Knights of Columbus (Council 215) is a fraternal organization of Catholic men that serves both Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. Since 1897, we have sponsored countless acts of charity on Cape Ann, including blood drives, food drives, golf tournaments, and Coats for Kids.

Recently, the Knights collected 1,222 pounds of donated groceries during their annual food drive for the Open Door. The generosity of local residents at Shaw’s, Stop & Shop, and Market Basket was truly inspiring! Thanks to your support, the food pantry at Open Door will be better able to help local families and individuals in need.

Our next monthly meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14th at 7:00pm in the parish office. For more information about the Knights of Columbus and their good work in our parishes, please contact Tony Favaloro at 978-360-1788 or tony.favaloro@outlook.com. Please join us! New members are always welcome!

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Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Special Second Collection
Weekend of July 18th & 19th

In the tradition of its patron and founder, the Saint Vincent de Paul Society is a Roman Catholic fraternity that calls men and women to grow spiritually and work together by providing person-to-person ministry to families and individuals in need. Here are four important ways that you can help us help others:

First, please give generously to our special second collection during all Masses on Saturday, July 18th and Sunday, July 19th in Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. All donations will support the good work of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and go directly to those in need of our help.

Second, all are invited to donate clothing (new or gently used in good condition) to our Clothes Closet in Saint Ann Church Hall, which is open on the second, third, and fourth Saturdays of the month from 9:00am until 12:00pm. A donation bin is conveniently located in the Saint Ann Church parking lot.

Third, your ongoing financial support is always much appreciated. Donation envelopes are located at the entrances of all the churches in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport. Every donation, small or large, makes a big difference toward helping our friends and neighbors in need.

Fourth, new members and volunteers are always welcome! For more information about the Saint Vicent de Paul Society and its good work in our parishes, please contact Robert Weeks at svdpmember1@gmail.com or leave a message at 978-281-4820.

Last but not least, if you or someone you know needs our help, please call us at 978-281 -8672. Thank you for your ongoing support for our ministry! Saint Vincent de Paul, pray for us! May God bless you and your family!

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Words of Wisdom from Saint Vincent de Paul

Go to the poor and you will find God.

Learn More: Saint Vincent de Paul

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We Share
Safe & Easy Electronic Giving

You have received freely, so give freely. — Matthew 10:8

Electronic giving has become an essential part of parish support in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport; and it is available in both Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. It is safe and easy to make online donations to your home parish using a credit card, debit card, or electronic check.

Donations can be made on a weekly, monthly, or one-time only basis; and it takes just a few minutes to set up a secure personal account. In addition to the weekly offering, you can also give electronically to our church restoration funds which help us plan for the repair and maintenance of our four beloved and historic churches.

Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish always need your generous support! Please prayerfully considering enrolling in our electronic giving program! For more information about creating a new account or assistance with an existing account, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Peace, blessings, and sincere thanks to all!

Support Holy Family Parish
Support Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish

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About Us

Established in 2014, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport is a collaborative of two historic parishes: Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. Working together as a family united in prayer, fellowship, and service, we are committed to living the Gospel of Christ, sharing God’s love and mercy with all people, and rebuilding the Church in Gloucester & Rockport. All are invited! All are welcome! Always!

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This Week’s Homepage
In Memory of Father Benjamin Okwy Madu