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Watch: Sunday Mass with Father Jim
Listen: Pray As You Go Daily Meditations
Read: Scripture for Life by Sr. Mary McGlone (9-27-26)
This Week’s Message
To Love Like Francis
By Brother Patrick
In the Gospel of Mark, a scribe asks Jesus: “Which is the first of all the commandments?” The Lord responds that the greatest of all is a twofold commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:28-31).”
In the Early Rule, Saint Francis of Assisi admonishes his followers to live the gospel. Like Jesus, Francis urges us to love God and to love others without counting costs; and with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Francis reminds us that by creation, God has blessed us with these gifts of heart, mind, soul, and strength. According to Francis, we are called to use these gifts to love and praise God throughout our lives. We are called to employ “every effort, every emotion, every affection, every desire, and every wish” to fulfill the commandment to love (Early Rule, Chapter 23).
Of course, few among us are destined for sainthood. Most of us will fail in our mission to love God and neighbor from the core of our being, with every fiber of our being. For this reason, God shows his love and mercy through the prayers and sacraments of the Church. God shows his love through the kind words and good works of the holy men and women in our midst. And God shows us how to love through the lives of his saints — like Francis.
Saint Francis loved God. Francis loved Jesus. Francis loved them as much as any human being ever has or ever could love their Creator and Redeemer. Perhaps like no other saint in history, Francis prayed that he might share in the life and passion of the Poor Christ. In prayer before the crucifix, Francis cried out: “O Lord, I beg of you two graces before I die: to experience personally in all possible fullness the pains of your bitter passion; and to feel for you the same love that moved you to sacrifice yourself for us (Little Flowers).”
In response to this and many more prayers like it, Francis was blessed with the stigmata, the five wounds of the Crucified Christ. We may shrink from such prayers to share in all possible fullness the pain and suffering of crucifixion. In our weakness, we may fear that such prayers might be answered! Nevertheless, we still can pray for the grace to share in some smaller way in the Lord’s passion.
We can pray for the grace to love, praise, and honor God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. We can pray for the courage to love others, even those who may not love us. We can pray for the humility to forgive, even those who may not forgive us. We can pray for the patience to wage peace among our friends, families, and neighbors. We can pray for the generosity to put the needs of others before our own, even when our needs may be overlooked by those closest to us.
We may not be called to share in the Lord’s passion like Saint Francis shared in it. But we are called to pray for the grace to grow closer to Christ Jesus. The price of such intimacy may involve some pain, some sacrifice, and some suffering. And so, from our broken and mended hearts, we pray with Saint Francis of Assisi: “Let us desire nothing else. Let us wish for nothing else. Let nothing else please us or cause us delight, except our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Savior, the one true God.” Amen. Amen.
Brother Patrick Garvey
Associate Minister & Diocesan Hermit
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
brpatrick@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (9-27-26)
Bringing Home the Word (9-27-26)
The Kids Bulletin (9-27-26)
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Saint Pio – Perfect Victim
An Assisi Project Podcast
assisiproject.com
Art Credit: Saint Francis Receiving Stigmata (Detail) by Jody Cole – jcoleicons.com
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Call to Prayer
For the Intercession of Saint Francis
By Pope John Paul II
O Saint Francis,
who received the wounds of Christ
at Mount La Verna,
the world longs for you,
that icon of our crucified Lord.
It has need of your heart,
open always to God and to others;
of your bare, wounded feet,
of your pierced hands raised in supplication.
It longs for your voice so frail
yet forceful with the power of the Gospel.
O Saint Francis,
help the people of our age
to recognize the evil of sin
and to seek purification from it in penance.
Help us to become free
from the structures of sin that oppress our world.
Rekindle in the consciences of those in government
an urgent need for peace between nations and peoples.
Instill in our young people your freshness of life,
that is so capable of withstanding
the snares of the culture of death.
O Saint Francis,
teach those injured by every type of evil
the joys of being able to forgive.
Teach those crucified
by suffering, hunger, and war
the joys of reopening the doors of hope. Amen.
Learn More: Saint Francis of Assisi
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Pope Francis on Saint Francis of Assisi
Some people want to know why
I wished to be called Francis.
For me, Francis of Assisi is the man of poverty.
He is the man of peace.
He is the man who loves and protects creation.
Watch: The Worldview of Saint Francis (1 Minute)
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Saint Michael’s Lent
Feast of the Archangels
Tuesday, September 29th
The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport’s forty day observance of Saint Michael’s Lent will conclude on the Feast of the Archangels, Tuesday, September 29th, in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church.
This special day of prayer and devotion will begin with Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours at 8:00am, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. After Morning Prayer, the church will remain open all day for silent prayer and adoration. At 12:00pm, we will gather again for Daytime Prayer and a Rosary for Peace. We will conclude with Evening Prayer and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 5:30pm.
A Prayer for the Feast of the Archangels
Most High God,
you gave us archangels to help us
during the pilgrimage of life.
Saint Michael is our protector.
We ask him to come to our assistance
and to protect us from every danger.
Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News.
We ask him to help us hear your voice
and to teach us your truth.
Saint Raphael is a healer.
We ask him to pray for our healing
and for the healing of those we love.
Help us to embrace the verity of these angels
and their calling to care for us.
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.
Archangels, pray for us!
Archangels, protect us!
For more information about this special day of prayer and devotion, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. All are invited! All are welcome!
Learn More: Feast of the Archangels
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Holy Family Women’s Guild
Bakeless Bake Sale
Month of September
During September, the Holy Family Women’s Guild is sponsoring a Bakeless Bake Sale! Why? Because now more than ever, our parish needs your support, especially in light of rising utility costs. Every dollar makes a difference! Checks should be made payable to Holy Family Parish. All donations (cash or check) should be mailed to the following address:
Lydia Bertolino
Holy Family Women’s Guild
10 Orchard Street
Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
Established in 2005, the Holy Family Women’s Guild brings together women of all ages in prayer, fellowship, and service. New members are always welcome. For more information about the Women’s Guild and its good work in our parish community, please contact Lydia at lbbglosta1929@outlook.com. May God bless you! Thank you for your generous support!
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The Assisi Project
Franciscan Virtues – Peacemaking
Saturday, October 3rd
This year marks the 800th anniversary of the life and death of Saint Francis of Assisi (1226-2026). In celebration of this sacred milestone, Pope Leo XIV declared a Special Jubilee Year which has inspired the Assisi Project to go back to the basics, back to the life and good example of our patron and his first followers to learn more about the virtues that can help us follow Saint Francis in living the Gospel of the Poor Christ in thought, word, and deed.
All friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join us on Saturday, October 3rd beginning at 8:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church for a two hour mini-retreat that includes Holy Mass, a Rosary for Peace, a reflection by Father Jim and Brother Patrick, and a period of faith sharing. At this gathering, we will focus on the Franciscan virtue of peacemaking.
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. We are dedicated to helping believers of all ages more faithfully live the Good News in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. We are also dedicated to promoting a devotion to Pope Francis (1936-2025) as a patron of peace, mercy, and fraternity, in our troubled world.
If you have a prayer request or if you would like more information about the Assisi Project and its good work in our parishes, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com. You do not need to be a member of the Assisi Project to join us for this special morning of prayer and devotion! So please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
Learn More: The Assisi Project
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Celebrating Saint Francis
The Blessings of the Animals
Saturday, October 3rd
Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) is venerated around the world as the patron of animals and the environment. During his lifetime, Saint Francis is credited with countless miracles with many of those miracles involving animals. Whether taming a wolf or preaching to the birds, Saint Francis is regarded as friend and protector of pets and animals of all kinds for more than eight centuries.
In honor of the Feast and Jubilee of Saint Francis of Assisi, all friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join Father Jim and Brother Patrick for the Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, October 3rd at 11:00am in Our Lady’s Rectory Parking Lot.
All family-friendly pets are welcome, but should be leashed or secured in carriers. For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Please join us! Bring your family! All are invited! All are welcome! Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Watch: Saint Francis & Creation (1 Minute)
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Words of Wisdom from Saint Francis of Assisi
Praise be to you, my Lord,
by those who forgive one another by your love
and who bear sickness and trials.
Blessed are those who live in peace,
for they will be crowned by you!
Learn More: Saint Francis of Assisi
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Our Lady’s Guild
Fall Meeting & Potluck Supper
Monday, October 5th
Since 1944, Our Lady’s Guild has worked to build community among women of all ages in Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish through prayer, good works, fundraising, and social events. The Guild’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 5th at 6:30pm in Our Lady’s Hall.
Dinner is potluck! Bring a dish to share! All are encouraged to bring three $1.00 scratch tickets so that we can play “Left, Right, Center” after dinner! For more information about Our Lady’s Guild and its good work in our parish, please contact Beth Fosberry at jcbff33@yahoo.com. New members are always welcome!
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We Share
Safe & Easy Electronic Giving
It is in giving that we receive. — Prayer of Saint Francis
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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In Memory of Richard Joseph