Our Pastor’s Message: “Christ the King”
In a country committed to the principles of freedom and democracy, it can be challenging for Americans to embrace the theology of kingship, even when it applies to Jesus Christ, our Savior and King. However, during this last weekend in Ordinary Time, we are called to contemplate how Christ reigns over our lives and our church.
Compared to many celebrations in our Catholic tradition, the Solemnity of Christ the King is relatively new. In 1925, Pope Pius XI introduced this feast in response to rising nationalism and secularism in Italy. In 1969, Pope Paul VI elevated it from a feast to a solemnity in order to emphasize its importance in the liturgical and spiritual life of the Church. In the encyclical that introduced the original feast, Pope Pius XI explains that if Jesus Christ is given all power in heaven and on earth and if Christ offers salvation to everyone through his passion, death, and resurrection, then we are all naturally part of his divine kingdom. Pope Pius XI reminds us that if Christ’s power embraces all people, then all people (including you and me) should embrace Him as our Lord and King.
About Christ the King, Pope Pius XI wrote: “He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths and to the doctrines of Christ. He must reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God. He must reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone. He must reign in our bodies and in our members, which should serve as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls.” Indeed, these are powerful words!
As we commemorate the Solemnity of Christ the King, let us pray together for the grace to truly embrace Jesus, who is the eternal king of love and mercy. Let us pray for the grace to humbly consent to Christ’s reign over our hearts and minds, our bodies and wills, so that together we might grow in prayer, fellowship, and service to our King and to each other. Amen!
Welcome Father Petringa!
This weekend, we celebrate the 125th anniversary of Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish and we warmly welcome the Very Reverend Gerard Petringa, Episcopal Vicar for the North Region of the Archdiocese of Boston. Father Petringa joins us for our Saturday Vigil Mass to celebrate our parish anniversary and to officially install me as Pastor at Our Lady of Good Voyage. In addition, Father Petringa joins us to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at Holy Family Parish. We welcome him and we thank him for his prayers and support for our parish communities!
For our parish community, this is a time for celebration! For me personally, this is also a time to reflect deeply with gratitude and humility on what it means to be both a priest and pastor for the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport. Please continue to pray for me! And as always, let us continue to pray for each other as we honor our historic past and work together toward a bright and lasting future!
Peace and blessings to all!
Father Jim
Holy Family Grand Annual Collection
Goal: $75,000 | Donations to Date: $67,930 | 90.5%
Each year, we ask all parishioners to contribute what they can to our Grand Annual Collection. This collection is a vitally important component of our annual budget. It helps us balance our budget by bridging the gap between the weekly collection and our financial obligations. The Grand Annual helps us to pay for the benefits and salaries of our priests and pastoral team. It helps us to pay our insurance and utility bills. It helps us to maintain our historic buildings and plow our parking lots. And it helps to fund essential parish programs like adult and youth faith formation. If we do not achieve our goal, then it becomes almost impossible for us to balance our annual budget! So far, we have received 90.5% of our goal! We hope to reach 100% of our goal by Christmas Day! Please pray that each of us, according to our means, will give generously to the Grand Annual Collection!
The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
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. Our collaborative is comprised of Saint Ann Church in Gloucester, Saint Anthony’s Chapel in Gloucester, Saint Joachim Church in Rockport, and Our Lady of Good Voyage Church in Gloucester. We are a Roman Catholic faith community united in prayer, fellowship, and service. For more information, please contact Father Jim at jachadinha@rcab.org. Please join us! All are welcome!
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