Our Pastor’s Message
Our Lady’s Grand Annual Collection
Dear Fellow Parishioner,
As you know, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport was established last summer as a collaborative of two historic parishes: Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. Although our parishes share a pastor and pastoral service team, each parish remains canonically independent; maintains its own bank accounts and accounting procedures; and continues to be solely responsible for its own bills, building maintenance, and pastoral programs.
During the past year, Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish has been blessed in so many ways. Our parish anniversary, parish fundraisers, and the Annual Crowning Feast of the Holy Spirit were very successful — not just financially, but also by building and strengthening the parish as a vibrant community of prayer, fellowship, and service. In addition, despite changes to our worship schedule, Mass attendance and weekly collections are both improving.
Unfortunately, we also face some serious challenges. Our church and rectory have needed urgent repairs and now need new roofs in order to prevent damage to their interiors. Last winter’s heating and snow removal costs were astronomical. And although weekly collections are increasing slowly, some generous benefactors are no longer able to support the parish. This means that we have been forced to use funds from our savings account in order to make ends meet on a weekly basis.
For these reasons, I am writing to ask you to help me raise $40,000 during this year’s Grand Annual Collection. This fundraising campaign is vitally important to our annual budget. It helps us balance our budget by bridging the gap between our weekly collections and our financial obligations (such as salaries and benefits, insurance premiums, utility bills, snow plowing, building maintenance, and essential parish programs).
Each year, we ask all parishioners to contribute whatever they can to our Grand Annual Collection. Every contribution, whether its $1 or $10 or $100, helps us achieve our goal, meet our financial obligations for the coming year, and ensure our long-term economic stability. And be assured that every penny raised goes di- rectly to Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish!
Our goal for this year’s Grand Annual Collection is $40,000. So far, we have raised $16,316. At this point, all parishioners registered with our census should have received an offertory envelope for the Grand Annual Collection. Additional envelopes are available in the vestibule of the church. Please feel welcome to place your offering in the collection basket at Mass or mail it directly to me to the following address:
Father Jim
Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish
142 Prospect Street
Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
In an effort to reach our goal more quickly, we will also have a Second Collection during all Masses next weekend (September 12th-September 13th) at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church in support of the Grand Annual Collection. As this year’s Grand Annual Collection continues, please join me in praying that each of us, according to our means, will give generously to this all-important fundraising effort! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at frjim@ccgronline.com.
Finally, please accept my deepest thanks for your prayers and encouragement during my first year as your pastor. I am honored and humbled beyond words by your ongoing kindness and support. Please pray for me and please know that you and your family are always in my prayers! Thank you in advance for your prayers and generous support of Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish!
Peace and blessings to all,
Father Jim
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Bulletin (9-6-15)
Bringing Home the Word (9-6-15)
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Carillon Concerts
An Our Lady of Good Voyage Tradition
Saturday, September 12th
A summer tradition continues at Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish! The last in our annual series of Summer Carillon Concerts is scheduled for Saturday, September 12th at 5:00pm (rain or shine). This summer, Luann Pallazola, our own very talented organist-keyboardist, has prepared programs that include familiar classical and international pieces, popular hymns, patriotic melodies, and even some children’s tunes.
Installed in 1922, the carillon bells in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church were the first toned set of carillon bells in the United States. Although our bells can be heard from several blocks away, the sound is best close to the church. So bring a coffee, cold drink, or snack and enjoy this wonderful Gloucester tradition! The Summer Carillon Concerts are free and open to the public! For more information, please contact LuAnn Pallazola at lpallazola@gmail.com. Please join us! All are welcome!
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Fall Mini-Course
Learning the Liturgy of the Hours
September 15th through September 17th
In his First Letter to the Thessalonians, Saint Paul writes: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thess 5:16).” For centuries, Christians have puzzled over what it means to pray without ceasing. But one ancient practice provides an answer: the Liturgy of the Hours. Since the middle ages, the Church has used a daily practice of prayer called the “Divine Office” or “Liturgy of the Hours” to mark and sanctify the various hours or times of the day: morning, afternoon, evening, and night. It uses a four-week cycle of psalms, canticles, and scripture readings to draw us into deeper relationship with Christ and the Church by uniting us with the Lord and each other through prayers or petition, praise, and thanksgiving.
At ordination, our deacons and priest make solemn promises to pray with the Divine Office each and every day. However, the Liturgy of the Hours is not just for deacons, priests, and those consecrated to religious life. Countless lay men and women around the world make the Liturgy of the Hours the foundation of their daily prayer and worship. Indeed, in Canticum Laudis, the Apostolic Constitution of the Church, we read: “The purpose of the Divine Office is to sanctify the day and all human activity. The Divine Office is the prayer not only of the clergy but of the whole People of God.”
During our recent summer retreat, which was based on the prayer and spirituality of Saint Benedict (the founder of western monasticism), many parishioners asked about the Liturgy of the Hours. What is it? Can I pray it, too? How does it work? In response to that spiritual hunger for more information and instruction, Father Jim and Cliff Garvey will host a special three night mini-course entitled “Learning the Liturgy of the Hours” from Tuesday, September 15th through Thursday, September 17th from 6:30pm until 8:00pm at Saint Anthony Chapel.
Each evening of the mini-course will begin with Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. After praying together, Father Jim and Cliff will offer a reflection on some aspect of the Divine Office and advice on how to pray it alone or in small groups. Each evening will include time for discussion and questions. And finally, we will conclude with Night Prayer. This mini-course is free but one volume editions of the Liturgy of the Hours will be available for purchase. If you would like to enroll in this special program, please contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. Please join us! All are welcome!
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Adult Faith Formation
Registration Now Underway!
If you are an adult (age 18 and over) and have not received the Sacraments of Baptism, Penance & Reconciliation (Confession), Holy Eucharist, or Confirmation in the Roman Catholic Church, then please consider joining us for our adult faith formation program which will meet on Sunday mornings after our 8:15am Mass beginning on Sunday, October 4th th in Saint Ann Parish House.
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is a seven month program that prepares adults to be received into the Catholic Church at Easter. Our group meets bi-weekly to learn about the basic beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church. As part of this same process, our Adult Confirmation Program prepares adults for the Sacrament of Confirmation and focuses on the challenges of living a life of faith in the modern world. If you would like to join us for this journey of faith and become part of this unique fellowship in preparation for the sacraments of God’s Church, please complete a registration form (see below) or contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. Please join us! All are welcome!
Adult Faith Formation Registration Form
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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. Our worship sites include Saint Ann Church in Gloucester, Saint Anthony 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 about becoming a member of one of our parishes, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Please join us! All are welcome!
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