Pastor’s Invitation
Dear Friend & Fellow Parishioner,
The Holy Season of Advent is a time of penance, prayer, and preparation for the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas. Advent marks the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year and serves a twofold purpose. First, it calls us to make ready for the birth of the Christ Child; and secondly, it directs the human heart to wait expectantly for the Lord’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these reasons, Advent is also a season for hope, peace, joy, and love.
The Catholic Church has been marking the Holy Season of Advent since the fourth century. Traditions include the Advent Calendar and Advent Wreath. In each of our churches, the wreaths feature four candles. The three purple candles (representing the first, second, and fourth weeks of the season) symbolize both penance and royalty. These candles remind us of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for our sake and his role as “King of Kings” and “Prince of Peace.” The pink candle (representing the third week of the season) symbolizes joy. It reminds us that we should be eagerly and joyfully awaiting the Lord’s Nativity at Christmas.
During this coming Second Week of Advent, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport invites you and your family to join us in prayer, fellowship, and service as we prepare for the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas. Here’s our schedule of events and programs for the upcoming week! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
Peace & blessings to all,
Father Jim
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
Our Pastor’s Message: Season of Hope, Year of Mercy
CCGR Weekly Bulletin (11-29-15)
Bringing Home the Word (11-29-15)
Assisi Project Christmas Raffle
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Holy Family Women’s Guild
Advent Fundraiser at the Azorean
Thursday, December 3rd
The Women’s Guild at Holy Family Parish invites you to join them on Thursday, December 3rd for our Azorean Restaurant Fundraiser. Between 4:00pm and 9:00pm, the Azorean Restaurant will donate a portion of all dinner checks to Holy Family Parish. Please support our parish by inviting family and friends to enjoy delicious Portuguese cuisine with us! For more information, please contact Lydia Bertolino at bertolino4@msn.com. Please join us! All are welcome!
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Advent Evening Prayer & Holy Hour
Friday, December 4th
All are welcome to join Father Jim for Advent Evening Prayer and Eucharistic Adoration on Friday, December 4th beginning at 6:00pm in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Our vigil of prayer will begin at 6:00pm with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a period of silent adoration and prayer. We will conclude with Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours and Benediction. Come and pray with us during this Holy Season of Advent! For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Please join us! All are welcome!
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Advent Mass for Families
Weekend of December 5th-6th
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says: “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs (Matthew 19:14).” In response to the Lord’s call, all parents, grandparents, godparents, and children are invited to join Father Jim for an “Advent Mass for Families” on either Saturday, December 5th at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church or Sunday, December 6th at 11:45am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church.
During Mass, Father Jim will offer a special homily about Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (the patron saint of children) and a special blessing for all families. In addition, all children (under age 12) will receive a special gift from Father Jim in celebration of the Feast of Saint Nicholas. For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Let us reaffirm these timeless truths about sharing the Catholic faith with our children: Mass is our class! Jesus is our Teacher! Every child in our pews is a gift from God! And every family in our pews is a gift from God! So, please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Our Lady’s Guild Christmas Fair
Saturday, December 5th
All are welcome to join Our Lady’s Guild for their Annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 5th from 9:00am until 1:00pm in the Parish Hall. Highlights include a fried dough breakfast, linguiça & hot dog lunch, soft drinks, along with all the fixings! Sale tables will include the general store, religious items, jewelry, cookie swap & fudge, Christmas decorations, plants, homemade sweetbread and other baked goods. In addition, we’ll have a Mega Raffle Table featuring many wonderful items including a painting by Theresa Wonson! Volunteers are needed to help set-up the parish hall on Friday, December 4th at 4:00pm! Donations are always welcome! For more information, please contact Linda Galvin at lingalv2010@gmail.com. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Advent & Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 6th
All parishioners, friends, and visitors of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join the Holy Family Parish Music Ministry for its Eleventh Annual Advent & Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 6th at 2:00pm in Saint Ann Church.
As always, this year’s musical selections have been chosen to help prepare our hearts to celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas. Our Adult Choir and Youth Choir will perform with our team of talented instrumentalists. In addition, members of our Brazilian Community’s music ministry will perform for us! So, please join us as we share the gift of music this holiday season! For more information, please contact Tom Misuraca at tmis1@verizion.net. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
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The Immaculate Conception
Tuesday, December 8th
In honor of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Tuesday, December 8th, a Holy Day of Obligation, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport will celebrate Masses according to the following schedule:
- Monday, December 7th· Vigil Mass
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church· 4:00pm
- Tuesday, December 8th· Holy Day Masses
Saint Joachim Church· 8:00am
Saint Ann Church· 12:00pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church· 7:00pm
Since late antiquity, the People of God have believed that the Blessed Virgin Mary was sinless & conceived immac- ulately in the womb of Saint Ann. However, this belief was not defined as doctrine until 1854. Since then, Our Lady has been named patron of many causes & nations, including the United States. So, please join us as we hon- or our Blessed Mother and beg her intercession for our families, our parishes & our country! All are welcome!
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Advent Mission & Retreat
December 8th-10th
All are invited to join us for the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport’s Advent Mission & Retreat from Tuesday, December 8th through Thursday, December 10th at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Each evening will begin with Mass at 7:00pm, followed by a reflection based on the theme of “Mercy & Discipleship.” In addition to helping us to make ready for the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas, this special program also marks the beginning of the Church’s Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Our guest celebrant and homilist will be the Reverend Gary M. Gurtler, S.J. Father Gurtler is a member of the Society of Jesus, a graduate of Fordham University, and since 1992, has served as an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Boston College. Father Gurtler also serves as Priest-Chaplain of the Hispanic Community at Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Woburn, Massachusetts.
The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport’s Advent Mission & Retreat is free but donations will be gratefully accepted at Mass each evening. For more information, please see Father Jim or contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. Spread the word! Bring a friend or neighbor! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
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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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