Our Pastor’s Message
Some Good News: Holy Family Finances
As your pastor, I am responsible for both the spiritual and temporal well-being of our parishes. That means that in addition to being a shepherd of souls, I am also accountable for the financial stability of our parishes. Before my ordination to the priesthood, I studied math in college and worked at a bank. In addition, my hardworking immigrant parents taught me a great deal about how to balance a family budget, make ends meet, and save for the future. Although I am not an accountant or a financial expert, these experiences help me to appreciate the financial challenges and opportunities facing both parishes in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport..
Inserted into this weekend’s bulletin (see link below) is a financial report for Holy Family Parish (Fiscal Year 2014-2015). I am very pleased to share with you some good news: Our parish budget is balanced. Weekly offertory collections increased by more than 6.0% over the previous fiscal year. Donations to our Grand Annual Collection increased by 9.0% over the previous fiscal year. More than $100,000 from our lease agreement with the City of Gloucester has been saved and put away for emergencies and other contingencies. And we have begun the hard work of repairing and restoring our buildings (including long-planned renovations to the parish hall).
The credit for this good news must be shared by every single parishioner, friend, and visitor who supports Holy Family Parish, but also by Linda Rogers, our able Business Manager, and the other dedicated members of our Finance Council: Joseph Grella (Chair), Robert Krause, Rosa Ladd, Rudy Macchi and Cliff Garvey (Ex-Officio).
Alas, in the midst of this good financial news, I am sad to report that Linda Rogers has decided to leave our pastoral team at the end of this month. During the past twenty months, it has been a true honor and pleasure to work with Linda. Her dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work have helped to ensure the financial security of both Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. Needless to say, Linda will be deeply missed by me and by all who have been touched by her kind and generous spirit. On behalf of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, I wish to thank Linda Rogers for all that she has done for us, to commend her for a job well done, and to wish her a bright and happy future.
Finally, regardless of whether you belong to Holy Family Parish or Our Lady of Good Voyage, your financial support for our parish communities sustains us and empowers us to undertake the Lord’s holy work in his vineyards of Gloucester and Rockport. Thank you for ongoing generosity! May God bless you for you and your family!
Peace and blessings to all,
Father Jim
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Bulletin (1-24-16)
Bringing Home the Word (1-24-16)
Holy Family Parish Financial Summary 2015
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Sacrament of Confirmation
Sunday, January 24th
Along with Baptism and Holy Eucharist, Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation in the Roman Catholic Church. The Sacrament of Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism through an outpouring of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Knowledge, Understanding, Wisdom, Right Judgment, Courage, Reverence, and Wonder & Awe. These Gifts seal or “confirm” the mystical union between the candidates and Christ Jesus and prepare them to actively participate in the prayer, worship, and apostolic ministry of the Catholic Church.
This year, sixty-four high school students in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport have successfully completed the requirements of our Confirmation Preparation Program. During the past two years, they attended both classes and Sunday Mass. They participated in the “New Spirit Evening of Reflection.” They completed service projects. And they have prayed together as a community of young disciples. These students are now well prepared to publically renew their Baptismal vows, profess their faith, and live as faithful and faith-filled Catholics.
Last weekend, the Very Reverend Gerard Petringa, Episcopal Vicar for the North Region of the Archdiocese of Boston joined us for our annual celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation at Holy Family Parish. This Sunday, January 24th, Father Petringa will join us again to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at the 11:45am Mass in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church.
As always, the success of our youth faith formation program depends on our volunteers. So, on behalf of Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish, Father Jim gives God great thanks and praise for this year’s dedicated and hardworking team of catechists: Jennifer Dort, Martha Geraghty, Doug Greenfield, and Michael Cimoszko. Their generous gifts of time and talent have ensured that all of our sixty-four candidates will be well- prepared to accept and embrace the Gifts of the Holy Spirit at their Confirmation! Thank you! As our candidates and catechists make final preparations for our celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, please pray for them, their parents, sponsors, and families. May the Lord bless them and may the Holy Spirit guide them now and always! For more information about our youth faith formation programs in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Betsy Works at bworks@ccgronline.com; or see Father Jim before or after Mass.
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Youth Faith Formation
Calling Young Disciples!
As we begin to reimagine, restructure, and rebuild our youth faith formation programs, it is important to remember that all children and teenagers are invited to fully participate in the life of our parishes as altar servers, as players in our Live Stations of the Cross (see below), and as singers or instrumentalists in our Youth Choir & Music Ministry (see below). These are not just seasonal events but formative and unique opportunities for our young fellow parishioners to gather in prayer, to learn about the teachings and traditions of the Church, and to truly live their faith in a true spirit of prayer, fellowship, and service. For more information about youth faith formation in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com or Betsy Works at bworks@ccgronline.com. Thank you for your ongoing support!
CCGR Youth Choir & Music Ministry
Tuesdays at 5:00pm
The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport Youth Choir & Music Ministry meets for practice and rehearsal every Tuesday afternoon at 5:00pm in Saint Ann Church. The Youth Choir, along with an ensemble of talented young instrumentalists, sings every weekend during Mass at one of our three churches: Saint Ann Church, Saint Joachim Church, and Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Our Youth Choir & Music Ministry welcomes new members (ranging in age from kindergarten through eighth grade). Singing in the choir is a great way to make new friends and participate in the life of our parishes! For more information, please contact Patty Natti at pnatti@comcast.net. Please join us! All are welcome!
Eighteenth Annual Live Stations of the Cross
Rehearsals Begin Thursday, January 28th
All young disciples (grades three and up) from both Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish are invited to participate in our 18th Annual Live Stations of the Cross which will be presented on Palm Sunday, March 20th at 6:00pm in Saint Ann Church. Youth participants are expected to memorize their parts and attend eight weekly rehearsals which will begin on Thursday, January 28th from 4:00pm until 5:30pm in Saint Ann Church. Adult volunteers are also needed and most welcome! So, if you or your child would like to participate in this deeply moving annual program that helps to bring us all closer to Christ Jesus as he carries the Holy Cross, please contact Sue Demetri at sdemetri2000@yahoo.com. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Holy Family Women’s Guild
Father Jim’s Journey to Priesthood
Wednesday, February 3rd
On Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00pm in the Parish Hall, the Holy Family Women’s Guild will hold its first meeting of the new year! Our special guest will be our pastor, Father Jim, who will talk with us about the Sacrament of Holy Orders and share with us his journey to the priesthood. All parishioners, friends, and visitors to the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join us for this special event. Refreshments will be served. Please join us! All are welcome!
Established in 2005, the Holy Family Women’s Guild brings together women of all ages in prayer, fellowship, and service to the parish and wider community. Throughout the year, the Women’s Guild hosts various fundraising events and social gatherings, including the Palm Sunday Bake Sale, the Strawberry Festival in June, and the Christmas Fair in December. For more information about the Holy Family Women’s Guild and its good work in our parish community, please contact Lydia Bertolino at lbertolino4@msn.com or Janet Lucido at jml3485@aol.com. New members are always welcome! Please join us!
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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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