Our Pastor’s Message
Love Never Fails!
In this weekend’s second reading, Saint Paul writes about the true meaning and nature of love (1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13). He reminds us that no matter what we do with our lives (our ministry, work, or family life), it amounts to nothing if it is not founded on and fueled by love. Saint Paul tells us: “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrong-doing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails (1 Cor 13:4-8).”
During my first twenty months as your pastor, I have been called upon to make many decisions. Some of these decisions have been easy. Some have been very difficult. I can only pray that my decisions were guided by the Lord, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and influenced by my own longstanding devotion to Saint Paul and his writings. This week, I share with you some appointments that fill me with great confidence and joy!
First, I am pleased to announce the creation of a new Finance Council for Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. This council will advise me and our business manager on all aspects of parish finances, oversee the parish budget, and help ensure the long-term financial security of our parish. I have asked Patricia Bertero, Jean Madruga, and Annmarie Noble, all active parishioners at Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish, to serve as voting members of the council. Second, I am delighted to announce that Sheila McCarthy has agreed to serve on the Holy Family Parish Finance Council. Sheila will fill an empty seat on the council and serve with Joseph Grella, Robert Krause, Rosa Ladd, and Rudy Macchi. This incredible group of dedicated parishioners deserves our sincere thanks for their part in helping to ensure the financial stability of Holy Family Parish.
What all of these fellow parishioners have in common is their deep and sincere love for God’s Church. Their common bond is that their service to our parishes is built upon a true spirit of prayer, fellowship, and service and a firm commitment to the Lord’s Great Commandment to love God and to love each other. If and when you see these good and decent people at Mass or in the grocery store, please thank them for their service to our parishes. Finally, let us continue to pray for each other and for all who live, work, and worship in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport: that each one of us will embrace the true meaning of love in our families, in our workplaces, and in our parishes. Love never fails!
Peace and blessings to all,
Father Jim
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (1-31-16)
Bringing Home the Word (1-31-16)
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Feast of Saint Blaise
The Blessing of Throats
Wednesday, February 3rd
On Wednesday, February 3rd, the Catholic Church cele- brates the Feast of Saint Blaise, Bishop & Martyr. Little is known about Blaise except that he was Bishop of Silvas (Turkey) and was martyred in the fourth century during the Roman persecution of Christian believers. Tradition holds that as Blaise was being arrested, a mother ap- proached him with her young son who had a fish bone lodged in his throat. At Blaise’s command, the child coughed up the bone and was healed. Blaise was execut- ed for refusing to abandon his Christian faith. For more than one thousand years, he has been venerated as Pa- tron Saint of those suffering from illnesses of the throat.
Here in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rock- port, we will celebrate the traditional blessing of throats on Wednesday, February 3rd during Mass at 8:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church and during Evening Prayer at 6:30pm in Saint Ann Church. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome! Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, may God deliver us from every disease of the throat and from every other illness! Amen!
Learn More: Saint Blaise
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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, Fa- ther 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 November. For more information about the Holy Family Women’s Guild, its good work in our parish community, or becoming a member, 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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Mercy Friday
A Year of Mercy Special Event
Friday, February 5th
All are invited to join the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport for our next “Mercy Friday” on Friday, February 5th from 12:00pm until 7:00pm in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. This special day of devo- tion and prayer in celebration of the Jubilee Year will begin at noon with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Daytime Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. At 3:00pm, we will pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. From 5:00pm until 6:00pm, Father Jim will hear confessions. And at 6:30pm, we will conclude with Evening Prayer (with Homily) and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. For more information about this and other Year of Mercy programs and events, please contact Father Jim at 978-281 -4820 or frjim@ccgronline.com. Please join us for all or part of this special day of devotion and prayer as we celebrate God’s love and mercy for each and everyone of us! All are invited! All are welcome!
Learn More: Guide for Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet
Learn More: Guide for Making a Good Confession
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The Parables of Mercy
A Year of Mercy Scripture Study
Begins Friday, February 12th
During the Holy Season of Lent, all are invited to join Father Jim for a weekly lunchtime scripture study based on the “Parables of Mercy.” Each Friday during Lent (February 12th through March 18th) in Our Lady’s Hall, Father Jim will lead a one hour discussion and study on various parables of Jesus that focus on God’s love and mercy for his people, including the Two Debtors & Their Creditor; the Good Samaritan; the Widow & the Judge; the Rich Man and Lazarus; and the Lost Sheep.
Interested parishioners and friends are welcome to bring their own lunch and to join us for as many sessions as they can. If you would like to participate in this special scripture study series, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. A donation of $20.00 per person is requested from those who can afford it. All participants will be provided with a copy of the book, “The Parables of Mercy”, along with coffee, hot tea, or bottled water. Please join us! 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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