Pastor’s Note
Lent is a season for prayer and penance: a time for abstinence, fasting, and personal reflection. Lent is also a season for renewal: a time for good works and for deepening our personal relationship with Jesus. In this spirit of prayer, penance, and charity for all, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport at Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish invites you to join us during this Holy Season of Lent to find your faith, strengthen your faith, or renew your faith. Wherever you find yourself on life’s journey of faith, please know that we welcome you, in Christ’s name, with open arms and open hearts. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
Peace and blessings to all,
Father Jim
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (2-7-16)
Bringing Home the Word (2-7-16)
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Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, February 10th
The Holy Season of Lent is a time of prayer, penance, and charity during which all Catholics are called to renew their faith in preparation for the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. This year, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 10th, a holy day of fasting and abstinence. In the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, we will celebrate Mass and distribute ashes according to the following schedule:
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Mass at 8:00am
Saint Ann Church
Mass at 12:00pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Mass at 7:00pm
In addition, we will celebrate two Services of the Word (with the distribution of ashes) at 4:00pm in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church and at 5:30pm in Saint Joachim Church. For more information about the Holy Season of Lent in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com or see a member of our pastoral team. Please join us as we begin our Lenten journey! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Stations of the Cross
Fridays During Lent
The Stations of the Cross are one of the most enduring and moving devotions of the Roman Catholic Church. By uniting our prayers with the sufferings of Christ through both word and imagery, we make a spiritual pilgrimage with Lord on his way to the Cross. During Lent, all are invited to join us in praying the Stations of the Cross on six consecutive Fridays (February 12th through March 18th) according to the following schedule:
Saint Ann Church
Fridays at 3:30pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Fridays at 7:00pm (Begins with Mass)
Please note that Mass will be celebrated at 7:00pm before we pray the Stations of the Cross at Our Lady of Good Voyage on Friday evenings. For more information about Lent in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Father Jim frjim@ccgronline.com or see a member of our pastoral team. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
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The Parables of Mercy
A Year of Mercy Scripture Study
Fridays During Lent
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 friends and parishioners are welcome to bring their own lunch and to join us for as many sessions as they can. If you would like to join us for 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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Lent Mass for Families
Weekend of February 13th-14th
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, god- parents, and children are invited to join Father Jim for a Lent Mass for Families on either Saturday, February 13th at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church or Sunday, February 14th at 11:45am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church.
During Mass, Father Jim will offer a special homily about the Holy Season of Lent and a special blessing for all families and children. In addition, because Lent is a season for prayer, penance, and charity, every child and family will be asked to help us raise $1,000 during Lent for the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, a service organization in our parishes that provides food and financial assistance to local families in need. During the Family Mass, each child will receive a “campaign can” to collect coins for this effort. Thank you in advance for your generous support! As our Lent Mass for Families approaches, let us reaffirm: Mass is our class! Jesus is our teacher! And every family in our pews is a gift from God! For more information about the Mass for Families, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Please spread the word! All are invited! All are welcome!
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The Light Is On For You!
Confessions & Eucharistic Adoration
Wednesday Evenings During Lent
During the Holy Season of Lent, all Catholics are invited to experience Christ’s love and mercy through the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation (Confession). On six consecutive Wednesdays during Lent (February 17th through March 23rd), at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church from 6:00pm until 8:00pm, all are invited to join us for “The Light Is On For You!” These special evenings of prayer will include Evening Prayer and Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours; Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament; and two full hours of confessions for those who feel called to participate. Please note that this program will be preempted on Wednesday, March 9th for our Lent Mission & Retreat.
For some, this may be a time for sacramental reconciliation. For some it may be a time for silent prayer and reflection. And for some, it may be a time to begin or renew a life of faith. Wherever you are on your faith journey, please join us! All are welcome! For more information about the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com or see a member of our pastoral team. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Jubilee Year of Mercy
Lent Mission & Retreat
March 8th-10th
All are invited to join us for the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport’s Lent Mission & Retreat from Tuesday, March 8th through Thursday, March 10th at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Each evening will begin with Evening Prayer at 7:00pm, followed by Mass. Each evening will also feature a reflection centered on the themes of Lent and the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Our special guest and spiritual director will be Sister Ellen Dabrieo, SND. Sister Ellen is a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame. For many years, she has served the Church in both parish ministry and as a missionary in Brazil. Sister Ellen currently serves as a hospital chaplain in Salem and as a lay minister to the Brazilian Community of Saint Thomas Church in Peabody. The Lent Mission & Retreat is free but donations will be gratefully accepted at Mass during each evening of the retreat. For more information, please contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com or see a member of our pastoral team. Please join us! Bring a friend or neighbor! All are welcome!
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The Assisi Project
Franciscan Stations of the Cross
Palm Sunday, March 20th
On Palm Sunday, March 20th, all are welcome to join the Assisi Project for its Annual Palm Sunday Prayer Vigil. We will gather for the celebration of Mass at 11:45am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. After Mass, we will adjourn to the Parish Hall for a light Lenten lunch. After lunch, we will return to Our Lady’s Church for a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration that will include praying the Franciscan Stations of the Cross. If you would like to join us, please contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. All are invited! All are welcome!
Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is an international fellowship of “Franciscans in Spirit” with friends and followers in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa. We are dedicated to helping adults of all ages to more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. Approximately six times each year, we gather for Mass, a community meal, and period of faith formation and discussion. Each year, we also sponsor a pilgrimage and other opportunities for prayer and fellowship. For more information about our programs, please join us online at assisiproject.com; follow us on Twitter at @Assisi_Project; or contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. 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!
Follow us on Twitter: @CCGRonline