Our Pastor’s Message
Saint Mary Magdalene, Pray for Us!
On Friday, July 22nd, the Catholic Church will celebrate the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. Throughout history, Mary Magdalene has been venerated as patron saint of converts, contemplatives, penitent sinners, and those who are persecuted for their faith. In the Gospels, Mary Magdalene is mentioned at least twelve times. In fact, she is mentioned more than most of the apostles! Over the centuries, however, Mary Magdalene has been the source of a great deal of confusion. Although nothing in the scriptures supports the assertion that Mary Magdalene was an adulteress or prostitute, she has been erroneously regarded as such by countless believers since the middle ages.
In modern times, Saint Mary Magdalene is venerated with great reverence as an “apostle to the apostles.” She was a repentant sinner saved by our Lord Jesus Christ. She was part of the group of disciples who followed and served Jesus during his public ministry in Galilee and Jerusalem. And she was the first witness of Christ’s glorious resurrection. Whatever her background or life story, Mary Magdalene is an example of the miraculous power of the Lord’s friendship, love, and mercy. The fact that Mary Magdalene is mentioned so many times in the gospels indicates her importance for us and for the Church. It suggests that she was a faithful and faith-filled disciple who placed her relationship with Christ at the center of her life on earth. Mary certainly prayed with Jesus. She grew in fellowship with Jesus and with those who followed Jesus. She served Jesus with love and devotion. In this way, Mary Magdalene is a model of true discipleship: united with the Lord and with other believers in prayer, fellowship, and service.
For us, Saint Mary Magdalene is like those among us who love God and love others without recognition and without counting the cost. She is like those who give willingly of their time, talent, and treasure to build up our parishes. She is like those who pray with the sick even when they themselves are suffering in mind, body, or spirit. She is like those who help us to prayerfully bury the dead even when they themselves are grieving. She is like those who clean and maintain our churches and church buildings as a labor of love for the Lord’s sake and for ours. This week, let us pray together for the intercession of Saint Mary Magdalene. Let us pray for those who humbly labor in the Lord’s vineyard. Let us pray for those suffering from illness or loneliness. Let us pray for those hungering for God’s love and mercy. And let us cry out with faith and hope: Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us!
Peace and blessings to all,
Father Jim
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (7-17-16)
Bringing Home the Word (7-17-16)
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Holy Family Parish
Annual Crowning Ceremony
Sunday, July 24th
In joyful anticipation of the Feast of Saint Ann and Saint Joachim (July 26th), our patrons, all parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join us for the Annual Crowning of Saint Ann and the Blessed Virgin Mary after our 8:15am Mass on Sunday, July 24th. For more information about this special annual event, please contact Mary Rubino at 978-281-0009. Please join us! All are welcome! And as a community of faith, let us unite our hearts and voices in prayer for the intercession of our patrons: Saint Ann, pray for us! Saint Joachim, pray for us! Our Lady of Good Voyage, pray for us!
Learn More: Saint Anne & Saint Joachim
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Holy Family Parish
Holy Family Novena & Vigil
Saturday, July 30th
In commemoration of the Feast of Saint Ann and Saint Joachim (July 26th), all are welcome to join us on Saturday, July 30th for nine hours of prayer for the intercession of our patrons. This special vigil of prayer will begin with Morning Prayer at 7:00am, followed by the First Hour of a Novena to the Holy Family. At 8:00am, Father Jim will celebrate Mass and the Second Hour of the Novena. After Mass, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for silent prayer and adoration. At the top of each hour, we will continue the Novena to the Holy Family. At 3:00pm, we will conclude by praying the Holy Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. All are invited to join us for all or just part of this day-long vigil of prayer. For more information, please contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. All are welcome!
Learn More: Saint Anne & Saint Joachim
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Holy Family Parish Picnic
Saturday, July 30th
All parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join Holy Family Parish for its Annual Summer Barbecue & Picnic in celebration of the Feast of Saint Ann and Saint Joachim on Saturday, July 30th beginning with Mass at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church. After Mass, our barbecue and picnic will be held in the courtyard behind the parish center and on the rectory lawn. The Knights of Columbus of Gloucester & Rockport (Council 215) will be cooking hamburgers & hot dogs. Soft drinks will be provided. Parishioners are asked to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and a side dish to share (chips, baked beans, summer salads, and desserts). We will also have fun activities for kids! For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Bring your family! Bring a friend! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Our Lady of Good Voyage
Summer Carillon Recitals
Begins Saturday, August 6th
An annual tradition returns this summer to Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish! Our Summer Carillon Recitals are scheduled to begin on Saturday, August 6th at 5:00pm (rain or shine). Once again, 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 near the church. Other recitals are scheduled for the following Saturday afternoons at 5:00pm: August 13th, August 20th, August 27th, and September 3rd. These recitals are free and open to the public! For more information, please contact LuAnn Pallazola at lpallazola@gmail.com.So, bring a cold drink or coffee! Bring a friend! Enjoy this wonderful summer tradition! And don’t forget that Mass begins at 6:00pm! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Third Annual Summer Retreat
The Jesus Prayer
Begins Monday, August 8th
The summer season is a great time of year for stepping back from the business and busy-ness of daily life in order to focus on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, few among us are able to leave work, family, and friends for a real retreat from the world. For this reason, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport is pleased to announce our Third Annual Summer Retreat! From Monday, August 8th through Friday, August 12th, all are invited to join Father Jim and Cliff Garvey for a unique opportunity to experience the spiritual peace and renewal of a week-long retreat without leaving home! Our retreat will be based on John Michael Talbot’s book, “The Jesus Prayer: A Cry for Mercy, A Path for Renewal.” For centuries, the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!) has led countless disciples toward a deeper and more intimate experience with Christ and his gifts of love and mercy. Talbot’s book offers readers a step-by-step and word-by-word approach for understanding the Jesus Prayer and for making it a central component of our spiritual lives.
Each evening of our retreat will begin promptly at 7:00pm in Saint Anthony Chapel with Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. After that, Father Jim and Cliff will lead our community in a period of reflection, discussion, and faith sharing. We will conclude each evening at 8:30pm with Night Prayer. Between each retreat session, participants will be asked to read brief selections from John Michael Talbot’s book and to engage in a daily prayer exercise. During each day of the retreat, Saint Anthony Chapel will open at 12:00pm for silent personal prayer and reflection. In order to adequately plan for the retreat, please contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com if you plan to join us. A donation of $25 is requested from those who can afford it. Copies of the book, along with coffee, tea, and cold water will be provided. Please join us! All are welcome!
Video: John Michael Talbot Sings “The Jesus Prayer”
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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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