Our Pastor’s Message
Our Grand Annual Collections
Almost three years ago, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport was created as a collaborative of two historic parishes: Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. Although our parishes share a pastor and pastoral team, each parish remains canonically and financially independent; maintain their own bank accounts and accounting procedures; and continue to be fully responsible for their own expenses, building maintenance, and pastoral programs. Both of our parishes are blessed in countless ways. Our ministries and service organizations faithfully serve the poor, sick, and homebound. Our adult faith formation programs bring together large groups of parishioners who desire to grow closer to Christ and the Church. Our youth faith formation programs are creating a new generation of young disciples who are excited about their faith and eager to learn more about the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church. And thanks to your ongoing generosity, our parishes are coping with their unique financial challenges.
Last month, I wrote to each and every parish family about our Grand Annual Collections and our goals of raising $50,000 for Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish and $75,000 for Holy Family Parish by June 30th, the end of the current fiscal year. These Grand Annual Collections aren’t just ambitious and lofty goals on paper. They are essential and vitally important components of our annual parish budgets. They help us balance our books by bridging the gap between our weekly collections and our overall financial obligations. In short, if we do not reach our goals, then it becomes almost impossible to balance our annual budgets. And it is important to keep in mind that ongoing imbalances could threaten the long-term financial stability of our parishes.
How do our parishes use your contributions? Your contributions help us pay for the salaries and benefits of our priests, deacons, and pastoral team members. They help us pay for insurance premiums and utility bills. They help us pay for snow removal, grounds keeping, basic administrative costs, and building maintenance and repairs. They also help us fund essential parish programs like our adult and youth faith formation programs, our adult and youth music ministries, and special events and programs throughout the year. Every contribution to our Grand Annual Collections, whether it’s for $1 or $10 or $100 goes directly to the parish of your choice: either Holy Family Parish or Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish.
At this point, Holy Family Parish has raised more than $34,000 (in just one month) which is almost one-half of our goal; and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish has raised more than $27,000 (during the past few months) which is just over one-half of our goal. Thank you for your generous support! These are great beginnings, but we simply must reach our goals by June 30th! If every parishioner and parish family could prayerfully discern what they feel called to give, then I am confident that we can reach our goals and ensure the financial stability of our parishes. As the son of parents who worked hard to make ends meet, I appreciate how hard it must be for a family or a retired person to give again and again. But as Mother Teresa often said: “It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into the giving.”
As our Grand Annual Collections continue, please join me in praying that each of us, according to our means, will give generously and lovingly to one (or both) of these all-important fundraising efforts. Please also pray for me and for our pastoral team. And be assured always of our daily prayers for you and your family. In a special way, please pray for Father Alves and Father Gariboldi, our beloved senior priests, who are both recovering from recent health problems. May God bless you, your family, and all who live, work, and worship in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport. Thank you again for your prayers, generosity, and support!
Peace and blessings to all,
Father Jim
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (5-7-17)
Bringing Home the Word (5-7-17)
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Youth Faith Formation
Mother’s Day Mass for Families
Saturday, May 13th
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 (Mt 19:14).” In response to the Lord’s call, all parents, grandparents, godparents, and children of all ages are invited to join Father Jim for our Mother’s Day Mass for Families on Saturday, May 13th at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church. During Mass, Father Jim will preach about Mother’s Day and Our Blessed Mother; and also offer a special blessing for all mothers, families, and children. In addition, those who gather for this Mass will join the Legion of Mary in the Annual Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As our Mother’s Day Mass for Families draws near, let us affirm again that Mass is our class! Jesus is our teacher! And every family that joins us is a gift from God! For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Please spread the word! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Youth Faith Formation
Celebration of First Holy Communion
Sunday, May 14th
The Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith community’s joy and the center of our life of prayer, fellowship, and service. This spring season, after a year of prayer, preparation, and study, fifty-nine children in our youth faith formation program will receive the Body and Blood of the Risen Lord for the first time. Our last celebration of First Holy Communion for this year is scheduled for Sunday, May 14th at 11:45am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. For more information about youth faith formation in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Betsy Works at bworks@ccgronline.com. Please pray for all of our young disciples, their parents, families, and catechists. Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support!
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Holy Family Women’s Guild
Strawberry Festival
Saturday, June 3rd
On Saturday, June 3rd, the Holy Family Women’s Guild will host the Annual Strawberry Festival from 9:00am until 2:00pm in Saint Ann Church Hall. This year’s theme is “Life on Cape Ann” because everyone who lives here knows that there isn’t a better or more beautiful place on earth to live, work, worship, or raise a family! Whether you’re a crafter or a carpenter, a knitter, baker, or basket-weaver, we need your help! Whether you’re an artist, gardener, or handyman, we need your help! And if someone is willing and able to volunteer with setting up or cleaning up, we need your help, too! All proceeds from the Strawberry Festival benefit Holy Family Parish.
This year’s Strawberry Festival will feature art, homemade baked goods and preserves, crafts of all kinds, and all things related to the garden (including annuals and perennials)! We’ll have a “Mug Up” with hand-made ceramic mug and snack bar featuring pulled-pork sandwiches, Italian Cookies, Mickey’s Muffins, Papa’s Biscotti, Cindy’s Scones, Jam from the Jam Ladies, and our famous strawberry shortcake. Mahroussie Jabba will also be serving middle eastern food. And as always, vintage treasures will be offered for sale in our “Granny’s Attic!” For more information about the Strawberry Festival, please contact Jane Marshall at 978-283 -5111. 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. Working together as a Roman Catholic community united in prayer, fellowship, and service, we are committed to living the Gospel of Christ, sharing God’s love and mercy with all people, and rebuilding the Church in Gloucester & Rockport.
Follow us on Twitter: @CCGRonline