This Week’s Message
A Meditation on Christ the King
By Cliff Garvey
Lord Jesus,
you are priest,
you are prophet,
you are king.
Lord Jesus,
you are our priest,
the shepherd of our souls.
By your sacrifice,
you feed us.
With your hand,
you lead us.
Within your arms,
you comfort us.
Lord Jesus,
you are our prophet,
the teacher of all that is true.
By your passion,
you save us.
With your blood,
you redeem us.
Beneath your cross,
you call us to prayer and service.
Lord Jesus,
you are our king,
the servant of all God’s children.
By your surrender,
you vindicate our broken lives.
With your word,
you sanctify our troubled world.
Through your resurrection,
you deliver us from death.
Lord Jesus,
by your grace,
show us the way to faith,
teach us how to hope,
lead us forth in love
for all people,
for all time.
Lord Jesus,
you are our God and Savior,
our friend and brother,
our all good and suffering King;
you are the Christ
for ever and ever. Amen.
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (11-26-17)
Bringing Home the Word (11-26-17)
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Father Jim’s Advent Scripture Study
Handel’s Messiah
Begins Thursday, November 30th
During the Holy Season of Advent, all adult parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join Father Jim for a weekly lunchtime scripture study based on the scriptural libretto of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.” On four consecutive Thursdays from November 30th through December 21st at 12:00pm in Our Lady’s Hall, Father Jim will lead a one-hour discussion and reflection on the scripture passages used in Handel’s beautiful operatic treatment of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In preparation for each week’s session, participants will be asked to read from Douglas Connelly’s book, “The Messiah: The Texts Behind Handel’s Masterpiece.” All participants are welcome to bring their own lunch and join us for as many sessions as possible. A donation of $20.00 is requested from those who can afford it. Participants will be provided with a copy of the book, along with coffee, tea, or bottled water. If you would like to join us for this special scripture study series, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
Learn More: Holy Season of Advent
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Our Lady of Good Voyage
Annual Christmas Fair
Saturday, December 2nd
All are invited to join Our Lady’s Guild for the Annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 2nd from 9:00am until 1:00pm in Our Lady’s Parish Hall. Highlights will include a fried dough breakfast, a linguiça and hot dog lunch, coffee, soft drinks, and all the fixings! Sale tables will include the general store, Christmas decoration, religious items, jewelry, plants, cookies, fudge, baked goods, and our delicious homemade sweetbread. We will also have a Mega Raffle Table with many great prizes! And Santa Claus is scheduled to appear at 11:30am with treats for our children! Volunteers are still needed for set-up and clean-up! For more information, please contact Beth Fosberry at jcbf33@yahoo.com. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Advent Faith & Family Mass
A Youth Faith Formation Special Event
Saturday, December 2nd
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 children, parents, grandparents, godparents, and guardians are invited to join Father Jim for our Third Annual Advent Faith & Family Mass on Saturday, December 2nd at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church. During Mass, Father Jim will offer a special homily about the Jesse Tree (see Isaiah 11:1-4) and a special blessing for all families and children. In addition, every child will receive a special gift.
Please save these dates for our upcoming Faith & Family Masses: Saturday, January 6th at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church; Sunday, February 18th at 11:45am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church; and Saturday, May 12th at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church. For more information about our Advent Faith & Family Mass, please see Father Jim or contact Betsy Works at bworks@ccgronline.com. Let us reaffirm that Mass is our class! Jesus is our Teacher! Every child is a gift from God! And every family in our pews is a gift from God, too! Please spread the word among your family and friends! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Advent & Christmas Concert
An Annual Holiday Tradition
Sunday, December 3rd
All parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join Tom Misuraca, LuAnn Pallazola, and our adult and youth music ministries for our Thirteenth Annual Advent & Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 3rd at 2:00pm in Saint Ann Church. All of this year’s musical selections have been chosen to help prepare our hearts to celebrate more fully the Holy Season of Advent and the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas. As always, our adult and youth choirs will perform along with talented instrumentalists. In addition, members of our Brazilian Community will perform with us, too! For more information about this popular holiday tradition, please contact Tom Misuraca at tmisuraca@ccgronline.com. Please join us as we share the gift of music! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Advent Mission & Retreat
with Sister Elizabeth Wagner
December 6th-December 8th
All are invited to join us for the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport’s Advent Mission & Retreat from Wednesday, December 6th through Friday, December 8th in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Each evening will begin with Evening Prayer and Mass at 7:00pm. We will be blessed to welcome back Sister Elizabeth Wagner as our special guest and spiritual director, who will lead us in prayer and reflection each evening after Mass.
Sister Elizabeth lives a contemplative life at Transfiguration Hermitage in Windsor, Maine, which she founded as a semi-eremitical community devoted to prayer and soli- tude according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. She is a hermit, award-winning writer, spiritual director, and retreat leader. Sister Elizabeth is also formation director, garden- er, and groundskeeper of the hermitage.
In addition to Sister Elizabeth’s nightly reflections during our mission and retreat, she will sign copies of her book, “Seasons In My Garden.” This beautiful book intricately weaves insights from her own spiritual journey with observations about the passing of seasons. It offers readers spiritual guidance and understanding that the patient tending of the soul can transform our lives into flourishing gardens that God can use to reflect his glory. Copies of the book will be available for $16.95 per copy.
Sister Elizabeth and Sister Bernadette (the hermitage’s baker and cook) will also tempt us with their famous homemade fruitcakes, cookies, jams, and sauces (all of which will be available for purchase after each evening of the mission and retreat). All proceeds will benefit Transfiguration Hermitage which depends on the generosity of benefactors and friends from around the world. Please note that the Advent Mission & Retreat is free but donations will be gratefully accepted during Mass to support our adult faith formation programs. For more information, please contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
Learn More: Transfiguration Hermitage
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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. All are invited! All are welcome! Always!
Follow us on Twitter: @CCGRonline