Almighty God and Father,
all over the world,
the children of your Church are singing:
‘Send down dew from above, you heavens,
and let the skies pour down upon us
the rains we long for — Jesus, the Just One.
May our merciful Savior
spring from the closed womb of the earth!’
We know, Lord, and we have seen,
what drought does to the land.
We know, too, and we have seen,
the ravages of frost and cold.
We have walked in barren fields,
and we have hiked up dry hills,
through dead, silent woods and lifeless valleys,
and along thirsty beds of once – flowing streams.
We have clearly seen enacted upon the land
what our lives would be like without you.
We understand now
that we should long for your coming.
Come, our Lord and Savior! Do not delay!
Rise up in your power and come!
Let the gentle rain of your grace
water the parched soil of our souls.
Let the warmth of your love
thaw the coldness of our indifference.
Let the life of your Body and Blood
revitalize our deadened energies,
and inspire us to faithful work in your vineyard.
Eternal Father,
awaken our hearts from the sleep of sin,
so that we may clear the path
of your Son into our souls.
Each year during Advent,
you gladden us with the promise of salvation.
Grant that as we welcome your Son
as our Redeemer now,
we may one day confidently and gladly
meet him as our kind and loving Judge.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen!

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (12-3-17)
Bringing Home the Word (12-3-17)
Christmas Mass Schedule 2017

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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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Mass Intentions Book
Opens Wednesday, December 6th

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
A Holy Day of Obligation
Friday, December 8th