Pastor’s Message
Passing of Deacon Daniel A. Dunn
It is my duty to share the sad news that our friend and faithful deacon, Daniel A. Dunn, passed away last week at his home in Gloucester. During his long years of service to Holy Family Parish, Deacon Dan’s kind heart, generous spirit, and immeasurable enthusiasm for ministry made him a beloved and vitally important member of our pastoral team. Deacon Dan will be deeply missed by me, by every member of our pastoral team, and by all who have been touched by his good work.
Funeral services for Deacon Dan will proceed according to the following schedule: Monday, July 2nd at 3:00pm: Rite of Welcome in Saint Ann Church; Monday, July 2nd from 4:00pm until 7:00pm: Visiting Hours (In State) in Saint Ann Church; Monday, July 2nd at 7:00pm: Evening Prayer in Saint Ann Church; Tuesday, July 3rd at 9:00am: Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Ann Church.
As we mourn the loss of our colleague, friend, and fellow parishioner, please join me in praying for the soul of the Reverend Mr. Deacon Daniel A. Dunn. Please also pray for his wife, Nana, for their children and grandchildren, and for all who live, work, and worship in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport. May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Peace and blessings to all,
Father Jim
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
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This Week’s Message
The Sifting of Saint Peter
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
In Saint Luke’s Gospel,
we are told how Peter in the days of old was sifted;
and now, though ages intervene,
sin is the same,
while time and scene are shifted.
Satan desires us,
great and small, as wheat, to sift us,
and we all are tempted;
not one, however rich or great,
is by his station or estate exempted.
No house so safely
guarded is but he,
by some device of his, can enter;
no heart has armor so complete
but he can pierce with arrows fleet its center.
For all at last the cock will crow
who hear the warning voice,
but go unheeding,
till thrice and more they have denied
the Man of Sorrows, crucified and bleeding.
One look of that pale suffering face
will make us feel the deep disgrace of weakness;
we shall be sifted till the strength
of self-conceit be changed at length to meekness.
Wounds of the soul,
though healed, will ache;
the reddening scars remain, and make confession;
lost innocence returns no more;
we are not what we were before transgression.
But noble souls, through dust and heat,
rise from disaster and defeat the stronger,
and conscious still of the divine within them,
lie on earth supine no longer.
Pastor’s Note: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was born in Portland, Maine and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts. During his lifetime, Longfellow was one of the most popular poets in the world. He is remembered for his heartfelt and often rhapsodic poems which often tell stories about the great figures of history, mythology, and religion. The poem above, The Sifting of Saint Peter, was described as a folk song when it was first published in 1904, twenty-two years after Longfellow’s death. It reminds us that all people, even the greatest of saints, are tempted and sometimes fall. But the poem also reminds us that even the most battered, beaten, and fallen sinners are raised up by thegrace and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. This weekend, as we celebrate Saint Peter’s Fiesta, let us pause in our revels to pray for the intercession of the humble fisherman who was entrusted by Christ with the Keys of the Kingdom of God. Saint Peter, pray for us! Peace and blessings to all! Viva San Pietro! — Father Jim
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (7-1-18)
Bringing Home the Word (7-1-18)
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Viva San Pietro!
Saint Peter’s Fiesta Mass
Sunday, July 1st
This year, the Saint Peter’s Fiesta runs from Wednesday, June 27th through Sunday, July1st. On Sunday, July 1st, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport will celebrate Mass according to the following schedule:
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 7:00am
Saint Ann Church at 8:15am
Saint Joachim Church at 10:00am
Saint Peter Park Outdoor Mass at 10:00am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 11:45am
This year’s Saint Peter Park Outdoor Mass will be celebrated by Father Jim. As a community united in prayer, fellowship, and service, we welcome all parishioners, family, friends, and visitors to worship with us and to participate in Holy Communion in accordance with personal conscience and the teachings and traditions of the Roman CatholicChurch. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
PRAYER FOR THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT PETER
O Glorious Saint Peter,
in return for your strong and generous faith,
your profound and sincere humility,
and your burning love,
you were rewarded by Christ
with singular privileges,
leadership of the Apostles
and the whole Church,
of which you were made the foundation stone.
By your prayers,
obtain for us a lively faith
that will not fear
to profess itself openly to the world,
in its entirety and in all its manifestations,
even to martyrdom
if occasion should demand it.
By your prayers,
obtain for us a sincere loyalty
to God’s Holy Church.
Grant that we may always remain closely united
to our Holy Father, Pope Francis,
who is the heir of your faith and authority,
and the one true and visible head
of the Catholic Church,
the mystical ark of our salvation.
Grant that we may follow the Church’s teachings
in all humility, meekness, and obedience,
so that we may enjoy a secure peace
on earth and one day attain
everlasting happiness in heaven. Amen!
Learn More: Saint Peter’s Fiesta
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Vocations Friday
Friday, July 6th
As Catholic Christians, we believe that God calls us to live as faithful disciples. But in what way of life are we called to live our discipleship? What is your calling? What is your vocation? These questions can sometimes take a lifetime to answer. But with hearts open to discernment and prayer, God can help us find our way in the world. Each and every one of us (regardless of our age, gender, or life experience) can discover, rediscover, and respond toGod’s plan for our lives.
This year, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rock-port is celebrating a ‘Year for Vocations,’ a time to prayand reflect on who God calls us to be and what God calls us to do with the one life that we are blessed to live on this earth. In this spirit, we will gather on Friday, July 6thfor ‘Vocation Friday’ in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Our prayer vigil will begin with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 5:00pm, followed by Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. At 6:00pm, we will pray the Holy Rosary for an increase in vocations to the priesthood. And we will conclude at 7:00pm with Night Prayer and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
These ‘Vocation Fridays’ are being held monthly through-out the year. Our hope is that all parishioners and their families will be able to join us for at least one of these special days of prayer, discernment, and devotion. If you are not able to join us this month, please take a few moments to pray this powerful prayer for vocation discernment:
Almighty God and Father,
you call each one of us by name
and ask you to follow you.
Bless your Holy Church
by raising up dedicated and generous leaders
from among our families and friends
who will serve your people
as priests and deacons,
as religious brothers and sisters,
and as lay ministers.
Inspire us as we grow to know you,
and open our hearts to hear your call.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen.
Throughout this ‘Year for Vocations,’ let us pray togetherthat each one of us, in our own way, will learn to pray, discern, and respond to God’s call with faith, hope, andlove in our hearts. For more information, please contact Cliff Garvey cgarvey@ccgronline.com. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
Learn More: Year for Vocations
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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