Crowning Feast of the Holy Spirit
In Memory of Father Eugene Alves
Concludes This Weekend!
All are invited to join Father Jim, Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish, and the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in celebrating our Annual Crowning Feast of the Holy Spirit from Monday, June 3rd through Sunday, June 9th. This year, we will honor the life and legacy of our legendary pastor, Father Eugene Alves, who passed away earlier this year. The Crowning Feast concludes this weekend according to the following schedule:
- Saturday, June 8th
5:30pm: Rosary in Our Lady’s Church
6:00pm: Vigil Mass in Our Lady’s Church - Sunday, June 9th
11:45am: Mass & Crowning in Our Lady’s Church
1:00pm: Crowning Feast Luncheon in Our Lady’s Hall
All fellow parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join us for our Crowning Feast Luncheon in Our Lady’s Hall. Tickets are available at the door. A donation of $13 per person is requested. After lunch, all are invited to participate in our Crowning Auction & Grand Raffle! For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Please join us! Spread the word! All are invited! All are welcome!
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The Golden Sequence
A Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
Send forth the heavenly radiance
of your light.
Come, father of the poor,
come, giver of gifts,
come, light of the heart.
Greatest comforter,
sweet guest of the soul,
sweet consolation.
In labor, rest,
in heat, temperance,
in tears, solace.
O most blessed light,
fill the inmost hearts
of your faithful people.
Without you,
there is nothing in us
that is not harmful.
Cleanse that which is unclean,
water that which is dry,
heal that which is wounded.
Bend that which is inflexible,
fire that which is chilled,
correct what goes astray.
Give to your faithful people,
those who trust in you,
your sevenfold gifts.
Grant the rewards of virtue,
grant the deliverance of salvation,
grant eternal joy forever and ever.
Amen! Alleluia!
Listen: Sunday Soundbite for Pentecost
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Pastor’s Challenge
Grand Annual Collections
Every Donation Makes a Difference!
Last year, thanks to your generous support, both Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish were able to balance their respective budgets. One big reason for this accomplishment is the success of our Grand Annual Collections. In each of our parishes, the Grand Annual Collection bridges the gap between our weekly gifts and our financial obligations. The Grand Annual Collections also enable us to maintain and restore our historic, but aging, church and parish buildings.
The current budget year ends in just three weeks! In order for each of our parishes to balance its budget and ensure long-term financial stability, we simply must meet our goals! At Holy Family Parish, we are working hard to raise $75,000 by June 30th. So far, we have raised $69,819 (or 93% of our goal). At Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish, we are equally working hard to raise $45,000 by June 30th. So far, we have raised $34,180 (or 76% of our goal).
These Grand Annual Collections are essential and vitally important components of our annual parish budgets! Their importance to the financial health of our parishes cannot be overstated. So every year, we ask all parishioners to contribute what they can afford to our Grand Annual Collections. Every gift, large or small, whether it’s $100 or $10 or $1, helps us to achieve our goals and balance our parish budgets.
Although we have made great progress toward reaching our goals during the last few weeks, I still need your help! If every person who attends Mass this weekend can somehow manage to give $20 over the course of this month to our Grand Annual Collections, we will reach our goals, balance our budgets, and lay a strong financial foundation for the new fiscal year.
Offertory envelopes for the Grand Annual Collections are located at the doors of our churches. Please place your donation in the collection basket, give it to me or a member of our pastoral team before or after Mass, or mail it directly to our parish offices. Your generous support empowers us to more fully live the Gospel, share God’s love, and rebuild our Church! Thank you for your ongoing support of Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish! Peace and blessings! — Father Jim
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Healing God’s Family & Rebuilding Our Church
A Morning of Prayer with Saint Anthony
Thursday, June 13th
More than eight centuries ago, the Crucified Christ called out to the young man who would become Saint Francis of Assisi: “Go! Rebuild my church which as you can see is falling into ruin!” Francis took the Lord’s command literally and set out to repair small chapels in and around his hometown. Over the years, however, Francis came to understand more fully that his personal vocation to live the Gospel and share God’s love was vital to rebuilding the Church throughout the world.
In this spirit and in appreciation for the crisis facing the Roman Catholic Church in our own time, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport is gathering throughout the year in commemoration of important feast days and praying for the healing of God’s family and for the courage to rebuild our wounded church. In addition, we are asking the saints to pray for us and guide us in the hard work of discipleship during these difficult times.
All are invited to join us for a Morning of Prayer on Thursday, June 13th in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), who is venerated as a patron saint of fishermen and mariners, elderly people and poor people, and lost things and lost souls. This special morning of prayer will begin at 8:00am with Mass in Saint Anthony Chapel. Following Mass, we will celebrate Morning Prayer and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. At 9:30am, we will pray the Holy Rosary for the healing of God’s family. And finally, we will conclude at 10:00am with Daytime Prayer and Benediction.
During Morning Prayer, Father Jim will offer a reflection on the life and legacy of Saint Anthony, who has much to teach us about living the Gospel, sharing God’s love, and rebuilding our Church. We hope and pray that you and your family will be able to join us for all or even just part of this special morning of prayer, reflection, and devotion. For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Please join us! Spread the word! Bring a friend! All are invited! All are welcome!
Video: Life of Saint Anthony of Padua
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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