TWENTH-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Our Pastor’s Message
Rebuilding the Church
The Power of One, Part 3

By Father Jim

Two weekends ago, more than seventy-five friends and fellow parishioners participated in our Fall Day of Prayer & Reflection: Rebuilding the Church with Saint Francis of Assisi. During this special morning of prayer, devotion, and faith sharing, Cliff Garvey delivered two beautiful reflections about how every person can play some small part in healing God’s family and rebuilding the Church during these troubled times.

Throughout the morning, Cliff wove together the life of Saint Francis, his own long experience as a lay minister, and the wisdom that can be found in film, music, sacred scripture, and contemporary spiritual writing. He also twice quoted Dr. Leo Buscaglia (1924-1998), a well-known author, educator, and television personality. In an interview shortly before his death, Dr. Buscaglia said: “We live in a small world. Not a leaf falls that doesn’t effect a myriad of things. When we reach out to someone in love and the effect is made, then everyone and everything who comes into contact with the person we have touched is better for it.”

I love these words. In them, we find no slick slogans or talking points. We find no new strategies for evangelization. We find no new philosophies or theologies. We find only the power of love: born in our love of Christ and made manifest in the world by our discipleship, our love of family, friends, and neighbors, and our kindness toward every person who crosses our path each day. Bringing love into the world is not easy, but we can do it and we must do it. If we fail to carry Christ’s love into our long-suffering world, then our already wounded Church is doomed.

Every single one of us can make a difference. Look to the living proof all around us. Look to the everyday saints who clean our churches, feed the hungry, clothe the poor, teach our children, and pray with the sick. Look to the everyday saints who give themselves wholeheartedly to some parish ministry well into their seventies, eighties, and even nineties. Look to Saint Therese of Lisieux who writes: “Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way that I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love.”

How can we heal God’s family and rebuild the Church? What can you do? What can we do to-gether? Here are some suggestions: What if every person who comes to church this weekend promises to pray for one minute every day for me, our pastoral team, and all of our fellow parishioners? What if every person who comes to church this weekend picks up one piece of trash in our parking lots or on the streets? What if every person who comes to church this weekend volunteers one hour per month to visit the sick, serve the poor, or help out at some fundraising or service event? Just imagine what good we would do together!

What if every person who comes to church this weekend remembers their home parish in their will? What if every person who comes to church this weekend gives one extra dollar or two each week? What if every person who comes to church this weekend brings a friend and that friend gives an extra dollar or two? Just imagine what we can accomplish together when we choose to love, to give, and to do what little we can! May God bless us with generous and loving hearts as we work together to rebuild the Church for future generations!

Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com

Read More: The Power of One, Part 1
Read More: The Power of One, Part 2

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (10-20-19)
Bringing Home the Word (10-20-19)
Watch: The Pope Video (October 2019)

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Respect Life Month
A Prayer for Life

By Father Michael Pavlakovich

Most Holy Lord,
Creator of heaven and earth,
from your gentle hand flows the gift of life.
To your sons and daughters,
you have given the role of stewards
to care for all of your creation
from womb to tomb.
Hear us as we pray
for a greater respect for all life
all around the world:
That the unborn may be born.
That the child may be safe.
That the teen may be prepared.
That the young adult may be other-centered.
That the adult may be selfless.
That the aged may be revered.
That the dying may have dignity.
That the deceased may rest in peace.
That the resources of creation may be used well.
That all creation may be blessed.
Having served you loyally on earth,
may we obtain the rewards of everlasting life.
We as these things through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Learn More: Respect Life Month (USCCB)

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Holy Family Women’s Guild
Christmas Fair Planning Meeting
Tuesday, October 22nd

Mark your calendar for the Holy Family Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 23rd! The Christmas Fair is HolyFamily Parish’s biggest fundraising event of the year!And there is much work ahead to ensure its success! All are invited to join the Holy Family Women’s Guild for our next Christmas Fair Planning Meeting on Tuesday, October 22nd at 6:30pm in Saint Ann Church Hall. If you have a stapler, paper cutter, or good scissors, please bring them along! We will be putting together the raffle tickets for the fair. We are also gratefully accepting donations of prizes for our auction, basket wheel, and raffles; cookies, crafts, and jewelry for our sale tables; and volunteers for set-up and clean-up! For more information, please contact Lydia Bertolino at bertolino4@msn.com. Please join us! All are welcome!

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The Assisi Project
Saturday Morning with Saint Francis
Saturday, October 27th

Founded in 2007 by Father Jim and Cliff Garvey after their first pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers in the United States, Canada, Africa, and Europe. Our mission is to help adults of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ and grow closer to God’s Holy Church through the inspiration and intercession of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi.

The Assisi Project meets on the last Saturday of every month in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church for Mass, formation, fellowship, and faith sharing. Our next ‘Saturday Morning with Saint Francis’ is scheduled for October 26th beginning at 8:00am. This month, we will begin our discussion and study of Father Murray Bodo’s beautiful book of spiritual reflections, Surrounded by Love: Seven Teachings from Saint Francis of Assisi.

All parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join us this month and every month! You don’t need to travelwith us to be part of the Assisi Project! For more information about the Assisi Project and its good work in our parishes, please contact Cliff at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of Angels, pray for us! Please join us! Spread the word! All are invited! All are welcome!

Need Prayers?

Members of the Assisi Project range in age from 17 to 94; and we live in Holy Family Parish, Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish, throughout the Archdiocese of Boston, all across the United States, and also in Canada, Brazil, Italy, Spain, and Angola. Part of our work together is our prayer together. So, we pray each and every day for all who ask for our prayers all around the world. If you would like the Assisi Project to pray for you, your family, your special intention, or the soul of a deceased friend or loved one, please see Father Jim before or after Mass; or contact Cliff at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. May the Lord give you peace!

Learn More: The Assisi Project

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Our Lady of Good Voyage
Fried Dough Breakfast
Saturday, November 2nd

All parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish for a Fried Dough Breakfast on Saturday, November 2nd from 9:00am until 11:00am in Our Lady’s Hall. Coffee, tea, and our delicious homemade fried dough and sweetbread will be served. Loaves of sweetbread will also be available for purchase. For more information, please contact Matt Parisi at mparisi101@gmail.com. Please join us for this special morning of great food and fellowship! Spread the word! All are invited! All are welcome!

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WeShare
Electronic Giving Made Safe & Easy
Available at Both Parishes

Electronic giving is available at both Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. It is easy, simple, and safe to make online donations to your home parish using a credit card, debit card, or electronic check. Donations can be made on a one-time-only or ongoing basis. And it takes just a few minutes to set up a secure personal account. Just choose the appropriate link below and click “Make a Donation.” Please prayerfully consider supporting your parish by giving electronically! For more information about electronic giving in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Thank you for your generous and ongoing support!

Support Holy Family Parish
Support Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish

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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