THIRTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Our Pastor’s Message
What Remains Is Love
My Parents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary

By Father Jim

In the reading from scripture most often heard at weddings (1 Corinthians 13:4-13), Saint Paul reminds us that after all things pass away, only three spiritual gifts remain: faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love. Whether we live long lives or short lives, happy lives or unhappy lives, public lives or very private lives, what remains is whatever love that we have received and shared with others.

Much has happened during the past five decades. Moon landings. Woodstock. Watergate. Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. Sesame Street. The Beatles. Madonna. The collapse of communism. The United States military creates the internet. A bank in England invents the first automated teller machine (ATM). And a young couple from Água de Pau on São Miguel in the Azores meets, marries, and begins to raise a family that eventually includes three children and three grandchildren.

Much has happened during the past fifty years. What remains? In politics, it seems that what goes around, comes around. Some things never change. Moon landings were replaced by the space shuttle which was replaced by the international space station. The Beatles broke up. Madonna sings on (but she’s still always running late for concerts). Sesame Street is still being broadcast, but Mr. Rogers has passed into a new, more heavenly neighborhood. The internet now seems like the focus of our lives. ATMs are still around, but more and more of us are banking with smart phones.

So much has changed. But what remains? What remains steadfast is the love and marriage of my parents, Jorge and Inez. Over the course of five decades, they immigrated to the United States, became citizens, and struggled each and every day to ensure that my brother and sister and me would grow up to enjoy a better life. They came here with almost nothing except their faith and their love for each other. They worked hard, so very hard, day in and day out. They never complained. They bought a home, raised a family, and took such good care of us. They relied only on God and each other.

These days, my dad is more quiet than before. He now prays more than he speaks. He remains faithful, loyal, and hardworking. He continues to lead by example and to sacrifice for his family. He continues to love his children and adore his grandchildren. My dad may never fully understand how much we love him, respect him, and appreciate all that he has accomplished or all that he has done for us. My dad is a holy man, a quiet hero, and a man at peace with a life lived so very well.

These days, my mom is as alive and spirited as ever. She fills every room with energy, love, and song. She remains caring, doting, and sometimes even a bit bossy. She loves her family and friends with a devoted love, a fierce love, a mother’s love. She knows each of us so well. She reads our moods, oursilences, and our thoughts sometimes better than we do. My mom is the center of our lives. She is our conscience, our light, and our north star. We cannot begin to fathom our world without her.

After so many years together, my parents have seen their children leave home and live their own lives. They have settled into retirement. They travel sometimes. They help raise their grandchildren and grand-nieces and nephews. They help out in their home parish. They attend Mass every day. So much has changed, but one thing remains. What always remains for them is love. What remains is a love that has survived the test of time; a love that will endure any heartbreak; a love that will outlast every last heartbeat. As they celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary, please join me in a prayer of deepest thanksgiving for my parents, Jorge and Maria Achadinha! Happy Anniversary!

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

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (11-3-19) 
Bringing Home the Word (11-3-19) 
Learn More: Keys to a Sacramental Marriage

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Month of All Souls
Masses of Remembrance
For Families, Friends & Fellow Parishioners

During November, the Month of All Souls, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport will celebrate three Masses of Remembrance for those friends, loved ones, and fellow parishioners whose funerals were celebrated in our churches and have thus journeyed home to the Lord during the past year. These Masses will be celebrated according to the following schedule:

  • Mass of Remembrance I
    Saturday, November 2nd at 4:00pm
    Saint Ann Church
  • Mass of Remembrance II
    Sunday, November 10th at 11:45am
    Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
  • Mass of Remembrance III
    Sunday, November 17th at 10:00am
    Saint Joachim Church

A PRAYER FOR ALL SOULS

This beautiful prayer was composed and shared by the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. During this Month of All Souls, let us pray together for our deceased friends, family members, and fellow parishioners!

Merciful God,
hear our prayer and console us.
As we renew our faith in Jesus, your Son,
whom you raised from death,
strengthen our hope
that all of our departed brothers and sisters
will share in his resurrection,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.

For more information about the Month of All Souls in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please see Father Jim before or after Mass; or contact him at frjim@ccgronline.com. Please join us! Spread the word! Bring your family! Bring a friend! All are invited! All are welcome!

Learn More: Commemoration of All Souls

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Knights of Columbus
Red Cross Blood Drive
Friday, November 8th

On Friday, November 8th from 2:00pm until 7:00pm inOur Lady’s Hall, the Knights of Columbus (Council 215)and the Red Cross will co-sponsor a blood drive. If you feel called to help save lives and participate in this most worthy cause, please register online at redcross.org or by phone at 1-800-RED-CROSS. Thank you in advance for your kindness and support!

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal and charitable organization of Catholic men that serves the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport at both Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. Since 1897, our award-winning council has sponsored many works of charity and generosity on Cape Ann, including our blood drive, food drive, golf tournament, Coats for Kids, and our ongoing support for the Saint Vincent dePaul Society and Holy Family Women’s Guild.

If you have twenty-four hours to volunteer for charity during the year, we can transform that commitment into meaningful results for you, your family, and our shared communities. The Knights of Columbus meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm in the parish center (located at 74 Pleasant Street in Gloucester). For more information, please contact info@kofc215.com. Please join us! New members are always welcome!

Learn more: Knight of Columbus (Council 215)

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Holy Family Parish
Annual Christmas Fair
Saturday, November 23rd

All parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join Holy Family Parish for our Annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 23rd from 9:00am until 2:00pm in SaintAnn Church Hall. This year’s fair will feature many sale tables, including homemade cookies and cakes, Christmas decorations, Santa’s Corner, a Chinese Raffle, White Elephant Sale, and our famous Basket Wheel. In addition, raffle tickets are now available for cash prizes, an Apple iPad Basket, and a Nintendo Switch Basket.

On behalf of a grateful parish, the Holy Family Women’sGuild thanks Greely Funeral Home and Campbell Funeral Home for the generous donation of the raffle prizes. The Christmas Fair Committee and Women’s Guild are working overtime to make this year’s fair another great success! So, please support this all-important fundraising event by joining us on Saturday, November 23rd! For more information, please contact Lydia Bertolino at bertolino4@msn.com. Please join us! 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