This Week’s Message
A Prayer to the Holy Spirit
A PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Spirit of God,
Third Person of the Most Holy Trinity,
there was a day when by your love and mercy,
a bishop called me by name and said:
‘Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit!’
That was the day on which I was confirmed.
On that blessed day,
the spirit of courage and reverence,
wisdom and understanding,
knowledge and right judgment,
and wonder and awe of you, O Lord,
was called down upon me.
On that blessed day,
when the holy oil was traced
in the form of a cross upon my forehead,
my soul was sealed with the Holy Spirit,
and was marked with a forever blessing.
I was made a temple of the Holy Spirit,
in both my body and my soul.
My God, thank you
for the amazing grace of confirmation!
Let me never do anything
that would violate or desecrate
the temple that you have dedicated and consecrated.
Let me never be ashamed of my Christian faith.
Let me serve you faithfully and bravely
no matter what, all the days of my life.
Lord, help me to realize
that as long as I stand with Jesus,
I can be certain of your love and mercy,
and so find perfect happiness
with God in heaven for ever and ever.
Come Holy Spirit! Amen!
Saint Ann, pray for us! Saint Joachim, pray for us!
Saint Anthony, pray for us! Saint Francis, pray for us!
Saint Joseph, pray for us! Saint Peter, pray for us!
Our Lady of Good Voyage, pray for us!
Source: Adapted from the Rural Life Prayer Book.
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (1-19-20)
Bringing Home the Word (1-19-20)
Video: Sacrament of Confirmation
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Pastor’s Note
Sacrament of Confirmation
Welcome, Bishop Mark O’Connell!
Along with Baptism and Holy Eucharist, Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation in the Roman Catholic Church. The Sacrament of Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism through the outpouring of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Courage, Knowledge, Reverence, Right Judgment, Understanding, Wisdom, and Wonder & Awe. These gifts seal or “confirm” the mystical union between the candidates and Christ and prepares them to actively participate in the prayer, worship, and apostolic ministry of the Catholic Church.
This year, fifty high school students from both Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish have successfully completed the requirements of our Confirmation Preparation Program. During the past two years, they attended Mass together and completed a rigorous program of formation. In addition, they participated in the “New Spirit Evening of Reflection”; completed service projects; and prayed together as a community of young disciples. These students are now well-prepared to publicly renew their baptismal vows, profess their faith, and live as faithful and faith-filled Roman Catholics.
The Very Reverend Mark O’Connell, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston for the North Region, will join us as special guest celebrant and homilist for our annual celebrations of the Sacrament of Confirmation this Saturday, January 18th at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church and Saturday, February 1st at 6:00pm in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church.
As always, the success of our youth faith formation program depends on volunteers. So, on behalf of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, Father Jim gives God great thanks and praise for Betsy Works, Associate Minister for Youth Faith Formation and for this year’s dedicated and hardworking team of catechists: Peter Brau, Jennifer Dort, Mary Duran, and Doug Greenfield. Their generous gifts of time and talent have ensured that all of our candidates are ready to accept and embrace the Gifts of the Holy Spirit at their Confirmation. Thank you! May God bless you!
As we begin our celebrations of the Sacrament of Confirmation, please pray for our candidates and for their parents, sponsors, and families. For more information about youth faith formation in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Betsy at bworks@ccgronline.com. Peace, blessings, and congratulations to all! — Father Jim
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
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The Assisi Project
A Miracle at the Maddalena
Saturday, January 25th
Founded in 2007 by Father Jim Achadinha and Cliff Garvey, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit that seeks to bring adults of all ages closer to Christ, closer to the Church, and closer to each other. On the last Saturday of every month, the Assisi Project gathers for Mass, formation, and a period of fellowship and faith sharing.
On Saturday, January 25th, we will celebrate the Christmas Season with a special program called “A Miracle at the Maddalena” during which we will share our recent experience of blessed happenings at the little chapel in Assisi that is dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalen. It is also a place where Saint Francis, Saint Clare, and their first followers ministered to lepers more than eight centuries ago.
A miracle can defined as a surprising event that cannot be explained by reason or science and is therefore considered to be the work of God or the saints. Translated from Latin, a miracle is a “sight to behold” or an “object of wonder.” Our “Miracle at the Maddalena” is a simple gift of prayers answered, prayers offered, promises made, and promises kept. It is story of a one poor sinner who felt called to confess his faith and to profess private vows of charity, prayer, and solitude.
All are invited to join us for this special event beginning with Mass at 8:00am. After Mass, Father Jim and Cliff will share their experience at the Maddalena Chapel. Coffee and refreshments will be served. Questions, comments, and faith sharing will be most appreciated. For more information, please contact Cliff at cgarvey@assisiproject.com. Save the date! Spread the word! Bring a friend! All are invited! All are welcome! May the Lord give you peace!
Learn More: The Assisi Project
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Brain-Teasing Special Event
Trivia Night with Father Jim
Saturday, February 8th
All parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join us for a brain-teasing, mind-blowing, and fast-paced “Trivia Night with Father Jim” on Saturday, February 8th from 7:00pm until 10:00pm in Our Lady’s Hall. Throughout the evening, Father Jim (who secretly longs to be a game show host) will ask a series of questions on a wide array of topics including music and sports, movies and television, books and history, politics and religion!
Participants will be organized into teams of eight. Tickets are $20 per person and are available at the door, in our parish office, or by contacting Father Jim. All are invited to bring their own food and snacks. Coffee, tea, bottled water, and soft drinks will be offered for sale (along with a cash bar). Father Jim also promises raffles with some very cool prizes!
Don’t miss this opportunity to impress your friends andfellow parishioners with your knowledge of facts, figures, and trivia! Don’t miss the chance to share a few laughs! Don’t miss the chance to win a great prize! And don’t miss the chance to raise some much need funds for Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish! 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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Youth Faith Formation
Confirmation Preparation Program
Year 1 Begins on February 9th
For many teenagers, the Sacrament of Confirmation has become a kind of graduation from the Catholic Church, rather than the joyful beginning of life as an adult disciple within the Church. We hope to end this sad situation by transforming our sacramental preparation program into an engaging process for the whole family.
First, we place primary importance on attending Mass. For more than a century, the Church asked every parish to offer sacramental preparation programs for children and teenagers. During recent decades, however, we neglected to remind parents of their baptismal promise to be the first teachers of their children in all matters related to faith and morals; and that the most important part of that responsibility is attending Mass as a family. In our increasingly busy world, it has become common for parents to entrust their children to us for an hour of instruction, but then not join us for Mass at the weekend. We will continue to ask parents to dedicate one hour each week to their child’s religious education by joining us for one of our seven weekend Masses!
Second, all high school students (beginning in the ninth grade) are asked to actively participate in our two-year preparation program for the Sacrament of Confirmation. During the first year, students will attend seven interactive workshops about the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church. These sessions begin on Sunday, February 9th. During the second year, students will attend seven additional workshops and a mini-retreat that are designed to help them grow in prayer, fellowship, and service; prepare them to receive the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit; and jumpstart their spiritual lives as faithful and faith-filled young disciples.
If your child is now in high school and sincerely wants to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, please complete a registration form and return it to us as soon as possible! Registration forms are available at the link below. For more information about youth faith formation in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Betsy Works at bworks@ccgronline.com. Please join us! Spread the word! All are invited! All are welcome!
Confirmation Calendar & Registration (Year 1)
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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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Pastor’s Note
Winter Weather Cancellations
For the latest information about weather related cancella- tions during the winter season, please visit our website: ccgronline.com. Announcements will also be made via WBZ1030 and cbsboston.com. All parishioners of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are reminded that if public schools are closed due to inclement weather on a particular day, then our weekday Mass and all parish programs (including all adult and youth faith formation programs) will be cancelled, too. Peace and blessings! Stay safe! Stay warm! —Father Jim
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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