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FIFTH WEEK OF LENT

Drive By Palm Pick Up
Saturday, March 27th from 9:30am until 11:30am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Hall

Watch: Sunday Mass with Father Jim (3-21-21)
Watch: Mass of Saint Joseph with Father Jim (3-19-21)
Listen: Assisi Project Podcast: Mary, Mother of the Church

Our Pastor’s Message
The Year of Saint Joseph

By Father Jim

For more than one thousand years, the Roman Catholic Church has venerated Saint Joseph as patron of fathers, guardian of single mothers, and protector of children (both born and unborn). He is also venerated as patron of workers, immigrants, and those who doubt their faith. In 1870, Pope Pius IX proclaimed Saint Joseph as a patron of the Universal Church; and in 1989, Pope John Paul II identified him as the Guardian of the Redeemer. And now, Pope Francis has declared this as the Year of Saint Joseph!

Throughout this year, the Holy Father invites all Christians to reflect on Saint Joseph as a loving, tender, hardworking, and courageous parent who has something to teach all of us about the true meaning of discipleship. The pope writes: “Every true vocation is born of the gift of one’s self, which is the fruit of a mature sacrifice…Whatever our vocation, whether to marriage, celibacy, or virginity, our gift of self will not come to fulfillment if it stops as the sacrifice. If that were the case, instead of becoming a sign of beauty and joy and love, the gift of self would risk being an expression of unhappiness, sadness, and frustration (Patris Corde).”

Mindful of the sacrifice and vocation of Saint Joseph, Pope Francis call us to live out our own personal sacrifices and vocations with faith, prayer, dedication, and a fervent desire to love and serve God and our neighbor without counting the cost. And he calls us to love and service without expecting recognition in return. He writes: “Each of us can discover in Saint Joseph — the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet, and hidden presence — an intercessor, a support and guide in times of trouble. Saint Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play and incomparable role in the history of salvation (Patris Corde).”

For more than forty years, Pope Francis has concluded his morning prayers with a prayer for the intercession of Saint Joseph (see below). In addition, the Holy Father calls the whole church, all around the world, to pray the following prayer each and every day during this Year of Saint Joseph:

Pope Francis Daily Prayer
for the Intercession of Saint Joseph

Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph,
whose power makes the impossible possible,
come to my aid during these times
of anguish and difficulty.

Take under your protection
the serious and troubling situations
that I commend to you,
so that they may have a happy outcome.

My beloved father, all my trust is in you.
Let is not be said that I invoked you in vain,
and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary,
show me that goodness is as great as your power. Amen.

Daily Prayer for the Year of Saint Joseph

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary!
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became a man.

Blessed Saint Joseph,
show yourself to us as a father,
and guide us on the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from every evil. Amen.

We know, of course, that the Year of Saint Joseph coincides with what we all pray will be a year of recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. As we continue this journey together, let us remember that ours is forever and always a community united in prayer, fellowship, and service. And let us renew our commitment to live the Gospel, share God’s love, and rebuild the Church — one prayer at a time! Now more than ever, let’s pray together! Always together!

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

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (3-21-21)
Bringing Home the Word (3-21-21)
The Kids Bulletin (3-21-21)
Home Prayer Service

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Pastor’s Note
Our Holy Week Worship Schedule

As a second Easter approaches in the midst of a global pandemic, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport is again called to make hard decisions about how to celebrate Holy Week and Easter and meet our obligation to do whatever we can to protect the health and safety of our friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners. Ultimately, we believe that if we make some sacrifices now, we will soon be able to gather again in our home parishes, in our beloved churches, in our favorite pews, and at our favorite Masses. In this spirit, we will celebrate a limited schedule of in-person services with limited attendance that is consistent with how we have been coming together for worship during the past eight months:

Palm Sunday – Sunday, March 28th

  • Drive By Palm Pick Up
    Saturday, March 27th from 9:30am until 11:30am
    Our Lady of Good Voyage Hall
  • 7:00am Mass in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
  • 8:15am Mass in Saint Ann Church
  • 10:00am Mass in Saint Joachim Church
  • 11:45am Mass in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
  • Online Registration Required for Mass.
    No Walk-In Attendance. No Exceptions.

Holy Thursday – Thursday, April 1st

Good Friday – Friday, April 2nd

  • 12:00pm Service in Saint Ann Church
  • 3:00pm Service in Saint Joachim Church
  • 7:00pm Service in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
  • Online Registration Required.
    No Walk-In Attendance. No Exceptions.
  • Watch: CCGR YouTube Channel

Easter Vigil – Saturday, April 3rd

Easter Sunday – Sunday, April 4th

  • 7:00am Mass in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
  • 8:15am Mass in Saint Ann Church
  • 10:00am Mass in Saint Joachim Church
  • 11:45am Mass in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
  • Online Registration Required.
    No Walk-In Attendance. No Exceptions.

During Holy Week and the Easter Triduum, we will continue to follow all of the safety guidelines recommended by the Archdiocese of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In order to attend a Holy Week Mass or Good Friday Service, all are required to register by clicking the appropriate link at ccgronline.com/mass. Registration for Good Friday will begin on Sunday, March 28th at 12:00pm and conclude on Wednesday, March 31st at 6:00pm. Registration for Easter Sunday will begin on Thursday, April 1st at 10:00am and conclude on Saturday, April 3rd at 12:00pm. Reservations for Holy Week and Easter by phone or email will not be accepted (no exceptions).

Please note that only those who have registered can be welcomed into our churches (no exceptions). All who have registered, including those who have been vaccinated, are required to wear face masks, use hand sanitizer, undergo a temperature check, receive Holy Communion in their hands, and maintain a safe social distance of six feet at all times. In addition, those in attendance will be escorted by an usher to their assigned seat (no exceptions).

These are extraordinary measures for extraordinary times. But again, my fervent prayer is that if we offer some small sacrifice at Easter, then by God’s grace, we will be together again sometime soon as a happy and healthy community united as always in prayer, fellowship, and service. Until then, I beg you to support your home parish, take good care of your family, and look out for your neighbors. If you have questions or need more information, please feel welcome to contact me at frjim@ccgronline.com. Thank you in advance for your ongoing prayers, support, and cooperation! Be kind, be smart, and be safe! Peace, blessings, and much love to all! — Father Jim

Learn More: What Are Catholic Easter Traditions?

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A Call to Prayer
Saint Joseph, Hope of the Sick

Here in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, traditional devotions to Saint Joseph remain strong and vibrant. When we beg for his intercession, it is important to remember, especially nowadays, that Saint Joseph is also venerated around the world as a patron of the sick. In this spirit, let us again raise our hearts and voices in prayer for the intercession of Saint Joseph, Hope of the Sick:

Benevolent Joseph,
the Son of God placed his life in your hands.
With the Virgin Mary, our Blessed Mother,
you cared for the Child Jesus,
who is the force of life in our world.

May your compassion
embrace our fragility
and bring us the comfort
of the divine presence.

Loving Saint Joseph,
we join you in prayer by crying out:
Lord Jesus, Son of the Living God,
say a word for our healing!

Make us sensitive to the illnesses
of those closest to us.
Support us in our efforts
to care for our sick brothers and sisters.
Give us courage in the fight against evil.

Help us to find meaning
in God’s great project for humanity
beyond the sickness and suffering that blind us
because our only hope is with Him.

We make this prayer
through the intercession of Saint Joseph
to Christ Jesus,
our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Glory to the Father,
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Saint Joseph, Hope of the Sick,
pray for our sick and suffering world!

Learn More: The Year of Saint Joseph

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Season of Lent
Lent with Our Lady
Week V: Mary, Mother of the Church

PRAYING FOR GOD’S MERCY, HEALING & PROTECTION

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport’s twin goals have been to do whatever we can to protect the health and safety of our parishioners and to provide free and high quality spiritual nourishment online. We are grateful for your kind words of encouragement and support for our efforts during the past year.

As we journey through a second Lent under difficult circumstances, all are invited to join us for a series of daily and weekly spiritual exercises called Lent with Our Lady. All parishioners are encouraged to pray each day with two special prayers for the special intention of God’s mercy, healing, and protection from the coronavirus. Just click on the links below:

Daily Prayers for Lent

The Angelus Prayer is offered three times each day as a way to sanctify our work, our meals, and our rest. About this powerful prayer, Pope Francis writes: “The Angelus Prayer is a beautiful and popular expression of faith. It is a simple prayer, recited at three specific times a day. It thus punctuates the rhythm of our daily activities: in the morning, at midday, and at sunset. It is an important prayer that I encourage each one of you to recite.”

In addition to our daily prayers, Father Jim and Cliff are offering six weekly reflections on spiritual communion and the power and spirituality of the Blessed Mother and the Angelus Prayer. Last week, Father Jim shared a video reflection that begins an exploration of the spirituality and scriptural origins of the Angelus Prayer. Ever fascinated by the scriptures and their meaning for our lives, our pastor offered a heartfelt and compelling look into the Gospel of Luke.

This week, Cliff shares a new podcast that explores the spirituality of Mary’s vocation as Mother of the Church, a call that she answers as she weeps with the Beloved Disciple at the foot of the Cross. This reflection calls us to pray on the enormity of Mary’s vocation, beckons us to reflect on her role in the life of the Church, and challenges us to discern how God calls each one of us to faithful discipleship under the guidance and protection of the Blessed Mother. This podcast and all of our Lenten reflections are always free and always available by clicking the links below:

Weekly Reflections for Lent

During Lent, when so many people are sick, suffering, and struggling, it is more important than ever that we join together in prayer for God’s mercy, healing, and protection — for our sake and for the sake of the whole world. Pope Francis says: “Have courage. Pray in every moment and every situation so that the Lord may come near to us. When we pray according to the heart of Jesus, we make miracles.” As our Lenten journey continues, let’s begin again: to love each other, pray for each other, and pray for God’s grace to make this a better world. In short, let’s make miracles — together!

Pray More: CCGR Resources
Pray More: Assisi Project Resources

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Call to Share
Our Lady of Good Voyage
Grand Annual Collection

WINTER GOAL: $22,500 — RAISED SO FAR: $10,990 (49%)

As spring begins, we look ahead with hope for better and brighter days. We also count our blessings and confront our challenges. On the bright side, our church is open (albeit with limited seating capacity and strict safety guidelines). Our young disciples and their parents are preparing for First Holy Communion. Babies are being baptized. Confessions are being heard. Funerals and weddings are being celebrated in small, intimate ceremonies. Our online ministry attracts almost 2,000 visitors every week. And amazing technologies allow us to pray with the sick and the lonely in ways that keep everyone safe and healthy.

But financially, times are tough. Regardless of how many parishioners can be welcomed into Our Lady of Good Voyage Church for Sunday Mass, our church and parish buildings must be heated, insured, and maintained. Parking lots must be plowed. Sidewalks must be shoveled and kept clear of ice. The remaining members of our pastoral team, myself included, must be paid. And when the pandemic passes, we should be ready on day one to resume our ministries and programs with evangelical fervor.

In addition, we must be better prepared for unexpected expenses. Earlier this month, for example, a wind storm inflicted extensive damage to the tower that houses our historic carillon bells. Although our insurance will help cover some of the costs, it already has been made clear by experts that the roofing on both towers will need to be replaced as soon as possible. This project will require every single parishioner to step up and support our parish.

Anyone who knows me knows that economy and thrift were taught to me at an early age. My parents worked day and night to provide for our family and make ends meet. Believe me, we continue to do whatever we can to control costs. But the short and long-term financial stability and pastoral viability of Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish is in our hands alone. We are solely responsible for paying our own bills. The future of our beloved home parish depends entirely on parishioners like you and me. It’s all up to us!

Each year, the Grand Annual Collection bridges the gap between our weekly gifts and the overall costs of parish operations. This year, we must raise at least $45,000 before the end of the fiscal year. Our goal right now is to raise half of that amount: $22,500 by Easter Sunday. So far, we have collected almost half of this goal! Thank you! As of this weekend, if every parish family shared just $20 (in addition to our weekly gifts) between now and Sunday, April 4th, we will reach our winter goal, pave the way for a balanced budget, and help ensure the financial security of our parish.

Donations can be placed in the collection basket, dropped off at the rectory or parish office, or mailed to Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish, 74 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930. If you have questions or need more information about how you and your family can support our parish, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Let’s pray together that all of us, according to our means, will contribute something to this important fundraising campaign. Thank you for your prayers and generous support for Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish! Peace and blessings to all!

Learn More: Good Morning Gloucester

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