This Week’s Message
The Upper Room
By Cliff Garvey
In the Gospel of Mark (Mk 14:12-16, 22-26), Jesus tells the disciples to prepare for the Passover Meal — His Last Supper — in a place called the “upper room.” During that fateful meal, the Lord offers them his body and blood in what Pope Francis calls “the simplicity of bread” and wine. On the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, our collective attention is focused on the Holy Eucharist; on appreciating the great gift of love, mercy, and friendship that forever unites us with Christ and with each other in prayer, fellowship, and service.
As for me, as always, my mind wanders. I think instead about the upper room, sometimes called the cenacle (from the Latin word for dining room). I remember my visit there during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2011. Although I am sure that our guide explained everything we needed to know about the upper room, I became fixated on a rusted metal tray filled with lonely votive candles. It seemed old, out of place, and all but forgotten. Someone had thrown trash into the tray. And yet, those simple candles seemed to burn with unusual brightness and intensity. I took many photos, but none of them captured the sense of light and prayer and holiness of those four candles in an otherwise dark and dusty corner.
Almost ten years later, those candles remind me that grace can be found in the most unusual places. During the worst of the pandemic, when we were all stuck at home and unable to come together for prayer and worship, small moments of grace were happening all around us. One parishioner told me that she and a few friends were praying together by phone; that these times of shared prayer were lifesavers for them. Several more parishioners shared that they finally created the prayer corner at home that they had been planning for years. Many parishioners made good use of the Home Prayer Service on our homepage (see link below). Hundreds of people prayed with the Assisi Project Podcasts and the Living Rosary online retreat. And many hundreds more joined Father Jim for Mass via YouTube (see link above).
Is all of this virtual worship the same as being together, praying together, singing together, and working together in our churches and parishes? Is spiritual communion the same as gathering in person around God’s table for the Holy Eucharist? Of course not. During these past fifteen months, however, we learned to pray in new ways. We learned to pray together even when we couldn’t actually be together. We learned that cell phone and internet technology can be used to bring us together, not just pull us apart. And we learned to persevere in prayer under the most extraordinary circumstances of our lifetimes.
What happens next? Only God knows. But even during these uncertain times, we can be confident that somewhere in our neighborhood, someone is offering a prayer, sharing a kind word, or checking in on a neighbor. This is who we are. This is what we do. This is why we are here. And on the other side of the world, in a dusty hallway outside of the upper room, we can be confident that some simple candles still burn in anticipation of better days and brighter tomorrows.
Cliff Garvey
Associate Minister
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: cgarvey@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (6-6-21)
Bringing Home the Word (6-6-21)
The Kids Bulletin (6-6-21)
Home Prayer Service
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In the Simplicity of Bread
A Reflection on the Eucharist
By Pope Francis
The Lord offers himself to us
in the simplicity of bread.
He also invites us
not to waste our lives
in chasing the myriad illusions
that we think we cannot do without,
yet leave us empty within.
The Eucharist satisfies
our hunger for material things
and kindles our desire to serve others.
It raises us from our comfortable
and lazy lifestyle,
and it reminds us that
we are not only mouths to be fed,
but also his hands,
to be used to help feed others.
It is especially urgent now
to care for those who hunger
for food and dignity,
and for those without work,
and those who struggle to carry on.
These things we must do in a real way,
as real as the Bread that Jesus gives us.
Genuine closeness is needed,
as are true bonds of solidarity.
In the Eucharist,
Jesus draws close to us.
Let us never turn away
from those around us. Amen
Watch: The Pope Video (June 2021)
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Call to Prayer
Eucharistic Adoration
Let’s Pray Together!
Every Wednesday Evening
Mass at 5:30pm
Silent Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Begins at 6:00pm
Benediction at 7:00pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Be well! Stay safe! All are welcome!
Watch: Pope Francis Extraordinary Moment of Prayer (2020)
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Our New Daily Mass Schedule
Mondays & Tuesdays
- No Masses Scheduled
Wednesdays
- Mass at 5:30pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Followed by Eucharistic Adoration
Thursdays & Fridays
- Mass at 8:00am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
First Saturdays (Only)
- Mass at 8:00am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Learn More: Sacrament of Holy Eucharist
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Our New Confessions Schedule
Wednesday Evenings
- Confessions Begin at 6:05pm
Last Confession at 6:45pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
And By Appointment
Learn More: Making a Good Confession
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Sacrament of Baptism
Welcome Young Disciples!
The Sacrament of Baptism is the first of three Sacraments of Initiation in the Roman Catholic Church. The two other Sacraments of Initiation are Eucharist and Confirmation. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism, we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church, and made sharers in her mission (CCC 1213).”
The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport is now celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism in accordance with the health and safety guidelines of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Baptisms are celebrated by appointment only, one family at a time, and with seating limited to no more than ten family members or special guests (no exceptions). During the month of May, Father Jim baptized and blessed the following children with holy water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Isaiah Bello
Remy Groves
Hunter Manzi
Adele Marcelynas-Pacheco
Saylor Parisi
Nino Sanfilippo
Calvin Sousa
KaLani Worcester
If you would like to schedule your child’s baptism in either Holy Family Parish or Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish, please contact Sheila McCarthy-Durkin at smccarthy@ccgronline.com. If you are an adult who has not received all of the Sacraments of Initiation, please contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. May God bless our newly baptized young disciples, along with their parents, godparents, & family members! Peace, blessings, and congratulations to all! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Learn More: Sacrament of Baptism
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Sharing God’s Love
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Help Us Help Others!
The Saint Vincent de Paul Society is an international organization that is dedicated to responding to any request from any person or family in need. Here on Cape Ann, we work through Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish to serve the poor and needy. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, our food pantry and clothes closet remain closed. However, our service to those in need and the newly unemployed continues. Now more than ever, we need your support. Help us help others! Donations can be left at the parish office, dropped in the collection baskets at Sunday Mass, or mailed to the following address:
The Saint Vincent de Paul Society
74 Pleasant Street
Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
For more information about the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and its good work in our parishes and hometowns, please contact Harry Miller at 978-281-8672 or Bob Weeks at svdpmember1@gmail.com. If you or your family needs assistance, please contact us at 978-281-8672. Thank you for your generous support for the Saint Vincent de Paul Society! May God bless you and your family during these uncertain times! Happy Easter! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Learn More: Saint Vincent de Paul
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WeShare
Safe & Easy Electronic Giving
Electronic giving is available at both Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. It is safe and simple to make online donations to your home parish using a credit cared or debit card. Donations can be made on an ongoing or one-time-only basis. And it takes just a few minutes to set up a secure personal account. For assistance or more information about this important fundraising resource for the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Thank you for your generous support for our parishes during these difficult times! Peace, blessings, and many thanks to all!
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
This Week’s Homepage
In Memory of June Sullivan