Our Pastor’s Message
Glory Be to God!
By Father Jim
A doxology is a formal way of praising God. When we sing the Gloria on Sundays, we are praying the Great Doxology or doxologia major. When we pray with the Liturgy of the Hours (e.g. Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer), we offer a short doxology or doxologia minor after every psalm and canticle. And this weekend, in celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, we confess a doxology as part of our chorus of alleluias before the proclamation of the Gospel: “Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; to God who is, who was, and who is to come!”
Common to each of these doxologies is the word glory. It is a word so common in our tradition that we often fail to think about its meaning. Glory can be a word that expresses praise, worship, and thanksgiving. It gives voice to our belief in and love for God. It speaks to God’s greatness and magnificence. It calls attention to our smallness in comparison to God’s awesome plan for creation. And it reminds us of the bliss and splendor of heaven. To give glory to God is to bless, adore, exalt, honor, and give thanks to the Creator and Master of the Universe. Glory be to God!
It is in this spirit that we mark the eighth anniversary of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport and the collaboration between Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. For more than a century, our parishes stood apart — in different towns and at different ends of the same street; with different histories, traditions, and ways of doing things. But because of your open hearts, we have made great progress in bringing people to together for one all-important mission: to live the Gospel, share God’s love, and rebuild the Church here on Cape Ann. Glory be to God!
As your pastor during challenging times, I see that not a day passes without some small miracle of love in our community. Not a week passes without some moment of God’s mercy being offered and embraced. Not a month passes without some sign that the Holy Spirit is at work in our midst. Not a year passes without seeing more and more of our fellow parishioners working and worshipping together in the Lord’s vineyard. Glory be to God!
It goes without saying that there are better pastors than me. One day, I pray that one of them will come here to pray with you and your family. Until then, let us continue our journey together. Let us walk always as brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends, each and every one of us a beloved child of God. Let us serve the Lord without counting the cost. Let us set aside differences and make peace. Let us build bridges and tear down the walls that divide us. Let us open wide the doors of our churches to every black sheep, every lost lamb, and every seeker of the Risen Lord’s mercy and friendship. Glory be to God!
Day after day, week after week, month by month, and year by year, let us build parishes that cherish every child, support every family, and welcome every newcomer. Let us put down the weapons of guilt, judgment, and exclusion; and let us pick up the tools of love, mercy, and hospitality. Let us grow together in prayer, fellowship, and service. And let us cry out together with full hearts and joyful voices: “Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; to God who is, who was, and who is to come!”
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (6-12-22)
Bringing Home the Word (6-12-22)
The Kids Bulletin (6-12-22)
The Pope Video (June 2022)
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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
An Ecumenical Christian Prayer
By Pope Francis
O God, Trinity of Love,
from the profound communion
of your divine life,
pour out upon us a torrent
of your fraternal love.
Grant us the love
reflected in the actions of Jesus,
in his family of Nazareth,
and in the early Christian community.
Grant that we Christians
may live the Gospel
by discovering him
in every human being,
by recognizing him crucified
in the suffering of the abandoned
and forgotten of our world,
and risen in every brother or sister
who makes a new start.
Come, Holy Spirit,
show us your beauty,
reflected in all the peoples of the earth,
so that we may discover anew
that all are important
and all are necessary,
different faces of the one humanity
that God loves so much.
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.
Watch: Understanding Fratelli Tutti (5 Minutes)
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Call to Prayer
A Prayer for Gun Reform
By Cameron Bellm
After the recent mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Pope Francis said: “I am praying for the children and adults who were killed and for their families. It is time to say enough to the indiscriminate trafficking of arms.” In this spirit, Cardinal Blaise Cupich of Chicago said: “The right to bear arms will never be more important than human life. Our children have rights, too. And our elected officials have a moral duty to protect them.”
In fact, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has long called for common sense measures to address gun violence in our country. These measures include: a ban on assault weapons, a federal gun trafficking law, universal background checks, and improved mental health interventions. As citizens, we have a duty to speak out. As Christians, we answer the call to prayer:
When Jesus told Peter
to put away his sword,
he spoke a truth both simple and profound:
“Those who live by the sword,
die by the sword.”
And we are dying.
And dying. And dying.
There is no safe place in a country
that swells with an ocean of weapons.
Lord of mercy, prince of peace,
strengthen the lungs of the living
to cry out for change.
May our song of lament be long and loud.
May its deep roar shake us from complacency,
until we are free from terror,
until we may say, and we may see,
that no more, no more,
no more shall perish. Amen.
Learn More: USCCB Backgrounder on Gun Violence
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Saint Peter’s Novena
Begins Monday, June 13th
In prayerful preparation for Saint Peter’s Fiesta, the Nine Day Novena to Saint Peter will be celebrated from Monday, June 13th through Tuesday, June 21st at 7:00pm in the American Legion Hall (which is located at 8 Washington Street in Gloucester). This beautiful tradition affords us an opportunity to offer prayers, petitions, and sacred songs for the intercession of Saint Peter, Apostle of the Apostles and Patron of All Fishermen.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and in solidarity with the sick and suffering in our community, all are encouraged to wear masks inside the hall. Please note that refreshments will not be served this year. For more information, please contact Joe Novello at 978-283-4367. We hope and pray that you and your family will be able to join us for all or at least part of the Saint Peter’s Novena! Spread the word! Bring a friend! All are invited! All are welcome! Saint Peter, pray for us!
Watch: History of Saint Peter’s Fiesta (8 Minutes)
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Pastor’s Note
End of Fiscal Year Fundraising
As we enter the final weeks of the fiscal year, all friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners are encouraged to prayerfully consider a gift to the Pastor’s Challenge at Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish or the Grand Annual Collection at Holy Family Parish. These fundraising campaigns are essential components of our parish budgets; and they are both vitally important to the financial stability of our beloved home parishes.
Donation envelopes are available at the entrances of our churches and on request from the parish office. For more information about how you and your family can help ensure that we end the fiscal year with balanced budgets, please see Father Jim or contact him at frjim@ccgronline.com. You can also give electronically to both of our parishes at the links below! Thank you for your generous support for Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish! Peace and blessings to all!
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WeShare
Safe & Easy Electronic Giving
The righteous give generously (Psalm 37:21).
Electronic giving has become an essential component of parish support in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport; and it is available in both Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. It is safe and easy to make online donations to your home parish using a credit card, debit card, or electronic check.
Donations can be made on a weekly, monthly, or one-time-only basis; and it takes just a few minutes to set up a secure personal account. In additional to the weekly offering, you can also give electronically to our church restoration funds which helps us plan for the repair and maintenance of our beloved and historic churches.
During these challenging times, Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish need your support more than ever before! Please prayerfully consider enrolling in our ‘We Share!’ electronic giving program! For more information about setting up a new account or for assistance with your existing account, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Thank you for your generous support for our parishes! May God bless you and your family, now and always!
Support Holy Family Parish
Support Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish
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Weekday Worship
Let’s Pray Together!
In the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, the Celebration of Holy Mass is the wellspring of our community’s joy and the guiding light of our shared life of prayer, fellowship, and service. All are welcome to join us for Mass and to receive Holy Communion in accordance with a personal examination of conscience and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. In addition to our weekend schedule, we also pray together throughout the week.
Wednesday Evenings
Mass at 5:30pm
Followed by Eucharistic Adoration & Confessions
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Thursday & Friday Mornings
Rosary at 7:30am
Mass at 8:00am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
First Saturdays of the Month
Mass at 8:00am Followed by the Assisi Project
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Always Available
Watch: Sunday Mass with Father Jim on YouTube
All parishioners are reminded that wearing face masks is an effective way of slowing the spread of a virus that has killed more than one million people in our country. In a spirit of solidarity with the sick, the elderly, and those with pre-existing medical conditions, we ask all of our friends and fellow parishioners to continue wearing masks, using hand sanitizer, and practicing safe social distancing in all of our churches and church buildings. Thank you for your ongoing encouragement and support. We hope and pray that you and your family will join us in prayer and adoration! All are invited! All are welcome! Peace and blessings to all for a safe and healthy summer!
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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
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In Memory of All Victims of Gun Violence