This Week’s Message
A Prayer for the Sick
By Cliff Garvey
Mother of God,
you walk with Jesus
down every road, into every village,
and among every kind of people.
You look on
as Jesus casts out demons,
heals the sick, and raises a friend
from Sheol to life.
You stand by
as Jesus endures the torment
of injustice, persecution,
and crucifixion unto to the end.
You rejoice
as Jesus rises from the tomb,
defeating death and darkness
with the promise of eternal glory.
Mother of the Sick,
walk now with us, down every road,
especially those long journeys
of sickness and suffering.
Stand by us
through every test, every treatment,
and every moment
of discomfort and uncertainty.
Rejoice with us
as we rise above, recover our strength,
and move on with life,
so be it long or short.
Mother of All Peoples,
pray for us, pray for healing,
pray for all of God’s children
in affliction and in health.
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.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
Cliff Garvey, Associate Minister
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: cgarvey@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (2-5-23)
Brining Home the Word (2-5-23)
The Kids Bulletin (2-5-23)
The Pope Video (February 2023)
Saint of the Day: Our Lady of Lourdes
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Call to Prayer
Vigil for Healing
Friday, February 10th
In his message for the Thirty-First Annual World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis says: “We are all fragile and vulnerable, and we need the compassion that knows how to pause, approach, heal, and raise up. Thus, the plight of the sick is a call that cuts through indifference and slows the pace of those who go on their way as if they had no sisters and brothers. The World Day of the Sick calls for prayer and closeness toward those who suffer.”
In communion with Pope Francis and in solidarity with the sick, the suffering, and those who feel left behind in our world, all friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join us for a Vigil for Healing on Friday, February 10th beginning with Mass at 8:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church.
After Mass, the Vigil for Healing will continue at 8:30am with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the Healing Rosary. This is unique version of the Holy Rosary will be offered for all those in need of healing in our parishes. It is rooted in sacred scriptures and was created by Father Thomas Connery as a way to pray for peace, healing, and reconciliation in our lives, in our communities, and in our troubled world. Our Lady of Good Voyage Church will be open throughout the morning for silent prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Our Vigil for Healing will conclude with a second praying of the Healing Rosary at 11:15am, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
This special morning of prayer is being organized by the Assisi Project as a gift to our parishes. Cop- ies of the Healing Rosary are available for a donation of $5.00 per copy. All proceeds will benefit the Assisi Project and its good work in our parishes. For more information, please see Father Jim or contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. Spread the word! Bring a friend! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome! Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
Learn More: World Day of the Sick Message by Pope Francis
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Anyone Sick Among You?
Sacrament of the Sick
‘Is there anyone sick among you?’ This question, found in the New Testament’s Letter of Saint James (5:14), serves as an invitation for the sick and those who care for them to call upon their priests and pastors to pray over them and anoint them with holy oil in the name of the Lord. All fellow parishioners and their families are welcome to ask for prayer and for the Sacrament of the Sick before surgery or when diagnosed with a serious illness.
The Sacrament of the Sick should not be regarded as ‘Last Rites’ but as a powerful instrument of God’s healing presence in all of our lives. If you or a loved one would like to receive the Sacrament of the Sick or the Sacrament of Holy Communion at home (due to age, illness, or disability), please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com
Learn More: Sacrament of the Sick (Short Video)
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Come, Holy Spirit!
Celebrating Confirmation
Sunday, February 5th
Welcome Father Brian McHugh!
As 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 they prepare them to actively participate in the prayer, fellowship, and service of the Roman Catholic Church.
This year, forty 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 prayed together, attended Mass together and completed a rigorous program of formation 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 Catholic Christians.
The Very Reverend Brian McHugh, Episcopal Vicar for the North Region of the Archdiocese of Boston, will join us as special guest celebrant and homilist for our annual celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday, February 5th at 11:45am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Welcome back, Father Brian!
As we make ready for these celebrations, we pray for all of our candidates, sponsors, parents, catechists, and pas- toral team members. In a special way, we thank Betsy Works, Associate Minister for Youth Faith Formation, for her dedication, hard work, and creative spirit. For more information about youth faith formation in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Betsy Works at bworks@ccgronline.com. Come, Holy Spirit! Enkindle in us the fire of your love! Peace, blessings, and congratulations to all!
Learn More: Sacrament of Confirmation (Short Video)
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Come, Holy Spirit!
Preparing for Confirmation
Begins Sunday, February 12th
For too 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 with the Church. We hope to stem this sad situation by transforming our youth faith formation 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 an increasingly busy world, it became commonplace for parents to entrust their children to us for an hour of instruction, but then not join us for Mass on the weekend. We will continue to ask parents to dedicate one hour each week to their children’s religious education — by joining us for one of our six weekend Masses!
In addition, all high school students (beginning in 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 eight interactive workshops about the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church. These sessions will begin on Sunday, February 12th (weather permitting). During the second year, students will attend more workshops that are creatively designed to help them grown 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, then please attend our Welcome & Registration Workshop on Sunday, February 12th at 11:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Registration forms are available on our website at ccgronline.com/formation. For more information about youth faith formation in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Betsy Works at bworks@ccgronline.com. Spread the word! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome! Come, Holy Spirit!
Confirmation Registration 2023
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Holy Family Women’s Guild
Bakeless Bake Sale
Now Underway!
The Holy Family Women’s Guild is sponsoring a Bakeless Bake Sale during the Month of February! Why? Because now more than ever, our beloved home parish needs your support — especially because of rising gas and electricity bills! Every small donation makes a big difference! All donations can be mailed to:
Lydia Bertolino
Holy Family Women’s Guild
10 Orchard Street
Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
Established in 2005, the Holy Family Women’s Guild brings together women of all ages in prayer, fellowship, and service to our parish and wider community. New members are always welcome! For more information about the Holy Family Women’s Guild and its good work in our parish, please contact Arlene Lesch at arlene.lesch@outlook.com. Thank you for supporting Holy Family Parish! May God bless you and your family!
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Pastor’s Note
Cost of Basic Necessities
The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport is alive and well! Babies are being baptized. Confessions are being heard. Funerals and weddings are being celebrated. Our online ministries attract more than 2,000 visitors every week. Our young disciples are preparing in-person for Confirmation and First Holy Communion. Our service organizations and adult faith formation programs are brining people of all ages together in prayer, fellowship, and service. And more and more fellow parishion- ers are coming home to church after a long absence.
Nevertheless, winter is here! Our churches and parish buildings must be cleaned, heated, insured, and maintained. Parking lots must be plowed. Steps and sidewalks must be shoveled and kept clear of ice. Our pastoral team (which includes me) is working harder than ever and must be paid a fair wage. Here’s just a small sampling of some recent monthly expenses:
Holy Family Parish
- Saint Joachim Church Heating Oil: $1,436
- Saint Joachim Church Heating Repairs: $7,219
- Holy Family Parish Electricity: $2,227
Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish
- Our Lady’s Church Heating Oil: $1,659
- Our Lady’s Campus Gas: $1,689
- Our Lady’s Campus Electricity: $456
Anyone who knows me knows that economy and thrift were taught to me at a young age. Believe me, we are doing everything we can to control costs and reduce expenses. But the financial stability and pastoral viability of both Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish depends entirely on us. We are solely responsible for paying our own bills! We’re in this together!
How can you help? Give what you can. Encourage fellow parishioners to chip in, too. Use our electronic giving program. Gather together a group of friends, family members, and fellow parishioners to pay one of these expenses. Every dollar makes a difference! Peace, blessings, and many thanks to all! — Father Jim
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WeShare
Safe & Easy Electronic Giving
A generous person will be enriched (Proverbs 11:25).
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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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!
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In Memory of John “Toot” Madruga