This Week’s Message
An Examination of Conscience
By Pope Francis
During this Season of Lent,
with contrite hearts let us quietly say like the tax collector:
God, be merciful to me, a sinner!
Let us do so together:
God, be merciful to me, a sinner!
God, when I forget you or neglect you,
when I prefer my own words
and those of the world to your word,
when I presume to be righteous
and look down on others,
when I gossip about others:
God, be merciful to me, a sinner!
When I care nothing for those all around me,
when I am indifferent to the poor and the suffering,
the weak and the outcast:
God, be merciful to me, a sinner!
For my sins against life,
for my bad example that mars
the lovely face of Mother Church,
for my sins against creation:
God, be merciful to me, a sinner!
For my falsehoods, my duplicity,
my lack of honesty and integrity:
God, be merciful to me, a sinner!
For my hidden sins,
which no one knows,
for the ways in which
I have unconsciously wronged others,
and for the good I could have done
and yet failed to do:
God, be merciful to me, a sinner!
In silence, let us repeat these words for a few moments,
with a repentant and trusting heart:
God, be merciful to me, a sinner!
And in this act of repentance and trust,
let us open our hearts
to the joy of an even greater gift:
God’s mercy. Amen.
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (3-26-23)
Bringing Home the Word (3-26-23)
The Kids Bulletin (3-26-23)
Photo Credit: Vatican News Service
Excerpted from the Holy Father’s Homily on March 17, 2023
Full English Text
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The Assisi Project
Monthly Mini-Retreat
Saturday, April 1st
My God & My All: A Course on Discipleship
Bernard of Quintavalle was a friend of Francesco Bernadone, the man who we now know as Saint Francis of Assisi. Prompted by the Holy Spirit to better understand Francis and his gospel-centered life, Bernard invited Francis for a hot meal and overnight stay at his house. During the night, Bernard awoke and found Francis praying. He was on his knees. His hands were raised toward heaven. And he repeated again and again: “My God and my all!” Bernard was so deeply moved that he asked Francis to help him learn to live as a true disciple of Christ. He ultimately became the first follower of the Poor Man of Assisi.
More than 800 years later, Saint Francis of Assisi still teaches us that discipleship is not just about the gift of faith. It is not just about coming to church or memorizing a catechism. It is really about loving God and loving neighbor. It is about meeting Christ in prayer and in the people we encounter along life’s journey. And it is about joy and suffering, communion and fraternity, prayer and action. Ultimately, it is about living the Gospel, sharing God’s love, and rebuilding the Church.
In this spirit, all are invited to join Father Jim, Cliff Garvey, and the Assisi Project for the final session of My God & My All!: A Course on Discipleship on Saturday, April 1st beginning with Mass at 8:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. After Mass, we will reflect together on how Saint Francis and Pope Francis bring their shared faith to life through both prayer and action. Your questions, comments, and faith sharing are all essential components of our course and discussion!
For more information about the Assisi Project and its good work in our parishes, please contact Cliff at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. Even if you have missed previous sessions of our course on discipleship, please join us for this important conversation about discipleship in the modern world! 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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Holy Family Women’s Guild
Palm Sunday Bake Sale
Weekend of April 1st & 2nd
All friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join the Holy Family Women’s Guild for a Palm Sunday Bake Sale before and after all Weekend Masses on Saturday, April 1st and Sunday, April 2nd. Our bake sale will feature Italian Easter Cookies and other delicious homemade treats! All proceeds will support Holy Family Parish. New bakers and volunteers are always welcome! For more information, please contact Arlene Lesch at arlene.lesch@outlook.com. Thank you in advance for your generous support! All are welcome!
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Our Lady’s Guild
Bakeless Bake Sale
Month of March
Our Lady’s Guild is sponsoring a Bakeless Bake Sale during the Month of March! 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! Checks should be made payable to Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. Any and all donations should be mailed to:
Jean Madruga
Our Lady’s Guild
8 Sunrise Court
Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
Since 1944, Our Lady’s Guild has worked to build community among women of all ages in Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish through prayer, good works, social activities, and fundraising events like this one. For more information about Our Lady’s Guild and its good work in our parish, please contact Beth Fosberry at jcbf33@yahoo.com. New members are always welcome! Thank you for your support!
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Sharing God’s Love
Prayer & Worship During Lent
Let’s Pray Together!
Lent is a season for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving; a time to grow closer to Christ, to the Church, and to each other; and a moment to begin, renew, or restart our spiritual journeys with the Poor Christ. The Holy Eucharist 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 receive Holy Communion in accordance with a personal examination of conscience and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. During Lent, we also gather together in prayer throughout the week.
The Light Is On For You!
Wednesday, March 29th
- Rosary at 5:00pm
- Mass at 5:30pm
- Followed by Eucharistic Adoration & Confession
- Last Confession at 6:45pm
- Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
- Guide to Making a Good Confession
Weekday Mass Schedule
Thursday & Friday, March 30th & 31st
- Rosary at 7:30am
- Mass at 8:00am
- Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
The Litany of the Sacred Wounds
Thursday, March 30th
- Rosary at 6:00pm
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 6:00pm
- Evening Prayer & Litany at 6:30pm
- Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 7:00pm
- Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
The Way of the Cross
Friday, March 31st
- Begins at 3:00pm
- Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
First Saturday of the Month
Saturday April 1st
- Rosary at 7:30am
- Mass at 8:00am
- Followed by the Assisi Project
- Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Always Available
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Easter Triduum
Our Worship Schedule
Begins Thursday, April 6th
Holy Thursday, April 6th
- Morning Prayer
8:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church - Mass of the Lord’s Supper
7:00pm in Saint Ann Church - Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Until 10:00pm in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Good Friday, April 7th
- Morning Prayer
8:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church - Way of the Cross
12:00pm in Saint Ann Church - Good Friday Services
3:00pm in Saint Joachim Church
7:00pm in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Holy Saturday, April 8th
- Morning Prayer
8:00am in Saint Ann Church - Easter Vigil
7:00pm in Saint Ann Church
Easter Sunday, April 9th
- Mass at 7:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
- Mass at 8:15am in Saint Ann Church
- Mass at 10:00am in Saint Joachim Church
- Mass at 11:45am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
For more information about the Easter Triduum in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Save the dates! Bring your family! All are invited! All are welcome!
Watch: Way of the Cross with Pope Francis
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Living the Gospel
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
We Need Your Support!
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 the needy. Help us help others! Donations can be pushed through the mail slot in the parish office, dropped in the collection basket at any Weekend Mass, or mailed to:
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
74 Pleasant Street
Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
New members and volunteers are always welcome! 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 Robert Weeks at svdpmember1@gmail.com. If you or someone you know needs our help, please call 978-281-8672. Thank you for your generous support for the Saint Vincent de Paul Society! May God bless you!
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Red Cross Blood Drive
Thursday, April 20th
Our Lady of Good Voyage Hall
1:00pm until 6:00pm
Register at redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS
Thank you for your support!
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WeShare
Safe & Easy Electronic Giving
Generosity enlarges the heart.
Pope Francis
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!
Follow us on Twitter: @CCGRonline
This Week’s Homepage
In Memory of Gerald “Jerry” O’Neil