Our Pastor’s Message
Things Are Looking Up
Holy Family Parish Finances & Grand Annual
Our Goal – $25,000 By December 31st
As fall leans into winter and we prepare to celebrate the Seasons of Advent and Christmas, we look to the future of Holy Family Parish with faith, hope, and love for God and for each other. We also count our blessings as we prepare to confront every challenge that comes our way.
On the bright side, Holy Family Parish is alive and well! It has been a good year! 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 First Penance, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Our service organizations and adult faith formation programs are bringing people of all ages together in prayer, fellowship, and service. And more and more of our friends and fellow parishioners are coming home to church despite ongoing concerns about COVID-19 and other viruses.
Nevertheless, winter is nearly upon us. Our churches and church buildings must be heated, insured, maintained, and repaired. Parking lots must be plowed. Sidewalks must be shoveled and kept clear of ice. Our small but dedicated pastoral team is working harder than ever and must be paid. Insurance and utility bills are rising higher and higher. And although our lease agreement with the City of Gloucester for Saint Ann School has come to an end, we still saved $125,000 of that income. Best of all, even though offertory was down 3% last year, all of our bills are paid and our parish budget remains in balance.
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 are doing everything we can to control costs and reduce expenses. But the short and long-term financial stability of Holy Family Parish is in our hands. We are solely responsible for our own fundraising and for paying our own bills. The future of our beloved parish depends entirely on parishioners like you and me. It is 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 again raise $75,000 by the end of the fiscal year. Our immediate goal is to raise $25,000 by December 31st. If every registered parish family gives $20 between now and then, we will reach our goal, balance our budget, and ensure the financial security of our parish. Gift envelopes have been mailed to all registered families and are also available at the entrances of our churches. Donations can be made online at ccgronline.com. Otherwise, checks should be made payable to Holy Family Parish. These donations can be returned by mail or placed in the collection basket.
All of our good financial news is the result of your ongoing generosity and the good advice provided by the Holy Family Finance Council—Joseph Grella, Robert Krause, and Rosa Ladd. They deserve our prayers and deepest thanks for their dedication and hard work on behalf of our community. As always, if you have questions or need more information about how you and your family can support Holy Family Parish, please remember that you are very welcome to see me before or after Mass; or contact me anytime at frjim@ccgronline.com. Peace, blessings, and many thanks to all! — Father Jim
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (11-12-23)
Bringing Home the Word (11-12-23)
The Kids Bulletin (11-12-23)
New! Follow CCGR on Instagram!
New! Follow Assisi Project on Instagram!
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Pastor’s Note
Welcome Father Augustin
November 11th & 12th
Next weekend, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport will be blessed to welcome Father Augustin Vondou, who is currently administrator of Saint Anne Parish in Salem. Father Augustin hails from the Republic of Cameroon and moved here ten years ago to further his theological studies. Since then, he has earned a Master’s Degree in Theology and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from Boston College; and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Theology & Ethics from Loyola University in Chicago.
Father Augustin will celebrate all Masses next weekend and he will share his experiences with Saint Andrew’s School in Ngong, Cameroon, which he founded in 2012 to provide a quality education for poor children in his home country. For more information about Saint Andrew’s School, click the link below.
In support of this important ministry, Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish will have a special second collection at all Masses on November 11th and November 12th. As always, your generous support will be much appreciated. On behalf of our pastoral team and all fellow parishioners, it is my honor to welcome Father Augustin to the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport! Peace and blessings to all! — Father Jim
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
Learn More: Saint Andrew’s School
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Our Annual Retreat
My God & My All!
Reflections on Discipleship
November 12th through November 15th
Bernard of Quintavalle was a friend of Francesco Bernadone, the saint we now know as Francis of Assisi. Bernard was also a rich and influential lawyer. Prompted by the Holy Spirit to better understand Francis and his gospel-centered life, Bernard invited his old friend home for a good meal and overnight hospitality. During the night Bernard awoke and found Francis awake and praying. He was on his knees. His hands were stretched toward heaven. And he was repeating over and over one simple prayer: “My God and my all!” Bernard was so deeply moved that he asked Francis to help him discern how to live as a true friend and disciple of Jesus Christ.
More than 800 years later, Saint Francis teaches us that discipleship is not just about having faith. It is not just about going to Mass and learning about the teachings and traditions of the Church. It is really all about loving God and loving neighbor. It is about meeting Christ in prayer and in the people we meet on life’s journey. It is about joy and suffering, prayer and action, communion and fraternity. Discipleship is ultimately about living the Gospel, sharing God’s love and mercy, and rebuilding the Church — brick by brick and soul by soul.
Pope Francis says: “Discipleship is about living close to Jesus…It is about embodying the Gospel in everyday life. It is a fire that starts another fire.” It is no accident that the Holy Spirit gave us a Holy Father who chose the name Francis; a pope who calls us back to the basics of prayer, fraternity, and good works in an increasingly troubled world. In this spirit, all are invited to join Father Jim and Brother Patrick for a four-night, in-person fall retreat called My God & My All: Reflections on Discipleship from Sunday, November 12th through Wednesday, November 15th in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Here’s our retreat schedule:
Night 1: My God & My All—An Introduction
Night 2: Crucified & Joyful
Night 3: Communion & Fraternity
Night 4: Prayer & Action
Each evening of our fall retreat will begin with Evening Prayer at 6:00pm, followed by a reflection and a period of discussion and faith sharing. Each session will conclude by 7:30pm with Night Prayer. A donation of $20 per person is requested and each participant will receive a copy of Practical Holiness: Pope Francis as Spiritual Companion by Father Albert Haase, OFM. All friends and fellow parishioners of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join us for all or even just part of our retreat! If you plan to join us, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@ccgronline.com. Save the dates! Bring a friend! All are welcome! Always!
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Holy Family Parish
Annual Christmas Fair
Saturday, November 18th
All friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join Holy Family Parish for our Annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 18th from 9:00am until 2:00pm in Saint Ann Church Hall. This year’s fair will feature many sale tables, including homemade holiday baked goods, Christmas decorations, Bea’s Raffle, and the World Famous Basket Wheel. In addition, raffle tickets are now available for cash prizes, handmade quilts, and an Apple iPad Basket.
On behalf of a grateful parish, the Holy Family Women’s Guild thanks Greely Funeral Home for the generous donation of our raffle prizes. The Women’s Guild and Christmas Fair Committee are working overtime to make this year’s fair another big success! Please support this all-important fundraising event! For more information, please contact Lydia Bertolino at bertolino4@msn.com. Save the date! Spread the word! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Holy Family Women’s Guild
Christmas Fair Basket Wheel
Now Accepting Donations!
Our World Famous Basket Wheel is the biggest money-maker at the biggest fundraising event of the year in Holy Family Parish! But the success of the Basket Wheel depends on donations from our friends and fellow parishioners! So, all are invited to create and donate a $25 theme basket for kids, crafts, movie nights, family nights, school snow days, holiday gift wrap, or summer barbecues. Creating a basket can be both fun and affordable when friends, neighbors, and families work together! Help us keep the Basket Wheel spinning! Donations are now being accepted! For more information, please contact Lydia Bertolino at bertolino4@msn.com. Thank you for your support!
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Holy Family Parish
Cemetery Baskets & Kissing Balls
Now Accepting Orders!
As part of our Annual Christmas Fair, the Holy Family Women’s Guild is working again with Cressey & Sons in Rowley to offer for sale both Christmas Cemetery Baskets and Christmas Kissing Balls! Each log-shaped basket is $30 each and decorated 15-inch kissing balls are $35 each. Orders are now being gratefully accepted through Sunday, November 12th! All proceeds support Holy Family Parish! For more information or to place an order, please call Cecelia Gray at 978-281-2072 or Jane Marshall at 978- 283-5111. Thank you for your support! God bless you!
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Happy Thanksgiving
Celebration of Holy Mass
November 22nd & 23rd
All friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to come together as God’s family for the celebration of Holy Mass in commemoration of Thanksgiving:
Thanksgiving Eve
Wednesday, November 22nd at 5:30pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 23rd at 8:00am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
On behalf of Father Jim, our pastoral team, and all who live, work, and worship in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, may you and your family enjoy a Happy Thanksgiving! Peace and blessings to all!
A Prayer for Thanksgiving
By Reverend Samuel F. Pugh (1904-2007)
O God,
when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry.
When I have work,
help me to remember the jobless.
When I have a home,
help me to remember those
who have no home at all.
When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer.
And when remembering,
help me to destroy my complacency,
bestir my compassion,
and be concerned enough to help
by word and deed
those who cry out for what
we take for granted. Amen.
Live the Gospel: Ten Ways to Be Thankful
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Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Christmas Giving Trees
November 25th & 26th
The Saint Vincent de Paul Society is once again sponsoring the Christmas Giving Trees in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport! During the weekend of November 25th & 26th, the Giving Trees will be located at the entrances of our three churches. Each tree will be decorated with stars that include a Christmas wish for a local child or family in need. If you can make their wish come true, then please take the star!
Every donated gift should be new, unused, unwrapped, and placed under a Giving Tree no later than Sunday, December 10th. For more information, please contact Lori Thorstensen at lorithor@hotmail.com. As we begin to deck the halls and celebrate the season, let’s all work together to share God’s boundless love with local children and families who need our help! Thank you for your generous support of our Giving Trees! May God bless us, everyone!
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WeShare
Safe & Easy Electronic Giving
The righteous are always generous (Psalm 37:26)
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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