Our Pastor’s Message
A Symphony of Prayer
By Father Jim
At my ordination to the priesthood more than twenty years ago, I promised to pray each day with the Liturgy of the Hours, a form of prayer that sanctifies the various times of the day: morning, daytime, evening, and nighttime. The Liturgy of the Hours, sometimes called the breviary, is based largely on a four week cycle of prayers rooted in the Old Testament’s Book of Psalms.
The Liturgy of the Hours is the “Prayer of the Church.” It is not just for priests. It is for everyone. In his rule of life as a diocesan hermit, Brother Patrick promised to pray with the Liturgy of the Hours. Religious brothers and sisters in every order pray with it, too. In addition, countless lay men and women around the world make it the foundation of their daily prayer and spirituality.
One of the blessings of the breviary is that each person who prays with it finds comfort, direction, and inspiration in a different way. For example, each person may have a favorite psalm. Mine is Psalm 139 because it reminds me again and again that God sees me, God knows my heart, and God loves me because he created me. In one passage, the psalmist says: “If I take the wings of the dawn and dwell at the sea’s furthest end, even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would hold me fast (Psalm 139:9-10).” The ways of the Lord are simply breathtaking.
Brother Patrick’s favorite is Psalm 63 because it inspired his discernment to the eremitic life. This psalm speaks of a person’s yearning, body and soul, to be united with God. The first few verses read: “O God, you are my God, for you I long: for you my soul is thirsting. My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water. So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory (Psalm 63:1-2).” These words can be prayed by any one of us, but when you consider that the vocation of the monk-hermit is to listen for God’s voice, they take on awesome power and urgency.
In Assisi, my dear friend, Sister Marcellina, says that she loves all of the psalms. Day by day, they remind her of God’s love, mercy, and goodness in her life and in the life of the world. In a special way, she is lifted up by Psalm 116 which reads in part: “How gracious is the Lord, and just; our God has compassion. The Lord protects the simple hearts; I was helpless so he saved me (Psalm 116:5-6).” Marcellina’s long life in the convent teaches her that the Lord smiles especially on those who are small and servile. This psalm is the prayer of a humble child of God who seeks to please him with every thought, word, and deed. It is the prayer of a true saint.
In our Catholic tradition, there are several types of psalms: praise, lament, petition, and thanksgiving. Pope Francis reminds us that the psalms are prayers that Jesus himself actually prayed. Because they are the Word of God and were prayed by the Son of God, the psalms have a unique place in the spiritual life of the Church. The pope says: “The Psalms do not lose their effectiveness by being repeated. On the contrary, they increase it. Why? Because they are inspired by God and they ‘breathe’ God every time they are prayed with faith (6-19-24).” In short, when we engage with the psalms, they engage with us. They inspire, console, and challenge. And they give us the courage to carry on.
Pope Francis teaches us that praying with the psalms is not just about asking for something. It is about longing, gratitude, and humility. It is about growing in faith, hope, and love. It is about prayer, fellowship, and service. It is about growing closer to God and to each other. Now more than ever, it is about uniting our hearts and voices and offering up the psalms as a “symphony of prayer” for our sake and for the sake of the whole world. Amen. Amen.
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (6-30-24)
Bringing Home the Word (6-30-24)
The Kids Bulletin (6-30-24)
New!
Mary, Queen of Apostles
An Assisi Project Podcast
assisiproject.com
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Saint Peter’s Fiesta
Outdoor Mass & Procession
Sunday, June 30th
Welcome, Bishop Mark O’Connell!
Saint Peter’s Fiesta began on Wednesday, June 26th and runs through Sunday, June 30th. All are invited to join Father Jim and Bishop Mark O’Connell, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Boston for the annual outdoor celebration of Holy Mass on Sunday, June 30th at 10:00am in Saint Peter’s Square in Gloucester.
After Mass, all are welcome to join us for the procession through the streets of our beloved city with Saint Peter! Trailers are available for groups, families, and individuals who wish to participate in the procession with a religious-themed float in celebration of Saint Peter’s Fiesta. For more information, please contact Rose Aiello at 978-283-1664 or visit stpetersfiesta.org. Spread the word! Bring your family! All are invited! All are welcome!
A Prayer for the Intercession of Saint Peter
O Saint Peter, Blessed Apostle,
to whom God has given
the keys of the kingdom of heaven
and the power to bind and loose,
grant that we may be delivered
from the bondage of our sins
through your powerful prayers.
O Holy Shepherd,
Prince of the Apostles,
patron and protector of our parishes,
pray for us so that we may be worthy
of the promises of Christ. Amen.
Saint Peter, pray for us!
Learn More: Saint Peter’s Fiesta
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The Assisi Project
The Mother’s Heart
Saturday, July 6th
Praying with Our Lady of Mount Carmel
For more than one hundred years, the stained glass windows in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church have inspired men and women of faith to reflect on the Blessed Virgin Mary under her various titles and patronages. Under her mantle, generations of good and hardworking people have found comfort, consolation, and the strength to carry on during challenging times.
Throughout this year, Father Jim, Brother Patrick, and the Assisi Project are focusing our prayers and reflections on the Blessed Mother as she is depicted in the windows of our beloved church. We will not focus so much on the art and architecture of the windows, but on the deep devotion and spirituality inspired by each image of Mary.
In this spirit, all are invited to join us for the Mother’s Heart: A Morning of Prayer with Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Saturday, July 6th beginning with Mass at 8:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. After Mass, Father Jim will offer a brief reflection on Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We will also have plenty of time for questions, comments, and faith sharing.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the patron of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were hermits who lived on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the 13th century. Since the 15th century, the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has been centered on a Brown Scapular which the Blessed Mother gave to Saint Simon Stock. Other beloved Carmelites include Saint John of the Cross, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, and Saint Therese of Lisieux.
For more information about the Assisi Project and its good work in our parishes, please see Brother Patrick or contact him at brpatrick@assisiproject.com. Save the date! Spread the word! Bring a friend! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome! Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us! May the Lord give you peace!
Learn More: The Assisi Project
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Saints for All Seasons
Mini-Retreat Series
Friday, July 12th
Praying with Saint Veronica
Now more than ever, we need to step back from the business and busyness of daily life and focus on our relationships with Jesus and those we are called to love. Unfortunately, few among us are able to leave behind home, work, and family for a real retreat from the responsibilities of the world. For this reason and for the third consecutive year, we are very pleased to announce a special series of mini-retreats called Saints for All Seasons.
Throughout his long priestly ministry, Pope Francis has called people of all ages and backgrounds to learn about and pray with the saints. The Holy Father believes in his heart that the saints bring us closer to Christ, closer to the Church, and closer to each other. He says: “The saints are still here, not far from us; and their images [and relics] in our churches evoke the ‘cloud of witnesses’ that always surrounds us (cf. Hebrews 12:1)…The saints remind us that even in our lives, however weak and marked by sin, holiness can unfold (4-7-21).”
In this spirit of unfolding holiness, all are invited to join us in April, May, July, and November for a series of two-hour mini-retreats. These times of prayer, reflection, and adoration will focus on the lives of four amazing women: Saint Zita of Lucca, Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Veronica, and Blessed Helen Enselmini. Each mini-retreat will begin with the celebration of Holy Mass. After Mass, Father Jim and Brother Patrick will offer a reflection on the life and veneration of a saint whose life of holiness and love of neighbor has inspired people all around the world.
After each reflection, we will pray in silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and in venera- tion of the holy images of each saint of the day. We will conclude by praying the Holy Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Here’s our upcoming schedule:
Saint Zita of Luca
An Assisi Project Podcast
assisiproject.com/podcast
Saint Joan of Arc
An Assisi Project Podcast
assisiproject.com/podcast
Saint Veronica
Friday, July 12th at 5:30pm
Saint Anthony Chapel
Blessed Helen Enselmini
Friday, November 1st at 5:30pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
We hope and pray that you and your family will be able to join us for all or even just part of this special series in celebration of the saints which has been so popular during the past few years! For more information, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@ccgronline.com. Save the dates! Spread the word! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Living the Gospel
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 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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Sharing God’s Love
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
All New Clothes Closet
The all-new Saint Vincent de Paul Clothes Closet is now open for business in Saint Ann Church Hall on the second, third, and fourth Saturdays of every month from 9:00am until 12:00pm. All friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners are welcome to drop by and check out the All New Clothes Closet by entering through the Pleasant Street doors of Saint Ann Church Hall.
Donations of gently worn clothing and shoes are now gratefully accepted during our regular hours and in the bin located in the Saint Ann School parking lot. Please note that we cannot accept donations of books, toys, or household items. For more information about the Saint Vincent de Paul Clothes Closet, please contact Bridget Nelligan at 781-572-4752 or Cathy Kyrouz at 978-290-1756. Thank you for your generous support!
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WeShare
Safe & Easy Electronic Giving
Blessed are those who give without remembering. — Elizabeth Bibesco
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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