This Week’s Message
A Prayer of Prodigal Children
By Brother Patrick
Most High and Glorious God,
you are creator of heaven and earth,
father of all people everywhere.
We are your prodigal children:
sons and daughters, young and old, rich and poor,
from all creeds, colors, and callings.
In our hearts, at the core of our being,
whether we know it or not, we long to be close to you,
to be engulfed by your love and mercy.
And yet, in thought, word, and deed,
we turn away from you,
and we turn away from each other.
We indulge in the world
and its coarse and selfish ways.
We trade timeless grace for fleeting pleasure.
We squander our inheritance,
which is eternal life with you in heaven.
All good and gracious God,
help us to see that to be prodigal children
is to be sinful, wasteful, and disrespectful
toward you and your gifts.
Help us to see, too, that to be a prodigal parent
is to be generous and self-sacrificing,
forever eager to embrace us
with your boundless and forever mercy.
With your closeness, compassion, and tenderness,
bless us with the grace and courage
to seek you, to live for you, to die for you,
and to open our hearts to your endless love.
We ask this through the Poor Christ,
our merciful redeemer, friend, and brother,
who lives and loves with you and the Holy Spirit;
God for always and evermore. Amen.
Brother Patrick Garvey
Associate Minister & Diocesan Hermit
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: brpatrick@ccgronline.com
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Pope Francis – Leading from the Hospital
A Vatican News Reflection
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Season of Lent
The Light Is On For You!
Wednesday, April 2nd
On six consecutive Wednesdays during the Holy Season of Lent (March 12th through April 16th), all are invited to join us for The Light Is On For You! These evenings of prayer and adoration will begin with Mass at 5:30pm in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. After Mass, we will offer Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; and finally the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) will be available for those who feel called to participate.
For some, this may be a time for sacramental confession and reconciliation. For some, it may be a period of silent prayer and adoration. And for others, it may be an opportunity to begin or renew the spiritual journey. All are reminded that confessions are also heard by appointment. For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Save the dates! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
Learn More: How to Make a Good Confession
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Season of Lent
The Way of the Cross
Friday, April 4th
For more than five hundred years, the Way of the Cross has been one of the most moving devotions in the Roman Catholic Church. By uniting our humble prayers with the sufferings of the Poor Christ with both words and sacred images, we make a spiritual pilgrimage with the Lord Jesus as he carries the burden of our sins and experiences the Passion of the Holy Cross.
During the Holy Season of Lent, all are friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners are invited to join the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport as we pray the Way of the Cross on seven consecutive Friday afternoons from March 7th through April 18th at 12:00pm in Saint Ann Church. For more information, please contact Father Jim at fjim@ccgronline.com. Save the dates! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
Watch: Way of the Cross with Bishop Reed (27 Minutes)
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Call to Prayer
Lenten Holy Hours
Eucharistic Adoration
Featuring the Litany of the Sacred Wounds
- Friday, April 4th – Begins at 3:00pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church - Friday, April 11th – Begins at 3:00pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Save the Dates! Let’s pray together! All are invited! All are welcome!
Pray: Litany of the Sacred Wounds
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The Assisi Project
Praying with Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Saturday, April 5th
A Jubilee Year of Hope Mini-Retreat
During this Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Francis calls us to become “pilgrims of hope.” He beckons us to be hopeful, to be peacemakers, and to be what he calls “weavers of communion” in our sick, suffering, and war-torn world.
The Holy Father writes: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given to us. We must help everyone gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, trusting heart, and prophetic vision. The jubilee can contribute abundantly to the restoration of an atmosphere of hope and trust, and to the rebirth and renewal of all that we so urgently desire.”
One such pilgrim of hope was Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945). As a pastor, writer, and theologian, Bonhoeffer never waivered in his quiet opposition to Adolph Hitler’s reign of terror. As a founding member of the so-called Confessing Church, Bonhoeffer remained hopeful that Christianity could and should serve as the bulwark against hatred, violence, and tyranny perpetrated by his country’s government. For this, he was hanged.
Throughout this year, the Assisi Project is focusing all of its prayers and reflections on men and women from across the ages, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who have fulfilled the pope’s call to be pilgrims of hope. Our celebration of the jubilee continues on Saturday, April 5th beginning with Mass at 8:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. After Mass, Brother Patrick and Father Jim will lead us in a reflection and conversation about the life and legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
For more information about the Assisi Project and its good work in our parishes, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome! Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of the Angels pray for us! May the Lord give you peace!
Learn More: The Assisi Project
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Saint for All Seasons
Praying with Teresa of the Andes
Saturday, April 12th
Lent is a good time for us to step back from the business and busyness of daily life and to focus on our relationship 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 our lives. For this reason and for the fourth consecutive year, we are happy to announce a special series of mini-retreats called “Saints for All Seasons.”
Pope Francis has always encouraged the faithful to learn about and pray with the saints. The Holy Father believes 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…The saints remind us that even in our lives, however weak and marked by sin, holiness can unfold.”
In this spirit of unfolding holiness, all are invited to join us for a series of two hour mini-retreats. This year, these times of prayer, reflection, and adoration will focus on the lives of amazing holy men and women like Saint Frances of Rome, Saint Rita of Cascia, Blessed Jacopane of Todi, Blessed Helen Enselmini, and Saint Lazarus of Bethany.
Our next mini-retreat is scheduled for Saturday, April 12th beginning with Holy Mass at 8:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage. After Mass, Father Jim and Brother Patrick will lead a reflection on the life and good works of Saint Teresa of the Andes who is the first Chilean saint and first Discalced Carmelite not from Europe to be canonized. After our reflection, we will pray in silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. And we will conclude with the Holy Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. For more information, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@ccgronline.com. Please join us! All are welcome! May the Lord give you peace!
Listen: Saint of the Day – Teresa of the Andes
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The Way of the Cross
A Contemporary Interpretation
Sunday, April 13th
During an Apostolic Journey to Poland in 2016, Pope Francis said: “The Way of the Cross alone defeats sin, evil, and death, because it leads us to the radiant light of Christ’s resurrection and opens the horizons of a new and fuller life. It is the way of hope, the way of the future. Those who take up the Way of the Cross with faith and generosity offer us hope and a bright future to all humanity (Address in Krakow, Poland; 7-3-16).”
In this spirit, all are invited to join Father Jim on Palm Sunday, April 13th at 5:30pm in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church for a contemporary interpretation of the Way of the Cross with both word and music. We will combine traditional prayers and scripture passages with music from various genres to help us grow closer to the Crucified Christ. For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Save the date! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
Watch: Way of the Cross with Pope Francis (1.5 Hours)
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Holy Family Women’s Guild
Palm Sunday Bake Sale
Weekend of April 12th & 13th
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 Masses in Saint Ann Church and Saint Joachim Church on Saturday, April 12th and Sunday, April 13th.
Our bake sale will feature delicious home-baked Italian cookies, brownies, breads, cupcakes, and much more. All proceeds will support Holy Family Parish. If you would like to bake or help sell the baked goods, please contact Lydia Bertolino at llbglosta1929@outlook.com or 978-281-4279. Thank you in advance for your generous support! Please join us! All are welcome!
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Words of Wisdom
From Pope Francis
God is a father who awaits the return of the prodigal son:
God always waits for us.
He does not get tired. He does not lose heart.
Each of us is that reunited child.
Each of us is the rediscovered coin,
the caressed sheep that he puts back on his shoulder…
He waits every day for us to notice his love (2015).
Learn More: Vatican News Service
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Renewable Energy Fair
Learn to Care for Our Common Home
Saturday, April 15th
11:00am until 4:00pm
Our Lady’s Hall
All are invited! All are welcome!
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We Share
Safe & Easy Electronic Giving
True generosity involves spending oneself for the well-being of others. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Electronic giving has become an essential part 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 addition to the weekly offering, you can also give electronically to our church restoration funds which help us plan for the repair and maintenance of our four beloved and historic churches.
Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish always need your generous support! Please prayerfully considering enrolling in our electronic giving program! For more information about creating a new account or assistance with an existing account, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Peace, blessings, and sincere thanks to all!
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 family 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 Thomas Ciolino