This Week’s Message
Pope Leo’s Three Big Words
OUR INTENTIONS FOR SAINT MICHAEL’S LENT
Peace
All too often, we consider peace a ‘negative’ word, indicative of only the absence of war and conflict…From a Christian perspective, peace is first and foremost a gift. It is the gift of Christ: ‘My peace I give to you (John 14:27).’ It is an active and demanding gift. It engages and challenges each of us, regardless of our cultural backgrounds or religious affiliation, demanding first of all that we work on ourselves. Peace is built in the heart and from the heart, by eliminating pride and vindictiveness and carefully choosing our words. For words, too, not only weapons, can wound and even kill…This effort, to which all of us are called to take part, can begin to eliminate the root causes of all conflicts and every destructive urge for conflict.
Truth
Truth can never be separated from charity, which always has at its root a concern for the life and well being of every person. Furthermore, from the Christian perspective, truth is not the affirmation of abstract and disembodied principles, but an encounter with the person of Christ, alive in the midst of the community of believers. Truth does not create division, but rather enables us to confront all the more resolutely the challenges of our time, such as migration, the ethical use of artificial intelligence, and the protection of our beloved planet earth. These are challenges that require commitment and cooperation on the part of all, since no one can think of facing them alone.
Justice
Working for peace requires acting justly…Every effort should be made to overcome the global inequalities, between opulence and destitution, that are carving deep divisions between countries, continents, and even within individual societies. It is the responsibility of government leaders to work on building harmonious and peaceful civil societies. This can be achieved above all by investing in the family…In addition, no one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike.
Note to Our Parishioners
These passages are excerpted from Pope Leo XIV’s Message to Members of the Holy See Diplomatic Corps on May 16, 2025. As we enter into Saint Michael’s Lent, all friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join Father Jim and Brother Patrick in prayer and fasting for an increase in peace, truth, and justice in our world. All are also encouraged to read and reflect on the complete text of the pope’s words which can be found at the link below. Peace and blessings to all! — Father Jim
Read: Pope Leo XIV’s Message to Diplomats
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (8-10-25)
Bringing Home the Word (8-10-25)
The Kids Bulletin (8-10-25)
New!
The Final Judge of Our Actions is God
Bishop Brennan Speaks Out on Mass Deportations
National Catholic Reporter
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Our Pastor’s Message
Saint Michael’s Lent
A Call to Prayer & Fasting
By Father Jim
In August 1224, Saint Francis of Assisi climbed to the rugged summit of Mount La Verna in Tuscany for an extended period of prayer, fasting, and solitude that began on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary and concluded on the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. According to Saint Bonaventure, Francis “was filled unto overflowing, as never before, with the sweetness of heavenly contemplation.” And it was during this new “lent” that Francis was brought closer to the Lord by receiving the stigmata, the five wounds of the Poor Christ, in his feet, hands, and side.
Like Lent and Advent, an observance of Saint Michael’s Lent can be an intense and spiritually rewarding time for prayer, fasting, and good works. After a period of discussion and discernment over many months, Brother Patrick and I have decided to enter into this ancient practice by beginning a fast for Pope Leo XIV’s intentions of hope, peace, truth, and justice for our suffering world. From August 15th through September 29th, we will fast from eating and speaking from sunset until sunrise. We will not eat meat or sugar. We will not drink alcoholic beverages.
Along with our fast, we will renew our longstanding commitment to the Liturgy of the Hours. In addition, we will pray the Angelus at 12:00pm; the Faster’s Prayer (Psalm 77) at 3:00pm; and the traditional prayer for the intercession of Saint Michael at 6:00pm. Finally, after morning and evening prayers, whether we pray alone or together, we will beg the Blessed Mother to pray for us by reciting Hail Marys for the Holy Father’s four intentions and for all who live, work, and worship in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport. This schedule of prayer and devotion is posted below.
Beginning this week and extending through Saint Michael’s Lent, we will also devote a portion of our homepage and collaborative newsletter to the ancient practice of fasting and to the Holy Father’s intentions for an increase in hope, peace, truth, and justice all around the world. It is our sincere aspiration that this observance of Saint Michael’s Lent will bring us all closer to Christ, closer to the Church, and closer to each other through these collective prayers and personal sacrifices.
Our observance of Saint Michael’s Lent will conclude on Monday, September 29th, the Feast of the Archangels, in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Our devotions will begin with Morning Prayer at 8:00am, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The church will then be open for silent prayer and adoration. At 12:00pm, we will gather for Daytime Prayer and a Rosary for Peace. We will conclude with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Mass at 5:30pm.
Brother Patrick and I invite you to join us in observing Saint Michael’s Lent in any way that you feel called and inspired. If you feel able and willing to join in our fast, please see me or contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@ccgronline.com. We hope that at least ten fellow parishioners will join us in prayer and fasting for the intentions of Pope Leo XIV and for the sake of those who are poor, persecuted, and suffering in our world. Now more than ever, let’s fast and pray — together!
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
Our Saint Michael’s Lent Prayers
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Saint Michael’s Lent
Turning to God by Fasting
By Brother Patrick
In Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia, a fast is defined as not eating, drinking, or engaging in some other pleasurable activity for a period of time. In this book, we read: “It is by means of the fast that one stops what is automatic and waits upon God—the hunger pains acting like constant reminders to listen for the voice of God in personal and liturgical prayer, through conversations and events of the day, and in reading sacred scripture.”
Of course, we know that some among us should not fast from food and drink because of age, illness, or disability. At the same time, each one of us can fast from some activity that can separate us from God and our neighbor: gossip, television, or the internet. All of us can deny ourselves some small thing that takes our attention away from growing closer to Christ and closer to one another.
In the book, Fasting: The Ancient Practices, Scott McKnight explains that a fast is our way of acknowledging and reacting to the increasingly harsh world around us. He writes: “Fasting is a response to a serious, grievous, or sacred moment…People fasted in the Bible in response to some grievous event in life — like death or the realization of sin or when the nation was threatened.”
In our day, such serious, grievous, and sacred moments abound. Rising prices, political division, growing secularization, countless threats to human dignity, cuts to essential government services, the lack of affordable housing, the cruel treatment of migrants and refugees, and the spread of violent conflicts between nations and peoples are all such moments in the life of our common home.
The point of fasting, however, is not to solve problems or change the world. The point of fasting is to remind ourselves of humanity’s complete dependence on God for all good things; and to entrust our bodies, minds, and spirits into the loving and merciful arms of the Lord — who will listen to our poor prayers, smile upon our small sacrifices, and guide our world toward peace, truth, and justice.
Brother Patrick Garvey
Associate Minister & Diocesan Hermit
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: brpatrick@ccgronline.com
Learn More: Saint Michael’s Lent
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Call to Worship
The Assumption of Mary
Friday, August 15th
A Holy Day of Obligation
Since the fifth century, God’s faithful people have believed in their hearts that upon her passing from this life, the Blessed Virgin Mary was raised body and soul into heaven. This ancient faith tradition, however, was not defined as a magisterial teaching of the Roman Catholic Church until 1950. In commemoration of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport will celebrate Holy Mass according to the following schedule:
Friday, August 15th
- Saint Joachim Church at 8:00am
- Saint Ann Church at 12:00pm
- Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 5:30pm
For more information about the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, please click the link below or contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Save the date! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!
A Franciscan Prayer for the Intercession
of Our Lady of the Angels
Our Lady of the Angels,
bless our homes, bless our work,
and bless our rest.
Give us the serene peace that comes with love;
where hate, blame, and tears
are turned into a song of joy
with the choir of your holy angels
and the powerful prayers of Saint Francis.
Help those who lack support and sustenance.
Help those who find themselves
in danger or temptation, in sadness or despair,
in sickness or close to death. Amen.
Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us!
Our Lady of the Assumption, pray for us!
Learn More: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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Our Lady of Good Voyage
Summer Carillon Concerts
Friday, August 15th
A popular summer tradition is returning to Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish and the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport! Our Summer Carillon Concerts begin on Friday, August 15th at 6:30pm! This year, Luann Pallazola, Cynthia Cafasso, and Thomas Dort have prepared programs that include patriotic melodies, popular hymns and songs, and classical and international music, along with selections especially for children!
Installed in 1922, the carillon at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church are the first toned bell set ever in the United States. The carillon’s thirty-one bronze bells hang from a steel beam within the west tower. And our bells range in weight from 16 pounds to 3,000 pounds.
The carillon bells at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church were forged by the Taylor Foundry in Loughboro, England. In order to avoid the payment of a tariff upon their arrival in Gloucester, the church was declared a bonded warehouse by the Collector of Customs in Boston, who happened to be a friend of the local congressman. Soon after, a bill declaring them a “work of art” was passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Warren G. Harding.
Although our bells can be heard from blocks away, the sound is always best near the church. Once again this year, Our Lady’s Guild will be selling snacks, cold drinks, and raffle tickets to support the parish. Our Summer Carillon Concerts are an awesome opportunity for the whole family to gather and enjoy the gift of music with friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners!
Additional concerts are scheduled for Friday, August 22nd at 6:30pm and Friday, August 29th at 6:30pm. For more information about this special summer series, please contact Luann Pallazola at lpallazola@gmail.com. Save the dates! All are invited! All are welcome!
Watch & Listen: America the Beautiful
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The Assisi Project
Our New Weekly Bog
A Message from Brother Patrick
For more than a decade, friends of the Assisi Project have been receiving an electronic mail message every weekend with our increasingly long list of prayer requests, along with a few words of wisdom for the week ahead.
Although this method of communication has been a good way of keeping in touch with our friends and followers across the world, it excludes the hundreds of people who visit our website each week and therefore cannot appreciate or participate in our intercessory prayer ministry. Beginning this weekend and in a spirit of radical welcome to those who may not know about us or about our ministry of prayer, these weekly messages will now be posted on our website at assisiproject.com/blog.
This week, our blog features a prayer and reflection on Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (aka Edith Stein) whose feast will be celebrated on August 9th. It also includes easily printable PDF documents of our current prayer requests, our daily prayer of intercession, and recommended readings for the coming week. If you would like us to pray for you or your special intention, please contact me at brpatrick@assisiproject.com. May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace!
Learn More: The Assisi Project
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Words of Wisdom
From Dorothy Day
A pebble cast into a pond causes ripples that spread in all directions.
Each one of our thoughts, words, and deeds is like that.
No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless.
There is too much work to do.
Learn More: Dorothy Day – Model of Mercy
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We Share
Safe & Easy Electronic Giving
Being generous is a wonderful way to live. — Pete Seeger
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 Angelo Moschello