Our Pastor’s Message
Jesus at the Door
By Father Jim
At Christmas, many people come home to church in order to experience again the true joy of that holy night when God humbles himself and is born among us as a poor child. Even if it’s just for one Christmas Mass, our brothers and sisters come back in search of peace, consolation, and some sense of meaning in their lives. They come in search of something that the world cannot offer: God’s good friendship, endless love, and boundless mercy. Whether they know it or not, they are called by the Lord to join us and to hopefully find their place again in our spiritual home.
For more than a decade, I have been thinking about Pope Francis and his preaching about God’s closeness, compassion, and tenderness toward each and every one of us. I have been reflecting on his message of inclusivity, his outreach to the poor, and his abiding prayers for peace and unity in the world. And I have been praying for so many friends and family members who feel excluded from the beauty of our shared faith, the richness of our traditions, and the spirit of our parish life. When I became your pastor ten years ago, one of my first decisions was to ensure that every announcement about every parish program or event includes this message: “All are welcome!”
Let’s be clear. The celebration of Holy Mass is the source and summit of our community’s joy and its vibrant life of prayer, fellowship, and service. All are welcome to join us for Mass and to participate in Holy Communion in accordance with a personal examination of conscience and the teachings of the Catholic Church. So whether you are a saint or a sinner, all are welcome! Whether you attend Mass every week or just now and then, all are welcome! Whether you are healthy, living with a chronic illness, or suffering from a terminal illness, all are welcome! Whether you are rich or poor or somewhere in between, all are welcome! Whether you are young or old or middle-aged like me, all are welcome! Whether you are single, married, or divorced, all are welcome! Whether you are gay, straight, or not so sure, all are welcome! Whether you were born in this country or came here (legally or not) in search of a better life, all are welcome! Again and again and again, all are welcome means all are welcome!
Like Pope Francis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was blessed with the heart of a true shepherd of souls. Bonhoeffer was a pastor who preached against Adolph Hitler and his hateful ideology. In a meditation written from prison before being executed, Bonhoeffer challenges us to engage in a radical welcome to all who seek comfort and consolation during dark times. He writes: “Jesus stands at the door knocking. In reality, he comes in the form of a beggar, of the dissolute human child in ragged clothes, asking for help. He confronts you in every person you meet…Christ is standing at the door. He lives in the form of a human being among us. Do you want to close the door or open it?”
This Christmas and beyond, let us learn from Pastor Bonhoeffer and Pope Francis. Let us renew our mission to live the Gospel, share God’s love, love each other, and rebuild the Church. Let us open wide the doors of our churches and our hearts. And let us cry out with one voice for God’s glory, forever and always: “All are welcome!” Peace, blessings, and every best wish for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (12-25-24)
Bringing Home the Word (12-22-24)
The Kids Bulletin (12-22-24)
__________
Call to Prayer
I Am There
By Karl Rahner
Now God says to us:
What he has already said to the earth as a whole
through his grace-filled birth.
I am there. I am with you.
I am your life. I am your time.
I am the gloom of your daily routine.
Why will you not hear it?
I weep your tears; pour yours out to me.
I am your joy. Do not afraid to be happy.
Ever since I wept, joy is the standard of living.
That is really more suitable
than the anxiety and grief
of those who have no hope.
I am the blind alley of all your paths.
For when you no longer know how to go any farther,
then you have reached me,
though you are not aware of it.
I am in your anxiety because I have shared it.
I am in the prison of your finiteness,
for my love has made me your prisoner.
I am in your death,
for today I began to die with you,
because I was born, and I have not let myself
be spared any real part of this experience.
I am present in your needs.
I have suffered them and they are now transformed.
I am there. I no longer go away from this world.
Even if you do not see me now, I am there.
My love is unconquerable.
I am there. It is Christmas. Light the candles!
They have more right to exist than all the darkness.
It is Christmas,
a Christmas that lasts forever. Amen.
__________
The Christmas Season
Our Worship Schedule
The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport joyfully invites you and your family to join us for Holy Mass in celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas. Here’s our schedule:
- Christmas Eve
Tuesday, December 24th
Saint Ann Church at 4:00pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 6:00pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at Midnight - Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 25th
Saint Ann Church at 8:15am
Saint Joachim Church at 10:00am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 11:45am
Note: No Mass at 5:30pm - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Wednesday, January 1st
Saint Ann Church at 8:15am
Saint Joachim Church at 10:00am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 11:45am
Note: No Mass at 5:30pm
All friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners are advised that we are no longer welcome to park in the Shaw’s Supermarket parking lot near Saint Ann Church. Violators are being towed. Please plan accordingly. On behalf of our pastor, senior priests, and pastoral team, we wish you peace, good health, and every happiness at Christmas and throughout the coming new year! Now more than ever, let’s pray together! All are welcome!
Watch: Christmas Mass – December 24th at 4:00pm
__________
Christmas Faith & Family Mass
A Youth Faith Formation Special Event
Saturday, January 4th
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says: “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belong (Matthew 9:14).” In response to the Lord’s call, all young disciples and their families are invited to join Father Jim for our Christmas Faith & Family Mass on Saturday, January 4th at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church.
During Mass, the students who are now preparing for their First Holy Communion will dramatize the Christmas and Epiphany Gospels in our annual pageant. This portrayal of the Nativity will include the Holy Family, angels and shepherds, and the Magi. Being a part of this beautiful holiday tradition is a great way for children to take part in the life of our parishes and learn more about the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church.
Please save these dates for other upcoming Faith & Family Masses: Sunday, March 9th at 11:45am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church; Sunday, April 13th at 11:45am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church; and Saturday, May 10th at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church.
For more information about our youth faith formation programs in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Betsy Works at bworks@ccgronline.com. Mass is our class! Jesus is our teacher! Please join us! All are welcome! Merry Christmas!
Watch: Peanuts Christmas Monologue (1 Minute)
__________
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 the follow address:
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!
__________
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Our New Clothes Closet
Open Three Saturdays Every Month!
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!
__________
The Assisi Project
We Pray for You!
Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit that is dedicated to helping believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. Our members range in age from 16 to 100. We pray every day for all who have asked us for prayers. If you would like us to pray for you or your special intention, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiprojet.com or 978-281. May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace!
Learn More: The Assisi Project
__________
Winter Weather Advisory
The Season of Winter begins on Saturday, December 21st. For the latest information about weather related cancelations during the coming months, please visit this website. All are reminded that if public schools are closed due to inclement weather, all parish programs (including Weekday Masses) are canceled, too. Stay safe! Stay warm! Peace and blessings to all for a Merry Christmas! God bless us, everyone!
__________
Words of Wisdom for Christmas
From Saint Teresa of Calcutta
It is Christmas every time
you let God love others through you.
__________
We Share
Safe & Easy Electronic Giving
Charity, by which God and neighbor are loved, is the most perfect friendship.
Saint Thomas Aquinas
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
__________
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!
Follow us on Instagram!
This Week’s Homepage
In Memory of Barbara DeCoste