Saint Paul writes: “I urge you…to pray for all people. Ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them (1 Timothy 2:1).” To pray in this way is to ask God for a blessing or benefit on behalf of another person. To pray for others carries us beyond ourselves. It brings us to the doorstep of a neighbor in need. It brings us face to face with the struggles of our brothers and sisters. It makes the needs of others a priority in a world that is often selfish and self-serving.

Few people have experienced the grace of intercessory prayer more deeply than our good friend, Reverend Anne Deneen. For nearly two decades, Anne served as Pastor of Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Gloucester. She is now a retreat leader and spiritual director. But even Anne’s long experience as a pastor, spouse, and mother could not prepare her for the challenge of caring for her husband after he was diagnosed with cancer. In her grief and struggle, Anne learned valuable lessons about the blessings of prayer in our lives.

On Saturday, June 3rd, all are invited to join Father Jim, Cliff Garvey, and Anne Deneen for a compelling discussion about the beauty and power of intercessory prayer in our lives. Our morning of prayer and reflection will begin with the Holy Rosary at 7:30am and Holy Mass at 8:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. After Mass, Anne will share her family’s experiences with intercessory prayer and lead us in a period of questions and faith sharing. Our gathering will conclude with prayer at 9:45am.

For more information about the Assisi Project and its good work in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please visit our website at assisiproject.com; or contact Cliff at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome! May the Risen Lord give you peace!

Learn More: The Assisi Project

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For too many teenagers, the Sacrament of Confirmation has become a kind of graduation from the Catholic Church, rather than the joyful beginning of life as an adult disciple with the Church. We hope to stem this sad situation by transforming our youth faith formation program into an engaging process for the whole family.

First, we place primary importance on attending Mass. For more than a century, the Church asked every parish to offer sacramental preparation programs for children and teenagers. During recent decades, however, we neglected to remind parents of their baptismal promise to be the first teachers of their children in all matters related to faith and morals; and that the most important part of that responsibility is attending Mass as a family.

In an increasingly busy world, it became commonplace for parents to entrust their children to us for an hour of instruction, but then not join us for Mass on the weekend. We will continue to ask parents to dedicate one hour each week to their children’s religious education — by joining us for one of our six weekend Masses!

In addition, all high school students (beginning in ninth grade) are asked to actively participate in our two year preparation program for the Sacrament of Confirmation. During the first year, students will attend eight interactive workshops about the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church. These sessions will begin on Sunday, February 12th (weather permitting).

During the second year, students will attend more workshops that are creatively designed to help them grown in prayer, fellowship, and service; prepare them to receive the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit; and jumpstart their spiritual lives as faithful and faith-filled young disciples.

If your child is now in high school and sincerely wants to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, then please attend our Welcome & Registration Workshop on Sunday, February 12th at 11:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Registration forms are available on our website at ccgronline.com/formation. For more information about youth faith formation in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Betsy Works at bworks@ccgronline.com. Spread the word! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome! Come, Holy Spirit!

Confirmation Registration 2023

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The Way was the among the earliest names for followers of the Risen Christ. The Way also appears as a biblical reference for the earliest Christian communities in the Acts of the Apostles. In addition, tradition teaches that both before and after his conversion, Saint Paul referred to the disciples of Christ as part of the Way. More than two thousand years later, Catholic Christians are still part of the Way of Jesus Christ. But as we all know, a life of discipleship is not a hobby or pastime. It is a vocation, a way of life that lays claim to our whole heart, mind, and strength. As disciples, our lives should be focused on and inspired by our faith in Christ, who is our merciful redeemer, friend, and brother. And as his disciples, we are called to reach out to those who need our help in growing closer to Christ and the Church.

If you are an adult (age 18 and over) and have not received all of the Sacraments of Initiation in the Roman Catholic Church (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation), then please consider joining The Way, a new adult faith formation program that will begin this fall. The Way (typically called the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) is a seven month program that prepares adults to be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. As part of this same program, we will prepare adults for the Sacrament of Confirmation (to be received at either the Easter Vigil or at a regional archdiocesan celebration). Other parishioners who have received the Sacraments and are interested in renewing their spiritual lives are also very welcome to join us!

Our group will gather for fellowship, formation, and faith sharing. As a community of disciples, we will learn together about the basic beliefs, teachings, and traditions of the Church; and we will explore the methods of prayer and spirituality that have brought centuries of believers closer to Christ Jesus and to the Church. In addition, we will talk openly and honestly about the challenges of living an authentic life of faith, hope, and love in the modern world. Our first gathering will be scheduled sometime soon. If you would like to learn more about this journey of faith and become part of a unique fellowship in preparation for the sacraments of God’s Church, then please contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. Please join us! Spread the word! All are invited! All are welcome!

Learn More: Baptism (One Minute Video)
Learn More: Eucharist (One Minute Video)
Learn More: Confirmation (One Minute Video)

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