Eight years ago, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport was created as a collaborative between two historic parishes: Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. Although our parishes share one pastor and one pastoral team, each parish is fully independent; has its own finance council; maintains its own bank accounts; pays its own bills; and maintains it own buildings. In the beginning, the collaboration between communities was not always easy. But thanks to you, parishioners at Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish are praying together, working together, and helping each other fulfill our shared mission to live the Gospel, share God’s love and mercy, and rebuild the Church here at the end of the line.

During the past year, Holy Family Parish has been blessed in many ways. Attendance at our weekend Masses is recovering after the decline caused by COVID-19. Our parishioners continue to offer very positive feedback about our adult and youth faith formation programs and our music ministries. The Holy Family Women’s Guild and the Assisi Project continue their good work — including ongoing brainstorming about new ideas to raise money and bring people together in a spirit of prayer, fellowship, and service. In addition, our weekly offertory was up 15% from the previous fiscal year.

Because of our increased offertory, several generous gifts, and lease income from the City of Gloucester for our school building, we have been able to accomplish some important projects: the installation of new automatic doors at both Saint Ann Church and Saint Joachim Church; a new sign at Saint Joachim Church; a repainting of the sign at Saint Ann Church; and some masonry and roof repairs at Saint Ann Church. Best of all, I am happy to report that for the seventh consecutive year, our annual parish budget is balanced! Thanks be to God! After all of our bills were paid and reconciled, we ran a net surplus of $28,000, all of which has been deposited in our parish savings account.

Needless to say, we still face financial challenges related to the rising costs of utilities, insurance, and ongoing maintenance of our parish buildings. Insurance premiums alone are up by 11% which amounts to more than $10,000 for the year! Despite ongoing concerns about inflation, building maintenance, and the long-term effects of the pandemic, I am optimistic about the long-term financial stability of our parish. By praying together and working together, we can and will face every challenge with confidence, determination, and high spirits. As a family of disciples, we can and will keep the faith alive and pass it along to the next generation of disciples. Of course, your ongoing support makes all the difference! So, please join in me in praying that each of us, according to our means, will continue to give generously to our beloved parish.

Finally, please join me in thanking the members of the Holy Family Parish Finance Council for their dedicated service, expert advice, and wise counsel: Joseph Grella, Robert Krause, and Rosa Ladd. Their commitment and hard work throughout the year ensures that we remain focused on making the best use of our limited financial resources. Finally, my deepest thanks go to our parishioners for their ongoing prayers and support. Your generosity makes possible all that we do together to make Holy Family Parish a vibrant and very special faith community. Your kindness touches my heart and sustains me in my ministry. Please know that you and your family are always in my prayers. Thank you so much! Peace and blessings to all!

Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com

Holy Family Financial Report FY2022

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Eight years ago, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport was founded as a collaborative of two historic parishes: Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. Although our parishes share one pastor and one pastoral team, each parish remains fully independent and solely responsible for its own bills and building maintenance. In the beginning, the collaboration between our communities was not always easy. But thanks to all of you, parishioners at Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish are praying together, working together, and helping each other fulfill our shared mission to live the Gospel, share God’s love and mercy, and rebuild the Church in a true spirit of prayer, fellowship, and service.

During the past year, Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish has been blessed in so many ways. Attendance at our weekend Masses is good despite ongoing concerns about COVID-19. Our parishioners continue to offer very positive feedback about our adult and youth faith formation programs. Special events like the Summer Carillon Concerts and the Crowning Feast of the Holy Spirit are successful both by raising funds and by building and strengthening the bonds of community in our parish. In addition, our weekly offertory was 22% higher than expected; and we raised more than $100,00 for the restoration of our two bell towers which were damaged by a spring storm.

Best of all, I am happy to report that for the fifth consecutive year, our annual parish budget is balanced! Thanks be to God! After all of our bills were paid and reconciled, we ran a net surplus of $11,972, all of which has been deposited in our parish savings account. Needless to say, we still face financial challenges related to the rising cost of utilities, insurance, and maintenance of our church buildings. In addition to the tower project (which was delayed by supply chain problems but should begin next spring), we face the challenge of repairing or replacing the front doors and the front steps of Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Based on initial estimates, it may cost $30,000 or more just to repair the masonry that supports the steps.

Despite ongoing concerns about inflation, building maintenance, and COVID-19, I am optimistic about the long-term financial stability of our parish. Walking in the footsteps of the men and women who built this parish and entrusted into our care, we can face every challenge with confidence, determination, and good spirits. Working together as a family of disciples, we can and will keep the faith alive and pass it along to the next generation of disciples. Of course, your ongoing support makes all the difference! So, please join me in praying that each of us, according to our means, will continue to give generously to our beloved parish.

Finally, please join me in thanking the members of the Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish Finance Council for their dedicated service, good advice, and wise counsel: Cindy Cafasso, Becky Carrancho, and Jean Madruga. Their commitment and hard work throughout the year ensures that we remain focused on making the best use of our limited financial resources. Finally, my deepest thanks go to our parishioners for their ongoing prayers and support. Your generosity makes possible all that we do together to make Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish a spirit-filled and vibrant faith community. Your kindness humbles me and sustain me in my ministry. Please know that you and your family are always in my prayers. Thank you for all you do! Peace and blessings to all!

Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com

OLGV Financial Report FY2022

This long process began by assembling a pastoral planning team. Rather than choosing a team that represented particular groups or interests, I decided to choose a team that gave voice to the different life experiences and vocations that are present within our parishes: a newly baptized single woman, a single man, a single mother, a widow and grandmother, a grandfather, a married father with children, a mother whose young adult children are not fully practicing their faith, a divorced and remarried woman, and an experienced elementary school teacher. This strategy was widely praised by archdiocesan leaders and is now being used in other parishes. More importantly, the members of our planning team gave generously of their time and talent to draft a three year pastoral plan that will empowers our parishes to become spirit-filled schools of prayer and dynamic centers of the New Evangelization.

During the course of this pastoral planning process, we identified three values that will direct the work of our parishes: prayer, fellowship, and service. We also developed three priorities that will guide our ministries and serve our most pressing needs: 1) creating a culture of discipleship (with primary emphasis on adult & youth faith formation); 2) creating a culture of stewardship (with primary emphasis on building maintenance and fundraising); and 3) creating a culture of vocations (with primary emphasis on praying for and promoting vocations to the diocesan priesthood). Lastly, we shaped a simple but compelling vision that will inspire our work together as disciples: “Live the Gospel. Share God’s love. Rebuild the Church.” This vision, along with our values and priorities, will serve as both the foundation and motivating energy of our shared ministries in the Lord’s vineyard.

Needless to say, I am excited about every component of our pastoral plan. In some areas, like youth faith formation, we have already made much progress in reimagining and rebuilding our programs. In others, like building maintenance and fundraising, we have much hard work ahead. Right now, I am particularly enthusiastic about two adult faith formation initiatives: our spiritual direction and retreat ministries. At this point, Cliff Garvey is the only trained and certified spiritual director in our parishes. By next spring, however, Cliff will be joined by two others: Ann Marie Noble and Patricia Bertero, who are completing the first year of their training program at Saint Anthony Shrine in Boston. I am also delighted that Cardinal Seán has approved our proposal to transform Saint Ann Rectory into a “House of Prayer” that will offer both directed and non-directed retreats under the guidance of a resident director. And I am very happy that Cliff has agreed to oversee this project. Throughout the Church, there is considerable demand for this kind of retreat ministry. In addition, rental income and retreat donations will make the former rectory more self-sufficient in terms of utility costs and ongoing maintenance expenses.

In accordance with archdiocesan guidelines, our pastoral plan was drafted to achieve practical results. It will be implemented with both flexibility and focus by me, our amazing pastoral team, and the dedicated family of volunteers who share their time, talent, and treasure with our parishes. Our pastoral plan is now posted below. Printed copies are also available at our pastoral office. And during the coming weeks and months, there will be much more to share with you about our plan. So, stay tuned! Until then, I wish to sincerely thank the members of our pastoral planning team: Andrea Ando, Peter Brau, Cliff Garvey, Thomas Misuraca, Ann Marie Noble, Jane Russo, Lori Thorstensen, Margaret Wiberg, and Betsy Works. As a pastor, I could not have hoped for a more positive and supportive group of parishioners with which to work on this important project. In addition, our team wishes to thank Denise Ehlen of Catholic Leadership Institute and Father Paul Soper, Director of Pastoral Planning for the Archdiocese of Boston, for their guidance, good friendship, and great advice during this process.

Peace and blessings to all,
Father Jim

Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com

Learn More: Our Pastoral Plan (2017-2019)

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