THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD A CALL TO JOY AND PRAYER OUR PASTOR S MESSAGE PAGE 3

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1 The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport HOLY FAMILY PARISH & OUR LADY OF GOOD VOYAGE PARISH A Community United in Prayer, Fellowship, and Service Sixth Sunday of Easter May 1, 2016 THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD A CALL TO JOY AND PRAYER OUR PASTOR S MESSAGE PAGE 3 The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport Please Join Us! All Are Welcome! Mail: 60 Prospect Street Gloucester, Massachusetts Phone: Fax: office@ccgronline.com Website: ccgronline.com Pastoral Office: 74 Pleasant Street Office Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00am-4:00pm

2 THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF GLOUCESTER & ROCKPORT OUR LADY OF GOOD VOYAGE PARISH CROWNING FEAST OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Monday, May 9th through Sunday, May 15th Our Lady of Good Voyage Church & Hall All are invited to join Father Jim, Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish, and the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in celebrating our Annual Crowning Feast of the Holy Spirit from Monday, May 9th through Pentecost Sunday, May 15th. Crowning Week will begin on Monday, May 9th in Our Lady s Church when the crown is entrusted to this year s Imperator, Bart Piscitello, and his wife, Mary, as part of a special ceremony. The festivities will continue according to the following schedule of events throughout the week: Monday, May 9th Imperator Ceremony & Rosary in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 6:30pm Tuesday, May 10th Holy Rosary in Our Lady s Hall at 6:30pm Wednesday, May 11th Celebration of Mass in Our Lady s Hall at 6:30pm Thursday, May 12th Rosary in Our Lady s Hall at 6:30pm Friday, May 13th Rosary in Our Lady s Hall at 6:30pm Saturday, May 14th Rosary in Our Lady s Church at 5:30pm Celebration of Mass in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 6:00pm Penny Sale in Our Lady s Hall at 7:00pm No Supper Refreshments Served Pentecost Sunday, May 15th Celebration of Mass & Crowning Ceremony in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 11:45am Luncheon in Our Lady s Hall at 1:00pm Tickets for Sunday s Luncheon are available at our pastoral offices; and also before and after we pray the Rosary each evening. Donations for our annual auction, which will take place right after the luncheon, will be much appreciated! For more information about tickets or donations to the auction, please contact Father Jim at or frjim@ccgronline.com. All are parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join us for this beautiful annual celebration of the coming of God s Holy Spirit! All are welcome! Come Holy Spirit! JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER MERCY FRIDAY A YEAR OF MERCY SPECIAL EVENT Friday, May 6th Begins at Noon In March 2015, Pope Francis announced that the Roman Catholic Church would celebrate a Jubilee Year of Mercy beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (last December 8th) and concluding on the Feast of Christ the King (this coming November 20th). And last December, Pope Francis inaugurated the Jubilee Year of Mercy by opening the Holy Door at Saint Peter s Basilica in Rome. Overall, the theme of this extraordinary jubilee year is Merciful Like the Father and its primary focus is an ongoing invitation to all people to experience God s forgiveness, love, and mercy through prayer, penance, worship, and the Sacraments of the Church. The tradition of the jubilee year is rooted in the Old Testament Book of Leviticus (Lev 25:8-13). In 1300, Pope Boniface VII convoked the first jubilee year in the Roman Catholic Church and offered all believers an opportunity for the universal forgiveness of sins. Since then, such holy or jubilee years have been celebrated every 25 or 50 years. The Catholic Church last celebrated a Jubilee Year in 2000 to mark the beginning of a new millennium. This Jubilee Year of Mercy is extraordinary because the Holy Father broke from tradition and announced it without advance notice or planning. In the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, we are celebrating the Jubilee Year of Mercy with special programs and events throughout the year. For example, our next Mercy Friday is scheduled for Friday, May 6th in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Our vigil of prayer will begin at 12:00pm with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Daytime Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. At 3:00pm, we will pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. From 5:00pm until 6:00pm, Father Jim will hear confessions. And at 6:30pm, we will conclude with Evening Prayer (with Homily) and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Please join us for all or part of this special day of devotion, prayer, and worship. All are welcome! Throughout the year, other programs and special events will include opportunities for scripture study, group spiritual direction, a fall mini-course, and a summer retreat all focused on offering our fellow parishioners and friends opportunities to deepen their personal relationships with the Lord and to experience God s love and mercy in their own lives. Throughout the year, let us pray for each other and for our parish communities: that the Lord will bless us with his boundless love and mercy. For more information about the Jubilee Year of Mercy in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com or May God have mercy on us all! 2

3 THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF GLOUCESTER & ROCKPORT MAY 1, 2016 CELEBRATING OUR BLESSED MOTHER CROWNING OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Saturday, May 7th at 3:15pm Saint Ann Church All are welcome to join Father Jim and the Legion of Mary for the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport s Annual May Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday, May 7th in Saint Ann Church. We will begin our celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 3:15pm by praying the Holy Rosary. At 4:00pm, Father Jim will celebrate a Mother s Day Mass for Families that will include the crowning of Our Blessed Mother. All parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join us for this special afternoon of prayer and devotion! For more information, please see Father Jim or contact Joan Foster at ajay7verizon.net or leave a message with the parish office at Please join us in honoring Our Blessed Mother! All are welcome! MAGNIFICAT: MARY S SONG OF MERCY A Day of Prayer & Reflection Saturday, May 14th Begins with Mass at 8:00am All are invited to join the Legion of Mary and its spiritual director, Cliff Garvey, for Magnificat: Mary s Song of Mercy on Saturday, May 14th at Saint Anthony Chapel. During this four hour mini-retreat, we will explore the meaning and spiritual significance of the Magnifact (see Luke 1:46-55), Our Blessed Mother s beautiful hymn of praise and thanksgiving, and its message of humility, love, and mercy. This special day of prayer and reflection will proceed according to the following schedule: Holy Mass at 8:00am Morning Prayer & Reflection at 9:00am Eucharistic Adoration & Rosary at 10:00am Daytime Prayer & Reflection at 11:00am Angelus & Closing Prayer at 12:00pm Throughout the morning, there will be scheduled breaks and also time for faith sharing, fellowship, and refreshments. Coffee, tea, and bottled water will be available throughout the morning. And after closing prayers, a light lunch will be served. Although there is no registration fee for this event, a free will donation will be collected during the celebration of Mass. Also, please note that there will be no morning Mass at Saint Ann Church on Saturday, May 14th. If you would like to join the Legion of Mary for this special day of prayer and reflection, please contact Cliff Garvey at or cgarvey@ccgronline.com by Thursday, May 12th so that we can plan adequately for enough food and drink. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome! 3 OUR PASTOR S MESSAGE THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD A CALL TO JOY AND PRAYER The Gospels record the birth of Jesus but offer few details about his childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Biblical scholars remind us that the Lord s public life begins when he is found fervently praying in the temple, the place of prayer for his people. The Gospels then record his public ministry: the healings, miracles, preaching, and call of his first followers. The Gospels then recount his passion, death, and miraculous resurrection. And later this week, Saint Luke gives his account of the Lord s glorious ascension into heaven (Luke 24:46-53). Luke tells us that the Risen Jesus leads the disciples to Bethany, not far from Jerusalem, where he had previously dined with lepers and raised Lazarus from the dead. He brings them there, blesses them, and promises that God will sanctify them with power from on high (Luke 24:49). Jesus is then taken up into heaven and seated at the right hand of the Father. The disciples are astonished, awestruck, and overcome with great joy. They return to Jerusalem, dedicate their lives to prayer and worship, and await the coming of the Holy Spirit. Two thousand years later, we are called to imitate Jesus and the disciples. Whatever our vocation (whether it s marriage, diaconate, priesthood, or the single life), we are beckoned by God to make our relationship with him the center of our lives; to make it the relationship upon which all other relationships depend for their love, sustenance, and strength; and finally to humbly love and serve the Lord and each other. Like the disciples, we are beckoned to respond with joyful praise and thanksgiving for the miracle of the Lord s resurrection, his ascension into heaven, and the coming of his Holy Spirit. And like both Jesus and his disciples, we are called to prayer to praise, petition, and thank the God who created us, loves us, forgives us, fortifies us, and heals us. And we are called to the joy that comes in knowing that we too will be raised up into heaven. This Thursday, May 5th, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. This annual commemoration is a holy day of obligation for all Catholics. It is also a moment to remind ourselves of God s call to joy and prayer. So wherever we find ourselves on the journey of faith, let us pause this week to remember the disciples, who despite their imperfections, dedicated themselves to joyful prayer, fellowship, and service to God and to each other. Let us remember our Risen Lord who gave his life for us. And let us always remember that he intercedes for us at the right hand of God, our Father in heaven. Amen! Peace and blessings to all, Father Jim

4 THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF GLOUCESTER & ROCKPORT PRAYER, FELLOWSHIP & SERVICE SOLEMNITY of the ASCENSION of the LORD Holy Day of Obligation Thursday, May 5th For the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, a holy day of obligation for all Catholics, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport will celebrate Masses according to the following schedule: Wednesday, May 4th at 7:00pm in Saint Ann Church; Thursday, May 5th at 8:00am in Saint Joachim Church; and Thursday, May 5th at 12:00pm in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. For more information, please contact Father Jim at or frjim@ccgronline.com. Please join us! All are welcome! EUCHARISTIC ADORATION The Holy Father s Favorite Way to Pray Pope Francis was asked recently in an interview about his favorite way of praying. In response, the Holy Father replied: What I truly prefer is Eucharistic Adoration in the evening, even when I am distracted or think of other things, or even fall asleep while praying. In the evening, between seven and eight o clock, I pray in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Eucharistic Adoration is an ancient and prayerful devotion to the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Each week, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport offers four opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration: Monday Evenings at Saint Joachim Church (6:30pm- 8:00pm); Thursday Evenings at Saint Ann Church (6:30pm -7:30pm); and Tuesday and Thursday Mornings at Saint Joachim Church (8:30am-10:00am). For more information, please contact Jane Russo at jlrusso333@hotmail.com or Please join us! All are welcome! THE LEGION OF MARY Tuesdays at 4:00pm Parish Center Founded in Ireland in 1921, the Legion of Mary is an international fellowship of lay men and women who volunteer their time, talents, and prayers under the banner of the Blessed Virgin Mary by practicing the spiritual works of mercy in both of our parish communities. The Legion s primary apostolate is to visit and pray with our aged, disabled, homebound, and sick fellow parishioners. Members also serve in many other volunteer ministries in both Holy Family Parish & Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. Every Tuesday afternoon at 4:00pm, the Legion of Mary gathers in the Parish Center (Saint Ann Campus) to pray the Rosary, share their faith experiences, and participate in a period of faith formation under the guidance of their spiritual director. For more information about the Legion of Mary, please contact Joan Foster at ajay7@verizon.net; Sue Demetri at sdemetri2000@yahoo.com; or leave a message by calling our pastoral office at Please join us! New members are always welcome! SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YOUTH FAITH FORMATION MOTHER S DAY MASS FOR FAMILIES Saturday, May 7th at 4:00pm Saint Ann Church 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 belongs (Mt 19:14). In response to the Lord s call, all parents, grandparents, godparents, and children of all ages are invited to join Father Jim for our Mother s Day Mass for Families on Saturday, May 7th at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church. During Mass, Father Jim will offer a special homily about Our Blessed Mother and Mother s Day; and also offer a special blessing for all families and children. In addition, those who gather for this Mass for Families will join the Legion of Mary in the Annual May Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This celebration will be a beautiful way to honor Our Blessed Mother and all mothers! As our Mother s Day Mass for Families approaches, let us reaffirm that Mass is our class! Jesus is our teacher! And every family that joins us is a gift from God! For more information, please contact Father Jim at or frjim@ccgronline.com. All are invited! All are welcome! PASTOR S NOTE SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THANKS Last week, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport sponsored its first ever Spring Vacation Catholic Kids Camp called The Vatican Express. During this weeklong program, eighteen young disciples learned about the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church through interactive activities and crafts. Everyone involved in this special program (children, parents, and volunteers) agree that it was a great success! The success of this special program depended on a team of dedicated ministers and volunteers. Our young disciples wish to sincerely thank the following parishioners who volunteered their time and talent to this program: Carol Burns, Jennifer Dort, Grace Figuerido, Michael LePenna, Sean Lilly, Jean Madruga, Mary Ellen McLeod, Diane Story, and Deacon Raymond Wellbank. In addition, special thanks go to Betsy Works, Rizza Anderson, and Fernanda Brown for their incredible devotion and hard work in planning this program and bringing it to fruition for our young disciples and their families. In particular, Rizza is just twelve years old, but served her parish family with great dedication and distinction! The Vatican Express is part of our effort to reimagine, rebuild, and restructure our youth faith formation program. For more information, please see Father Jim or contact Betsy Works at or bworks@ccgronline.com. Our next Catholic Kids Camp is coming soon! Stay tuned for more information! Peace and blessings to all! 4

5 THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF GLOUCESTER & ROCKPORT MAY 1, 2016 SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Schedule for the Month of May The Sacrament of Baptism is the first of three Sacraments of Initiation in the Roman Catholic Church. The two other Sacraments of Initiation are Eucharist and Confirmation. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism, we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church, and made sharers in her mission (CCC 1213). During May, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport will celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism according to the following schedule: Baptism Preparation Workshop Sunday, May 1st at 11:00am Saint Ann Church Sacrament of Baptism Sunday, May 8th at 1:00pm Our Lady of Good Voyage Church Sacrament of Baptism Sunday, May 15th at 11:00am Saint Ann Church Sacrament of Baptism Sunday, May 22nd at 11:00am Saint Joachim Church Since Easter Sunday, the following children received the Sacrament of Baptism here in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport: Aubree Borges Giuliana Cannavo Ryan Conrad Nico Dawes Landon Hardy Grant Kendall Ascher Krawczyk Kai Latraverse Claudia Maniaci Leo Mazzeo Parker McNelly Gwen Quadros Shannon Robertson Allie Simon Elyse von Lossnitzer Kate von Lossnitzer Henry Walker If you would like to arrange for your child s baptism, please contact Melissa Unis at office@ccgronline.com or If you are an adult who has not been baptized and would like to prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism or the other Sacraments of Initiation in the Roman Catholic Church, please contact Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com or Congratulations! Please pray for these recently baptized children, their parents, grandparents, and godparents! Thank you for your prayers! May God bless you and your family throughout the new year! PRAYER, FELLOWSHIP & SERVICE ASSISI PROJECT ONLINE The Tau Cross: A Mark of Christian Faith Have you seen someone wearing a t-shaped cross? Find out what it means by reading The Tau Cross: A Mark of Christian Faith at assisiproject.com! For a printed copy or more information about the Assisi Project, please contact Cliff Garvey at or cgarvey@ccgronline.com. May the Risen Lord give you peace! HOLY FAMILY WOMEN S GUILD SPRING INTO SPRING Tuesday, May 3rd Our Lady s Hall 7:00pm On Tuesday, May 3rd beginning at 7:00pm (with a brief business meeting), the Women s Guild will welcome Karen McBain of Garden Paths Creations in Our Lady s Parish Hall. Karen and her green thumb will help us with ideas for our gardens at home and for the upcoming Strawberry Festival. All are invited to join us for this wonderful way of welcoming the spring season! Refreshments will be served! Established in 2005, the Holy Family Women s Guild brings together women of all ages in prayer, fellowship, and service to our parish and the community. Throughout the year, the Women s Guild hosts various fundraising events and social gatherings. For more information, please contact Lydia Bertolino at or Robin Davis at All are welcome! HOLY FAMILY WOMEN S GUILD STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL Saturday, June 4th Saint Ann Church Hall On Saturday, June 4th from 9:00am until 2:00pm, the Holy Family Women s Guild will host the Annual Strawberry Festival in Saint Ann Church Hall. For the second year, the Guild will honor the Gloucester Fishermen with the Lobstermen s mug up served in ceramic mugs made by local potters along with delicious homemade biscotti. Homemade muffins will also be available for sale. We will also have decorative lobster buoys for sale (which will be paired with a gift certificate). The buoys are a new item and will look great hung on a door or shed! Family and friends who live away from the island will also love a piece of authentic Gloucester! Along with Grannie s Attic, Italian cookies, pies, and other homemade baked goods, we ll also have a Bread Board with Irish Bread, Nisu, Sweet Bread, Lebanese Bread, and an assortment of quick breads. We ll also have homemade jam, spring wreaths, note cards, and other crafts! And finally, we ll have Strawberry Shortcake to boost your strength while you shop! For more information about how you can help out with this year s Strawberry Festival, please contact Janet Lucido at Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!

6 THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF GLOUCESTER & ROCKPORT Saturday, April 30 4:00pm Saint Ann 6:00pm OLGV Sunday, May 1 7:00am OLGV 8:15am Saint Ann 10:00am Saint Joachim 11:45am OLGV 5:00pm Saint Ann Monday, May 2 8:00am OLGV Tuesday, May 3 8:00am Saint Joachim Wednesday, May 4 8:00am OLGV Thursday, May 5 Ascension Thursday Friday, May 6 8:00am OLGV Saturday, May 7 8:00am Saint Ann Saturday, May 7 4:00pm Saint Ann 6:00pm OLGV Sunday, May 8 7:00am OLGV 8:15am Saint Ann 10:00am Saint Joachim 11:45am OLGV 5:00pm Saint Ann OUR MASS INTENTIONS _ APRIL 30 - MAY 8, 2016 Vigil Sixth Sunday of Easter Josephine & Captain Salvatore Santuccio and Family Agnes Sliwa Sixth Sunday of Easter Captain Joseph Parco Santo Aloi Norman Taylor Mary & James Burns Mass for the People Sixth Week of Easter Eugene, Veronica & Manny Naves Rose, Paul & David Gartland and Don Benton Katherine J. Sciuto 7:00pm Vigil William & Grace Budrow 8:00am José Agostinho Alves 12:00pm Alfred Raymond Elizabeth Betty Murphy Francis Giana Maggiore Vigil Seventh Sunday of Easter Seventh Sunday of Easter 6 OUR WEEKLY OFFERINGS _ SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER HOLY FAMILY PARISH Weekend of April 23rd - April 24th Weekly Offerings at Mass $7, Electronic Donations $1, Total Offerings $8, Second Collection (Home Missions) $1, Grand Annual Collection $81, Thank you for your generous support of Holy Family Parish! OUR LADY OF GOOD VOYAGE PARISH Weekend of April 23rd - April 24th Weekly Offerings at Mass $3, Total Offerings $3, Second Collection (Home Missions) $ Grand Annual Collection $31, Thank you for your generous support of Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish! PARISH PAY Safe & Easy Electronic Giving Electronic giving is now available at both Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. It is easy, simple, and safe to make online donations to your home parish using a credit cared, debit card, or electronic check. At parishpay.com, donations can be made on a one-time only or ongoing basis. And it takes just a few minutes to set up a secure personal account. For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com or Thank you for your generous support! SANCTUARY GIFTS At each of the churches in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, sanctuary flowers, sanctuary lamps, and altar gifts (hosts & wine) can be donated for a special intention or in memory of a departed loved one. The requested donation for flowers is $250. The requested donation for altar gifts is $175. And the requested donation for a sanctuary lamp is $25. This week, donations were offered for the following intentions: In Memory of Capt. Salvatore & Sarina Barbara and Gerard O Connor Sanctuary Gifts Saint Ann Church In Memory of All Deceased Mothers & Grandmothers Sanctuary Candle Saint Ann Church For more information about donating sanctuary gifts in memory of a deceased friend or loved one, please contact Melissa Unis at office@ccgronline.com or Thank you for your generous support of Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish!