The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport

HOLY FAMILY PARISH & OUR LADY OF GOOD VOYAGE PARISH

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A Community United in Prayer, Fellowship, and Service

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe ∙ November 26, 2017

A MEDITATION ON CHRIST THE KING

THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE — PAGE 3

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The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport

Live the Gospel. Share God’s Love. Rebuild the Church.

74 Pleasant Street ∙ Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 Phone: 978-281-4820· Fax: 978-281-4964· Email: office@ccgronline.com· Website: ccgronline.com

Office Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00am-4:00pm

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THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF GLOUCESTER & ROCKPORT SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING

HOLY SEASON OF ADVENT

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Father Jim’s Advent Scripture Study

THE MESSIAH: THE TEXTS BEHIND HANDEL’S MASTERPIECE

BEGINS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH AT NOON — OUR LADY’S HALL

During the Holy Season of Advent, all adult parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Com-munity of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join Father Jim for a weekly lunchtime scripture study based on the scriptural libretto of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.” On four consecutive Thursdays from November 30th through December 21st at 12:00pm in Our Lady’s Hall, Father Jim will lead a one-hour discussion and reflection on the scripture passages used in Handel’s beautiful operatic treatment of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In preparation for each week’s session, participants will be asked to read from Douglas Connelly’s book, “The Messiah: The Texts Behind Handel’s Masterpiece.” All participants are welcome to bring their own lunch and join us for as many sessions as possible. A donation of $20.00 is requested from those who can afford it. Participants will be provided with a copy of the book, along with coffee, tea, or bottled water. If you would like to join us for this special scripture study series, please contact Fa-ther Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com or 978-281-4820. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!

Advent Faith & Family Mass

A YOUTH FAITH FORMATION SPECIAL EVENT

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2ND 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 (Matthew 19:14).” In response to the Lord’s call, all children, parents, grandparents, godparents, and guardians are invited to join Father Jim for our Third Annual Advent Faith & Family Mass on Saturday, December 2nd at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church. During Mass, Father Jim will offer a special homily about the Jesse Tree (see Isaiah 11:1-4) and a special blessing for all families and children. In addition, every child will receive a special gift.

Please save these dates for our upcoming Faith & Family Masses: Saturday, January 6th at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church; Sunday, February 18th at 11:45am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church; and Sat-urday, May 12th at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church. For more information about our Advent Faith & Family Mass, please see Father Jim or contact Betsy Works at bworks@ccgronline.com or 978-281-4820. Let us reaffirm that Mass is our class! Jesus is our Teacher! Every child is a gift from God! And every family in our pews is a gift from God, too! Please spread the word among your family and friends! Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!

Advent & Christmas Concert

AN ANNUAL HOLIDAY TRADITION

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3RD AT 2:00PM — SAINT ANN CHURCH

All parishioners, friends, and guests of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invit-ed to join Tom Misuraca, LuAnn Pallazola, and our adult and youth music ministries for our Thir-teenth Annual Advent & Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 3rd at 2:00pm in Saint Ann Church. All of this year’s musical selections have been chosen to help prepare our hearts to celebrate more fully the Holy Season of Advent and the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas. As always, our adult and youth choirs will perform along with talented instrumentalists. In addition, members of our Brazilian Community will perform with us, too! For more information about this popular holiday tradition, please contact Tom Misuraca at tmisuraca@ccgronline.com or 978-281-4820. Please join us as we share the gift of music! All are invited! All are welcome!

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THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF GLOUCESTER & ROCKPORT NOVEMBER 26, 2017

THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE

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A Meditation on Christ the King

By Cliff Garvey

Lord Jesus, you are priest,

you are prophet, you are king.

Lord Jesus, you are our priest,

the shepherd of our souls. By your sacrifice,

you feed us. With your hand,

you lead us. Within your arms,

you comfort us.

Lord Jesus, you are our prophet,

the teacher of all that is true. By your passion,

you save us. With your blood, you redeem us.

Beneath your cross, you call us to prayer and service.

Lord Jesus, you are our king,

the servant of all God’s children. By your surrender,

you vindicate our broken lives. With your word,

you sanctify our troubled world. Through your resurrection, you deliver us from death.

Lord Jesus, by your grace,

show us the way to faith, teach us how to hope, lead us forth in love

for all people, for all time.

Lord Jesus, you are our God and Savior,

our friend and brother, our all good and suffering King;

you are the Christ for ever and ever. Amen.

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THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF GLOUCESTER & ROCKPORT SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING

PRAYER, FELLOWSHIP, AND SERVICE ____________________

OUR LADY OF GOOD VOYAGE PARISH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FAIR

Saturday, December 2nd· 9:00am—1:00pm

All are invited to join Our Lady’s Guild for the Annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 2nd from 9:00am until 1:00pm in Our Lady’s Parish Hall. Highlights will include a fried dough breakfast, a linguiça and hot dog lunch, coffee, soft drinks, and all the fixings!

Sale tables will include the general store, Christmas deco-ration, religious items, jewelry, plants, cookies, fudge, baked goods, and our delicious homemade sweetbread. We will also have a Mega Raffle Table with many great prizes! And Santa Claus is scheduled to appear at 11:30am with treats for our children! Volunteers are still needed for set-up and clean-up! For more information, please contact Beth Fosberry at jcbf33@yahoo.com or 978-790-0196. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!

MADONNA DEL ROSARIO SOCIETY ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Saturday, December 2nd· Begins at Noon

The Madonna Del Rosario Society will celebrate the Christmas Season with a luncheon at the Gloucester House Restaurant on Saturday, December 2nd. Our annu-al holiday gathering will begin with a brief business meet-ing at noon, followed by the luncheon. After lunch, we will have a raffle and a friendly game of bingo! Annual dues will be collected, too. For more information about the Madonnna Del Rosario Society or to purchase tickets for our Annual Christmas Celebration, please contact Grace at 978-281-1907 or Marie at 978-283-7820. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!

MASS INTENTIONS BOOK Wednesday, December 6th· 9:00am—10:30am

The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport’s Mass Intentions Book (January 2018—June 2018) will be opened on Wednesday, December 6th from 9:00am until 10:30am in our parish offices (located at 74 Pleasant Street in Gloucester). During that time, all parishioners are wel-come to book one Sunday Mass and one weekday Mass at Saint Ann Church, Saint Joachim Church, or Our Lady of Good Voyage Church.

Please note that on December 6th, all Mass intentions must be booked in person. No email, fax, or phone re-quests will be accepted. No exceptions! Remaining Masses can be booked on or after Monday, December 11th during regular business hours. For more information, please see Father Jim or contact Melissa Unis at 978-281-4820 or of-fice@ccgronline.com. Thank you!

ADVENT MISSION & RETREAT ____________________

SEASONS OF THE HEART with SISTER ELIZABETH WAGNER

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ADVENT MISSION & RETREAT December 6th—December 8th at 7:00pm

All are invited to join us for the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport’s Advent Mission & Retreat from Wednesday, December 6th through Friday, December 8th in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. Each evening will begin with Evening Prayer and Mass at 7:00pm. We will be blessed to welcome back Sister Elizabeth Wagner as our special guest and spiritual director, who will lead us in prayer and reflection each evening after Mass.

Sister Elizabeth lives a contemplative life at Transfigura-tion Hermitage in Windsor, Maine, which she founded as a semi-eremitical community devoted to prayer and soli-tude according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. She is a her-mit, award-winning writer, spiritual director, and retreat leader. Sister Elizabeth is also formation director, garden-er, and groundskeeper of the hermitage.

In addition to Sister Elizabeth’s nightly reflections during our mission and retreat, she will sign copies of her book, “Seasons In My Garden.” This beautiful book intricately weaves insights from her own spiritual journey with ob-servations about the passing of seasons. It offers readers spiritual guidance and understanding that the patient tending of the soul can transform our lives into flourish-ing gardens that God can use to reflect his glory. Copies of the book will be available for $16.95 per copy.

Sister Elizabeth and Sister Bernadette (the hermitage’s baker and cook) will also tempt us with their famous homemade fruitcakes, cookies, jams, and sauces (all of which will be available for purchase after each evening of the mission and retreat). All proceeds will benefit Trans-figuration Hermitage which depends on the generosity of benefactors and friends from around the world.

Please note that the Advent Mission & Retreat is free but donations will be gratefully accepted during Mass to sup-port our adult faith formation programs. For more infor-mation, please contact Cliff Garvey at 978-281-4820 or cgarvey@ccgronline.com. Please join us! All are invited! All are welcome!

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THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF GLOUCESTER & ROCKPORT NOVEMBER 26, 2017

PRAYER, FELLOWSHIP, AND SERVICE ____________________

SOLEMNITY of the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION

Friday, December 8th

In honor of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Friday, December 8th, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport invites you and your family and friends to join us for Mass ac-cording to the following schedule:

Thursday, December 7th· Vigil Mass Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 7:00pm

Friday, December 8th· Holy Day Masses Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 8:00am

Saint Ann Church at 12:00pm Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 7:00pm

Since late antiquity, the People of God have believed that the Blessed Virgin Mary was sinless and conceived im-maculately in the womb of her mother, Saint Ann. This ancient devotion was not defined as doctrine until 1854. Since then, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception has been patroness of many causes and nations, including the United States of America. So, please join us as we honor our Blessed Mother and beg her powerful intercession for our families, our parishes, and our country. All are invit-ed! All are welcome!

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY CHRISTMAS GIVING TREES

Help Us Share the Blessings of Christmas!

This year, the Saint Vincent de Paul Society will once again sponsor the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport’s Annual Christmas Giving Trees which help share the blessings of Christmas with local families in need. The Giving Trees will be placed at the entrances of Saint Ann Church, Saint Joachim Church, and Our Lady of Good Voyage Church during the weekend of Novem-ber 25th—November 26th.

Each tree will be decorated with colored stars that include a particular Christmas wish. If you can fulfill this wish, please take the star! Each gift should be donated new, un-used, and unwrapped; and placed under the tree with the original star attached or delivered to our parish office. The Christmas Giving Trees will remain at our church entrances through Sunday, December 10th. All gifts should be returned no later than Tuesday, December 12th at 12:00pm. For more information, please contact Barbara Frontiero at barbara.frontiero@gortons.com or 978-281-4820. May God bless you for your generous support!

MORE NEWS & INFORMATION ONLINE! Join us: ccgronline.com | @ccgronline

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM ____________________

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Our Schedule for December 2017

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 the month of December, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport will celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism according to the following schedule:

Baptism Preparation Workshop Sunday, December 3rd at 11:00am

Saint Ann Church

Sacrament of Baptism Sunday, December 10th at 1:00pm

Saint Ann Church

Sacrament of Baptism Sunday, December 17th at 1:00pm Our Lady of Good Voyage Church

This past month, the following children were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit here in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport:

Stephen Brown Charles Cunningham

Roberto Frontiero Tanner Frontiero Julian Margiotta Rowyn Marnoto Andre Rodriguez

Niko Viator Paisley Williams

If you would like to schedule your child’s baptism, please contact Melissa Unis at office@ccgronline.com or 978-281-4820. Please pray for all of our newly baptized young dis-ciples and their families! Congratulations to all! All are invited to learn more about the Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church by visiting our website: ccgronline.com/sacraments! Please join us! All are welcome!

THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF GLOUCESTER & ROCKPORT SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING

OUR WEEKLY OFFERINGS _____________________

HOLY FAMILY PARISH Weekend of November 18th—November 19th

Weekly Offerings $6,880.00

Electronic Donations $878.00

Total Offerings $7,758.00

Second Collection n/a

Saint Ann Church Restoration $223,329.00

Thank you for your generous support of Holy Family Parish!

OUR LADY OF GOOD VOYAGE PARISH Weekend of November 18th—November 19th

Weekly Offerings $2,921.00

Electronic Donations $80.00

Total Offerings $3,001.00

Second Collection (Thanksgiving Meals) $1,518.00

Grand Annual Collection $12,594.00

Thank you for your generous support of Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish!

SANCTUARY GIFTS

At each of the churches in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, sanctuary flowers, sanctuary can-dles, 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 request-ed donation for altar gifts is $175. And the requested do-nation for a sanctuary candle is $25. This week, donations were offered for the following intentions:

In Memory of Charles DeCoste Sanctuary Candle· Saint Ann Church

In Memory of Buzzy Bertolino Sanctuary Candle· Saint Joachim Church

In Memory of the Cilluffo & Giambanco Families Sanctuary Candle· Saint Anthony Chapel

In Memory of Habeeb & Rose Sallah Sanctuary Candle· Our Lady of Good Voyage Church

For more information about donating sanctuary candles, flowers, or gifts for a special intention or in memory of a deceased friend or loved one, please contact Melissa Unis at office@ccgronline.com or 978-281-4820. Thank you for your generous support of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport at Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish! May God bless you and your family — now and always!

OUR MASS INTENTIONS _____________________

NOVEMBER 25—DECEMBER 3, 2017

Saturday, November 25 Vigil· Christ the King

4:00pm· Saint Ann The Romeo Family

6:00pm· OLGV John Carrancho

Sunday, November 26 Solemnity of Christ the King

7:00am· OLGV Giuseppe Tedesco

8:15am· Saint Ann Anthony Piraino

10:00am· Saint Joachim Phyllis Toppan

11:45am· OLGV Alfredo Silva

5:00pm· Saint Ann Mass for the People

34th Week in Ordinary Time

Monday, November 27 8:00am· OLGV

John “Gus” Foote

Tuesday, November 28 8:00am· Saint Joachim Antonia Ciolino & Family

Wednesday, November 29 8:00am· OLGV

Kathryn A. McCarthy

Thursday, November 30 8:00am· Saint Joachim Bill & Eunice Smith

Friday, December 1 8:00am· OLGV Jose & Maria DaSilva Vinagre

Saturday, December 2 8:00am· OLGV Giovanni Lo Iacono

Saturday, December 2 Vigil· First Sunday of Advent

4:00pm· Saint Ann Joseph Barbagallo

6:00pm· OLGV Francis, Elizabeth & Peter Bruni

Sunday, December 3 First Sunday of Advent

7:00am· OLGV Norman J. DuLong, Jr.

8:15am· Saint Ann Rita & Joseph Girard

10:00am· Saint Joachim Josephine Rallo

11:45am· OLGV Pietro Noto

5:00pm· Saint Ann Mass for the People