Watch: Sunday Mass with Father Jim (3-29-26)
Listen: Pray As You Go Daily Meditations
Read: Scripture for Life (3-29-26)
Our Pastor’s Message
Hard Questions
By Father Jim
Holy Week is filled to overflowing with moments that can disturb our faith and our consciences. Holy Week draws us into the dramatic fulfillment of God’s promises. Holy Week calls us to reflect and respond to those promises that God has made to his people, which are then accomplished through the teaching and suffering of Jesus. Holy Week raises questions that confound us in the same way that they confounded sinners in the scriptures: disciples, Sanhedrin, Pontius Pilate, and crowds that clamored for the Lord’s crucifixion. In the end, Holy Week raises questions that call for our response:
- What are you willing to give me?
- Surely it is not I, Lord?
- Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?
- Have you no answer?
- Aren’t you, too, one of his disciples?
- What evil has he done?
- Why have you forsaken me?
Some of these difficult questions are answered. Some are left unanswered. Some call out evil. Some call for action. Some call for inaction. But all of them call us to prayer, discernment, and a deep and penetrating examination of conscience. After the dictatorship ordered the murder of a close friend and fellow pastor, Archbishop Oscar Romero (1917-1980) experienced a profound conversion. He experienced a mystical kind of Holy Week. And he was prompted to confront the challenging questions raised by the Gospel narrative of the Lord’s Passion. Archbishop Romero then said: “This is what the Church wants: to disturb people’s consciences and to provoke a crisis in their lives. A Church that does not provoke, a Gospel that does not disturb, a word from God that does not irritate, a word from God that does not touch the concrete sin of the society in which it is proclaimed: What kind of Gospel is that?”
Saint Oscar Romero surely disturbed the consciences of his flock. He irritated, then infuriated, his country’s government. His message, rooted in and inspired by the Gospel, called out the sins of injustice, indifference, poverty, oppression, and violence. So, how did Saint Oscar Romero answer the hard questions of Holy Week? He remained a true and faithful disciple. He found the courage to call out the corruption and cruelty of government leaders. He stood in solidarity with the poor, the persecuted, and the unjustly imprisoned. He became willing to surrender his life for the sake of the Gospel. And he never betrayed the Lord but remained ever steadfast in prayer, fellowship, and service to Christ and his people.
How will we respond to the hard questions of Holy Week? Are our consciences troubled? Are we courageous enough to stand up and speak out against hatred and injustice? Are we ready to choose love and unity over anger and division? Are we ready to offer our lives for Jesus and his Gospel? As Holy Week begins, I am reminded again of words often repeated by Deacon Bill Kane: “May the Gospel of Christ disturb you!”
Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com
Listen: Saint of the Day – Oscar Romero (1.5 Minutes)
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (3-29-26)
Bringing Home the Word (3-29-26)
The Kids Bulletin (3-29-26)
New!
Who Was Saint Oscar Romero?
Birth of a Martyr
Franciscan Media Video
Art Credit: Bernardo Ramonfaur – Dreamstime – 270022754
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Call to Prayer
Saint Oscar Romero
Easter is now the cry of victory!
No one can quench the life that Christ has resurrected.
Neither death, nor all the banners
of death and hatred raised against Him
and against His Church, can prevail!
He is the victorious one!
Just as He will thrive in an unending Easter,
so we must accompany Him
in a Lent and Holy Week
of cross, sacrifice, and martyrdom.
As He said, blessed are they
who are not scandalized by his cross.
Learn More: Vatican News – Saint Oscar Romero
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Saint Oscar Romero
Bishop & Martyr
Saint Oscar Romero was born in poverty in 1917 and died by violence in 1980. For just three years, he served as Archbishop of San Salvador in the nation named for our Lord and Savior. His pastoral plan was simple. Live the Gospel. Share God’s love and mercy. Serve the poor. Build up the Church. For his efforts, Archbishop Romero was criticized by some for not doing enough. He was vilified by others for saying too much.
Archbishop Romero was shot once through the heart while celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980. In his final homily, he said: “In the name of God and in the name of the suffering people whose cries rise to heaven more loudly each day, I implore you, I beg you, I order you in the name of God: Stop the repression!” And just moments before his assassination, he said: “One must not love oneself so much as to avoid getting involved in the risks of life that history demands of us.”
Saint Oscar Romero offered his life for peace, truth and justice. He offered his life for the poor, the persecuted, and the unjustly imprisoned in his crucified country. In 2015, he was declared a Martyr for the Gospel by Pope Francis; and he was canonized in 2016 by Pope Francis. Saint Oscar Romero is venerated both as patron of El Salvador and as a patron of all the Americas. His feast day is March 24th.
Listen: Saint Oscar Romero – Bishop & Martyr
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Call to Prayer
The Way of the Cross
Palm Sunday, March 29th
A Contemporary Interpretation with Music
During an Apostolic Journey to Poland in 2016, Pope Francis (1936-2025) said: “The Way of the Cross alone defeats sin, evil, and death, because it leads us to the radiant light of Christ’s resurrection and opens the horizons of a new and fuller life. It is the way of hope, the way of the future. Those who take up the Way of the Cross with faith and generosity offer us hope and a bright future to all humanity.”
In this spirit, all friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join Father Jim for a Contemporary Way of the Cross on Sunday, March 29th at 5:30pm in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. During this special event, we will combine traditional prayers and scriptures with music from various genres in order to grower closer to our Crucified Lord and Savior.
For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. In the words of Saint Francis of Assisi: “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you! By your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world!” Please join us! Bring a friend! Bring your family! Spread the word! All are invited! All are welcome!
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Words of Wisdom from Saint Oscar Romero
Faith is what a child has
when its father puts out his hands
and says ‘Jump!’ and the child leaps into space
with the assurance that its father’s hands
will not let it fall.
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Youth Choir & Music Ministry
Wednesday, April 1st
All young disciples, boys and girls, ages 8 through 17, are invited to share their musical talents with our parishes! Rehearsals continue on Wednesday, April 1st at 5:30pm in Saint Ann Church! Being a part of our youth music ministry is a great way to make new friends and learn about the Lord! For more information, please contact Patty Natti at pnatti@comcast.net. Save the date! Spread the word! Please join us! All are welcome!
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The Easter Triduum
April 2nd through April 5th
All Are Welcome!
All friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport are invited to join us for the commemoration of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum! Bring a friend! Bring your family! All are welcome! Always!
Holy Thursday, April 2nd
- Morning Prayer at 8:00am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church - Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00pm
Saint Ann Churchc - Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament
After Mass Until 10:00pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Good Friday, April 3rd
- Morning Prayer at 8:00am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church - Way of the Cross at 12:00pm
Saint Ann Church - Good Friday Service at 3:00pm
Saint Joachim Church - Good Friday Service at 7:00pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Holy Saturday, April 4th
- Morning Prayer at 8:00am
Saint Ann Church - Easter Vigil Mass at 7:00pm
Saint Ann Church
Easter Sunday, April 5th
- Mass at 7:00am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church - Mass at 8:15am
Saint Ann Church - Mass at 10:00am
Saint Joachim Church - Mass at 11:45am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. On behalf of our pastor, senior priests, and pastoral team, may God bless us with peace, truth, and justice throughout Holy Week and beyond!
Watch: Catholic Easter Traditions (2 Minutes)
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Divine Mercy
A Celebration of God’s Love
Saturday, April 11th
In 2000, Saint John Paul II (1920-2005) canonized Sister Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) and designated the Second Sunday of Easter as the Feast of Divine Mercy. This devotion reflects a mystical message from Jesus that Sister Faustina shared with the world: “Humanity will never find peace until it turns with trust to Divine Mercy. This is the Easter gift that the Church receives from the Risen Christ and offers to all people.”
In this spirit, all friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners are invited to join Father Jim and the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport for a Celebration of Divine Mercy on Saturday, April 11th beginning at 2:00pm in Saint Ann Church. Here’s our schedule of prayer and worship: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 2:00pm; Holy Rosary at 2:15pm; Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00pm; Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 3:20pm; and Holy Mass at 4:00pm.
A Prayer for Divine Mercy
Eternal Father,
I offer you the Body and Blood,
Soul and Divinity
of your dearly Beloved Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
in atonement for our sins
and those of the whole world.
For the sake of his sorrowful Passion,
have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen.
We hope and pray that you and your family can join us for all or at least part of this special day of prayer, devotion, and adoration. For more information, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Now more than ever, let’s pray together! All are welcome!
Watch: Divine Mercy Chaplet with Bishop Reed (25 Minutes)
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Easter Faith & Family Mass
A Youth Faith Formation Special Event
Saturday, April 12th
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says: “Let the little children come to me and do not stop them, because it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs (9:14).” In response to the Lord’s call, all young disciples and their families are invited to join Father Jim for our Easter Faith & Family Mass on Sunday, April 12th at 11:45am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church.
During Mass, Father Jim will offer a special homily about the Risen Jesus and the Easter Season. Every child who attends will receive a special blessing from our pastor! In addition, please save these dates for our last two Faith & Family Masses for this school year:
- Mother’s Day Faith & Family Mass
Saturday, May 9th at 4:00pm
Saint Ann Church - Holy Spirit Faith & Family Mass
Sunday, May 24th at 11:45am
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
For more information about youth faith formation in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, please contact Betsy Works at bworks@ccgronline.com. Mass is our class! Jesus is our teacher! Every family who joins us is a special blessing from God! All are invited! All are welcome! Always!
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We Share
Safe & Easy Electronic Giving
God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7)
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
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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!
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In Memory of Enza Taormina