Watch: Christmas Mass with Father Jim (12-28-25)
Listen: Pray As You Go Daily Meditations
Read: Scripture for Life by Mary McGlone (12-28-25)

Our Pastor’s Message
We Need Each Other

By Father Jim

In a recent address to recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, Pope Leo said: “In a time marked by increased conflict and division, we need authentic testimonies of human kindness and charity to remind us that we are all brothers and sisters. Words are not enough. Indeed, our love and our deepest convictions must be continually cultivated; and we do this through our concrete actions.” Here in our small corner of the world, nestled between sea and sky, we are called by the Holy Father to prayerfully consider what it means to be a community; what it means to be a family of disciples that prays together, works together, and journeys together in search of the peace, truth, and justice that the Christ Child offers us at Christmas.

At this time of year, our churches are more crowded than usual. This is a great blessing. Some of the people you see are here each weekend. Some come to church once or twice each month. Some join us once or twice each year. And some are taking a chance on God and on us. Do we welcome them with open arms and open hearts? Do we make room for them in our favorite pew? Do we greet them with a smile, kind word, or best wishes for the Christmas Season? When we do these things, we do more to nurture our shared faith than any hymn, any homily, or any parish program could ever do.

Let’s be honest. We are living during a time when too many people are afraid, angry, and anxious about the future. We grieve over so much that has been lost. We distrust so many of our civic and religious leaders. We lack faith in our institutions. We feel alienated from each other. We lack a sense of belonging to our community and to one another. All too many of us do not come home to church because we don’t see the point, because we don’t feel welcome, or because we don’t feel worthy to be here. But as Pope Francis (1936-2025) so often reminded us: “We all need each other. Our greatest and yet most fragile treasure is our shared humanity as brothers and sisters, as children of God. And none of us can be saved alone.”

As this year ends and a new year begins, it is long past time for us and for the Universal Church to embrace the reality that we cannot prevail against the darkness of these times by retreating into our comfort zones. First Pope Francis and now Pope Leo call us to be a community of missionary disciples that opens wide the doors; welcomes the stranger; embraces those who feel left behind; and preaches the Good News of Jesus with every thought, word, and deed. It is long past time for us — all of us — to become instruments of God’s peace and fraternity in a world that is being torn apart by hatred, bigotry, division, and violence.

At Christmas and beyond, let us renew our core values of prayer, fellowship, and service. Let us reaffirm our mission to live the Gospel, share God’s love, and rebuild the Church. Let us open our hearts, our minds, and our arms to embrace anyone and everyone who seeks to know the Lord. Pope Francis once said: “The time has come for all of us to endeavor to hear our society and our planet, to lay the foundations for a more just and peaceful world, and to seriously commit ourselves to pursuing the common good.” In this spirit, let us pray together. Let us walk together. And let us work together to take care of each other and our common home. On behalf of our senior priests and pastoral team, welcome home for the holidays! Thank you for your encouragement and generous support of our beloved home parishes! Peace and blessings to all for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (12-25-28)
Bringing Home the Word (12-28-25)
The Kids Bulletin (12-25-28)

New!
Let’s Reclaim the Gift of Christmas
By Michael Sean Winters
ncronline.com

Art Credit: Iaroslav Tymonko – 395288550 – Dreamstime

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New Year’s Day
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Our Worship Schedule

The Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport joyfully invites you and your family to join us for Holy Mass in celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on New Year’s Day! Here’s our upcoming schedule:

• Vigil – Solemnity of Mary – Wednesday, December 31st
  Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 5:30pm
• Solemnity of Mary – January 1st
  Saint Ann Church at 8:15am
  Saint Joachim Church at 10:00am
  Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 11:45am
• Watch: Mass with Father Jim

All friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners are advised that we are no longer welcome to park in the Shaw’s parking lot near Saint Ann Church. Violators are being towed. Please plan accordingly. On behalf of our pastor, senior priests, and pastoral team, we wish you peace, good health, and every happiness at Christmas and throughout the coming new year! Now more than ever, let’s pray together! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Please join us! All are welcome!

Listen: Saint of the Day – Mary, Mother of God (1.5 Minutes)

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Every Family Is A Holy Family
A Christmas Meditation

By Cameron Bellm

Every family is a holy family,
if you look closely enough,
because every person bears the breath of God.
Isn’t that the wonder of the incarnation?
It’s Joseph who waits in a cold parking lot,
hoping for a day’s work to feed his family.
It’s Mary who cradles a crying Jesus
under the blue tarp of a refugee camp.
It’s Joseph, too, who changes your oil,
Mary who scrubs your toilet,
Jesus who plays hide and seek
in the crowded aisles of your laundromat.
Just as the holy family sought admittance to the inn,
so these holy families seek admittance to our hearts.
May we not only gather them in,
but may we accept their welcome, too.
And as we dine together, at their table, at ours,
may we know that the bread we break is a sacrament,
the communion between us, something sacred. Amen.

Learn More: Cameron Bellm on Substack

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Words of Wisdom from Saint Oscar Romero

No one can celebrate Christmas without being poor.
The self-sufficient, the proud,
those who because they have everything
look down on others,
those who have no need ever of God:
for them there will be no Christmas.
Only the poor, the hungry,
those who need someone to come on their behalf,
will have that someone.
That someone is God, Emmanuel, God-with us.

Learn More: Saint Oscar Romero

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The Assisi Project
The Franciscan Virtues 2026
Saturday, January 3rd

Fifty-Two Steps to Conversion

The coming year marks two important anniversaries in the life of the Catholic Church. It is the 10th Anniversary of the Extraordinary Year of Mercy (2016) and the 800th Anniversary of the Transitus (Death) of Saint Francis of Assisi. As part of its ongoing mission to help us more faithfully live the Gospel of the Poor Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, the Assisi Project is going back to the basics, back to the life and good example of our patron saint and his first followers.

On the First Saturday of every month, the Assisi Project gathers for a two-hour mini-retreat that includes Holy Mass, a reflection by Father Jim or Brother Patrick, and a period of prayer and faith sharing. All are invited to join us on Saturday, January 3rd beginning at 8:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church as we begin our reading and discussion of an amazing book called Franciscan Virtues Through the Year: Fifty-Two Steps to Conversion.

This beautiful but sometimes challenging little book includes fifty-two weekly short reflections on the virtues practiced by Saint Francis of Assisi and the saints and sinners who have tried to follow him during the past eight centuries. In January, for example, we will read and reflect on Attentiveness, Confession, Courage, and Detachment. At our monthly gatherings, we will focus on one of more of these compelling Franciscan virtues.

Founded in 2007 by Father Jim and Brother Patrick, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers around the world. We are dedicated to helping believers of all ages more faithfully live the Good News in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. We are also dedicated to promoting a devotion to Pope Francis (1936-2025) as a patron of peace, mercy, and fraternity in our sick and suffering world.

For more information about the Assisi Project and its good work in our parishes and beyond, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com. Please join us! Bring a friend! All are invited! All are welcome! Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us! Pope Francis, pray for us! May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace at Christmas and always!

Learn More: The Assisi Project

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Christmas Faith & Family Mass
A Youth Faith Formation Special Event
Saturday, January 3rd

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 belong (9:14).” In response to the Lord’s call, all young disciples and their families are invited to join Father Jim for our Christmas Faith & Family Mass on Saturday, January 3rd at 4:00pm in Saint Ann Church.

During Mass, the children who are preparing for First Holy Communion will dramatize the gospel stories of Christmas and Epiphany in our annual pageant. This portrayal of the Nativity will include the Holy Family, angels and shepherds, the Magi and King Herod.

Participating in this beautiful holiday tradition is a great way for our young disciples to take part in parish life and learn more about the teaching and traditions of the Catholic Church. Please save the following dates for our upcoming Faith & Family Masses:

• Lent Faith & Family Mass
  Sunday, February 22nd at 11:45am
  Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
• Palm Sunday Faith & Family Mass
  Sunday, March 29th at 11:45am
  Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
• Easter Season Faith & Family Mass
  Sunday, April 12th at 11:45am
  Our Lady of Good Voyage Church

If your child or grandchild is interested in serving as an altar server or cross bearer, please contact Father Jim at frjim@ccgronline.com. Boys and girls are welcome to serve at God’s table! 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! Please join us! All are welcome! Peace and blessings to all for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Listen: Epiphany of the Lord (1.5 Minutes)

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Words of Wisdom from Pope Francis

The Christmas angels are you,
when you sing to the world
a message of love, peace, and justice.

Learn More: Assisi Project Pope Francis Resources

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