Parish picnic fun and games 2
Bubble gum blowing contest!
Double bubble trouble?
Bubble gum blowing contest!
Double bubble trouble?
From the Holy Family Parish Picnic last weekend.
Game organizer “Uncle Tony” asks: can you keep a hula hoop going while patting your head and rubbing your tummy?
The littlest hula hooper wanna-be:
Last weekend, Holy Family parish had it’s annual outdoor Mass and picnic at Stage Fort Park. I didn’t get any photos of the outdoor Mass, because I consider it inappropriate (at best) to pull out a camera and take photos while wearing liturgical vestments and concelebrating the service. However, I got some nice photos of the fun that came afterwards. As I am going away on vacation for a week, I will post shots of the different activities in a series of posts.
Today: the men of our local Knights of Columbus cooking and serving a tasty meal!
It’s been a while since I shared some of the gorgeous stained glass from St. Ann’s Church.
Don’t let the nasty weather stop you from getting some! 9AM-2PM today, in the hall under St. Ann’s Church of Holy Family Parish, located on Pleasant Street, just north of Prospect Street. There are lots of good things just waiting for you! Here are some photos to tantalize all fans of gardening and of home-made pastries and preserves… and of home-made strawberry shortcake! Available while supplies last!
I bought some “Olivi Scacciate”, some sort of eggplant preserves, and a crushed black olive spread… I’ll go back for some strawberry shortcake at lunch!
Fundraiser organized by the Women’s Guild of Holy Family Parish.
The Women’s Guild of Holy Family parish is holding a fundraising Plant Sale/Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 2, from 9am-2pm. The plants include all types: flowers, herbs, veggies, etc., either singly or in planters. There will also be a General Store selling preserves, pies, cookies & goodies (including some luscious-sounding Italian specialties), as well as strawberry shortcake. Specially made greeting cards with beautiful photos of Gloucester will also be on sale
The event will be held on the Rectory lawn at 60 Prospect Street in Gloucester (or in the Hall next door under St. Ann’s Church if it rains).
Some photos of the plants being prepared:
…at St. Ann’s Church (Holy Family Parish) in Gloucester. I saved these for today, Good Friday, because of the theme…
I’m sure there was no one playing the violin on the way to Calvary, but it sure added a lot to our way of the Cross to have this talented girl playing the violin in between stations…
A living Pietà!
Special thanks to Sue Demetri, who was the organizer/director/producer:
The young people did a great job yesterday at St. Ann’s Church (Holy Family Parish) with their live Way of the Cross! Here are a few photos.
Continuing what has become an annual tradition, young people from Holy Family Parish will present a reenactment of the Way of the Cross tomorrow, Sunday (April 1), at 6:00PM at St. Ann’s Church. Many of the players have previous experience in school plays and other dramatic productions. Come and join us!
Here are two photos from their dress rehearsal the other day.
On St. Patrick’s day, the Holy Family Parish Women’s Guild organized a traditional Irish dinner in the hall at St. Ann’s, with corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, Irish soda bread, and (mostly green-frosted) desserts. After everyone was served, the Gloucester High School “Docksiders” provided entertainment, playing a fantastic set including jazz, bossa nova, etc. If you haven’t heard them before, look for an opportunity – they are really great!
We had a good turnout for the event, and everyone seemed to have a great time! Here are some photos.
Various of the musicians got the opportunity to shine playing solo parts within their section. They all did a great job!
More photos are on my Flickr photostream in my Holy Family Parish set.
As we were doing the clean up across the street, took this picture and the light in the steeple with the clouds looks so peaceful
Another detail from a stained glass window in St. Ann’s Church in Gloucester (part of Holy Family Parish).
We usually focus on the people and events in the window and can easily overlook the wonderful attention to detail in the backgrounds…
Eventually I hope to photograph the stained glass windows in other churches in Gloucester. Any suggestions of churches with really great windows besides St. Ann’s?
Yesterday, Chorus North Shore performed a concert at St. Ann’s Church of Holy Family Parish. The concert celebrates “80 years of choral performances”, including a selection of works performed throughout their history. Here are some photos:
Fr. Thomas Fleming was the pastor of St. Peter’s Church in Gloucester from 1991 to 2002. He was much loved, and many of his former parishioners here still have very fond memories of him. He died last Dec. 23, at the venerable age of 80, at the Regina Cleri Residence in Boston. His funeral was held on Dec. 29, but since many Gloucester residents were unable to attend his funeral, a memorial Mass was held yesterday (Saturday, January 2) at St. Ann’s Church in Gloucester (one of the churches of Holy Family Parish).
A good number of people turned out for the service, and after the homily, the main celebrant, Fr. John Kiley (pastor of Holy Family), invited former parishioners and friends of Fr. Fleming to share some of their memories and experiences of him. The picture that emerged was one of a welcoming, caring pastor with a good sense of humor. His impact on the community remains even today, both in the hearts of the people of Gloucester and in the local cartography; a small road next to the former St. Peter’s Church bears his name.
May he rest in peace, and may the Lord reward him for his labors!
His full obituary can be found here. Photos graciously provided by John Wheeler.
The Mass was presided by Fr. John Kiley (right), Pastor of Holy Family Parish, and concelebrated by Fr. Matthew Green, his parochial vicar.
A few shots from St. Ann’s church on Christmas eve:
The parish choir (directed by Tom Misuraca) sang before Mass yesterday night, offering a sort of recap of the Christmas concert held earlier in the month. Here are some highlights.
Unfortunately, in one or two places there is a little bit of feedback in the microphones which mixes with the higher frequencies in the music and makes it sound a little off-pitch, but the choir sounded great.