Day: March 12, 2026

Dear Sirs,

I’m father Tiago Fonseca, a priest from the parish of Ericeira, next to Lisbon, in Portugal. 

I’m trying to talk to Fr. Jim Achadinha or someone else from your community about the devotion to Our Lady of the Good Voyage. In my parish of Ericeira, there are many fishermen and there is a beautiful devotion since many centuries ago. We have a chapel from 1634 with an image of Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem and we celebrate the Feast every summer on the third weekend of august. 

I would like to know how the devotion to Our Lady of Good Voyage started in Goucester, Boston. How is it related to portuguese people?  

We have plans to send 4 young adults (aged about 20 years old) from our parish to visit USA in july. They will be around Boston and Gloucester on the 11th and 12th of july. Maybe we could organize a meeting at your shrine with them? 

I hope to have news from you soon. 

God bless you,

Padre Tiago 

Ayuh…

Lt. Pat Legro was promoted to Captain, and Firefighters Jack Brancaleone, Jak Letien, and Dave Osier were promoted to Lieutenant. 

All four were sworn into their new positions by Gloucester City Clerk Grace E. Poirier this week at City Hall. 

Capt. Legro joined the Gloucester Fire Department in 2013 as a Firefighter/Paramedic after completing the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. He later became one of the department’s first EMS Field Training Officers. In 2023, he was promoted to temporary lieutenant, and that promotion became permanent in August. He also began serving with the Massachusetts District 6 Hazardous Materials Response Team last year. 

Lt. Osier is a Gloucester native and Gloucester High School graduate. He joined the Gloucester Fire Department as a Firefighter/Paramedic in 2017, after working for two years as a paramedic in private EMS. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Fire Protection and Safety Technology from North Shore Community College. 

Lt. Brancaleone is a Gloucester native and a 1999 graduate of Gloucester High School. He worked as an EMT and paramedic for Beauport Ambulance for three years before joining the Gloucester Fire Department in 2013 as a Firefighter/Paramedic. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Endicott College. 

Lt. Letien is a native of Spain who moved to the United States in 2000. He became a paramedic in Massachusetts in 2015 and joined the Gloucester Fire Department a year later. Since 2018, he has served as a Field Training Officer, helping to train new firefighter/paramedics. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Spanish and Portuguese from the University of Minnesota, and is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. 

“We are excited for our recently promoted members and congratulate them on this career achievement,” said Chief Eric Smith. “Making the decision to step up into a leadership role is a major commitment, and we want to thank these members and their families for doing so.” 

“Our Firefighters earned these promotions through their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to public safety.” Said Mayor Paul Lundberg. “Their continued service strengthens our department and ensures that our residents receive the highest level of protection and care. Congratulations and thank you to all of them for their ongoing support of our community.”

Another in my limited series featuring random and occasional Irish Coffee reviews as we lead into St. Patrick’s Day! Today we are highlighting the Gloucester House on Rogers St. It has been our wintering-over tradition to go to the Gloucester House on Sunday afternoons. Last weekend when returned from our journeys we decided we’d love to go back to the Gloucester House. It’s always warm and welcoming, not unlike their version of Irish Coffee. I was asked if I wanted whipped cream and Bailey’s…that’s affirmative. This coffee was pleasingly hot and tasty. And, by “tasty” I mean I could taste the whiskey. So that’s an A+. Slainte Gloucester House!