Advent 1

Our trip to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis was truly an amazing experience! Anytime 25,000+ come together for one purpose, it is impressive. When the purpose is to share in the Eucharistic Feast, it is even more amazing. It was a sight to behold! During these three days we learned that everyone has a special story and God calls each person to a purpose, you just have to be sure you answer when He’s knocking! I hope many more of our youth will join us in Indianapolis for NCYC 2013: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours!” A big thank you to the Holy Cross Family for your prayers and support!

Happy Advent and Happy New Year, Catholic Church! The new liturgical year begins on this First Sunday of Advent with Jesus’ repeated call to watchfulness for his coming in glory and judgment at the end of time and at the end of our lives, but also for his daily coming among us in the people and events that touch our lives and bid us bear witness. Such watchfulness is also our best preparation for the Christmas remembrance of Jesus’ “first coming among us in the lowliness of human flesh to fulfill God’s loving design and open for us the way to eternal salvation.”

The Advent wreath is a primary symbol of Advent. It originated with the Lutherans of eastern Germany a few hundred years ago. The custom of the lighting of the wreath during the four weeks preceding Christmas took place only in the homes of believers. Gradually, especially in Roman Catholic parishes, this custom made its way into the church. May Christ light your path as you prepare for the celebration of Christmas!

This weekend we welcome the New Roman Missal. After 40 years, the Church is giving us a new translation that it hopes will be more beautiful, more prayerful and more attuned to the scriptural connections in our prayers. The new translation will help us pray as one in Christ through the Holy Spirit as we offer praise and thanks to the Father and intercede for the life of the world.

Our Responsorial Psalm this weekend, ”Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved,” reminds us of God’s saving promise, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Six rings are great but 7 would be heaven ... Go Steelers!

Christ the King

We warmly welcome back Fr. Pleban to Holy Cross as I am attending the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis. Today, the final Sunday of the liturgical year, the parable in the Gospel proclamation presents a scene from the Last Judgment. There, the Son of Man separates those before him based upon the good they have done during their lives. Notably absent among the qualifications for attaining the kingdom are wealth, power, or even prayer. As we celebrate Christ the King, let us pray to our heavenly father for the grace to serve God’s people and work to meet their needs. Then we too may be judged worthy to enter into God’s kingdom. The original motivation for this feast was to celebrate the dominion of Christ that transcends national boundaries and that makes war a sacrilege against Christ’s body. A powerful image! Today as at its inception, war and terrorism torment many areas of the world. Let us pray for these nations, and victims of war and terrorism.

This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. We will gather to celebrate the Eucharist at 9:00 AM. Thanksgiving Day is a day in which we pause in our busy lives to offer this prayer of gratitude for all God’s gifts. Even in the midst of hard times and unrest around the world, it is good to remember the Source of all, to give thanks, and to pray for those who suffer from war, want or injustice. Happy Thanksgiving!

Next Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, the Catholic Church will begin to implement the Third Roman Missal. Let us pray that this time is truly a time of spiritual renewal in the Church.

A very special "thank you" to Barry Premoshis, the Tree of Hope engineer and the following firemen who are members of Holy Cross for decorating the Tree of Hope this past Saturday: Bill Helman, Dave Barlock and Ken Reger. May God bless you for sharing your time with Holy Cross!

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want" reminds us that Jesus is always with us, guiding us, even when we feel lost.

Six rings are great but 7 would be heaven ... Go Steelers!

Ordinary Time 33

As we approach the end of the liturgical year, we hear more and more about our need to be ready for the Lord’s coming. This weekend, Saint Paul tells us to stay alert and sober. Even more, Jesus tells us in the parable of the talents that we have been given gifts that we must use in service of the Master. May our prayer be for discernment of the gifts that God had given us, and of the best ways that we may use them to build up the reign of God.

Next weekend is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, the final Sunday of the liturgical year. Fr. Pleban will be here celebrating the Mass as I, along with 7 of our youth and 3 adults will be attending the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, IN. Please keep us in your prayers that we, along with all the travelers, will enjoy a safe trip and a faith-filled experience. The theme of NCYC this year is "Called to Glory." As we all celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, may we all be reminded that we are all called to glory!

Next week we will have the Little Blue Books (adults) and Little Purple Books (children) available in church. These Little Books are to assist you on your Advent journey. If possible we are asking for a $1 donation to help defray the costs. Also, please refer to today’s bulletin regarding the Advent Family Day on December 4.

We all know that Advent is the busiest time of the year with preparations for Christmas. Try and make every effort to include this event into your schedule of preparations.

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "Blessed are those who walk in the way of the Lord," reminds us that we will receive many blessings if we follow the way of our Lord.

Six rings are great but 7 would be heaven ... Go Steelers!

Ordinary Time 32

A consistent theme of these weeks leading to Advent is akin to the motto of the U.S. Coast Guard: Semper paratus (Always ready.) For what? The military remains ready for terrorist attacks or disasters like a tornado or flood, but Jesus’ call to be ready always is neither a threat nor a prediction of catastrophe. It is his expectation that we be aware of the presence of the sacred as we move through even the most ordinary day. Mary Oliver suggests the same in her poem “The Summer Day”: “I don’t know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention.” Being prepared for the coming of Christ means keeping eyes and ears, hearts and minds open. The sacred, the Christ, is all around you.

Friday, November 11 is not only 11/11/11, but more importantly it is Veterans Day. Here is a Prayer for Veterans: Dear Lord, today we honor our veterans, worthy men and women who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect our country. We pray that you will bless them, Lord, for their unselfish service in the continual struggle to preserve our freedoms, our safety, and our country’s heritage, for all of us. Bless them abundantly for the hardships they faced, for the sacrifices they made, for their many different contributions to America’s victories over tyranny and oppression. We respect them, we thank them, we honor them, we are proud of them and we pray that you will watch over these special people and bless them with peace and happiness. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Tuesday is Election Day. Remember to vote!

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God," reminds us that only God can satisfy our deepest longings.

Six rings are great but 7 would be heaven... Go Steelers!