The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, MERRY CHRISTMAS! The Feast of the
Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is celebrated on the
Sunday between Christmas and New Year’s. We know and
revere the Holy Family, But why have a feast for them? To
learn what it means to be a member of the one family of God
and do what our scriptural brothers and sisters we hear of
today: BELIEVE, LOVE and GIVE THANKS! All of us
have belonged to a family at one time or another. Some of
our families have been terrific; others perhaps have left
something to be desired. Whatever your case, you also belong
to the family of God. This membership has its perks
and its responsibilities. We are each loved and cherished by
God, but we each have our tasks to do. Jesus knew his tasks
early on. Let us pray and listen for clues about our place in
God’s family.

Tuesday is the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God,
a Holy Day of Obligation. A Vigil Mass will be celebrated
on New Year’s Eve at 5:00 PM followed by a blessing over
our community and a light reception. Mass on New Year’s
Day will be celebrated at 10:00 AM. The is a good day to
ask how, when and to whom do I need to become an instrument
of God’s peace, like Mary, bearing Christ into the
world in the New Year 2013. Happy New Year!

The Tree of Hope is having another very successful year in
raising Hope for the less fortunate and those in great need.
Many compliments from those passing by! Jesus is the
Light of the World!

January 1 is the World Day of Prayer for Peace. This year’s
theme is Blessed are the Peacemakers, reminding us that we
all have a role to play in building peace in our community
and world. Jesus is the Prince of Peace!

Praying this week’s Christmas Day Psalm Response, A light
will shine on us: the Lord is born! Will help us to celebrate
the light that the birth of Jesus brought to our world!

Here we go Steelers here we go!

Fr. Bill
Peace

Trying to live a full life in the service of the Lord,
failing frequently and falling on the mercy of God each time….

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, on this Fourth Sunday of Advent our readings inform us
that our salvation comes from unlikely places: Bethlehem is too small,
and a young virgin and her barren cousin meet in a small-town in Israel.
What good can come from any of this? And yet, it is through these
seemingly insignificant people and places that God has chosen to act
decisively in human history. Are we open to God’s actions in unlikely
place of our own lives?

As we celebrate The Nativity of the Lord on Tuesday, December 25 we
can exclaim: Christmas has come! Today we celebrate the mystery of
the incarnation, when God became human in Jesus and we on Earth saw
the face of God. No wonder Angels announced the news! Our great and
mighty God came to us in a humble stable, not in an opulent palace. No
wonder shepherds rejoiced! As we gather with family and friends to
celebrate Christmas may you spend time marveling at how much God
loves us, and praise God for the Wonderful gift of such love. MERRY
CHRISTMAS!

As we continue to pray for the families and friends from Newtown, CT,
here is a Christmas prayer written by a wonderful Christian author, Max
Lucado: Dear Jesus, it’s a good thing you were born at night. This
world seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem
dimmer lately. These killings Lord. These children Lord. Innocence
violated . Raw evil demonstrated. The whole world seems on edge.
Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and
nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation? Your
world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark,
right? You came at night. The Shepherds were nightshift workers. The
Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows.
To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark.
Dark with Herod’s jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with
poverty. Dark with violence. Herod went on a rampage, killing babies.
Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before
you were a Nazarene. Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world
of your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We,
like the wise men are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are
kneeling at a manger. This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be
born anew in us……Hopefully…your children…Amen.

Praying this week’s Christmas Day Psalm Response, A light will shine
on us: the Lord is born! Will help us to celebrate the light that the birth
of Jesus brought to our world!

Here we go Steelers here we go!

Fr. Bill
Peace

Trying to live a full life in the service of the Lord,
failing frequently and falling on the mercy of God each time….

Third Sunday of Advent

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear Friends, today is Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin
word that means “rejoice!” Today, we light the rose-colored
candle on our Advent wreath, rejoicing that Jesus is coming
soon. Yes, we rejoice that Christmas is now only a week
away, and that we have been redeemed by our Lord. As we
continue our Advent journey let’s try to think of all the reasons
you might have to rejoice and give thanks to God.

Friday, December 21 is the Winter Solstice. It is the turning
point of the year. For us, in the Northern Hemisphere it is the
shortest day and longest night. From now on the days will
lengthen. For many Christmas can be a time of sadness. We
miss loved ones who have died, our life changes due to difficult
times—through broken relationships, illness, loss of job,
loneliness and other struggles of life. In this Advent season
we are reminded of God’s promise that he is with us in our
struggles. Listen to the words of the Prophet Isaiah
“Comfort, comfort my people.” The angels voices offer us
peace. If you are feeling blue this Christmas Harrold Zion
Lutheran Church, located near Hempfield High School will
host the Longest Night Service on Friday, December 21 at
7:00 PM. Come join others on the longest night of the year
and find you are not alone.'

In these last days of Advent, from December 17 through December
23 the Church prays the “O” Antiphons. O Sapientia
(O Wisdom), O Adonai (Sacred Lord), O Radix Jesse (Root
of Jesse), Clavis David (Key of David), Oriens (Dawn), O
Rex gentium (King of peoples), and finally O Emmanuel
(God-is-with-us). We joyfully sing the “O” antiphons in the
popular Advent song, O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

We will begin to decorate for Christmas in the Church on
Wednesday, December 19 at 4:00 PM and we will put the
finishing touches on Sunday, December 23 after the 10:00
AM Mass. Come decorate Your Church for Christmas!

This week’s Psalm Response, Cry out with joy and gladness;
for among us is the Holy One of Israel, reminds us
that the coming of Christ brings great joy!

Here we go Steelers here we go!

Fr. Bill
Peace

Trying to live a full life in the service of the Lord,
failing frequently and falling on the mercy of God each time…

Second Sunday of Advent

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, on this Second Sunday of Advent we begin to shift
our focus from Christ’s coming at the end of time to Jesus’ coming
in history. But we who live in the present day should know
the coming of the Lord in our own lives, and eagerly anticipate his
presence. As we deepen our Advent celebration today, let us become
more aware of all the ways that the Lord can come among
us, and prepare for his coming by our repentance and prayer.

A special Thank You to those who made cookies for the reception
following the Tree of Hope last Saturday and to the ladies who
assisted at the reception.

This Wednesday December 12 is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
It was on December 9, 1531, the Indian peasant Juan Diego
saw a young Aztec woman surrounded by light on the slopes of
the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City. The young woman asked
for a church to be built there in her honor, and from her words
Diego recognized her as the Virgin Mary. Mary had impressed
her glorious image on the front of Diego’s tilma. Today Diego’s
tilma, is on display in Mexico City’s Basilica or Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Mary revealed herself as a mother for us all, encouraging
an end to strife and cruelty, promising peace and maternal love,
and joining people of all races as her beloved children. O gracious
and loving Mary, Lady of Guadalupe, through your presence
make us aware of your son Jesus. May he bless us with
peace and harmony, draw us together and help us build his
church on earth today. Amen

With joy and thanksgiving to God, the Diocese of Greensburg announces
that Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt has called Mr. Tyler J.
Bandura, Mr. Matthew J. Morelli and Mr. Daniel J. Ulishney to
the order of diaconate. The diaconate ordination will be celebrated
on Tuesday December 18, 2012 at 6:00 PM at Blessed Sacrament
Cathedral in Greensburg. Please keep Tyler, Matthew and
Daniel in your prayers as they make the commitment to enter into
holy orders and as they continue their journey to the priesthood on
June 1, 2013. Also, continue to pray for all people discerning
God’s call in their lives.

This week’s Psalm Response, The Lord has done great things
for us; we are filled with joy, points to the joy that is ours when
Christ comes to us and transforms our lives.

Here we go Steelers here we go!

Fr. Bill
Peace

Trying to live a full life in the service of the Lord,
failing frequently and falling on the mercy of God each time….

First Sunday of Advent

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, as we begin the liturgical year with Advent, we are
once again reminded of the joyful expectation to which we are called
as members of Christ’s Body, the Church. Celebrating Advent well
helps us to understand and celebrate Christmas Time more profoundly.
During Advent we are reminded of the coming of Christ not
only at Christmas, but of his Second Coming in Glory at the end of
time. This is a time of grace, a time for a new advent of Christ into
our lives.

Also, this First Sunday marks the start of our second year using the
new Roman Missal (the new responses at Mass). You should all give
yourselves a pat on the back and a round of applause, you are responding
very well!!!

You will notice the Advent wreath this weekend. Its circular shape
and greenery symbolize eternity and everlasting life. The candles
celebrate Jesus, the Light of the World. Violet is the liturgical color
of preparation, reminding us to turn our hearts to God, and the rosecolored
candle exhorts us to rejoice, for we are assured of our Lord’s
faithfulness.

Thursday, December 6 is the Memorial of Saint Nicholas. Famous
for his pastoral care, the many legendary stories of his charitable
deeds became the basis for the figure of Santa Claus. He is one of the
most popular saints in both the Roman and Orthodox Churches. May
we imitate his love of children, his care for the poor and his spirit of
giving.

Saturday, December 8 is the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation. What a wonderful time of
the year to remember our Blessed Mother in this way! Here we are,
starting out on our annual journey of expectation of the Lord’s coming,
and we are reminded that Mary was part of the plan from the
beginning. Because of her YES, that which we await has already
come. Let us give thanks for God’s wonderful gift to us, and through
her the great gift of salvation.

As Advent begins, our psalm response, To you, O Lord, I lift my
soul, invites us to lift our minds, hearts and whole being to the One
who loves us enough to send Jesus to be our Savior.

Here We Go Steelers Here We Go!


Fr. Bill
Peace

Trying to live a full life in the service of the Lord,
failing frequently and falling on the mercy of God each time….

November 25, 2012 (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….


Dear friends, I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving
Holiday with your family and friends!

Today is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the
Universe, the final Sunday of the liturgical year on this day
we renew our own baptismal commitment to Jesus as the
Lord to whom we pledge our hearts’ highest loyalty and
deepest love.

As we begin the Season of Advent next weekend, you are
invited to take a medal for your key chain or back pack. The
medals will be at the church doors. The medal says Emmanuel,
God is with us! As we journey through these very
busy and hectic weeks of the Advent /Christmas Season we
will need to be reminded often that yes, God is with us!!
Also at the doors will be a book The Word Among Us, daily
reflection for Advent and Christmas. Take one and rejoice in
the beauty of the season!

A special thanks to the Youngwood Fireman: Bill Helman,
Dave Barlow, and Ken Reger who along with the Tree of
Hope engineer Barry Premoshis decorated the Tree of Hope
on Saturday November 17. The Tree of Hope will be lit following
the 5 pm Mass on Saturday December 1.

Following the Lighting of the Tree of Hope we are invited to
gather in the church hall for light refreshments. At 7pm the
Night at the Movies will begin. You are invited to watch a
wonderful family movie Have a Little Faith. A nice way to
begin Advent and to continue our celebration of the Year of
Faith. If you wish, you may bring snacks for the movie.
Friday November 30 is the Feast of Saint Andrew, patron
Saint of Scotland. Andrew was the first of the 12 Apostles to
meet Jesus. Like him, may we encourage others to “come
and see” Jesus by our words and example.

This week’s Psalm Response, The Lord is King, he is robed
in Majesty, reminds us to give praise and thanks for the love
we receive from Christ, our King.


Here We Go Steelers Here We Go!

Fr. Bill
Peace

Trying to live a full life in the service of the Lord,
failing frequently and falling on the mercy of God each time….

Ordinary Time 33

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, beginning with All Saint’s and All Soul’s
Days, the Church has celebrated throughout November the
great harvest of God’s people for eternal life. By God’s
providential love, the fruitful earth, too, has yielded its harvest.
For that bounty, as for all God’s blessings this year
and throughout our lives, we gather this week to offer
Thanksgiving to God. May God’s infinite generosity inspire
us, who have been so blessed, to pray and to provide
for those in need.

This evening the Youngwood community will gather at
Saint Paul United Methodist Church at 7:30 to celebrate
Thanksgiving at our annual ecumenical prayer service.
Mass on Thanksgiving Day will be here at Holy Cross at 9
AM. Your are invited to bring non-perishable items for the
Youngwood Food Bank. Come and gather this week to
GIVE THANKS!!

In 1789 President George Washington proclaimed a day of
thanksgiving for the new country. For many years after
that, some states celebrated on one day, some on another.
In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln
proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November as the official
Thanksgiving Day of the nation…..The Law of Moses
calls the people to share their bounty with family, servants,
strangers, widows and orphans. Today in America many
people have no way to share in Thanksgiving Day because
they are hungry, homeless, or isolated from family and
friends. On Thanksgiving Day we remember them and
welcome them with our prayer and our service.

On Sunday November 18 Holy Cross Youth Ministry will
visit the Emmanu-El Israel Synagogue in Greensburg.
What a wonderful experience for our youth to learn about
the Jewish Faith. We thank Rabbi Sara for her hospitality.
This week’s Psalm Response, You are my inheritance, O
Lord, reminds us that those who look to the Lord will find
the path to everlasting life.

Here We Go Steelers Here We Go!

Fr. Bill
Peace

Trying to live a full life in the service of the Lord,
failing frequently and falling on the mercy of God each time….

Ordinary Time 32

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, as I am half way through the Shrines of Italy Tour,
we welcome my brother priest from Saint Vincent Archabbey
this weekend!

Today is Veteran’s Day in the United States. On November 11,
1918, World War I, called the “great war” or “the year to end all
eras, ended with the signing of an armistice between allies and
Germany. It was eleven o’clock in the morning, the eleventh
hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year. The
day came to be known as Armistice Day, a day to commemorate
the end of the war and to honor those who fell. President Eisenhower
changed the name to Veteran’s Day in 1954. It is a day
to honor the veterans of all wars, both the living and dead. It is
also a day for looking to the future day when we reconsecrate
ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that
their efforts shall not be in vain. Let us pray for those who serve
in our nation’s military, and the veterans who we honor and remember
this weekend. May they know our gratitude and inspire
us to responsible citizenship.

This weekend the girls from our Holy Cross Basketball team
will be taking the second collection to help defray the expenses
as they travel to the PA state tournament in the spring. They are
having another exciting season!!

Next Saturday November 17 is the Knights of Columbus Night
at the Races. Come and support the Knights as they support
Holy Cross Church. It is a fun night out!

Many have been asking about a collection for the victims of
Hurricane Sandy—No official second collection has been announced,
so soon the Tree of Hope Project will begin here at
Holy Cross. The majority of the money collected will be sent to
disaster relief. Please keep this in mind as you consider a gift to
the Tree of Hope.

This week’s Psalm Response, Praise the Lord, my soul, urges
us to offer up our praise and thanks for the gifts we have been
given.


Here We Go Steelers Here We Go!

Fr. Bill
Peace

Trying to live a full life in the service of the Lord,
failing frequently and falling on the mercy of God each time….

Ordinary Time 31

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, Good Bye Superstorm Sandy!!

This past week we gathered to celebrate All Saints Day and All
Souls Day. Today we are reminded that the key to a holy life
and a happy death is the love of God and neighbor.

I will be departing on Monday morning at 8 AM with 18 others
for Italy. While there we will visit the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica,
and attend an audience with Pope Benedict XVI. Please
keep us in your prayers as we promise to pray for you as we
visit these wonderful Shrines of Italy during the Year of Faith.

As Americans go the polls on Tuesday to vote we pray for those
who will be entrusted with civic responsibility in this week’s
election: May our leaders be people of integrity, compassion
and trustworthy, attuned to justice, committed to peace, and eager
to serve the common good.

The Youth Mass last Sunday at 10 AM was a real delight. Nice
to see many of our youth and young adults participate in the
ministries of Sunday Eucharist. The next youth mass will be
Sunday November 25 at 10 AM. If you are interested in being a
reader, usher, or being involved in the Music (we are in need of
drums ) please call Dawn Tedrow at 724-516-9979. Also, on
Sunday November 18 youth in grades 7-12 are invited to make a
visit to the Congregation Emanu-El Israel Synagogue in Greensburg,
PA. Rabbi Sara will be giving us a tour and presentation.
This a great experience for youth and parents. So that you may
be prepared for the visit, the conversation during the next 2 Sunday’s
at the Sunday Morning Café (Sunday morning’s at 9 am)
will be about the Jewish Faith. Join us!!

We received a Thank You note from Seminarian Dan Carr for
the gift we sent him from Holy Cross as he begins his studies for
Priesthood. He mentioned in the note “I keep Holy Cross very
near to my heart, as I learned much about my faith and my love
for the Church while I was a member there”. Please keep Dan
and all the Seminarians in your prayers.

This week’s Psalm Response, I Love you Lord my strength,
reminds us that God is always near, offering strength in times of
hardship.

Here We Go Steelers Here We Go!

Fr. Bill

Ordinary Time 30

Thoughts from  Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends,  as we celebrate nature’s autumn harvest time the Church
celebrates the kingdom’s harvest this week through the celebration of
All Saints Day (Thursday November 1) and All Souls Day (Friday
November 2).  All Saints Day is the “harvest of holiness” in all the
saints, known and unknown, who already rejoice in God’s kingdom.
All Souls Day is a day to remember our beloved dead not yet in heavenly glory, embracing them with the prayers we offer for their eternal glory.  We read in the Second Book of Maccabees “It is a holy and
wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from
their sins.”  We also read in the Order of Christian Funerals, “Though
separated from the living, the dead are still at one with the community
of believers on earth and benefit from their prayer and intercession.”

During the month of November we are called to remember in a special
way those who have died since November 1, 2011.  We will celebrate
their lives on Tuesday October 30 at the 7pm Mass.  During this Mass
we will read their names and the family/friends will carry a candle into
the sanctuary to be lit in memory of their loved one. All who lost a
loved one, even if  not from Holy Cross Church, are invited to attend.
A lite reception will follow in the Church Hall.

On All Saints Day , which is a holy day of obligation, we honor those
who have finished the race and now rejoice in God’s presence.  We
honor the towering figures like Saints Peter, Paul, Augustine, Francis
and Therese of the Child Jesus, and we honor the humble saints as
well, those whose names are known to few or to none: the grandparents and ancestors, the friends and teachers who lived their faith to the full and inspired faith in others.  This is a day to celebrate them all!

The Vigil for All Saints Day will be at 5PM due to the Halloween Parade that begins 6:30PM. I will again be perched on the front porch of
the rectory to distribute treats to those who are out celebrating Halloween.  Have a happy and safe Halloween.

Remember to turn your clocks BACK next Sunday, November 4 at 2
AM,  so that you are not too early for Mass.

This week’s Psalm Response, The Lord has done great things for
us; we are filled with joy, reminds us of the wonderful things God has
done for us  – and challenges us to allow God to do great things
through us.

Here We Go Steelers Here We Go!

Fr. Bill

Ordinary Time 29

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….
Dear friends, today is World Mission Sunday. The theme is
“Called to Radiate the Word of Truth.” The day’s readings lend
themselves fairly easily to a focus on missions with both the first
reading and the Gospel speaking of God’s servant giving his life
as a ransom for many. At our book study we recently discussed
the changed text of the institution narrative in the Eucharistic
Prayer where Christ pouring out his blood “for all” has been
changed to “for many.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church
(#605) makes clear; Christ died for all people, not just some;
“many” is meant to be inclusive rather than exclusive, though
“all” communicated our belief more accurately.

Next Sunday we invite all youth in grades 7-12 to attend October
Fest in the church hall beginning at 4PM. Food, games with
prizes as well as finishing the homebound service project will
take place. If there is enough interest after the October Fest we
will travel to Lonesome Valley Farms at 6PM for either the
haunted hay ride($15) for non haunted corn maze ($8). Please
register for one or both events by calling the office (724-925-
7811) or email Fr. Bill (wberkey@dioceseofgreensburg.org)
by Friday October 26 at 5PM. We need parents to volunteer
at both events. Please call office or email Fr. Bill if you are
available to assist, thanks

Please mark your calendars for All Saints, a Holy Day of obligation.
Mass on Wednesday October 31 at 5PM, due to the
Youngwood Halloween Parade, and 8AM on Thursday November
1. Also we will celebrate our All Souls Candlelight Memorial
Mass on Tuesday October 30 at 7PM (please see front cover
of bulletin for invitation).

As we continue our journey through the Year of Faith let us reflect
on this: Faith is a gift from God. This gift has 3 dimensions.
1. Faith lights us our minds so that we know the truth
about God. 2. Faith brings about a relationship with God we
could never otherwise have. 3. Faith propels us forward into
eternal life which begins even now.
This week’s Psalm Response, Lord, let your mercy be on us,
as we place our trust in you, reminds us that God’s mercy is a
strong shelter for our fears.

Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go!

Peace
Fr. Bill

Trying to live a full life in the service of the Lord,
failing frequently and falling on the mercy of God each time….

Ordinary Time 28

Thoughts from  Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, in today’s second reading from the Letter to the
Hebrew’s we hear “The word of God is living and effective.”
So if you are ever wondering what to do with your life?  Follow
the Acts of the Apostles.  Struggling to get past a difficult time?
Pick a Psalm form the Old Testament, any Psalm.  Unsure how
to live in gratitude?  Read Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 46-55).
Open a Bible and you unleash the word of wisdom gathered
from generations of wayfarers whose paths, both humble and
epic, led them to the same place:  the waiting arms of God. The
teachings of the church are essential to understanding your faith,
but scripture opens you up to the mysteries and possibilities of
that faith.  So start with scripture as you make your way through
each day.

All the priests from the Diocese of Greensburg will gather with
Bishop Brandt Monday through Wednesday at our annual Convocation.  As we will keep all of the people we serve in our prayers please remember us in your prayers.  Our convocation
this year will focus on the Pastoral Formation for Our Future!

This past Tuesday at the Women’s Guild evening of reflection
we talked about two women who will be declared Saints by
Pope Benedict on Sunday October 21:  Kateri Tekkakwitha and
Marianne Cope.  May Kateri inspire you to be faithful in spite of
difficulties, and may Marianne challenge you to love the outcasts in your life.

Thursday October 18 is the Feast of Saint Luke. He is traditionally known as the author of the Gospel of Luke as well as the Acts of the Apostles. A tradition states that he was the first con
painter, and that the Black Madonna of Czestochowa is attributed to him.  His symbol is the ox of bull because the Lucan Gospel begins with Zachary, the father of John the Baptist, offering a sacrifice in the temple.  Saint Luke if the patron saint of artists and physicians.

This week’s Psalm Response, Fill us with your love, O
Lord, and we will sing for joy,  helps us to  remember
that it is God’s love that brings us true joy.

Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go!

Fr. Bill
Peace

Ordinary Time 27

 Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, 40 years ago the Catholic bishops in the
United Sates designated October as Respect Life Month
and named the first Sunday of October “Respect Life Sunday.”
Throughout October we are called in a special way
to reflect on the gift of human life, the threats against it and
how we can protect all persons from conception to natural
death. This Thursday October 11, Our Holy Father, Pope
Benedict XVI, will open the Year of Faith. This year commemorates
the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second
Vatican Council and the twentieth anniversary of the
Catechism of the Catholic Church. The year will conclude
on November 24, 2013, on the Solemnity of Christ, King
of the Universe. During this Year of Faith, we are to pray
in a special way that all who seek God may enter the door
of faith and discover the risen Christ alive in our Catholic
community. Let us ask God today to make us convincing
witnesses to the sanctity of human life and to joy of faith in
Jesus!

Two parishes in the Diocese of Greensburg are celebrating
the dedication of new church buildings: Christ the King in
Leechburg and Saint Margaret Mary in Lower Burrell (my
1st assignment.) We offer our congratulations to both!
Last weekend was the Seminarian and Clergy Formation
collection. Our collection here at Holy Cross was:
$969.00. One of the newest seminarians in our Diocese is
a former member of Holy Cross Church: Daniel Carr. Dan
is a student at St. Mark’s Seminary in Erie, PA. Please
pray for Dan and all the Seminarians in our Diocese and
for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate
and religious life.

This week’s Psalm Response May the Lord bless us all
the days of our lives, reminds us to ask for the very thing
God so wants to do – to bless us!

Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go!

Fr. Bill
Peace

Ordinary Time 21

The word "amen" means “so be it.” We say that word many times when we pray during the Mass. On this final week of hearing the Bread of Life Discourse from chapter 6 of John’s Gospel we are asked to put our faith on the line and say “Amen.” As Jesus calls himself bread to be eaten many of the descendants said “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” and they “no longer accompanied him.” Jesus then asked the Twelve if they would leave, too. Simon Peter answered for all: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” As we say “Amen!” we are then to live in communion in a world of broken bodies, shed blood, wounded hearts and crushed spirits. As we believe that the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ, what is the change in us that should accompany receiving them?

This weekend a member of the Parish Festival Committee made a presentation of where your help is needed to make this year’s Parish Festival a success. As the tradition continues, please respond to the invitation to assist in the many areas where help is needed, whether it is preparing a basket for the basket raffle, donating a case of soda pop or water, or volunteering at one of the many booths. Thanks!

This week we celebrate the life of Saint Augustine and his Mother Monica. Monica prayed for the conversion of her son. He was baptized on Easter Sunday by Bishop Ambrose in Milan. On their return trip to Africa she died having said there was nothing left for her to do since all her hopes had been fulfilled. She is the patroness of mothers. May we imitate her example and never give up encouraging our children’s spiritual journeys. A doctor of the Church, Augustine’s intelligence and pastoral concern shaped the thought of Western Christianity and guided the Church for over a thousand years. Let us imitate his restless search for God and his joy when God is discovered.

Wednesday, August 29 is the Passion of John the Baptist. His birth brought great rejoicing; even in the womb he leapt for joy at the coming of human salvation. He alone of all the prophets pointed out the Lamb of redemption. And to make holy the flowing waters, he baptized the very author of Baptism and was privileged to bear him supreme witness by the shedding of his blood.

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord," urges us to acknowledge and give thanks for the refuge and joy we find in the Lord.

Ordinary Time 20

I welcome my brother priest from Saint Vincent Archabbey to Holy Cross this weekend as I am beginning my third year as Pastor of Holy Cross on vacation. Yes, August 18 begins my third year, and what a blessing you have all been to me! Let us petition the Holy Spirit to make laughter a gift of the Holy Spirit!

In Biblical times, before the advent of fast food and lone dining, people ate around a common table. With whom you ate was just as important as what you ate. You didn’t sit down to dinner with just anybody. You ate with family. You ate with people who embraced your laws and customs. If you invited a stranger to your table you were implicitly offering not only a meal but shelter, protection and extended family status, and once you did, it was more or less for keeps. In our eat-and- run culture, we no longer intuitively accept that meals are a kind of covenant. The family dinner table is not what it used to be. It doesn’t bind us each to each. Burgers shared out of a bag in the car from front seat to back is not quite the same thing. To appreciate the ramifications of covenant belonging implicit in a meal, we have to reach beyond to our holy-day tables, where insiders and outsiders are still defined and being there still means something. Absenting ourselves from that table is still a deliberate and telling decision. When we come forward at Mass to receive Holy Communion, we are choosing a shared life: with rich history, a responsible present, and an oriented future.

Next weekend, August 25 and 26, we will offer a special blessing upon all who will be returning to school: teachers, administrators, students and support staff.

This week we celebrate the lives of some very special saints:

• Monday - Saint Bernard: May we learn from him that “real happiness will come, not in gratifying our desires or in gaining passing pleasures, but in accomplishing God’s will for us.”

• Tuesday - Saint Pius X: Like him, may we seek always to "restore all things in Christ."

• Wednesday - the Queenship of Mary: May we always love, serve and honor Mary our Queen.

• Thursday - St. Rose of Lima: Like her, let us pray, “Lord, increase you love in my heart.”

• Friday - St. Bartholomew, the Apostle: May we imitate his desire to be with Jesus and continue the mission of Jesus without seeking notoriety.

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "Create a clean heart in me, O God," reminds us to humble ourselves before the Lord and to pray for God to renew our spirit.

Ordinary Time 19

We continue through the month-long Gospel of John’s “Bread of Life Discourse.” In our first reading today the Prophet Elijah found strength for his long, dangerous journey in the food God sent him. We too can find strength in the “the living bread from heaven” Jesus, on our long, challenging journey to God’s Kingdom! Saint Paul reminds us that sharing in this gift requires us to be as compassionate and forging toward one another as God, in Christ, is to us.

This Wednesday, August 15 is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass here at Holy Cross will be at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, August 14 and 8:00 AM on Wednesday. The origins of the church’s belief in the Assumption of Mary into heaven, defined as a dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950, go back to an early tradition in both the East and West that Mary’s natural death was in fact a falling asleep (Dormition), and that bodily assumption and not burial completed Mary’s earthly journey to heaven. She is the Mother of God, mother of Jesus, and a sign to the whole church of the final destiny of all the faithful. The Church’s declaration of the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary in 1950 was addressed to a world exhausted by war and the deaths of over 50 million human beings. The value of human life had been so subjected to mindless brutality and destruction; by affirming Mary’s dignity as the ultimate measure of every person, especially the poor, the church asserted something of critical importance. Every life is precious in the sight of God!

We send our congratulations and God’s blessing to Monsignor Lawrence T. Persico, the Vicar General and Pastor of Saint James in New Alexandria, as he was named Bishop of Erie last week by our Holy Father Pope Benedict. Please pray for all during this time of transition.

You will notice on the back of the bulletin that there are many empty spaces for ads. If you or your place of employment would like to place an ad to help defray the cost of printing the bulletin, please call Mary Ann Klingensmith at (724) 925-2480.

Our Respnsorial Psalm this week, "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord," urges us to acknowledge and give thanks for the refuge and joy we find in the Lord.

Ordinary Time 18

Welcome to August! What an exciting month as preseason football begins, the return to school is just around the corner, and we enter into Festival mode! Enjoy the "dog days" of summer!

Last Sunday, we began a five-week series from the Gospel of John on the Eucharist, Jesus’ “Discourse on the Bread of Life.” Today, Jesus helps us understand that God’s gift of manna to the Israelites in the desert, the story we hear in today’s first reading, was a sign pointing to Jesus, the true Bread from heaven. Saint Paul, writing to the Ephesians, reminds us that, as a Eucharistic people, we must “put away” our old, sinful selves and “put on the new self” created by God for holiness.

Monday, August 6 is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. This day coincides with the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945 (and on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945). Jesus’ Transfiguration reminds us that despite our human tendency to acts of violence and death, our lives can be changed by God’s power to give new life.

Wednesday, August 9 is the Memorial of Saint Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans. They were educated to preach, teach and do pastoral work. May we follow his advice to “practice charity in common, remain humble and stay poor willingly.”

Saturday, August 12 is the Memorial of Saint Clare. Greatly revered and respected as a “new leader of women” and credited with many miracles, she was canonized just two years after her death. Like her, may we learn to “Go forth without fear, for God who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother.”

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "Lord, give us bread from heaven," reminds us that only God can satisfy the hunger in our hearts.

Ordinary Time 17

What a great time to be a fan of the black and gold! The Pirates are having an incredible season and Steelers training camp has begun!

This week we say goodbye to the Gospel of Mark for five Sundays. The Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the Gospels so the Lectionary draws from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John for five weeks in summer to fill out the year. In the sixth chapter of John we will hear Jesus talk about bread, about hunger and fulfillment, about becoming bread for the world. In this age of mega-marts and low-carb diets, does the word “bread,” central to today’s Gospel, prompt any associations at all? For those of us of a certain age, there may be the childhood memories of ethnic breads, especially at holiday time, and the memories will typically engage both body and soul: grandmother or mother in charge of the kitchen, children helping out, smells of bread baking, finished loaves warm to the touch, and of course the texture and taste. Just imagine what bread meant to the crowds who came to see Jesus. Baking that staple of survival was a practical necessity, an enterprise at once human, cosmic, divine. This human work relied on elements that are fruits of the earth, but only after nature’s God provided rain for the rich earth, sun to nurture the ripening grain. In those days, in that place, no bread, no life!

Tuesday, July 31 is the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Like him, may we learn “to find God in all things” and do everything “for the greater glory of God.”

Wednesday, August 1 is the Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, the founder of the Redemptorists. Like him, may we learn that “all holiness and perfection of soul lies in our love for Jesus Christ."

Saturday, August 4 is the Memorial of Saint John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests. Let us pray for all the priests who serve the many parishes in the Diocese of Greensburg, that they minister with an open heart so that the word of God may enter it, take root in it, and bear fruit there for eternal life.

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "The Hand of the Lord feeds us," reminds us to trust in God’s providence for what we really need.

Ordinary Time 16

This past week we had a wonderful experience of Vacation Bible School. I would like to thank the children who participated and the following volunteers: Dawn Tedrow, Kathie Brown, John Zombar, Sandy Ferrari, Jane Mondock, Lisa, Julie, Shelby, Hannah, Makayla Kimmick, Sarah, Megan Powell, Angeleena Raimondo, Maria Foschia, Heather Umbel, Jason, Emily Lohr, Janine Petersen, Tyler Tubbs, Vickie Hickle, Carolyn Loucks, and Elizabeth Echard.

A number of years ago, all the talk in the business world was about leadership and the qualities of a good leader. God’s recipe for good leadership of God’s people is straightforward enough: wisdom, justice, caring for people, overcoming division, and bringing peace. You may not be the head of a large organization, but you exercise leadership in one way or another every day. Are you ready to follow God’s management model?

Wednesday is the feast of St. James the Apostle. In 42 A.D. he became the first Apostle to be martyred. The patron saint of Spain and for pilgrims, he is venerated at Santiago de Compostela, a famous medieval pilgrimage destination in Spain. May we imitate his eagerness to follow Jesus and change our lives in order to make this happen.

Thursday is the Memorial of Saints Anne and Joachim, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Grandparents of Jesus. Though not mentioned in the New Testament, their story, found in an early Christian document, sounds a lot like some people who do appear in scripture. Joachim, like Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, had a crucial encounter with God in the Temple. Like John’s mother, Elizabeth, Anne was childless and prayed for a child. Mary was God’s answer to their request. These two saints and their predecessors and descendants asked for what looked to be unlikely or even impossible, and God provided. Don’t be afraid to ask God for what you need to help follow God’s will for you.

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want," brings us courage and comfort as we face life’s challenges.

Ordinary Time 15

Who would believe that at the All-Star Break the Pirates would be alone in first place. Let’s pray they are there in October!

This week Vacation Bible School returns to Holy Cross. We have a nice group of children registered and a nice group of youth and adult volunteers. A special thanks to Dawn Tedrow for coordinating VBS. You can still register your child through Monday morning! The week will conclude with Mass and a family picnic on the Rectory Lawn on Thursday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The theme for VBS is "SKY, Nothing is Impossible with God!"

As always in Ordinary Time, the first reading from the Old Testament prepares us for the Gospel. In today’s first reading the Lord calls Amos and “missions” him to bear prophetic witness. Jesus gives instructions to the Twelve and to us about the “mission.” Some of the instructions are easily grasped; we “get” them. For instance “walking stick” and “sandals” keep us moving along, but “no food, no sack, no money? These we translate figuratively as a reminder not to let possessions weigh us down, to remember our dependence on God’s providence. May our worship here at Holy Cross both conform us in faith and prepare us for mission.

Monday is the Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Carmelites have celebrated their patronal feast on this day since the 14th century, for according to tradition Saint Simon Stock was given the brown scapular by the Blessed Virgin Mary on this day in 1251. The Order of Carmel dates back to a group of Western hermits, who in the 12th century settled on Mount Carmel, overlooking the plain of Galilee, in imitation of the Prophet Elijah (see 1 Kings 18:19-46 and 2 Kings 2:25). They grouped themselves around a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady. In the 13th century, the Order of Carmel as we know it was formed, retaining the twin devotions of the early hermits: to Elijah and his solitary prayer, and to Our Lady under the title of Mount Carmel.

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "Lord, let us see your kindness and grant us your salvation, reminds us to look for the hidden blessings of each day!"

Ordinary Time 14

I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July!

Prophets can be annoying, always harping about change, so it shouldn’t be surprising that Jesus’ message – “Repent! Change your heart!” – was not popular. In our own day, we are bombarded by messages of all kinds by those who claim to have unique insights into what constitutes a good and successful life. As a member of a thinking and holy people, your responsibility is twofold: first, to have a healthy skepticism unafraid to challenge cultural assumptions; and second, to be open – you could be wrong! Most of all, pray about these messages in the quiet presence of the Holy Spirit who helps you to discern the true prophets of your time. They may not be the ones you expect. In today’s first reading from Ezekiel, we heard “As the Lord spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet.” This reminds us that we are all called to share in the life of the prophets.

Saturday, July 14 is the Memorial of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. She will be canonized a Saint by Pope Benedict on October 21, 2012. She was born at Osserneon (Auriesville, New York), her mother was a Christian Algonquin from Quebec, and her father was a non-Christian Mohawk Turtle chief. At age 4, a smallpox epidemic killed her parents and brother and left her with impaired eyesight and a disfigured face. Inspired by Jesuit missionaries, Tekakwitha was baptized on Easter Sunday in 1676 and assumed the name Kateri, probably in honor of Saint Catherine of Siena. Soon after, amidst growing persecution in her community, Kateri escaped to Kahnawake, near Montreal. She is called the “Lily of the Mohawks” and is the patroness of ecology and the environment. May we follow her example of courageous dedication to faith: "I am not my own: I have given myself to Jesus.”

Vacation Bible School begins on July 16 and concludes on July 19 with a family Mass and picnic on the rectory lawn! If you have not registered your child please do so. It is going to be a very exciting week!

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy," reminds us to turn to God to fulfill our needs.

Ordinary Time 13

Wow, it is already July, which means we are getting closer to Steelers Training Camp! During this month of July, may the beautiful days and joyful Fourth of July celebrations help us all to fill our lives with thankfulness and praise!

In today’s first reading from the Old Testament Book of Wisdom, we hear “God fashioned all things that they might have being.” “God is love,” Scripture famously says (1 John 4:16), but you could also say with equal truth, “God is life.” Just as love reveals God, so does life itself witness to God. Creation was an act of pure life-giving love. God did not have to make the world: God wanted to make the world. God wanted to share the divine life with creation. Though brokenness and obstacles may lie in their paths, God always desires God’s creatures to return to the source of their lives. Every breath, every thought, every step, sight, sound and taste testifies to your being alive – and to God’s life in you. Be aware and be thankful!

Tuesday, July 3 is the Feast of Saint Thomas. He is famous for his skepticism toward initial reports of Jesus’ Resurrection. Meanwhile, you may wonder if you’d believe in such fabulous goings-on if they were reported to you in real-time today. Good news often seems feeble compared with the magnitude of the bad news that comes to you daily. Thomas is the patron saint when the reasons for hope appear frail indeed. Early traditions say he died as a martyr in India, pierced by a sword. The one whose faith was bolstered by the wounds of Jesus proved his faith with his own torn body. What has faith cost you, and do you have the scars to prove it.

As our nation celebrates its 236th birthday this Wednesday, this text from a prayer by Archbishop John Carroll is most appropriate:

Lord, we commend to your unbounded mercy all citizens of the United States, that we may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of your holy law. May we be preserved in union and that peace which the world cannot give; and, after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal. Amen.

A special thanks to all who attended the Parish Picnic last Sunday! It was a beautiful day and a good time was had by all. Thanks to all who volunteered at the picnic.

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy," reminds us to turn to God to fulfill our needs.

Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Today we celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptist. John, the cousin of Jesus is a miracle baby born to elderly Zechariah and Elizabeth, who thought they were too old to have a child. Sometimes new life surprises us and we can only respond with awe and gratitude. Let us pray this day for new life for the world, our community, our church and ourselves.

John the Baptist was a prophet. What is a prophet? Well, the only thing that prophets have in common is that they have been sent, and the mission on which they are sent is not theirs, nor is the power theirs that gives them strength and patience and courage and makes them indifferent to the opinions of other people – not because they are sure they are right, but because only the message matters and rightness and wrongness, as the world judges these things, are irrelevant. They do not require the vindication of being heard or of visible results. The success of the mission, even, is less important than carrying it out, though they grieve because others cannot hear the voice that they hear.

Friday is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. It is on this day that the Pope and a few other high church officials receive the pallium. The pallium is an ancient liturgical vestment worn only by the Pope and a very few other high church officials on whom the Pope bestows it as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them. In honor of Saints Peter and Paul, today is the day of the liturgical year on which these officials receive this symbol of their office. In its current form it is a narrow band of white lamb’s wool from sheep raised by Trappist monks, looped and draped over other liturgical vestments. The pallium is a reminder of the serious duty placed on the shoulders of the highest church leaders. Pray today they that may fulfill their offices wisely, faithfully, and with compassion.

We are hosting the regional Fourth of July Mass here at Holy Cross at 9:00 AM. Patriotic prelude music will begin at 8:45 AM. There will be a special recognition of all the branches of the military. There will be a reception following the Mass. All are welcome to join us for a wonderful celebration in honor of our country’s 236th birthday!

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "I praise you, for I am wonderfully made," reminds us to offer thanks to God for bringing each us into being.

Ordinary Time 11

Our gathering on this Lord’s Day marks the resumption of the numbered Sundays in Ordinary Time. All through summer and fall, from now until next Advent, we will hear successive passages from the Gospel of Mark, together with Jesus’ teaching on the Bread of Life from the Gospel of John. Week by week, the word of God and Jesus’ gift of the Eucharist will provide us with comfort and challenge, wisdom and strength to bear witness day by day to the kingdom of God. We listen and work as that kingdom grows, like a seed sown in the earth, invisibly but surely and steadily while God’s saving plan is brought to fulfillment through the ordinary events of our daily lives.

This weekend, we celebrate Father’s Day. This day celebrates the contribution that fathers and father figures make to their children’s lives. Its origin may lie in a memorial service held for a large group of men, many of them fathers, who were killed in a mining accident in Monogah, West Virginia in 1907. The day became official in 1972 by President Nixon. Happy Father's Day!

This Wednesday, June 20, is the first day of summer! Here is a summer blessing:

May our loving God watch over you and keep alive in your heart all that you have learned this year. Keep your mind on God. Remember to pray often and to celebrate your faith, at home with your family and at Mass with your faith family. Keep your faith in God. Let a ll the joys of summer remind you of God’s goodness. Never forget that God is always with you, no matter what. May the God of all creation who comes to us in Jesus, and lives among us in the Holy Spirit, keep you safe, happy and holy this summer and always. Amen.

A special thanks to the few and mighty who prepared for the Yard Sale and to all who donated items. It was a nice, hot day!

Plan on attending our Parish Picnic next Sunday, June 24. Bishop Brandt gave us permission to celebrate an outdoor Mass at 11:00 AM. Therefore, we will not have the regular 10:00 AM Mass here that day. Come and experience Mass outdoors and don’t forget the pie contest!

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "Lord, it is good to give thanks to you," reminds us of the many blessings for which we give God our thanks and praise.

Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

On this day of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we usually focus on the Eucharist as being spiritual food provided to the faithful. We speak of the Eucharistic table and meal, of eating the body of Christ and of drinking his blood. The Eucharist is not meant to be a private devotion but rather the enactment of a covenant, the very building up of a community. Faith is not a private matter; we believe together with our Christian community. Truly, as our tradition holds: “The Church makes the Eucharist, and the Eucharist makes the Church.”

Last weekend I saw a faith community come together to celebrate Church, as I celebrated my 10th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. I would like to thank the Ladies Guild members for hosting the wonderful celebrations; all who provided cookies, cake and wine; to the choir for adding one more week to their schedule before summer break; and to all who attended the gatherings. The guests of other parishes were quite impressed with Holy Cross Church! I also thank so many of you for the cards and gifts, and wonderful words of congratulations and encouragement! God bless you all!

Monday is the Feast of the Apostle Barnabas. He was instrumental in helping Saint Paul evangelize and turn Christianity from a branch of Judaism into the largest of the world religions.

Wednesday is the Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua. He is best known for his help in finding lost objects. May we learn from him that “actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak.”

Thursday is Flag Day. The American flag was adopted on this day in 1777, and for the past 235 years it has been a cherished symbol of everything this country holds dear. As a nation the United States has its share of problems, disagreements, and failures. Today is a good day to reflect on the sacrifices your ancestors made and consider how you might carry on their work so that future generations may live in the freedom the Stars and Stripes proclaim.

Finally, Friday is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Saturday is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Celebrate these twin feasts with gratitude for how God loves the world!

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord," invites us to call upon Jesus at all times, whenever we may need him.

Most Holy Trinity

After all the excitement of Easter, we are now back in Ordinary Time. Our attention is first tuned to two of the most significant tenants of our faith, the fundamental mystery of the Most Holy Trinity (celebrated today) and the Eucharistic celebration of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (celebrated next Sunday). We then consider aspects of life that meet us day in and day out. The readings offer us a perspective for discovering that ordinary does not mean empty or dull. Ordinary is really the norm, the usual standard, and so we are treated to insights that can deepen our appreciation of the norm. As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity you have the opportunity to reflect on what it means to believe in a Trinitarian God. The Most Holy Trinity is a central doctrine of our faith. If asked, some might recall Saint Patrick’s shamrock or a triangle, but what does a Trinitarian God really mean? One way to understand the Holy Trinity is to imagine a three-note musical chord: When played together the notes complement each other and create a sound that is richer and fuller than any single note. Ultimately, though, a Trinitarian God is not off in the heavens and separate from the world but one who willingly enters creation and becomes human — a truly awesome thought! Spend some time appreciating the gifts from your Trinitarian God.

This past Friday, June 1, I celebrated my 10th Anniversary to the Priesthood. The priesthood is a beautiful gift of the church. We currently have 7 men studying in the seminary. Keep praying for an increase of vocations to the Priesthood, Deaconate and religious life in the Diocese of Greensburg. We pray for all who are celebrating Jubilees in the Diocese of Greensburg, including Bishop Emeritus Anthony Bosco who is celebrating 60 years and Father Al Pleban who is celebrating 55 years. Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to all!

I congratulate all who are graduating from high school and institutions of higher learning. I wish you all the happiness in God’s beautiful world and every blessing through a lifetime of rich fulfillment.

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "Blessed the people the Lord had chosen," invites us to acknowledge and rejoice in the rich diversity of people whom God calls “Beloved.”

Pentecost

As we come to Pentecost Sunday, the culmination of the Easter Season’s 50-day feast, we continue to rejoice in the presence of the Risen Lord in our midst. So also do we continue to pray the Lord to pour out continually upon his Church, in every people and nation, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, who will guide us to all truth and strengthen us to bear witness to Jesus’ gifts of peace and reconciliation.

Thanks to all who made the fifty days of Easter here at Holy Cross a truly glorious season!

This weekend is also Memorial Day Weekend! On this holiday, Americans across this nation and citizens located around the world will pause throughout the day to observe Memorial Day. Since its first official observation on May 5, 1868, when it was called Declaration Day, it has been a day of remembrance for those who sacrificed and died in our nations service. And while it was originally dedicated to honor Civil War soldiers, we know it today as a celebration in memory of all who have fought for and defended our right to freedom. So let us pause with respect and honor on this Memorial Day to remember those who fought, for those who gave their life, and for those who willingly stand ready today to do the same, without question, when the defense of freedom calls on them. We owe each of them the highest regard, respect, and honor, and the assurance that their commitment to this Nation’s freedom will never be forgotten.

Thursday, May 31 is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast commemorates the visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. The story is found in Luke’s Gospel, and this event is one of rejoicing in the wonders God has done, as both the previously barren Elizabeth and the Virgin Mary find themselves with child. Each woman experiences an outpouring of the Holy Spirit: Elizabeth’s response is to declare Mary and her child blessed; and Mary’s response is the Magnificat, her hymn of praise to God. May the Holy Spirit pour many gifts on you!

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "Lord, send out your spirit, and renew the face of the earth," is our prayer to God for the gifts of the Spirit.

Easter 7

Today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter. The glorious 50 days of the Easter Season are coming to a close. We recall that during the days between Jesus’ Ascension and Pentecost, the disciples, together with Mary, prayerfully awaited the outpouring of the Holy Spirit – the same Spirit who would heal the community’s failures, sustain its continuity, and extend its witness to the ends of the earth. As we prepare for Pentecost, let us in communion with Our Lady, the apostles and all the saints, pray for a fresh outpouring of that same creative, life-giving Spirit.

As we celebrate Pentecost next weekend I invite you to wear red. Why, you ask? Red is the liturgical color of Pentecost and it will show others that we are on Fire with the Holy Spirit! Here is a prayer to the Holy Spirit: Gracious God, your Holy Spirit enabled Jesus’ disciples to preach the Good News among all nations. Grant that the same Holy Spirit will continue to live among us and inspire us to share the Good News in our families and communities. We make this and all our prayers in the Holy Spirit and in Jesus’ name, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen. Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

As you noticed in the bulletin and the web site, we have met our Diocesan goal for the Diocesan Lenten Appeal of $28,519 and we surpassed our parish goal of $65,000. The total pledged to date is $75,820. The final report of the DLA is due to the Diocese in a few weeks. If you have not made a gift you still have time to do so. A special thanks to all who have made a gift to this year's Appeal! God bless you for your generosity to the Diocese of Greensburg and Holy Cross Church! The parking lot project will begin soon!

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "The Lord has set his throne in Heaven," reminds us that our true home is in heaven, where Christ rules in glory!

Easter 6

Each year on this Sixth Sunday of Easter, the readings begin to prepare us for Pentecost by showing the Holy Spirit working through the leaders of the early church. Today, Saint Peter tells us that, even though Jesus had made him earthly head of the church, Peter too is just beginning to understand the surprising ways in which God intends the community to grow. Saint John, in both his First Letter and the Gospel, reminds us that Jesus’ great commandment is that we love one another. Only when we love one another, as Jesus both taught us and showed us, are we truly friends.

Contrary to popular belief, Mother’s Day was not conceived and fine-tuned in the boardroom of Hallmark. The earliest tributes to mothers date back to the annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to Rhea, the mother of many deities, and to the offerings ancient Romans made to their Great Mother of Gods, Cybele. Christians celebrated this festival on the Fourth Sunday of Lent in honor of Mary, Mother of Christ. In England this holiday was expanded to include all mothers and was called Mothering Sunday. In the United States, Mother’s Day started nearly 150 years ago, when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it “Mother’s Work Day.” In 1914 Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mother’s Day as a national holiday. Mother’s Day has flourished in the United States. In fact, the second Sunday in May had become the most popular day of the year to dine out, and telephone lines recorded their highest traffic, as sons and daughters everywhere take advantage of this day to honor and to express appreciation of their mothers. I wish all mothers a very joyous Mother’s Day!

May is the month when Catholics traditionally focus on Mary, the Mother of Jesus. The practice dates back at least 700 years and is still observed around the world today. May is seen as the beginning of new life and the start of summer, which makes this a logical time for celebrations of Mary, who brought life to the world…In the sanctuary this weekend you will notice a beautiful statue of Mary in the midst of the flowers. This statue is from the former Saint Gilbert Church in Hunker. We are appreciative to the anonymous donor who had the statue refurbished. Remember. O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided.

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "The Lord had revealed to the nations his saving power," invites us to give thanks for the ways that God saves us daily."

Easter 5

As the Easter season continues and the world of nature blossoms with the fresh growth of springtime our liturgy bids us sing a new song to the Lord! May we continue to glorify God by bearing much fruit and becoming more faithful disciples of the Risen Jesus!

Risen Jesus, you are the vine and we are the branches. Strengthen our resolve as a community to remain in you, so that we might bear more fruit. May your words remain in me, your child; may I, like Paul, recognize the life these words carry within them, and hold them in my heart.

Sunday at Noon we celebrate First Communion with 16 of our young people. I invite you to pray for them as they celebrate this wonderful moment on their journey of faith. I also want to thank Felicity Filicky and Cheryl Helman for another outstanding job in preparing the young people! God bless you all!

Thursday is the Feast of St. Damien of Moloka’i. He was sent to the Hawaiian Islands and volunteered as chaplain for the leper colony on the remote island of Moloka’i. He spent the rest of his life working to restore the selfworth and dignity of the lepers and improving their living conditions. He eventually contracted leprosy and died at Moloka’i. He was beatified in 1995 and canonized a saint in 2009. He is honored by the state of Hawaii with a statue in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. May we imitate his example to “make myself a leper with the lepers, to gain all to Jesus Christ.”

Next Sunday is Mother’s Day. I will extend a special blessing to all Mothers following Holy Communion and give to each mother a small prayer card! The Knights of Columbus will host a breakfast on Sunday following the 8 and 10:00 AM Masses. Faith grows strong in women of God.

Our Respnsorial Psalm this week, "I will praise you Lord, in the assembly of your people," reminds us that our prayers are joined to those of all the members of Christ’s body, in heaven and on earth.

Easter 4

The Fourth Sunday of Easter, known as Good Shepherd Sunday, is also a special day of prayer around the world for vocations. The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is first of all a day about the power of many people praying together to realize God’s desires for the world. It is also a day for vocations, bringing to the church’s attention the joys of a life dedicated to prayer and service as priests, deacons, religious sisters, and brothers. The best-kept secret about a religious vocation is that in devotion to God and others, people find deep personal satisfaction. What Saint Teresa of Avila said in the 16th century is still true: “God gave me such great happiness at being in religious life that it never left me up to this day.” Such a choice and commitment is something to consider and encourage.

Tuesday, May 1 is the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. With a significant percent of the American population out of work or underemployed, Saint Joseph is swiftly becoming the patron saint of all who seek to enter or return to the workforce. Pray to Joseph the Worker for those who seek, that they may find.

Wednesday, May 2 is the Feast of Saint Athanasius. May we recognize the truth of his advice that “one cannot possibly understand the teaching of the saints unless one has a pure mind and is trying to imitate their life.”

Thursday, May 3 is the Feast of the Apostles Philip and James. The church does not always know much about the early Apostles – sometimes it’s not even clear who is who – but it does remember their faith. Live in such a way that others will know and remember you for the same reason.

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "The stone rejected by the builders had become the cornerstone," reminds us that Christ is the cornerstone of the Church and the foundation of our lives.