Passion (Palm) Sunday

Our Lenten journey of conversion and reconciliation, of renewed faith and deeper charity, has brought us to this beginning of Holy Week, the threshold of the sacred Paschal Triduum of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. Although we cannot enter with Jesus into the Jerusalem of two thousand years ago, we can resolve to accompany him here and now as present in his Church, and especially in those who suffer. Jesus continues his journey toward the heavenly Jerusalem through a world that sometimes cries "Hosanna," but often, also, "Crucify!" Let us, then, approach this week with palm branches raised high and hosannas on our lips, opening our hearts to God’s grace and mercy. As faithful disciples in every age, let us be ready to suffer with our Master. Let us gladly carry the cross with him and freely lay down our lives in selfless service. We trust as he did that God’s steadfast love will not abandon us, but will lead us safely to share in Jesus’ risen life.

The Church enters the “difficult days” of Holy Week, when it bears painful witness to the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus. These days invite you to take an honest look at your own faith. In what ways have you, like Judas, “betrayed” your best self by acting selfishly or thoughtlessly? Have you been dishonest in your dealings with loved ones, friends, or business associates? Have you been careless with your words, to the pain of another? Have you neglected your spirit and failed to make time for prayer and worship? There is still time to repent past wrongs and commit to a new life in the spirit, but the appointed hour draws near – let‘s get moving in the right direction! All are invited to celebrate the Sacred Triduum with us!

A very special "thank you" to an anonymous friend who reupholstered the chairs and the kneelers in the sanctuary, to Jack Ciampini for refinishing the wood on the chairs and kneelers, and to Barry Premoshis for transporting the chairs and kneelers. God bless you for your generosity!

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me," the words that Jesus prayed on the cross, remind us to pray for all those who are experiencing suffering and pain in our world today.

Lent 5

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. As we celebrate these final weeks of Lent we must ask ourselves, "What fears keep me from giving myself to God?" For many of us it is scary to think of surrendering ourselves into the arms of God. “What might happen?” is the secret question that pummels our thoughts. We do not yet fully believe that God is always -- yes, always -- desiring our good and our happiness. We do not yet fully realize that God will be with us as a guiding power to love and to sustain us through whatever hardships and heartaches life may bring. To surrender is to live with a mind and a heart that is open to the future and to trust that all shall be well. When we let go and when we surrender, we are most surely on the pathway to healing.

This year, the church celebrates the Annunciation one day late because the actual date, March 25, falls on a Sunday. March 25 has an interesting history. Early mathematicians calculated and thought this to be the day on which Jesus died. They believed the creation of the world started on this day as well, which made it a natural date for the first day of the New Year. Thus for several hundred years, March 25 was New Year's Day. Mary’s willingness to bear the son of God also ushered in a new year, a new era. Every “yes” does that. Celebrate Mary’s “yes” with one of your own today. Before you say an automatic “no” to your child, your spouse, your co-worker or your neighbor, take a deep breath and reconsider whether you might say “yes.”

This week begins the Regional Penance Services. The schedule is posted on the front cover of today’s bulletin and on our parish web site. Create clean hearts as we prepare to enter Holy Week.

Weather permitting, we will begin the 10:00 AM Mass on Palm Sunday on the sidewalk in from of the school building and process into the church. If you are physically able, please gather in front of the school building at 10:00 AM for the blessing of palms and procession.

Our Responsorial Psalm this weekend, "Create a clean heart in me, O Lord," urges us to ask God to purify our hearts so that we can better serve our Lord.

Lent 4

This past Friday was March 16 (3/16), also known as John 3:16 Day! How fitting that the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year B), we hear the Gospel that includes the verse, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." In this Gospel Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, in the darkness. He was fearful and his faith was weak. Jesus, the light of the world, invited Nicodemus to come into the light and to believe so that he “might not perish but might have eternal life.” Jesus shared with Nicodemus the great love that God has for the world and called him to live in the truth. As we travel through this Lenten season, we too are invited to live in the light, to deepen our faith, and to open ourselves to God’s only Son, Jesus, sent into the world for our salvation.

Monday, March 19 is the Solemnity of Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. God sees the fruit of our labor, even if others cannot. Think of Joseph, the carpenter who taught Jesus his craft, a man given no lines to say in the New Testament and whose life remains almost completely hidden. His work was of supreme importance, even though others may not have seen this at the time. How similar this is to the many millions of people who do hidden work today: spending long hours working to put their kids through school; taking on an extra job to save money to care for an elderly parent or relative; working to exhaustion, scrubbing floors, doing multiple loads of laundry, and spending hours over a stove for their families. Even if their efforts are hidden from others, they are seen by the One, whose gaze matters most. St. Joseph, pray for us.

As many celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, here is a special Irish Blessing: May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you … those who you love near you and all your heart might desire. St Patrick, pray for us!

I am happy to report that as of Monday of this past week we have met our Diocesan goal for the Diocesan Lenten Appeal! Now we are working at reaching our parish goal! God bless you all for your gifts!

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you," reminds us to always keep God in our minds and hearts.

Lent 3

On this Third Sunday of Lent, Jesus cleanses the temple and the Lord want to cleanse us from all that prevents us from having a clear vision of God’s plan. When we are cleansed we are renewed. Because the entire month of March is Lent, March anticipates renewal. I recently came across this selection entitled "March Anticipates Renewal" that I share with you.

A hint of warmth, a hint of growth, a welcome return of spring: formed in stone, an arch for March, a month of madness, and of gladness. Madness is in the fever for sport, gladness is in the faithful heart; gladness arises from green and sun, from a soon to be Risen One. March is anticipated, awaited, a need to qualify, a need to win, even Christ knew anticipation, He awaited possible defeat. Many were those who doubted, friends even denied knowing him; Christ had strength to overcome, it’s that strength we celebrate, gladly. Kansas stone built this monk’s wall. Segments of color, mortared as one, durable, perhaps everlasting, holiness, wholeness, a possibility. Not the stone rolled to the door, not a stone to seal us off, but a stone to give us confidence, to endure, to arise, even daily.

All are invited to our Lenten Family Day on Sunday, March 18 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Adults will enjoy a presentation by me, the youth will make cookies for Meals on Wheels and gifts for our homebound parishioners. We will pray together and have a nice meal. We will also make a craft for Palm Sunday and Easter. Let us come together to celebrate our faith during this season of Lent! You may register this week in church, online, or by contacting the Parish Office.

Steve Angrisano is coming to the Diocese of Greensburg! Steve is undoubtedly one of the most effective and versatile ministry leaders in the Church. He will be speaking to the middle school youth (grades 6-8) on Saturday, April 21 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Greensburg Central Catholic. He will speak to the high school youth on Sunday, April 23 beginning at 12:30 PM. I highly encourage youth to participate in this wonderful event! Holy Cross will cover all registration fees. Registration forms will be available in the church.

Our Diocesan Lenten Appeal is off to a great start! I thank so many of you who have given to the campaign to assist the Diocese of Greensburg and Holy Cross Church. I am delighted to see that many of you have increased your gift this year as we prepare for the development of the land on the corner of 8th Street and Depot Street. God bless you for your generosity!

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "Lord, you have the words of everlasting life," encourages us to listen to God’s voice in our lives.

Lent 2

God is transfiguring the world right this very moment through us because God believes in us and because God loves us.

- Desmond Tutu, God Has A Dream

On this Second Sunday of Lent, we celebrate Transfiguration Sunday. Lent is a time for Transformation. Each of us is praying to be transformed by God’s Love. In today’s second reading from Paul to the Romans, we hear If God is for us who can be against us? And in the Gospel we are invited with Peter, James and John to see Jesus as the beloved Son whom the Father “did not spare…but handed over for us all” (Romans 8:32). The mystery of the Cross and Resurrection is an invitation to see God’s love for all God’s beloved children and trust in it.

One of our deepest human spiritual longings is to know ourselves as the beloved of God. In her memoir, Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now, Maya Angelou recalls being asked by her teacher to read a section from a book that ended with the words, “God loves me.” He instructed her to say the passage again and again. Eventually it dawned on her there might be truth in those words. She writes: “I suddenly began to cry at the grandness of it all. I knew that if God loved me, then I could do wonderful things. I could try great things, learn anything, achieve anything.” This Lent know that God Loves you and ask God to use you to help another know that he or she is beloved.

Next Sunday is Daylight Savings Time, a day to set clocks ahead one hour. Remember to do this so you don’t show up late for Mass next Sunday!

Mark your calendars for Lenten Family Day on Sunady, March 18! Let’s come together to celebrate our faith!

Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living," calls us to recommit ourselves to living lives transformed by the Gospel.