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.