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