The Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

We warmly welcome Rev. William C. McGuirk to Holy

Cross Church as the 12th Pastor. He is very happy to be here

& is looking forward to meeting you.

In today’s gospel we hear that Jesus has begun his journey to

Jerusalem,” and he does so “resolutely.” He is preparing to

meet his fate there. Jesus’ passion does not happen by

accident; he knows what will be the result of his actions and

still he continues on his way. Let us praise and thank God

today for such great love shown to us by Jesus, our Lord and

Savior.

This Thursday is America’s 237 Birthday! An important day

in America to celebrate liberty from political oppression but

also a reminder of the Christian freedom you enjoy. You can

look at this freedom in two ways: freedom from – being or

feeling forced to do something – and freedom to – ee, judge,

and act on what is holy and good. Christians believe Jesus

had set them free and have the wonderful liberty to choose

him. What has God freed you from? What has God freed

you to do? HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

CONGRATULATIONS TO JULIE KIMMICK who will

receive the 2013 Parish Youth Ministry Honor on July 13,

2013. She will be among twelve youth who will honored at

the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. Ninety four youth will also

receive the Youth Ministry Recognition Pin. The recognition

will take place during a 3PM Mass on July 13 at the Cathedral.

A reception will follow the Mass. The Mass does fulfill

your Sunday obligation. CONGRATULATIONS JULIE,

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!

Fr Bill would like to thank ALL for your prayers and support

during this transition. Please continue to pray for all the

priests and people of the Diocese of Greensburg during these

Changing Times.

Fr Bill’s new address: Saint Francis Of Assisi, 101 W.

Church Ave, Masontown PA 15461

email address: wberkey@dioceseofgreensburg.org

or wberkey33@yahoo.com

This week’s psalm response, Let all the earth cry out to

God with Joy, reminds us to join in creation’s unending

hymn of praise.

The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, throughout your journey of life, no doubt, you
have asked yourself: “Just who is this Jesus?” Today the
scriptures help us all to answer that question. And the answer
cannot just remain on the pages of the lectionary. If we embrace
Jesus as our savior, we must heed his words. The
Christian life is by no means easy, but we know that we can
count on each other for support and prayer. Thank you for
your support and prayers these past weeks not only for my
transfer in assignment but also for my mom and dad.

This weekend we celebrate Father’s Day. The celebration
dating back to 1909 became an official holiday in 1966. May
Jesus, guide all Fathers to holiness and happiness watching
over them faithfully as they watch over us. May all deceased
Fathers rest in peace.

Friday is the first day of Summer. Many ancient peoples
made today one of their great feasts. People lit huge bonfires
during these shortest nights of the year to announce the official
change of seasons. Some sort of protection at this time of
the year seemed especially important because spirits were
thought to wander about during festival times. As European
nations became Christian, the solstice traditions became associated
with the birth of John the Baptist (June 24), called
Midsummer Day because it is midway between Spring and
Autumn. Have a relaxing and enjoyable summer!

THANKS to all who attended the Parish Picnic last Sunday in
New Stanton Park. It was a very enjoyable afternoon. A special
thanks to those who assisted in any way to make the picnic
so special.

This week’s psalm response, Lord, forgive the wrong I have
done, reminds us of the forgiveness Jesus offers to those who
confess their sins to him.

Congratulations and God’s Blessing to John Zombar who
received a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry from Seton Hill
University and Diocese of Greensburg.

LET’S GO BUCS!!

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….

The Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, take a deep breath. It’s a matter of life and breath,”
ran the former slogan of the American Lung Association, and the
Bible would agree. Scripture often talks about God’s life-giving
Spirit in terms of breath. God “blew into” Adam’s nostrils “the
breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).
When Jesus appeared to his disciples, “He breathed on them and
said to them, ‘Receive the holy Spirit’.” (John 20:22). Inspiration
means taking in the breath of life and the presence of God. God is
all around you like the air you breathe, filling you with life and
hope.

Thursday June 13 is the Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, one
of the beloved saints on the list of Saints. He is best known as the
saint to call upon when seeking a lost object. He could also be
thought of as the patron saint of the unexpected, because illness,
shipwreck and unplanned events took him and his calling in surprising
and unplanned directions. He gave it his all with a heartfelt,
“Thy will be done,” and you can do the same when a higher
call that takes you to unforeseen places upends your best-laid plans.
Anthony teaches you to walk by faith. Take a leap the next time
your faith invites it.

Thanks to all who planned and prepared the wonderful Class of
2013 Graduation Celebration last Sunday. it was truly a beautiful
celebration. God Bless the Class of 2013!!

Friday June 14 is Flag Day. According to the official U. S. Flag
Code, “The flag represents a living country and is itself a living
thing.” It’s not merely a place of cloth but something that embodies
a nation and its ideals of independence, liberty, hope, and unity
of purpose. It also stands for the sacrifices that have been made for
those ideals. While the flag is not a religious symbol, it’s like one
because it represents something greater than itself. The symbols of
faith do the same but express something larger than even love of
country and that is the reality of God. Something to think about
when you fly the flag.

This week’s psalm response, I will praise you Lord, for you have
rescued me, urges us to raise our voice in praise to our Lord who
will always protect us.

LET’S GO PENS! And LET’S GO BUCS!!

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….

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), June 2, 2013

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, today we remember in a special way the gift of
the Holy Eucharist, first given to us by Jesus at the Last Supper.
This is a gift that we celebrate weekly, some of us daily
– Christ’s Body and Blood given for our salvation and for our
nourishment. We are so familiar with it that every now and
then we need a reminder of how profound it is.

As I celebrate 11 years as a priest for the Diocese of Greensburg,
I thank God for the gift of the Eucharist which gives me
strength during these very challenging days in the Church. I
also thank you for the gift you are to me. THANKS!

Congratulations to the Class of 2013! We celebrate your
achievement today and ask God to bless you as you begin this
new chapter in your life. Included in the celebration today is
my niece and Goddaughter Maggie, what a joy it is to celebrate
this wonderful week with her!! I love you!

Please plan on attending the Parish Picnic next Sunday!
Come and let’s have a good time! Remember the pie contest!!!!!
I may even turn on the gas to the oven in the rectory
and bake a pie!!

Friday June 7 is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of
Jesus and Saturday is the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart
of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Jesus’ heart is filled with love,
which is demonstrated by his constant care for us. “What a
joy to remember that Mary is our mother! Since she loves us
and know our weakness, what have we to fear?” St Therese
of Lisieux.

This week’s psalm response, Lord, you are a priest forever,
reminds us that Christ is our high priest and intermediary always
and in all ways.

LET’S GO PENS!
And LET’S GO BUCS!!

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….

The Mostly Holy Trinity 5-26-13

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most
Blessed Trinity. Our loving God is three persons whose relationship
of love is the model of all human relationships. In each of the
sacraments, in liturgies and indeed in every making of the Sign of
the Cross, we call upon the triune God, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. The Trinity is the central mystery of the faith, yet it can be a
challenge to understand the idea of one God in three persons. One
helpful way to approach the Trinity is to look at God as one who
desires relationship and connection. The Catechism of the Catholic
Church says: “God is one but not solitary” (no.254). In other
words, to borrow a term from modern communications, God is the
original social network! What can you learn from the social, relationship-
oriented nature of God that can help you as you navigate
your relationships?

As we celebrate Memorial Day, the unofficial start of Summer, let
us remember and never forget the men and women who have
served so that we can live in freedom and those currently serving in
the military. As we celebrate the unofficial start of summer we
pray that the brightness of the summer sun and beauty of its light
remind us daily of Jesus’ love for us!

This Saturday June 1 will be a joyous day in the Diocese of
Greensburg as Bishop Brandt will ordain three men to the Priesthood!
Please pray for Tyler Bandura, Matthew Morelli and Daniel
Ulishney as they enter the Sacred Order of Priesthood.
Friday May 31 is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. We celebrate on this day Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth.
Mary recognized that God does great things for us. For what
great thing shall I thank God today?

This week’s psalm response, O Lord, our God, how wonderful
your name in all the earth, reminds us to echo God’s love
throughout the week!

As DLA 2013 is coming to an end, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
GENEROUS RESPONSE!!! GOD BLESS YOU AND REWARD
YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS SHOWN TO HOLY CROSS
CHURCH.

LET’S GO PENS!
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….

Pentecost Sunday

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, our fifty-day celebration of the Easter season
concludes today as we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit
to the new church. This day known sometimes as the
“birthday of the church,” is also a day to celebrate the coming
of the Holy Spirit into our own lives. The experience of the
coming of the Holy Spirit is usually associated with the
incident in Jerusalem where the apostles, seven weeks after
Jesus’ Resurrection, gathered to celebrate the Jewish feast
Shavuot (Pentecost). Yet John’s gospel says the risen Jesus
breathed the Spirit into the disciples on the evening of the
Resurrection. The Hebrew and Greek word (ruah and
pneuma) can mean “spirit,” “breath,” or “wind.” Inviting a
range of images from the intimate breath of life Jesus gave
the disciples, almost as one might revive a drowning person,
to the tornado-like wind that rattles their house to its foundations.
However we imagine the Spirit of God, it is alive, it is
strong, it moves where it will and it is irresistible.

As the glorious Easter season comes to a close with the celebration
of Pentecost, I would like to THANK all who assisted
in making the Easter Season so beautiful. God Bless You!!

A reminder that you can request the Red Sanctuary Candle, or
Altar Flowers in honor of someone living or in memory of a
loved one. There are many openings for the summer months.
Call Sara in the office to reserve the candle or flowers.

In November of this year I will travel with 4 of our youth and
2 adults to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis.
The total cost of the trip is around $5,000.00. We
will be conducting some Fund raisers in the next couple of
months. We hope you will support us!!

This week’s psalm response, Lord, send out your Spirit,
and renew the face of the earth, reminds us to give thanks
for the power presence of the Holy Spirit in our world.
As DLA 2013 is coming to an end, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
GENEROUS RESPONSE!!! GOD BLESS YOU AND REWARD
YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS SHOWN TO HOLY CROSS
CHURCH.

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, as we celebrate the 7th Sunday of Easter the end
of the 50 day celebration of the Easter Season is coming to an
end. Next Sunday is the great feast of Pentecost, the birthday
of the church. If possible wear RED to church next weekend
as we celebrate the Holy Spirit!!

This weekend we honor our Mothers both living and
deceased as we celebrate Mother’s Day! In 1914, Congress
proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. A
mother provides life and nourishment. On this day we
remember all who are examples of a mother’s love.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!

Monday is the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima. In 1917, in
a tiny, rural town of Portugal, the Blessed Virgin Mary
appeared to three shepherd children on the 13th day of six
consecutive months, beginning May 13. During these apparitions,
the lady urged the children to pray the Rosary. Today
up to a million people gather to pray at this site. Our Lady of
Fatima, pray for us!

Tuesday is the Feast of Saint Matthias, who replaced Judas
Iscariot in the original 12 Apostles. He was selected as a
candidate by the 11 Apostles because he met the following 2
qualifications: (1) a disciple of Jesus from Jesus’ baptism to
his Ascension and (2) a witness to Jesus’ Resurrection. His
symbol in art is an axe, from the legend of his beheading.
As many of us are in the process of planting flowers and
vegetables in our yards and gardens, we pray for the intercession
of Saint Isidore, whose feast is Wednesday. He is the
patron saint of farmers, and it is fitting to remember him
during the agricultural season.

This week’s psalm response, The Lord is King, the most
high over all the earth, is to be prayed with joy and gratitude
for God’s goodness.

As DLA 2013 is coming to an end, I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR GENEROUS RESPONSE!!! GOD BLESS YOU
AND REWARD YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS SHOWN
TO HOLY CROSS CHURCH.

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, welcome to the month of May! A very exciting
month indeed. May is the month of Our Lady, a special time of
prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary. We join Mary in rejoicing in
Christ’s Resurrection from the dead. During this month pray the
Rosary, visit the outdoor shrine or reflect on the joys of Mary: the
Annunciation, the birth of Jesus Christ, the Adoration of the Magi,
the Resurrection, the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, the descent of
the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and Mary’s Coronation as Queen of
Heaven. Mary, mother of the Church, pray for us!

CONGRATULATIONS to our 2013 First Holy Communion class;
to IAN SWARTZ and AUSTIN STINEBISER who will receive
their Ad Altare Dei (to the altar of God) emblem of the Boy Scouts
from Bishop Brandt Sunday afternoon at the Bishop Connare Center.
God Bless you all! And Happy Easter Sunday to our Orthodox
brothers and sisters, especially our friends at Holy Ascension Serbian
Orthodox here in Youngwood.

As we prepare for the great feast of Pentecost, the Birthday of the
Church, we are invited to spend the days from the Ascension of
Our Lord (Thursday May 9) until Pentecost (May 19) in special
prayer. Here is a prayer for you to pray: Love is the guarantee
that the Life of the Spirit is growing in us. Love is the sign of
the Holy Spirit at work in the Church and in the world: Come
Holy Spirit come, renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Friday is the Memorial of Saint Damien Joseph de Veuster. Born in
Belgium, at age 19 he entered the Congregation of the Fathers of
the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Sent to the Hawaiian Islands
(1863), he was ordained (1864) and served as a parish priest for 9
years. Then he volunteered as chaplain for the leper colony on the
remote island of Moloka’i (1873). He spent the rest of his life
working to restore the self-worth and dignity of the lepers and improving
their living conditions. He eventually contracted leprosy
and died at Moloka’i. Beatified in 1992 and canonized in 2009, he
is also honored by the state of Hawaii with a statue in the rotunda
of the United States Capitol. May we imitate his example to “make
myself a leper with the lepers, to gain all to Jesus Christ.”
This week’s psalm response, O God, let all the nations praise
you! Reminds us to invite others to join in our prayer.

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, it’s hard to believe that we are celebrating the
5th Sunday of Easter and this is the final weekend in the
month of April. It is also hard to live by Jesus’ new commandment:
LOVE ONE ANOTHER. In a world that seems
to be marked more and more by intolerance and suspicion,
following this command can seem to be extraordinarily difficult.
Let us continue to pray to our loving God to inspire our
hearts with a deep abiding love for everyone in the world.

Today marks the end of our Faith Formation year 2012-2013.
I would like to thank the following for volunteering their time
to form our children in the Faith: Jo Hartzell (K), Tina, Mary
and Michelle Burns (1), Jane, Connor and Michael Mondock
(2), Marie, Joe, Joseph and Michael Nemetz (3), Kathie
Brown and Amber Raimondo (4), Jeannie Savisky (5), Sylvia
Madill (6), Jennifer Selesky and Dawn Tedrow (7-12),
McGee Wills, Terri Bailey, Karen/Tim Iverson (Sunday
Morning Children’s Liturgy of the Word) and the Coordinator
of Faith Formation, John Zombar. Thank You All, for a Job
Well Done!!

The month of May begins on Wednesday the feast of Saint
Joseph the Worker. That day is also my parents, Jim and
Margaret Berkey, 65th Wedding Anniversary. Unfortunately
they are not able to attend Mass here at Holy Cross, so I ask
you to join with me in praying for them and all who are celebrating
Wedding Anniversaries at this time of the year.
Friday is the Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles. It is
on this day that all priests from the Diocese of Greensburg
have a mandatory meeting with Bishop Brandt. Please pray
for us!

The First Growing in Your Catholic Faith session this past
Monday went well. There were 17 of us who discussed the
Papal Document, Peace on Earth. Please make plans to
attend the May session, The Four Faces of Jesus, on Monday,
May 20. Live in Love, Grow in Faith!

This week’s psalm response, I will praise your name forever,
my King and my God, reminds us to take time each
day to praise the Lord!

LET’S GO PENS!

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 Easter

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, the Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as Good Shepherd
Sunday. The image of Jesus the Good Shepherd reminds us
just how much we are loved by the Lord. It is also a day to pray for
priestly and religious vocations, as we celebrate World Day of
Prayer for Vocations. The Church of Greensburg will be blessed
with 3 new priests on June 1, 2013: Tyler Bandura, Matthew
Morelli and Daniel Ulishney. Pray for them and for all people discerning
God’s call in their lives.

Monday is Earth Day. Folksinger Tom Paxton wrote these lyrics
for the first Earth Day 43 years ago. “Whose garden was this? / It
must have been lovely. / Did it have flowers? / I’ve seen pictures of
flowers, / And I’d love to have smelled one. / Ah! Tell me again, I
need to know: / The forest had trees, the meadows were green, /
The oceans were blue and birds really flew, / Can you swear that
was true?” Do these times and names, made popular by John Denver,
sound merely nostalgic? So the words sound simplistic? Sentimental?
Old-fashioned? On the contrary, they are as urgent as
“love one another.” “love your neighbor as yourself,” and “follow
me.”

Thursday is the Feast of Saint Mark. He is the author of the earliest
and shortest gospel account in the Bible. Like him, may we find
new ways to proclaim the good news and share Jesus’ story with
others.

In the wake of this week’s bombing at the finish line at the Boston
Marathon, the city’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley OFM shared the following
words: “ in the midst of the darkness of this tragedy we turn
to the light of Jesus Christ , the light that was evident in the lives of
people who immediately turned to help those in need. We stand in
solidarity in our commitment to witness the greater power of good
in our society and to work together for healing.” This growing
culture of violence in our world and even in our country calls for
both wise security measures by government officials and an examination
by all of us to see what we can personally do to enhance
peace and respect for one another in our world. Our Lady of
Mercy, Pray for us.  This week’s psalm response, We are God’s people, the sheep of
God’s flock, reminds us who and whose we are.

LET’S GO PENS!

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 Easter

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, Saint Therese of Lisieux once said “I just wonder
what I am to do when Easter Day dawns and I’m not able to sing
‘Alleluia’ because I really don’t feel the joy of Easter. Oh, for sure
in some ways I’m glad that Lent is over and that the season of
spring has arrived; I am not always, however, in an Alleluia frame
of mind or heart at this time of the year. For that’s what it’s all
about, isn’t it? I want to feel the joy of Easter and sing ‘Alleluia.’
I really want to mean that with all my heart.”

As we journey through the 3rd week of Easter we ask ourselves if
we still have Easter Joy? Easter is a long season with a very important
message. As we listen to today’s Gospel we speculate why
153 fish? Some say that 153 as the number of known fish species
while others think it was the number of counties known to exist.
So, one way to look at today’s celebration is to see it as an invitation
to spread the Good News to the whole known world. This is
part of our mission to evangelize.

Spring is beginning to take full bloom. One of the most beautiful
flowering trees is the Dogwood Tree. The legend of the Dogwood
Tree is this: In Jesus’ time, the dogwood grew to a stately size and
a lovely hue. Twas strong and firm its branches interwoven For the
cross of Christ its timers were chosen. See the distress at this use
of their wood. Christ made a promise which still holds good:
“Never again shall the dogwood grow Large enough to be used so.
Slender and twisted it shall be with blossoms like the cross for all
to see. As blood stains the petals marked in the brown the blossom’s
center wears a thorny crown. All who see it will remember
ME. Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree. Cherished and
protected, this tree shall be a reminder to all of my agony. Author
Unknown. So, when you see the Dogwood Tree bloom this spring
take a good look and be thankful for the Cross that Set us Free!

A special Thank You to All who have given to the DLA. As you
can see in today's bulletin we are inching closer to our goal. God
Bless You!

This week’s psalm response, I will praise you Lord, for you
have rescued me, reminds us that the Lord will change our mourning
into dancing!

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

The Second Sunday of Easter

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, HAPPY EASTER! Our Easter celebration continues
today and for the six more weeks as we unpack the
meaning of Jesus Christ’s resurrection in our lives today.
Thomas had to see to believe. What do you believe about the
Resurrection? We are to believe that God is here! “Do not
be afraid” is a common opening line when the divine makes
an appearance in scripture. From that face we can infer that
the humans who come face to face with glory are usually
scared half to death! However, God’s visitations are not intended
to cause fear. Rather they reveal an important truth:
that God is, was, and always will be with us. Bolstered by
that knowledge, we may accept whatever hard task presents
itself with courage and the joy of knowing we are not alone.

Monday April 8 is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the
Lord, and Mary has a messenger for you! Mary’s response to
the startling news announced by God’s messenger Gabriel is
a very human one – a mix of awe and shock. It’s a safe bet
that that was not the outcome she imagined for herself as she
grew up and became engaged to Joseph. Yet, despite what
surely was fear and apprehension, Mary chose to say “yes” to
God’s invitation. Mary can be your inspiration for also participating
in God’s work in the world even when fear holds
you back and doubt threatens to paralyze you. Just as Gabriel
came to Mary, Mary comes to you with the message that with
a simple “thou will be done”. You, too, can bring healing,
hope and peace into the world.

On May 5 our Parish will celebrate First Holy Communion
with 29 of our young people. Please keep them in prayer during
this final month of preparation. You can find a list of
their names on the message boards in church.
This week’s psalm response, Give thanks to the Lord,
whose love endures forever, reminds us to be grateful for
God’s love and mercy.

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, HAPPY EASTER! May the faith and hope given on
that first Easter morning strengthen, uplift and inspire our daily
lives that we may truly live the meaning of Resurrection!

A study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that
79 percent of Americans believe in miracles. This belief spans generations;
young people are just as likely to believe in miracles as
older Americans. How hard would it have been for the disciples to
believe in the resurrection of Jesus? They saw his miraculous powers
firsthand. But Saint John tells us that the disciples did not yet
understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead. The news from
Mary Magdalene came as a shock. The empty tomb was soon confirmed
by Peter and the other disciple. The resurrection is a mystery
we must grasp personally. Without Easter faith, we would not
be with the community today proclaiming, “ALLELUIA!”
A special THANKS to those who participated in the many Lenten
activities. I hope your Lenten journey was a life fulfilling experience.
Special THANKS to all who helped build the garden for
Holy Thursday and decorate the church for Easter, GOD BLESS
YOU ALL!

Congratulations to those who celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation
at the Easter Vigil: Nyla and Geone Barlow, Crystal and
Sebastian Colinear, Christianna and Christopher Deaner, Abigail
and Zachary Farlow, Enrico and Helen Mucci and Janine Peterson.
God Bless You!

Monday we begin the month of April. The word April means “to
open.” This is the time of year that leaf and flower buds open, a
time of transformation. The day is now longer than the night. Even
if the nights are still chilly, the daytime sun is strong and growing
stronger. The earth itself seems to take part in the Passover of the
Lord. Think Spring and Let’s Go Bucs

“We are Easter People and Alleluia is our song” (St. Augustine).
Let us pray and live this week’s psalm response, This is the day
that the Lord has made, Alleluia! With great joy!

LET’S GO PENS!
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….

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, today we begin an annual retreat we call Holy Week.
Even in the midst of our busy lives, we are invited to take time to
reflect on where we are spiritually. Who is Christ for us? What do
we want from our Christian faith? If possible, consider accepting
the invitation to retreat this week. Cancel the less important business
and come pray together this Holy Week, so that on Easter
Sunday we may rejoice together!! And so, The Honor of your
presence is requested for the Church’s commemoration of the
Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ: Holy
Thursday: Mass at 7:00 PM followed by prayer in the garden till
10:00 PM. Good Friday: Morning Prayer 9:00 AM, Service at
1:00 PM; Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM: Easter Vigil: Mass at
8:30 PM. Easter Sunday: Mass at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

Please keep in your prayers those who will be received into
Full Communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter
Vigil: Nyla and Geone Barlow, Crystal and Sebastian Colinear,
Christianna and Christopher Deaner, Abigail and Zachary
Farlow, Enrico and Helen Mucci, and Janine Petersen.

Many Thanks to all who have given so generously to the
DLA. We are currently at $47,084 from 173 families. Offer a
prayer that we may meet our Parish Goal of $65,000. God
Bless You!

The Gospel passion narratives that we hear today on Palm
Sunday and again on Good Friday do not move us to say
“Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me,” but, “Thank you, Jesus,
for showing me how to die.”

March 25 is normally the Annunciation of the Lord, when
Mary said Yes to God. But March 25 is Monday of Holy
Week, so the Feast has been transferred to Monday April 8.
HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS AFTERNOON AT OUR PALM
SUNDAY CELEBRATION, my talk will consist of three
parts: the last 7 words of Christ; what is Easter all about; and
our new Holy Father, Pope Francis.

This week’s Psalm Response, My God, my God, why have
you abandoned me reminds us to pray for all those who are
suffering in our world today.

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

The Fifth Sunday in Lent

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, welcome to a very exciting week! Saint Patrick’s
Day, Saint Joseph’s Day and the arrival of the first day of Spring
are all celebrated this week! And, in the spirit of today’s Gospel
about forgiveness our Region begins our Lenten Penance Services
at 2:00 PM today here at Holy Cross. Make plans in your Lenten
preparation to attend one of the Regional Lenten Penance Services
this week. The schedule can be found in today’s bulletin.
Thank you for Generous response to the DLA. We currently are
over $40,000 from close to 150 families. Perhaps the remaining
550 families can help us reach our Parish Goal of $65,000!

Next Sunday is PALM SUNDAY and weather permitting we will
begin the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass outside on the sidewalk of 8th
Street with the blessing of Palms and procession into Church.
Please plan on joining your Church Family for a very special Palm
Sunday Celebration beginning at 3:30 PM on Sunday March 24.
Help our Parish and Diocese identify spiritual needs by taking a
short survey. This survey will help parish and diocesan evangelization
and faith formation leaders move forward in developing spiritual,
formational, and educational opportunities. You can either
take the survey on-line at www.surveymonkey.com/
s.spiritualneeds or a “hardcopy” that can be found at the Doors of
the Church. The survey can be completed anonymously, and
March 31 is the deadline. Thank you for your participation in this
very important endeavor!

In honor of Saint Patrick (March 17) let us pray: Loving God, your
servant Patrick brought the Christian faith to the people of Ireland
in the 5th Century, through Patrick’s prayers, O God, drive from
our hearts all that comes between us and yourself, as Patrick once
drove all the snakes from Ireland. Saint Patrick pray for us! Dia
Dhuit! Slainte, La Fheile Padraig! (God be with you! Cheers,
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!)

In honor of Saint Joseph (March 19) let us pray: Loving God, you
chose Joseph to be the husband of Mary and to be the one to serve
as your Son’s foster father in this world. Joseph was completely
open to all that God wanted him to do. He was a risk-taker and a
man of deep faith. Through Joseph’s prayers, O God, help us to
seek and follow your will. St. Joseph, pray for us!

This week’s Psalm Response, The Lord has done great things for
us; we are filled with joy, reminds us to give thanks for the wonders
God has worked in our lives.

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, today is Laetare Sunday, a day to rejoice! Are we

rejoicing because we have reached the halfway mark of the Lenten

season? NO! We are called to rejoice in one of the most familiar

Gospel passages in our tradition, the Prodigal Son. The story reminds

us that God is always ready to forgive, always willing to be

reconciled with us. And so, we ask ourselves: How have our

Lenten disciplines opened us up to the wonder of God’s reconciling

love? How are we willing to be likewise reconciled with our loved

ones, our neighbors, and even those who have hurt us? Take advantage

of the Regional Penance Services that begin next Sunday,

March 17 here at Holy Cross at 2pm.

I am happy to report that we have met our Diocesan goal of

$29,791. At the time of this writing of my Thoughts we have received

$32,859 from 109 families. Let us continue to the journey

to meet the parish goal of $65,000. Thanks and God Bless You!

Our parish, and every parish of the Diocese of Greensburg, will

have the opportunity to sign and send postcards to our U.S. Representative

and 2 U.S. Senators to urge our federal elected officials to

support and strengthen existing laws against government funding

and promotion of abortion and to reject attacks on our religious

freedom. You will have to opportunity to sign the postcard this

Sunday at the Pancake breakfast and next weekend after Mass. A

small donation of $1 will help pay for the postage. Thank you for

making your voice heard on these important matters.

Help our Parish and Diocese identify spiritual needs by taking a

short survey. This survey will help parish and diocesan evangelization

and faith formation leaders move forward in developing spiritual,

formational, and educational opportunities. You can either

take the survey on-line at http://catholiclifeandfaith.net/spiritualneeds-

survey/ or a “hardcopy” will be in the March 14th edition

of the Accent. The survey can be completed anonymously, and

March 31 is the deadline. Thanks for your participation in this

very important endeavor!

This week, our psalm response, Taste and see the goodness of the

Lord, helps us to remember to savor Christ’s presence in our daily

lives.

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

The Third Sunday in Lent

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, our Lenten season moves into the third week. We
hear the Gospel story of the fig tree that is spared for one more season
to see if it will bear fruit, one lesson we can learn is that God is
always willing to give us another chance, but for our part, we must
be receptive to God’s nurturing. Are you being nurtured so far this
Lent? If not, perhaps you may consider the following: attend Daily
Mass at 8AM, attend Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 7PM,
attend the Youngwood Ministerium Luncheon and Service on
Wednesday’s from 12Noon-1PM, held at a different Church each
week. As you continue your journey through Lent don’t be afraid
to turn to God.

This past Thursday Pope Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy.
Be sure to pick up a special prayer card located at the doors of the
Church. Let us also pray that the College of Cardinals will be true
to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as they prayerfully consider
who will next lead our Church. During a homily on Palm Sunday
Pope Benedict XVI said that “Jesus…was making his way to the
heights of the Cross, to the moment of self-giving love. The ultimate
goal of his pilgrimage was the heights of God himself; to
those heights he wanted to lift every human being.” May Pope
Benedict know the blessing and love of God during the remaining
years of his life on earth.

We know find ourselves in the month of March. March is the
month of the vernal equinox, when daytime grows equal to nighttime,
and spring begins in the Northern hemisphere. The lengthening
days warm the air and help create the March winds. A few days
in March are as cold as deep winter, a few are as warm as springtime,
and many of the days are stormy. No wonder March is named
after Mars, the Roman god of war. The struggle against winter is a
sure sign of Lent. Be sure to move your clocks ahead one hour next
weekend!

This week, our psalm response, The Lord is Kind and Merciful,
helps us to remember that God is compassion and love.

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

The Second Sunday in Lent

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, we celebrate the Transfiguration twice a year:
August 6 and the Second Sunday of Lent. It is at the Transfiguration
that the voice of God is heard, saying of Jesus,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him. As we continue on our
way through this season of Lent, our attention should be drawn
more and more to the voice of Jesus. What is he saying to
you? What are you doing to listen to him? Let us pray for a
heart more open to hearing what Jesus has to say to each of us.

I mistakenly wrote in last week’s bulletin that Pope Benedict
would resign on Thursday. As he prepares to resign this
Thursday we offer this prayer: God, our Loving Father, we ask
Your blessing on Pope Benedict XVI upon the occasion of his
resignation. Thank You for his years of dedicated leadership
in which he faithfully administered the mysteries of Your forgiveness
and love. Thank You, too, for the outstanding pastoral
care he has so lovingly offered us as our Holy Father.
May your Holy Spirit continue to guide him as he now walks a
new path. Gracious God, bless the future of Your Holy
Church as it now moves forward to choose a new Pope, a new
spiritual leader for Your Catholic people. We pray for the
Cardinals as they gather for their conclave to select the new
successor to Saint Peter. With the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit, may they choose a worthy steward of Your faith to meet
the challenges of today’s world. We ask all these things in Jesus’
name. Amen.

This past week you should have received the DLA letter from
me. As stated last weekend in my homily before we begin
work on the church bells or rectory window replacement, we
will be completing security projects here at the Church. That
work began this past week. I ask you to please return your
DLA pledge/gift as soon as possible. Thank you for your extreme
generosity.

As we pray this week’s Psalm Response, The Lord is my
light and my salvation, let us remember to look to the Lord
for light and hope.

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

The First Sunday in Lent

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, our Lenten season has begun. We have washed the
ashes from our foreheads and now prepare to go into the desert with
Jesus. Let us make the coming 40 days truly a time to reform our
lives and resolve to resist temptation, so that when Easter comes we
may be fortified to continue our new way of life into the Easter season
and beyond. Happy Lent!

This Friday February 22nd is the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the
Apostle. This feast commemorates a particular “chair”: that of Saint
Peter and the authority Jesus gave him to be the primary leader of
the early church. Peter was martyred in Rome, and so the
“see” (sedes – “place to sit”) of Peter became the Holy See, the seat
of the pope as the first among bishops and the leader of the Roman
Catholic Church. As you may have heard this past week, our Holy
Father, Pope Benedict XVI will resign from the Papacy this Thursday
February 28, 2013. He is the first Pope to resign in over 700
years. And so we pray: Lord, be with us-members of our faithful-as
we go through this unprecedented time in our generation. Renew us
in your Holy Spirit and guide your Church in these coming days;
send forth your Holy Spirit and continue to guide and inspire our
Holy Father Benedict XVI during these final days of his papacy. Be
with the College of Cardinals for the next conclave and fill them
with your grace. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

This First Sunday of Lent is the day for the Rite of Election of catechumens
who will be baptized at Easter and the Call to Continuing
to Conversion of baptized but uncatechized adults – called candidates
– who will complete their initiation at Easter. I invite you to
pray for our candidates: Nyla Barlow, Geone Barlow, Crystal
Colinear, Sebastian Colinear, Christianna Deaner, Christopher
Deaner, Abigal Farlow, Zachary Farlow, Enrico Mucci, Helen
Mucci and Janine Peterson. This Sunday many of them will gather
with others from the Diocese of Greensburg at the Blessed Sacrament
Cathedral. They will all be received into the Church at the
Easter Vigil on March 30.

During this first week of Lent, our psalm response, Be with me,
Lord, when I am in trouble, reminds us to call upon God to be our
help.

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, HERE COMES LENT! It may be heard to believe,
but Lent starts this week. It is early this year, since Easter falls on
March 31. The reading’s today provide useful material for Lent. In
the first reading, Isaiah calls himself “a man of unclean lips living
among a people of unclean lips.” St. Paul calls himself the least of
the apostles and not fit to be called an apostle. In a similar fashion,
Saint Peter tells the Lord to depart from him, because he is “a sinful
man.” As we feast these last days before Lent let us pray that as we
taste the fullness of what we have today, we will experience a hunger
of God’s love. Have a blessed Lent!

A special THANKS to the few and mighty who prepared our 3rd
Annual Parish Appreciation Tailgate party last Sunday. We had a
very nice crowd who enjoyed food and fellowship. God bless ALL
who share their Time, Talent and Treasure with Holy Cross Church!
Monday February 11 is the Feast of our Lady of Lourdes, and two
things come to mind: First, millions of Catholics organize and make
the pilgrimage to the southwest region of France to visit the sanctuary
where many believe that the spring water from the grotto can
heal those who touch and drink it. Second is the 1943 Hollywood
motion picture The Song of Bernadette, which captures Saint Bernadette’s
humble visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858. In 1992
Pope John Paul II instituted the World Day of the Sick to coincide
with this feast day. Pray for or help the sick today with the hope and
resilience of Saint Bernadette.

Happy Chinese New Year, 4711

This Thursday is Saint Valentine’s Day which is also my beloved
Mother’s 89th Birthday. Happy Birthday MOM ….while St.
Valentine’s Day provides revenue for card shops, jewelers and florists,
it’s intended to celebrate the Christian values of thoughtfulness
and tender care. And it enlivens a long winter!

Our Psalm Response this week: In the sight of the angels, I will
sing your praises, O Lord, helps us to remember that we are meant
to live with God in the joy of heaven.

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, welcome to February 2013! A short but very exciting
month. February comes from the word purification. The ancient
roman calendar had ten months, March through December
(December means “tenth month.”) There was no January and no
February. These months were left off the calendar. Strange as it
seems, people didn’t feel the need to keep track of the days during
winter. For the Romans, this late winter period before March became
a “season” of purification and renewal, almost like Lent.

When the Romans began using a 12-month calendar, the old names
for the months continued to be used. The month before March was
names for the time of purification…..let us enjoy this time of Mardi
Gras before the season of purification, Lent, begins on February 13.
The first Sunday of February was designated in 1989 by Father
James Goode OFM as National Day of Prayer for the African
American Family. This gives us an opportunity to give thanks for
our families, and to entrust every family to the loving care of Jesus.
Father Goode composed this beautiful prayer: may we be proud of
our history and never forget those who paid the price for our liberation…
bless our parents, guardians, and grandparents relatives and
friends…give a healing anointing to those less fortunate, especially
the motherless, the fatherless, the broken, the sick, and the lonely…

This Sunday we come together from Noon-2PM for our 3rd annual
Parish Appreciation Tailgate Party. This is my opportunity to say
Thank You to all of you for sharing your Time, Talent and Treasure
with Holy Cross Church. In particular I want to thank so many of
you who nominated the following for the Father Straub Service
Award: Margie Altschaffl, Gerald Andrews, Phil Ball, Trudy Beistel,
The Greg Forsythe Family, Georgie Gamberoni, William Gasper
(posthumously), Carol Kalich, Rose McCaskie, Robert Raimondo,
Mike Repasky, Carol Sostarich, Dawn Tedrow, John Zombar. The
pastoral and financial council choose Margie Altschaffl as the
awardee. One of the nomination forms said “Margie is a kind and
friendly person who is very reliable, always present, a true example
of someone who gives of her time and talent.” Congratulations to
Margie and we are all extremely grateful for your service to Holy
Cross Church!

Our Psalm Response this week: I will sing of your salvation, reminds
us of the song our lives are meant to be!

LET’S GO PENS!

 Fr. Bill

The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, today we begin the Gospel of Luke. We will hear
from Luke for most of the year. Luke was a gentile man, and he
wrote his Gospel for Christians who may not have known the Jewish
scriptures, Jewish law or religious practice. His purpose was to record
the Gospel handed on to him by Paul and other disciples.
Luke’s is the most tender of Gospels, the most intimate, with the
most stories of healing and the most references to women. Let us
pray today to be like the people we will hear about in our first reading,
who stood for hours listening to God’s word.

This week begins Catholic Schools Week. We remember and are
thankful for the fact that the tradition of Catholic schools remains
the same: “A Catholic education is an education for life.” A Catholic
education, whether it is on Sunday morning at Faith Formation or
five days a week at a Catholic school, provides the foundation and
the tools young people need to grow into faithful followers of
Christ. The patron saint of teachers, John Baptist de la Salle, put it
best: “Enter to learn, leave to serve.”

Next Sunday February 3 from Noon – 2PM you are invited to our
3rd Annual Parish Appreciation Party in the Church Hall. Come and
enjoy some good tailgate food and enjoy each other’s company before
watching the Super Bowl. I will also present the 3rd Annual Fr.
Straub Service Award.

Lent is fast approaching! Our parish will be participating in a very
exciting and spiritual program this year entitled Living the Eucharist
(LE). LE is a parish-based renewal experience for adults, families
and teens that will help them come to know more profoundly the
love of Christ in the Eucharist. You will be invited to participate by
joining an Adult discussion group on Monday evenings beginning
Monday February 11; joining a teen discussion group on Sunday
mornings; engaging in family activities at home, reading the Lenten
reflection book (similar to the little black book) and reflecting on the
bulletin inserts. Begin praying today on how you might become
involved in this exciting Lenten program and how you can Grow
Closer to God!

As we pray this week’s psalm response. Your words, Lord, are
spirit and life, we are reminded that we have all that we need in
Jesus.

LET’S GO PENS! 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 in Ordinary Time

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, welcome back to Ordinary Time and it seems rather
odd that the very first thing we hear is another epiphany – another
manifestation of the Lord – this time at a wedding feast at Cana.
The story of Cana helps us make the transition from Christmastime
by pointing us toward Jesus’ paschal mystery. Jesus’ “hour” is his
passion. He addresses his mother as “Woman,” as from the cross,
“Woman, behold your son” – the new Eve, mother of those redeemed
by his passion. Isaiah’s vision of God’s marriage with humanity
fulfilled in Jesus’ person and ministry. Thus, Cana’s wine is
not the bitter wine of God’s wrath, or bad wine from the sour grapes
Israel’s prophets lamented. Rather, Cana’s wine is the good wine
served last, in these last days, the kingdom’s days, between Christ’s
first coming and glorious return.

Monday January 21st is the Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We pray
that all racism, bigotry and prejudice will be banished from the
earth. And as we continue the week of Prayer for Christian Unity
(January 18-25) let us pray that the unity of believers which graced
the early Church will transform the faith and charity of all Christians
today.

Because of the Inauguration of the President on Monday, the March
for Life will be on Friday January 25 in Washington DC. It was on
January 22, 1973, the United Sates Supreme Court handed down a
decision known as Roe versus Wade, which made abortion legal
throughout the United Sates, and struck down many states’ laws restricting
abortion. This Tuesday, January 22, is observed as a day of
penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed
through acts of abortion, and for the full restoration of the legal
guarantee to the right to life. Let us pray for the hundreds of thousands
who will participate the March for Life on Friday, January 25.

Please join me in the Church Hall on Monday the 21st at 7PM to
plan this year’s Parish Appreciation tail Gate Party

This weeks Psalm Response, Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to
all the nations, reminds us that God’s great deeds are always worthy
of our praise!

LET’S GO PENS!

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….

The Baptism of the Lord

Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, what a jolt, to jump from the three kings arriving
in Bethlehem last week to the baptism of the adult Jesus this
week! Yet the Baptism of the Lord is one with the nativity and
the Epiphany: they are all manifestations of the Lord. The
Baptism of the Lord is one more way given to us to learn who
Jesus Christ is. So as we celebrate this final Sunday of the
Christmas season, what have we learned this Christmas about
who Jesus Christ is for us?

National Vocation Awareness Week will be celebrated in our
country January 13-19, 2013. Please ask Our Lord for more
dedicated, holy priests, deacons and consecrated women and
men. May they be inspired by Jesus Christ, supported by our
faith community, and respond generously to God’s gift of a
vocation.

This Friday marks the beginning of the annual Week of Prayer
for Christian Unity. In a time when the sad divisions that
separate the Christian churches seem even stranger, perhaps it
is a good time to pray for unity! It is a time to reflect on
Christ’s prayer the night before he died: “The glory that you
have given me I have given them, so that they may be one as
we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become
completely one, so that the world may know that you have
sent me, and have loved them even as you have loved
me” (John 17:22-23).

Recently the Diocese of Greensburg released the Pastoral
Code of Conduct. All staff, ministers (ministers of Holy Communion)
and volunteers who are engaged with youth and
young adults must sign the Acknowledgement of Receipt of
the Code of Pastoral Conduct, as well as attend Virtus
(Protecting God’s Children) training. On Saturday January 19
we will host a Virtus Training from 10 AM –Noon. You may
also complete the training On-Line. Please call the office to
register or to get information concerning On-Line training.
Thank you for your attention is this very important matter.
Praying our psalm response this week, O bless the Lord, my
soul, will remind us that our very lives are meant to “bless
God” – by our being blessings to others.

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….

The Epiphany of the Lord

 Thoughts from Fr. Bill…….

Dear friends, we continue our Christmas season celebration today,
and our attention turns from Bethlehem to the world. Many traditions
surrounding the magi underscore the idea that Jesus was born
not to save just a few in Israel, not just many in the Middle East, but
everyone on earth. The world, is so vast, however, and people are
so varied that many must work together to spread the Good News of
Jesus Christ. Let us pray for the wisdom and courage that we need
to help evangelize the world.

Epiphany is the day we celebrate the 3 Kings bringing gifts to the
new born King. I take this opportunity to Thank so many of you for
making Christmas 2012 a wonderful experience here at Holy Cross.
I thank so many of you who volunteered your time to decorate the
church for Christmas, the church looks beautiful! I thank so many
of you who made a contribution to the Tree of Hope. I thank you for
your Christmas gift to Holy Cross church! I thank so many of you
who showered me with gifts this Christmas. Your generosity is
overwhelming!! May we all continue to share our Time, Talent and
Treasure with Holy Cross Church in 2013!!

Today is a good day to bless your home for the New Year. Take a
piece of chalk and write 20 + C + M + B + 13. The numerals consecrate
the new year, the initials remind us of the legendary name of
the Magi – Caspar, Melchoir, and Balthasar – and also stand for the
Latin motto Christus mansionem benedicat (“May Christ bless the
house”).

Next Sunday the Christmas season ends with the celebration of the
Baptism of the Lord. I hope you found Jesus, Emmanuel, God with
us, in the kindness of a stranger, the love of family and in the joy of
friends throughout this holy season! And believe it or not, Lent begins
on February 13. Are you ready to grow closer to God, join us
this Lent in Living the Eucharist. Details will be forthcoming.

On February 3 we will celebrate our 3rd parish Appreciation Party
and award the 3rd Father Straub Service Award. Please use the
nomination form in today’s bulletin to nominate someone who has
shared their Time, Talent and /or Treasure with Holy Cross Church.
Past winners were: Barry Premoshis and Eleanor Hamrock.

As we pray this week’s psalm response, Lord, every nation on
earth will adore you, what images fill your heart? Ponder them
throughout the day – they are a gift form God!

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….