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….