Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ

This weekend, we celebrate the Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. When the people of Israel cried out to God in hunger, God fed them, first with manna in the desert, a holy food that foreshadowed the holy food that the Lord Jesus left as an everlasting gift – his body and blood. Saint Paul reminds us that when we eat and drink of Christ’s body and blood, we become his body. Jesus reminds his followers that he is the living bread that came down from heaven. Let our hunger for Christ be satisfied as he is made present through the proclamation of the sacred word.

This coming week we celebrate three wonderful feast days:

1. Wednesday, June 29, Solemnity of Apostles Peter and Paul: An odd couple but a good team. Peter was one of the first called and Paul the last. Paul was educated and Peter was illiterate. What linked them together was their passion to tell the world the good news about Jesus. Oh, both of these pillars were flawed by bad choices, stubbornness disloyalty, hotheadedness. They were made saints my God’s grace, just as you and I will be if we commit ourselves entirely to Jesus and his mission.

2. Friday, July 1, Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: This Feast has two primary aspects -- thanksgiving to God for the infinite love of Christ, represented by his heart on fire with love; and reparation for that love rejected by human beings, represented by the pierced heart, surrounded with thorns.

3. Saturday, July 2, Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Help me, dearest Mother, to acquire the virtues that God wants of me: to forget myself always, to work solely for him, without fear of sacrifice. I shall rely on your help to be what Jesus wants me to be. I am his; I am yours, my good Mother! Give me each day your holy and maternal blessing until my last evening on earth, when your Immaculate Heart will present me to the heart of Jesus in heaven, there to love and bless you and your divine Son for all eternity.

If you will be traveling this week in celebration of the Fourth of July, may all your journeys be safe!

Most Holy Trinity

Today we celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, or should I say the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. The Gospel today contains the verse John 3:16 -- "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." At sporting events, usually football games, we see fans holding up signs that say "John 3:16." Let's pray we have football to watch in the fall!

This Feast is a good time to thank God for the power of the saving word proclaimed in our midst when we gather for worship. Through the word we know that God created us in goodness. Through the word we know that God has redeemed us and saved us from our sins. Through the word we know that the Holy Spirit sanctifies and strengthens us. Let us open our hearts to the power and presence of God in the holy word.

Today is also Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day to all Dads. Fathers come in all shapes and sizes; some are strict, others lenient; some are very present in the lives of their children, others absent; some have left inspiring legacies for their children; others have left scars; some mean well, others do well. Children and fathers expect a lot from each other. Fathers: do your best to make yourself known to your children; above all be kind and merciful to your sons and daughters. Children: Do your best to embrace the life given to you; above all be understanding and forgiving of your father’s shortcomings.

Summer officially begins Tuesday! Let us pray that we may use well our summer respite for rest and recreation and recollection. May the Lord protect us all from summer dangers and help us to see in the heat of summer a hint of the passion of your love.

Pentecost

We warmly welcome back Fr. Pleban as I am celebrating a wedding in Pittsburgh and then departing for retreat. Fr. Jonathan Wisneski will be celebrating the daily Mass in the church hall during the week.

In the upper room that first Easter day, Jesus appeared to the disciples and said, “Peace be with you.” As we gather here on this Pentecost Sunday, Jesus again speaks peace to us through the Holy Spirit. As we bring the glorious Easter Season to a close and return to Ordinary Time, may our prayer be that we will be agents of peace to all whom we meet, and so continue the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all the world. Our fifty days are fulfilled, our season of joy is complete. Filled with the Holy Spirit may we continue to love and serve the Lord faithfully here at Holy Cross!

This past week we began improvements to the interior of the Church. The improvements include cleaning of the interior brick, plaster repair, cleaning and Urethane coating of the wood ceiling, painting, and new carpet. Because the replacement of windows for the school building was cancelled in favor of installing new blinds, we have a balance remaining from the Today’s Challenge-Tomorrow’s Hope Campaign. That, along with

the 2011 DLA, will cover the cost of these projects. Thank you for your patience during the next weeks.

Monday, June 13, is the Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua. His reputation drew enormous crowds and the power of his words converted many people. Exhausted and ill, he died at age 36, so beloved that he was canonized within the year. He is best known for his help in finding lost objects. May we learn from him that “Actions speak louder than words, let your works teach and your actions speak.”

Tuesday, June 14, is Flag Day. Fly the USA flag with honor and say a prayer for peace!

Easter 7

Happy 7th Sunday of Easter!

This past Thursday we celebrated the Ascension of the Lord, a day of great promise that the Lord will be with us always until the very end. On this 7th Sunday of Easter, we hear how the apostles gathered in Jerusalem and devoted themselves to prayer. As we draw near the end of our 50-day celebration of Easter, let us emulate the apostles and devote ourselves to prayer.

As we prepare to celebrate Pentecost next Sunday, one of the greatest days on the Church calendar, 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.

I encourage you to pray it daily for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all the world. I also encourage you to wear red to Mass next weekend. Red is the liturgical color of Pentecost. Let us show others that we are on fire with the Holy Spirit! Come, Holy Spirit, come!

The Diocesan Lenten Appeal comes to end this weekend. Thanks to all who participated in this year’s appeal. May God bless you for your generosity to the Diocese of Greensburg and Holy Cross Church.

Easter 6

We warmly welcome back Father Pleban to Holy Cross this weekend as I am in Bethlehem, PA celebrating a wedding.

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of the summer season, and so we offer this prayer for Summer: May our loving God watch over you and keep alive in your heart all that you have learned this year. Keep your mind on God. Remember to pray often and to celebrate your faith, at home with your family and at Mass with your faith family. Keep your faith in God. Let all the joys of summer remind you of God’s goodness. Never forget that God is always with you, no matter what. May the God of all creation, who comes to us in Jesus, and lives among us in the Holy Spirit, keep you safe, happy and holy this summer and always. Amen.

The Psalmist beckons us to come and see the great works of God. Last Saturday a nice group of parishioners worked together to make the grounds here at Holy Cross look great for summer. I personally would like to thank the following for a job well done: Margie Altshaffl, Richard Griffin, Tom and Lois Horan, Eleanor Hamrock, Stephanie Coletta, Josh Coletta, Beth Reger, Jim, James and Lauren Garris. And thanks to Phil and Virginia Ball for trimming the shrubs.

On Saturday, June 4 at 11:00 AM, we will celebrate a Mass of Anointing and administer the Sacrament of the Sick. The Sick of all ages and the elderly are invited to attend. Children and adults who are ill, facing surgery or experiencing weakness that comes with old age. The primary effect of the sacrament is spiritual healing by which the person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with their difficulties. Come and rejoice in the healing which the Lord’s death and resurrection brings upon us all.

Have a safe Holiday weekend!

Easter 5

Happy 5th Sunday of Easter!

“Thomas said to him, ‘Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” (John 14:5)

You probably heard about doubting Thomas. The label refers to the skeptical nature of the apostle of the same name. But the “doubting” tagline is a bit unfair. A healthy skepticism is fully compatible with deep faith. In fact it can keep us from falling into the hands of all manner of spiritual charlatans, of which there is no shortage in any time and place. Questioning helps us distinguish the genuine article from the imitation, and because Jesus is the real thing we have nothing to fear from it. Cultivate a curious, inquiring mind on all things religious – your faith will be stronger for it.

On Saturday, June 4 at 11:00 AM, we will celebrate a Mass of Anointing and administer the Sacrament of the Sick. Those who are invited to attend are children and adults who are ill or facing surgery, and the elderly who are experiencing weakness that comes with old age. The primary effect of the sacrament is spiritual healing by which the person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage to deal with their difficulties. Come and rejoice in the healing which the Lord’s death and resurrection brings upon us all.

Easter 4

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally referred to as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” We are called to love the sound of his voice, and to allow him to guide and protect us as we respond to his invitation to continue his mission in the world.

Today is World Day of Prayer for Vocations, a day to recognize that we all have a call. No one denies the shortage of priests and religious, and we do indeed need to pray that more young people consider consecrated life. But perhaps we should also pray that our notions be broadened about what church is and how the living body of Christ may be ministered to and by whom. We cannot pray that “it all go back to the way it used to be” or even that it remains as it is, any more than we can pray that we will be forever young. Lay men and women have been trained in theology, scripture, and church administration, yet to some the door of practicing those gifts fully seems to be closing. When we pray that God “call” people to service, we must get out of the way of that call and keep the door open to whatever form it takes. “The promise is made to you and ... to all those ... whomever the Lord or God will call” (Acts 2: 39).

Saturday, May 21 is Armed Forces Day! This day grants us the opportunity to say thank you and to recognize the outstanding contribution the Armed Forces make to our country. Thank you!