Diary of a Parish Priest

 

 
Welcome.

Visit frequently for spiritual reflections

and Holy Cross parish news.

Fr. Manning

Lift High The Cross Memorial Wall Is Complete

After many years and much sacrifice on the part of our donors, the listing of our generous supporters on the Lift High the Cross Memorial Wall is complete. Our beautiful memorial was designed and installed by Renovata Studios, who patiently and carefully removed and re-installed the marble panels through several phases of engraving as our donors completed their pledges.

The Lift High the Cross campaign was begun to supplement the fundraising of the partially completed original capital campaign when the school construction plan was upgraded and the church design was deferred for further study. The original construction budget became sorely inadequate to meet our needs. Two additional campaigns were planned, one (Lift High the Cross) during the immediate construction of the school and anotherfor the church, eventually named A Time to Build, after the church design was studied, discussed and revised.

Many generous donors stepped forward with pledges of capital and of faith in the project plans, both of which are gratefully appreciated. After tougher economic times than we would have hoped, most of the pledges were fulfilled and we can now happily complete the Donor Wall with many thanks to all our generous benefactors.

We are now in the final pledge period of the Church campaign, A Time to Build and look forward to the exciting new developments as our parish church receives a facelift and expansion.

Lift High the Cross

 Founder Blair & Elizabeth O’Connor• Founder Burgess Family• Founder David & Susan Dowden• Founder Dino & Katherine Cesario• Founder Edward & Maureen Shea• Founder Geoffrey S. Winchell• Founder Gregory S. Winchell• Founder John & Marybeth Wilson• Founder John & Maureen MacDonald• Founder Joseph & Barrie Fahey• Founder Martin & Deborah McCann• Founder Megan W. Peter• Founder Michael & Catherine Sullivan• Founder Sheila Martello• Founder The Forlenza Family• Founder The Giannotto Family• Founder The Sullivan Grandchildren• Founder The Tort Family• Benefactor Brian & Leslie Curran and Family• Benefactor Douglas & Margaret Simons• Benefactor Frank & Jeanne Shanley• Benefactor James & Thomas Martello and Nicholas Preston• Benefactor Jimmy Martello Foundation• Benefactor Joseph & Beth Koerwer• Benefactor Justin & Victoria Gmelich• Benefactor Lillian B. Farrington• Benefactor Michael & Carole Brown• Benefactor Michael & Martina Scarrone• Benefactor Richard & Maria Incremona• Benefactor Stuart & Patricia MacGregor• Benefactor The Dengler Family• Benefactor The Finan Family• Patron Christopher & Clare Broderick• Patron Claire & O'Neill Duffy• Patron Daniel & Kathryn Rusbarsky• Patron David & Janice Henderson• Patron Donald & Florence Macdonald• Patron Ed & Joanne Gillespie• Patron Gsell Family• Patron Guy & Catherine Farrington• Patron Kathryn & J. Howard Carter• Patron Kevin & Maureen Conery• Patron Mark & Colleen Newsome• Patron Marshall & Maryann Allegra• Patron Matthew & Carolyn Geiger• Patron Maxim Group• Patron Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Palmeri, Jr. & Family• Patron Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Avallone• Patron Nevin & Jacqueline Whitelaw• Patron Nicole & Eugene Croddick II & Family• Patron Patrick & Lisette Lynch• Patron Peter & Pia McCarthy• Patron Ray & Dennice Carey• Patron Richard Wurth• Patron Roger & Arlene Stump• Patron Ronald & Lynn Worobel• Patron Starker Family Foundation• Patron Stephen & Patricia Brennan• Patron The Clifford Family• Patron The Goullet Family• Patron The Hubler Family• Patron The McDaid Family• Patron The O’Mara Family• Patron Thomas & Christina Durney• Patron William & Patricia Lista• Steward Maureen Devine In Memory of William and Mary Supina• Steward Alvaro & Beryl Vallejo• Steward Anthony & Lorrie Manzo• Steward Anthony & Vera Gangemi• Steward Bernard & MaryEllen Maas• Steward Bernard & Maureen Hackett• Steward Brendan Flynn• Steward Brian & Jessica Hickey• Steward Bruce & Tania Eagleson• Steward Carol & Robert X. Kelleher, Sr.• Steward Catherine Miller• Steward Charles & Ann Marie Shay• Steward Charles & Marjorie Schulz• Steward Christina D’Angelo• Steward Christine Hetzler• Steward Christopher & Deirdre York• Steward Christopher & Elizabeth Hempstead• Steward Christopher & Geraldine Donnelly• Steward Daniel & Lisa Walsh• Steward Daniel & Tara Jones• Steward Danielle & Greg Greene and Family• Steward David & Annamarie (Nonnie) Godvin• Steward David & Barbara Kirkpatrick• Steward Dominick & Marianne Grosso• Steward Dr. & Mrs. Robert J. Doty• Steward Dr. & Mrs. William Wood• Steward Ed & Joan Truscio• Steward Eleanor Milazzo• Steward Eugenia McA. Kelly• Steward Fr. Michael Manning• Steward Gabriellan & Joe Sheridan• Steward Gary Sammon• Steward George & Sallie Kabash• Steward George E. Miles• Steward Gerald Manning• Steward Gerard & Shannon Kowalski• Steward Henry & Deborah Sullivan• Steward In Loving Memory of Joseph A. McAvoy• Steward In Memory of John Banich & John G. Banich• Steward James & Eileen Zazzali• Steward James & Elaine Hinckley• Steward Jay & Anne Harbeck• Steward Jeffrey & Bonnie Buchner• Steward Jerome & Rosemary Bell• Steward Jim & Dory Reagan• Steward JoAnn Brosious• Steward Joe & Darrah Kenney and Family• Steward John & Alice Trelease• Steward John & Charissa Keavey• Steward John & Estee Keefe• Steward John & Jeraldine Keefe• Steward John & Maria Checton• Steward John & Suzanne Gavin• Steward Joseph & Eileen Kenney• Steward Joseph & Katie Cabrera• Steward Joseph & Margot O’Connor• Steward Joseph & Michele Thompson• Steward Joseph & Robin Hemphill• Steward Joseph P. Burns• Steward Keith & Meghan Connolly• Steward Kenneth & Elaine Young• Steward Kenneth & Lisa Wilson• Steward Laurence & Kathleen Morris• Steward Lawrence & Anne Lapham• Steward Lawrence & Lynn Gonnello• Steward Leonard & Lauren Huttner• Steward Leslie & Martin J. Luff III• Steward Lori & Paul La Plante• Steward Louise Golda• Steward Margaret Quirk• Steward Mark & Susan Malone• Steward Mary Kay Mason• Steward Matthew & Diana Milkowski• Steward Matthew & Laurie Ruane• Steward Matthew & Susan Stypa• Steward Matthew & Tara Butler• Steward Matthew Izzo & Claire Harbeck• Steward Maureen Mulheren• Steward Michael & Georgina Masterson• Steward Michael & Karen Murphy• Steward Michael & Maryalice Pane• Steward Michael & Shanley Walker• Steward Michael Goliszeski• Steward Michael J. McCabe• Steward Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Scheffer• Steward Mr. & Mrs. Carl Amendola• Steward Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Cornette & Family• Steward Mr. & Mrs. Thomas R. Makin• Steward Mr. & Mrs. William H. Cook• Steward Mr. and Mrs. Mark F. Hughes, Jr.• Steward Mrs. Mary M. Ryan• Steward Neri & Ada Merlini• Steward Nicholas A. & Diana S. Caliendo• Steward Olivia, Danielle & Carl Ward• Steward Patrick & Celine Mason• Steward Patrick & Ethel Moran• Steward Paul & Kim Chachko & Family• Steward Paul & Kim Clauss• Steward Paul & Melissa Ryan• Steward Paul, Maria and Emily Oberlander• Steward Peg McNulty• Steward Peter & Anafu Kaiser• Steward Peter & Delly Beekman• Steward Ralf & Margaret Sellig• Steward Richard & Patricia Lawrence• Steward Robert & Janet McGuire• Steward Robert & Regina Pohlman• Steward Robert & Susan Sorokolit• Steward Robert Rosean & Nancy Reinhold• Steward Sacka & Jim Duffy• Steward Sansone Memorial Fund• Steward Sidney & Nora Goldschlager• Steward Stephen & Regina de Gersdorff• Steward Stephen G. & Margaret Ann Chappell• Steward Sybil & David Heine and Family• Steward Terence & Adriana Kenny• Steward Terence & Mary Sheridan• Steward The Farina Family• Steward The Lemoine Family• Steward The Mac Gillis Family• Steward The McGinty Family• Steward The Passalaqua Family• Steward The Piccolo Family• Steward The Pindar Family• Steward The Raymond Family• Steward The Smyth Family• Steward The Sullivan Family• Steward The Velcamp Family• Steward The Wingertzahn Family• Steward The Wright Family• Steward The Wutt Family• Steward Thomas & Abby OMalley• Steward Thomas & Christine Huthwaite• Steward Thomas & Gemma Nastasi• Steward Thomas & Pat Flynn• Steward Thomas & Robin Sampson• Steward Thomas & Simone Cooney• Steward Thomas & Yvette Bonfiglio• Steward Timothy & Jane Orr• Steward Todd & Elaine Dixon• Steward Tony & Helen Solomine• Steward Vincent & Maggie Annarella• Steward W. Dean and Courtney Adams• Steward William & Cindy Gangemi• Steward William & Colleen Rempel• Steward William & Julie Gettings• Steward William & Marion Riordan• Steward William & Nancy Loughran• Steward William & Patricia Alcaro

 

Construction Documents for the Bishop's Signature

A few documents related to the new construction are being finalized and will be sent to Trenton for Bishop O'Connell's approval.

• The architect's final contract
• A sight triangle easement required by the Borough for the handicapped access sign for the driveway into the handicapped accessible parking lot
• The construction bridge loan agreement
• The performance bond required by the Borough

Interviews with Construction Managers and preliminary bid proposals are schedule for the first week in June. The schedule for groundbreaking is under discussion. When we have the commitment in writing, we'll let everyone know!

 

 

Holy Cross School Faculty

Good News!

The School Finance Council met to review the most recent budget projections and predicted school enrollment and we can announce that modest raises can be expected for all of our full time teachers next year.  No transfers or reassignments of teachers to grades other than they teach now are anticipated, with the obvious exception of Mrs. Gallo who will resume teaching 7^th grade, and Greer McCarthy who will become a full time 5^th grade teacher.

Our interviews for second grade teachers are going extremely well, and we will have some of the candidates returning to teach sample lessons. They are experienced second grade teachers, many possess Master’s degrees and specialized teaching certifications and all have a great devotion to the Catholic faith and sacraments.

Teacher contracts will be offered for signature early in June after performance evaluation interviews with Mrs. Graham.

As you already know, our new principal Mr. Bill Belluzzi will be visiting Holy Cross to meet the faculty and we look forward to his visit.

Preserve Religious Freedom

 

Preserve Religious Freedom

A webpage initiative of the Archdiocese of Washington with information about the decision of several Catholic groups in the Archdiocese to file suit against the Obama administration's HHS mandate that Catholic institutions provide coverage for immoral drugs and procedures when they offer employee medical insurance. 

This lawsuit is about an unprecedented attack by the federal government on one of America’s most cherished freedoms: the freedom to practice one’s religion without government interference. It is not about whether people have access to certain services; it is about whether the government may force religious institutions and individuals to facilitate and fund services which violate their religious beliefs.

 

The Archdiocese of Washington, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, The Consortium of Catholic Academis of the Archdiocese of Washington, Archbishop Carroll High School and the Catholic University of America are joining the lawsuit which is only one of twelve lawsuits filed today on behalf of 43 Catholic institutions around the country.

The lawsuits have been filed in eight states and the District of Columbia by the Archdioceses of Washington and New York, the Michigan Catholic Conference, Catholic Charities in Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri and Indiana, health care agencies in New York and two dioceses in Texas.

In an irony too rich, but also too unjust to savor, the University of Notre Dame is also joining the lawsuits. Perhaps Obama will return his honorary doctorate in protest?

So What Did Sebelius Say?

After all the furor over the ill-advised invitation by Georgetown University to Kathleen Sebelius to speak at the "non commencement event," and the predictable deaf ear turned toward it by the University administration, what did she say?

Well, pretty much work hard, work for the common good, keep your idealism, Carpe diem. She was pretty heavy on the Georgetown sports metaphors (the transcript of the speech I read doesn't transcribe whether there was any hooting or hollering when the teams were mentioned). Which ideals she meant for the graduates to hold onto wasn't clear, but strongly implied that elders don't have them anymore.

She used the word "Catholic" once in referring to John Kennedy's presidential campaign but did not identify herself as one. And she repeated the poorly understood phrase "separation of church and state" which has often been used in an attempt to silence public discussion about moral issues.  (Some critics have noted there was little to fear Catholicism would influence anything Kennedy did, public or private.)  

Some of then-Senator Kennedy’s opponents attacked him for his religion, suggesting that electing the first Catholic president would undermine the separation of church and state, a fundamental principle of our democracy. The furor grew so loud that Kennedy chose to deliver a speech about his beliefs just seven weeks before the election.

In that talk to Protestant ministers, Kennedy talked about his vision of religion and the public square, and said he believed in an America, and I quote, “where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials – and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against us all.”

Kennedy was elected president on November 8, 1960. And more than 50 years later, that conversation, about the intersection of our nation’s long tradition of religious freedom with policy decisions that affect the general public, continues.

 

Indeed it does. Except under Sebelius' watch, it's the federal regulations that are being imposed on Catholics. 

In support of the US Catholic bishops call for faithful Catholics to be heard, Holy Cross will have petitions available for parishioners to sign which call for the protection of religious liberty in the United States.