Diary of a Parish Priest

Today's Feast day St. Laurence O'Toole - A Holy Cross Window Saint !

 

Today's feastday belongs to one of our Holy Cross "Window Saints," whose beautiful image we will soon enjoy - St. Laurence O'Toole. We should probably establish some kind of tradition around the saints for whom we have images at Holy Cross. Let's pray about it.

St. Laurence's window shows his episcopal crozier and his abbatial mitre - he was Abbot of Glendalough monastery and Archbishop of Dublin. He played a leading role in building the Church in Ireland, not only by physically erecting monasteries and churches, but by strenthening the holiness of the people and the prayerfulness of the liturgy. He was a great friend and helper of the poor. When urged by family, friends and monks to make a will when it was clear he was dying, he is said to have replied that he was joyful he had given everything away.

I'm still researching the meaning of the "House of Gold" icon at the top of his window. If anyone has clues, please let me know. It is a term for Mary in the Litany of Mary. 

Eileen and Russell Johnston and family are the generous donors of the St. Laurence O'Toole window to Holy Cross Church. Let us pray that St. Laurence blesses their generosity in a special way today.

 

 

Construction Update

Wow, a lot happened today!

The remaining portion of the basement wall which had been kept open to serve as an access ramp to the basement was closed and poured today, as was the foundation for the slab on grade extension of the North Transept (near the rectory).

Staircase walls were laid for the stairwells into the basement from the South Transept.

Tomorrow the forms from the poured sections of the wall will begin to be removed.

Little by little, the structure is becoming more enclosed. The only way into the basement now, except by using a ladder, are the basement door entries. The goal still is to have the structure enclosed from the elements before the worst wintry weather arrives.

3B Wins First Construction Tour

Congratulations to 3B for the best mass attendance last weekend! We're planning the logistics of the tour of the construction site  right now. We need good weather and at least a temporary lull in the construction activity, just so we don't get in anyone's way.

 

Special Collection Nov. 16-17 for Relief Aid to the Phillipines

Bishop O'Connell has authorized a special collection to be taken up in the Diocese of Trenton for material relief for those affected by storm in the Phillipines.

The entire collection will be sent by the Diocese of Trenton to the Catholic Bishops of the Phillipines.

 Holy Cross will take up a second collection after Communion and designate it for this purpose.

Please also continue to pray for restoration of order as soon as possible.

 

Survey on Catechetical Preaching

During the Year of Faith, at Bishop O'Connell's request, we have dedicated the second Sunday of each month to catechetical preaching. As you know, catechetical preaching explains or illustrates a teaching of the Faith rather than concentrating on the Scriptures read during the Mass. 

It's time to decide whether we continue the practice on a routine basis at Holy Cross.

What do you think?    Take our one-question survey and let us know!

 

Click here for Preaching Survey

 

Class with Best Mass Attendance this Coming Weekend to Receive Tour of Church Construction Site

The spiritual benefits of mass attendance and worthy reception of the Holy Eucharists are inestimable. Though the fruits of the mass are freely given gifts from God, it takes our effort to attend mass and receive them. While our children are learning the mass and under the guidance of our spiritual formation, it seems prudent to encourage this attendance in many different ways.

The Holy Cross School class with the highest mass attendance this coming weekend will host the Holy Cross Award in their classroom, but also be given a guided tour of the construction site. The church is beginning to really take shape and can be readily without the need to interpret construction drawings. What a fun and hands on way to teach about worship, liturgical symbolism and community.

 

Memorial Candles Available Online at Holy Cross Church

 

Did you know you that Memorial Candles and Cards are available from Holy Cross Church online?

Our 7 day memorial candles burn outside the chapel in the niche we have dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. The names or intentions for whom we pray that week are included in the Universal Prayer at our  Saturday morning mass.

You will recive a card acknowleding your donation and listing the week your intention will be read at mass and the candle will be placed before St. Mary.

 

We Remember the Faithful Departed During the Month of November

Memorial Candle Tree Lit at All Souls Day Mass

 

Thank you to the family members who prayed with us at the All Souls Day Mass in remembrance of their loved ones and all the deceased members of the parish.

Not only is All Souls Day set aside to pray for the dead, but the entire month of November is a time of remembrance and prayer for those who have gone before us and await the kingdom.

Our Memorial Book of the Dead is located in the vestibule of the chapel. Please feel welcome to inscribe the name(s) of anyone for whom you wish us to pray.

 

The Floor Pour

Open Air Basilica

Work on Footings for North Transept

Everything is on schedule for tomorrow's concrete pour, presuming that it warms a few degrees as the forecast predicts.

The digging is getting pretty close to the rectory again!

You Tube Video of Holy Cross Foundation Blessing

Thanks to William Kenney for this video showing a portion of the Litany of Saints at Sunday's Blessing of the Church foundations.

 

Bless the Foundation of Our Church O Lord And Keep Us Firm in Faith

Thanks so much to everyone who helped make the blessing of our church foundations so joyful and proceed so smoothly. Don Carolina, our Music Director, and the Children's Choir, our ushers, sacristan and especially all those who came to lend their voices in prayer and song.

Sprinkles of rain had dampened the sand, but not the spirits of those who braved the descent into the church basement. The sun shone more brightly as the day went on. Our voices asking the prayers of the saints rose easily from the basement, we trust all the way to their ears and God's. 

 

The pillars of the faithful unite old and new.

Parishioners invoke the Litany of the Saints

The First Choir To Sing in the New Church

And Then All Was Quiet.

 

Sunday Morning's Church Foundation Blessing 11:15 AM

Just about everything is in readiness for tomorrow's blessing after the 10:30 AM mass. 

The threat of inclement weather delayed the pouring of the concrete on the basement floor, but work did proceed to make that possible on Tuesday. Accordingly there is a plastic barrier membrane on the floor, along with a metal grating which will reinforce the concrete when it is eventually poured.

Careful footing is required. No spikes or high heels please. It might be a good idea to wear casual footwear with good traction and stability. Those who wish to participate in the prayer service, but who may not wish to risk losing their footing can do so safely from the head of the ramp behind the carriage house.

Please stay on the designated pathways for everyone's enjoyment and safety. The passageway to the basement door is a dirt path and good balance is required to negotiate it. Children must remain with their parents at all times or they will be asked to remain outside the construction gates. 

Fr. Manning will lead the opening prayer from the old church in the place where the sanctuary and altar will be located when renovation is complete. We will chant the Litany of the Saints, bless and incense the wall of the basement which will join new to old and ajourn after singing a song of praise. We've connected a spectacular sound system for the organ accompaniment, our Children's Choir will help us raise our voices in praise to the Lord and it will be a joy indeed to celebrate a festive occasion again with our parish family. We'll hope God provides a glorious canopy of blue sky, sun and dramatic clouds for a fitting church roof!

For those not attending the 10:30 mass, it would be prudent to begin gathering by 11:15 AM.

Keep praying and see you tomorrow!

 

All Souls Day

Thank you to all the family members, friends and parisioners of Holy Cross who came to the 10 AM mass today, All Souls Day, to pray for the deceased members of our community and all the faithful departed.

Our Bereavement Ministry along with help from  others were not only welcoming, but prayerful and also helped serve up a delicious and convivial collation after the mass. 

Mass of Memorial for Our Deceased Saturday, Nov. 2nd 10 AM

Join us tomorrow AM to pray a mass of memorial for the dead, especially those for whom we have prayed a Mass of Christian burial here at Holy Cross.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead: 

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them. (St. John Chrysostom)

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.

Concrete Pouring Weather

It will be nice when the church becomes enclosed and we won't be so dependent on weather conditions. Even so, the weather has been unusually mild. It looks like Tuesday.