Diary of a Parish Priest

Rumson Memorial Day Parade Cancelled Due to Inclement Weather

The Memorial Service itself will take place under cover at the Oceanic Firehouse at 11 AM.

Remember to pray for the dead.

 

Join Holy Cross In the Rumson Memorial Day Parade 2017

Join us in the line of march with Holy Cross parishioners on Monday, May 29th Memorial Day. We will assemble on Black Point Road next to Forrestdale School at 9:30 AM to begin at 10:00 AM.

Let us pray for the dead and honor their sacrifice for our freedoms.

50-50 Summertime Raffles Return

Please help support Holy Cross Church during the summer months when we typically experience a decline in mass attendance, by purchasing a monthly 50-50 raffle ticket. Whether you donate your share of winnings to a charity or retain it for yourself, the winner's pot is usually a nice sum!

The winning raffle ticket is picked by the Monday morning counting team.

Thank you for your support.

 

Thank You To Holy Cross School For Recognition

Ascension Mass With First Responders

It was so wonderful to celebrate mass with so many of Rumson's Police Officers in attendance yesterday morning as the Holy Cross School children and parishioners of Holy Cross welcomed area First Responders to join in our celebration of prayer and Eucharist.

Saint Michael Archangel,
defend us in battle,

be our protection

against the wickedness and snares of the devil;

may God rebuke him, we humbly pray;

and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,

cast into hell
Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

May Crowning of Mary at 12 Noon Mass

An honor guard of First Communicants and Newly Confirmed helped honor Mary by crowning our indoor statue and singing a hymn in her honor at the conclusion of the 12 noon mass on Sunday. 

Thank you to the children and their parents who took the time to dress in their First Communion finery and looked so prayerful and excited to participate.

 

 

Leaving The World For Church

The journey begins when Christians leave their homes and beds . They leave , indeed , their life in this present and concrete world , and whether they have to drive fifteen miles or walk a few blocks , a sacramental act is already taking place , an act which is the very condition of everything else that is to happen . For they are now on their way to constitute the Church , or to be more exact , to be transformed into the Church of God... And now they have been called to " come together in one place , " to bring their lives , their very " world " with them and to be more than what they were : a new community with a new life .

We are already far beyond the categories of common worship and prayer . The purpose of this " coming together " is not simply to add a religious dimension to the natural community , to make it " better " - more responsible , more Christian . The purpose is to fulfill the Church , and that means to make present the One in whom all things are at their end , and all things are at their beginning . The liturgy begins then as a real separation from the world . 

...In church today, we so often find we meet only the same old world, not Christ and His Kingdom. We do not realize that we never get anywhere because we never leave any place behind us.

Schmemann, Alexander. For the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy (Kindle Locations 298-300). Kindle Edition.

 

Church Steps Completed - Ready for the Weekend Masses

It was good news to hear that the blue stone steps should be finished by tomorrow afternoon. The weather surely has been cooperating this week!

Here is a screenshot of the work from the new security camera on the school across the parking lot.

Road Paving on Ward Avenue --- All Done!

Thanks to the police who helped us sort traffic out and get into and out of our parking lot and driveways without hassle, the paving on Ward Avenue has been completed for now.

Smooth as silk...

 

 

 

Small Rose Window On Ward Avenue Steeple Design

Crafted by Beyer Studios, this will be the design for the small rose window at the peak of the steeple on Ward Avenue.

Progress On Bluestone Masonry Steps

Workmen seemed to have installed most or all of the risers for the steps. The weather cooperated perfectly. 

Praying the Rosary For America

Numerous intrepid prayers gathered despite the driving rain to pray the outdoor Rosary this past Saturday. 

They were able to seek some shelter from the rain under the school's porch and still remain visible to passers-by as a visible witness to the power of prayer, especially the Rosary.

Families Celebrate Mother's Day By Attending Mass Together

It was good to see so many families attending mass together for Mother's Day. It's no small accomplishment these days to get all the family gathered together. Even better when the family worships God together.

Thank you for your Christian witness!

Pope Francis Grants Plenary Indulgence for Marian Fatima Devotions

To obtain the plenary indulgence, the faithful must fulfill the ordinary conditions: (1) go to Confession and Communion,(2)  be interiorly detached from sin, and (3) pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, usually the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be. 

"An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints (canon 992 and Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1471).”  A plenary indulgence is a complete remission of temporal punishment due to sins and is limited to one per day.

To the faithful who visit with devotion a statue of Our Lady of Fatima solemnly exposed for public veneration in any church, oratory or proper place during the days of the anniversary of the apparitions, the 13th of each month from May to October 2017, and there devoutly participate in some celebration or prayer in honor of the Virgin Mary.  In addition, the faithful must pray the Our Father, recite the Creed and invoke Our Lady of Fatima.

A statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be exposed at Holy Cross Church in our sanctuary for public veneration beginning tomorrow, May 13th.

 

Sacrament of Confirmation Today at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM

Join in prayer today for our confirmandi as we celebrate the conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation by Msgr. Ed Arnister in Holy Cross Church.

Welcome To New Principal

Holy Cross Welcomes New Principal Mark DeMareo, Ed.D.

It is a pleasure to welcome Dr. Mark DeMareo as the new principal of Holy Cross School. He comes to us with an extensive background in New Jersey public primary and secondary education and a life of devoted Catholic faith. The Diocesan Superintendent of Schools was pleased to endorse our selection of such a talented individual and looks forward to working with him.

Dr. DeMareo began teaching middle school, then high school before moving on to Assistant Principal, then Principal. He eventually became Assistant Superintendent and later Superintendent of Schools.

The roots of his Catholic faith run deep including two aunts who are nuns and an uncle who was a missionary Jesuit to India. He is a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus and last year was inducted into the Knights of Malta by Cardinal Dolan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

We are confident Dr. DeMareo will continue to strengthen the academic and spiritual formation program at Holy Cross School. His extensive experience, both in the classroom and in administration and his love of the Catholic faith will be a blessing for Holy Cross school and parish.

Dr. DeMareo will be travelling to India for several weeks to offer a scholarship at a Catholic school founded by his uncle in Patna. We wish him healthy and safe travel and a welcome return to his new school family at Holy Cross. 

A sincere thank you to all the members of the Principal Search Committee who took their great responsibility seriously and were diligent and faithful in their mission.

Fr Manning

Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday

Please continue to pray for our confirmandi, their sponsors and families as we prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday, May 12th. The bishop's delegate to confer the sacrament will be Msgr. Ed Arnister, pastor of St. Rose in Belmar. 

Come Holy Spirit enliven the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!

 

 

Glorious Day of First Communions

What a beautiful day we were gifted with for First Communions! The cool, crisp wind seemed to keep cloud covers away and both the morning and afternoon ceremonies were perfect picture weather. 

The children were so reverent and sang the mass parts so well, it was a pleasure to invite them into the sanctuary for the Eucharistic Prayer. 

Of course, it's also a pleasure to welcome them for their Second Communions on Sunday with the regular Sunday mass community. 

Congratulations to their parents, godparents and teachers for preparing them so well. May they begin a lifelong relationship with Christ, The Good Shepherd through frequent prayer and communion.

 

 

Snow Melt Cable Ready For Testing

Beautiful weather helped workers install the new snow melt cable, which is now ready for testing before the mortar and bluestone steps are reapplied. 

 

First Holy Communions This Saturday

Pray for our First Communicants and their families who are preparing to receive their First Holy Communions this weekend.

It is a time of grace for communicants, their families and parishioners alike.