Diary of a Parish Priest

Rejoice, Emmanuel!

Holy Cross Academy 5th Grade Christmas Haiku

Holy Cross Academy Christmas Concert 2019

Blessing of Baby Jesus Figures and Lighting of the Christmas Tree 2019

Creche Blessing and Tree Lighting Tuesday 7 PM

Come to the 2019 Creche Blessing and Tree Lighting

Tuesday at 7 PM in Holy Cross Church

Live Nativity Animals and Refreshments to Follow 

Lessons and Carols 2019

Elizabeth Ministry Christmas Giving

Representatives from Holy Cross Elizabeth Ministry bring gifts donated at their luncheon to 180 Turning Lives Around in Hazlet. 

Stars for Jesus Brings Christmas Generosity from Holy Cross Parishioners

Gifts from Santa are kept in safe keeping until they were delivered by Santa's Helpers last week to reach their new owners in time for Christmas. 575 stars, 6 local charitable agencies including 15 new, ready-to-ride bikes with helmets were donated by parishioners of Holy Cross and collected over the past two weeks. The Santa's bags shown are filled with gift-wrapped new items for specific agencies and individuals, all ready-to-go. 

Thanks for help to some of our eight graders for volunteering to be Santa's Helpers and move some of the many gifts to safe-keeping!

Silent Night, Rainy Night

Stars for Jesus Gifts Are Due

Thank you to parishioners for their usual overwhelmingly generous response to  Stars for Jesus this year. Here are just a few of the items donated for needy children and adults in our area this Christmas.

Christmas 2018 Holy Cross Church Rumson

What a wonderful Christmas it was with near perfect weather and the congregations joyful and prayerful. It was great seeing so many young people home from college with their families. And so many families with young children.

Thank you to all our parish staff, choirs, Altar Rosary Society and Liturgical Ministers who helped us welcome so many people with ease and grace. We certainly had an amazing number of parishioners and visitors over the Christmas holiday.

Here are some uncrowded photos of our worship space this Christmas.

Christmas Eve

Henry Ossawa Tanner's Annunciation Angels Meet NASA

News of Great Joy!

Blessing of Christmas Creche and Lighting of Christmas Tree

Mary and Joseph and "Dinky" the Donkey at our joyful celebration of the Coming of Christmas.

The church's baby Jesus figurine is well supported as it is being blessed! 

Holy Cross Children's Choir Carols in Nursing Home

Blessing of Baby Jesus Figurines From Home Mangers Tonight

Bring Baby Jesus figurines from your home mangers to the parish Christmas manger blessing, tree lighting and Stations of the Creche tonight. Spend some time after the blessings with parishioners for some Christmas cheer. 

Nativity at the Vatican

Vatican's 2016 Nativity Scene

More Creche Blessings 2017

Gifts Galore from "Stars for Jesus" Donations

It looks like Santa's Sleigh might have landed on Holy Cross' lawn for a few moments, but no, the generous gifts donated by parishioners and friends of Holy Cross to anonymous recipients were collected awaiting pick-up by the several agencies which participated in our Stars For Jesus annual Christmas gift drive.

Over six hundred gifts were donated, including sixteen brand new bicycles, clothing, toys, gift cards and others. 

Thank you to the organizers of the event for their energy and enthusiasm and to all those who took the time select a star, shop and wrap the gift.

May God bless your generosity and multiply the spirit of good will at Christmas.

Christmas Manger From Stained Glass Window Holy Cross Church

Tradition holds that St. Francis of Assisi was one of the first to create and display a Christmas creche in order to teach the joy and meaning of Christmas. This is a scene from one of our windows. In the complete panel, Francis is shown leading the children to the Christ child.

Don't Miss Thursday Evening's Advent Prayer Service and Christmas Tree Lighting

A Christmas Tree of the Past

Join us tonight at 7 PM for the festive formal beginning of the Christmas season at Holy Cross.

Gather in the church for song, a Scripture reading and reflection, followed by the lighting of our Christmas tree on Ward Avenue and the blessing of the Manger at the pergola.

Every year the sheep and other live animals create extra interest for our younger children.

Enjoy hot chocolate and other refreshing goodies in our gymatorium immediately after the blessings.

(We'll adapt to the weather conditions if necessary and not spend too long in blustery winds or really cold temperatures.