Diary of a Parish Priest

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

 

The Light of Faith - "Lumen Fidei"

The Light of Faith

The papal encyclical of Francis with the collaboration of Benedict highlights once again, the difficulties a disciple of Jesus faces in the modern world.

The encyclical, though brief, is not a breezy read. I won't even try to summarize the whole letter, but point out two of the many passages which invited me to pray:

Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness, but a lamp which guides our steps in the night and suffices for the journey. To those who suffer, God does not provide arguments which explain everything; rather, his response is that of an accompanying presence, a history of goodness which touches every story of suffering and opens up a ray of light. 

 And, of course, the prayer which closes the encyclical itself:

 Let us turn in prayer to Mary, Mother of the Church and Mother of our faith. 
Mother, help our faith! 
Open our ears to hear God’s word and to recognize his voice and call. 
Awaken in us a desire to follow in his footsteps, to go forth from our own land and to receive his promise. 
Help us to be touched by his love, that we may touch him in faith. 
Help us to entrust ourselves fully to him and to believe in his love, especially at times of trial, beneath the shadow of the cross, when our faith is called to mature. 
Sow in our faith the joy of the Risen One. 
Remind us that those who believe are never alone. 
Teach us to see all things with the eyes of Jesus, that he may be light for our path. And may this light of faith always increase in us, until the dawn of that undying day which is Christ himself, your Son, our Lord!

Bishop O'Connell Greets Holy Cross 2013 March for Lifers in Washington, D.C.

In Great Company

Holy Cross Pilgrims on Steps of Basilica National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Year of Faith Monthly Wednesdays

Thanks to everyone who brought their faith and interest and love of Christ to our first discussion meeting last evening on the topic of "The Year of Faith." It is wonderful to be able to discuss questions which are too complex for a brief Sunday homily.

Next month's topic is "The Trinity." Why do we believe in a Trintarian God and what difference should that belief make in our spiritual lives? We're using the appropriate questions in the Compendium. If you would like to receive some additional reading material which I might reference during the discussion, I'll post a link for you to download the material.

Adult Faith Formation Wednesday Night for The Year of Faith

A reminder that at 7:00 PM this Wednesday evening there will be a discussion session on the meaning of "faith" especially as it relates to the pope's call for the Year of Faith.

Questions 11 - 19 in the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will be discussed, along with an exploration of faith vs. reason.

St. Michael's Media Room    7:00 PM    October 17th.

(Awesomely enough, attendance at three of these session along with fulfillment of the other conditions necessary merits a plenary indulgence during The Year of Faith ! )

More Eucharistic Congress Photos

The Eucharistic Procession Reaches the Altar

Bishop O'Connell Carries the Eucharistic in the Monstrance

Diocese of Trenton Eucharistic Congress

Bishop O'Connell meets with First Communicants discussing the Sacraments

Rapt Attention

Send photos of the Eucharistic Congress to the webmaster at holycrossrumson.org

Year of Faith Logo

The Year of Faith logo has interesting symbolism.

The ship on the sea represents the Church, the Barque of Peter. Reminding us not only of Noah's ark, but especially of the boat in which the disciples were tossed on the Sea of Galilee until Jesus calmed the storm.

It is bounded by a square, its four sides symbolizing the four ends of the earth, the whole world.

The mast resembles a crucifix, and the billowing sails are the familiar IHS initials for Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.

The sun behind the sails represents not only the Risen Christ, the Son of God, but is meant to remind us of the Eucharist.

Three Day Eucharistic Congress to Begin Tomorrow at PNC Center

 

The Diocese of Trenton's Eucharistic Congress will begin tomorrow at the PNC Center. The three day event is packed with inspiring, prayerful and entertaining events for Catholics of all ages.

The first day of the Congress is dedicated to youth and a contingent of students from our school and Religious Education programs are planning to spend the day.

Check the schedule of events and partiticpate somehow in this history making event.

Diocese of Trenton's Eucharistic Congress

 

Adult Faith Formation Sessions for the Year of Faith

These are the discussion topics and reading material for the Adult Formation Sessions for the Year of Faith. The numbers in the second column refer to the question numbers in the Compendium: Catechism of the Catholic Church. The parish office has a supply of these books on hand for a requested donation of $15.

St. Michael Media Room, 7:00 PM	Compendium: Catechism of the Catholic Church Question Numbers: (not page numbers)
Oct. 17th-Year of Faith	# 11-19; p. 191 Act of Faith
Nov. 14th-Trinity	19-23
Dec. 12th-Jesus Christ, True God and True Man	Chapter 2; 79-135
Jan. 16th-Baptism of the Lord… Church	147-193
Feb. 13th-Reconciliation	295-320
Mar. 13th-Sacraments/Sacramentality	Section 1
Apr. 17th-Real Presence	271-294
May 15th-Divine Revelation as Scripture & Tradition	11-24
June 12th-Morality, Sin and Conscience	357-376;73-78;392-400
July 17th-Social Teachings/Social Justice	509-520
Aug. 14th-Mary and the Communion of Saints	194-199
Sept. 11-The Mass	271-294
Oct. 16th-Grace and Virtue	422-433;377-390
Nov. 13th-Death and Eternal Life	202-217

Catechetical Preaching Topics for "The Year of Faith 2012-2013"

As you know,Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has asked that the following topics be covered in all parishes during the second Saturday-Sunday celebration of the Eucharist each month throughout the Year of Faith:

Oct. 14 | 28th Sunday Ordinary Time…Year of Faith

Nov. 11 | 32nd Sunday Ordinary Time…Trinity

Dec. 9 | 2nd Sunday Advent…Jesus Christ, True God and True Man

Jan. 13 | Baptism of the Lord…Church

Feb. 10 | 5th Sunday Ordinary Time…Reconciliation

March 10 | 4th Sunday Lent…Sacraments/Sacramentality

April 14 | 3rd Sunday Easter…Real Presence

May 12 | Ascension or 7th Sunday Easter…Divine Revelation as Scripture and Tradition

June 9 | 10th Sunday Ordinary Time…Morality, Sin and Conscience

July 14 | 15th Sunday Ordinary Time…Social Teachings/Social Justice

Aug. 11 | 19th Sunday Ordinary Time…Mary and the Communion of Saints

Sept. 8 | 23rd Sunday Ordinary Time…The Mass

Oct. 13 | 28th Sunday Ordinary Time…Grace and Virtue

Nov. 10 | 32nd Sunday Ordinary Time…Death and Eternal Life

Nov. 24 | Christ the King…Christ the King Ruler of Hearts and Teacher of Prayer

 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church and these homilies are excellent starting points for our Wednesday night Adult Faith Formation discussions. We will experiment with using the Compendium: Catechism of the Catholic Church for our meetings. It may be purchased from the USCCB, online through retailers, or through the Parish Office (we should be able to offer a significant discount.)

We will publish the meeting dates after all parish staff members have checked them for possible conflicts, but in general they will be the Wednesday evening following each Catechetical Sunday at 7:00 PM in the St. Michael Media Room.