In this issue: Food Drive and Backpack and School Supplies Collection, Adult Choir Get Together, Blessing of the Backpacks, High School Volunteers Needed, Preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, Rebuilding Together, CYO Sports, Current Mass and Confession Schedule, Magnificat and MagnifiKids Magazines and more . . .
Social Concerns Committee
FOOD DRIVE
FOOD DRIVE
THIS WEEKEND
to support
John S. Mulholland Family Foundation
Holy Cross is pleased to support the John S. Mulholland Family Foundation, the primary provider of food for the food pantries in the DC’s poorest parishes: St. Thomas More, St. Luke, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Francis Xavier and Holy Name. To learn more, visit www.jsmff.org.
Our annual Mulholland Food Drive is scheduled for the weekend of August 28 and 29. We will again hold a drive-by version. The following are suggested non-perishable staples:
- cereals,
- pastas,
- macaroni and cheese
- peanut butter and jelly
- canned fruits and vegetables
After the 5 pm Mass on Saturday, August 28, you can drop food into the van in front of the School.
On Sunday, August 29, the van will be in the back parking lot between 10 am and 12 Noon. A committee member will be in front of the School directing you to the van in the back parking lot. Please bring donations before the 12 Noon Mass.
Please wear a mask while dropping off your donations. Committee members present to assist you will be wearing masks.
The Poor Box for August 28 and 29 will go to the Mulholland Foundation. In lieu of donating food, you can make out a check to Holy Cross with Mulholland Foundation in the memo line. Your donation enables the foundation to purchase fresh produce, milk and eggs, meat and poultry.
You may also donate by credit card via Faith Direct without enrolling in Faith Direct. Visit our website: www.hcrosschurch.org. Click on One-Time Donation and select Social Concerns – Food Drive.
Backpack and School Supplies Collection
Also, on August 28 and 29, the Social Concerns Committee will be collecting new backpacks and school supplies for at-risk students in Montgomery County elementary schools. These will be collected at the same time as the food drive donations.
Please note that the Committee will not be accepting clothing donations until further notice. Click here to learn about the Interfaith Works Clothing Center.
Thanking you in advance for your continued generosity. The need is still great!
Holy Cross Church
Social Concerns Committee
HOLY CROSS ADULT CHOIR GET TOGETHER
Thursday, August 26, at 7 pm
Dr. Mariana Mihai-Zoeter, the music director at Holy Cross, is inviting all singers -existing members and new members who wish to sing in the choir- on Thursday August 26, at 7 p.m. to join her for a choir gathering in the sanctuary. If you are not yet a member of the choir but you love to sing and would like to share your gifts with us all, please attend this meeting.
For more information, contact Mariana at music@hcrosschurch.org
Mariana is looking forward to finally meeting you all!
"Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts” (Psalm 105:2)
"Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts” (Psalm 105:2)
HOLY CROSS
ADULT CHOIR
GET TOGETHER
Thursday, August 26
at 7 p.m.
Dr. Mariana Mihai-Zoeter the music director at Holy Cross is inviting all singers -existing members and new members who wish to sing in the choir- on Thursday August 26, at 7 p.m. to join her for a choir gathering in the sanctuary. If you are not yet a member of the choir but you love to sing and would like to share your gifts with us all please attend this meeting.
For more information contact Mariana at: music@hcrosschurch.org
"Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts” (Psalm 105:2)
BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS
All students are encouraged to bring your backpacks or school bags to receive a special blessing during the 9:30 am Mass on Sunday, August 29. As we all begin a new school year, blessing our backpacks will help us focus on spreading the love of God in all we do including our learning environments.
August 29
9:30 am Mass
HIGH SCHOOL TEEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Holy Cross Church in cooperation with Catholic Charities, Washington DC invite high school teens to join the Cup of Joe Food Ministry. The Cup of Joe Food Ministry assists five shelters in the area. Each shelter resident is given a bag of food and coffee as they leave to find work every day.
Teens will be packing at least 350 brown bags to be distributed in five homeless shelters every month after a 5pm Saturday Mass to be determined. Teen volunteers will meet for Mass then proceed to Lewis Hall for dinner and packing. Volunteers will be asked to write encouraging notes from scripture to include in the brown bags. This program will begin in October and end in May. Food to be packed will be provided by Holy Cross. Participation in this project is eligible for service hours/SSL. Interested teens and their parents should email ilagan@hcrosschurch.org.
Parishioner, Thomas Schmitt, husband of Carmen, passed away this weekend. Relatives and friends may call at Holy Cross Church on Tuesday, August 31, at 10:30 am to visit. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 am.
Remember in Prayer those who have died, especially Thomas Schmitt.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
First Communion and Confirmation Preparation
Did you know that the regular sacrament preparation time in the Archdiocese of Washington is two years? Children preparing for First Communion must be enrolled in Religious Education Classes in grades 1 and 2 while Confirmation students are required to start preparation in grade 7 and finalize requirements and classes in grade 8.
- Attending private school? Email Michelle Ilagan at ilagan@hcrosschurch.org to register your child. No tuition payment except for sacrament miscellaneous fee. There are special sacrament preparation meetings and activities that all (including home-schooling families) parishioners preparing for First Communion and Confirmation are asked to join in grades 2, 7 and 8. If your child is older than the normal age of First Communion and Confirmation, the DRE will discuss a plan for your child.
- Students attending Holy Cross School receive their religion instruction in school, however the parish is the home of the sacraments. All students preparing for the sacraments will receive a separate registration form and are expected to join to complete separate requirements and parish-wide activities in preparation for the sacraments.
Volunteers needed for Rebuilding Together Montgomery County
Rebuilding Together provides free critical home repairs to Montgomery County’s most vulnerable residents. The repairs RTMC volunteers make help those members of our community who are most in need stay safe in their homes. Holy Cross teams with Saint Mark Presbyterian and Bethesda United Church of Christ as a visible sign of Christian Unity. The Social Concerns Committee also provides a wonderful picnic meal for volunteers. The project work day is September 11, 2021. Those with more experience can volunteer for work on the project on additional Saturdays. Teens may participate with parents. If you are interested in volunteering by working or helping with the picnic meal, send an email to socialconcerns@gmail.com or fjmarinucci@verizon.net or call Fred Marinucci at 301-642-3928.
CYO Sports for Children of Holy Cross Parish and School
Holy Cross is thrilled to announce the return of CYO sports this fall. As always, we welcome the children of Holy Cross Parish and School in grades 1 through 8 to join our Fall 2021 soccer and cross country teams. More information about sports for children in Pre-K and kindergarten will be available in the fall.
Visit Sports Pilot to register your student athletes and electronically sign waiver forms. Payment by credit card is required at the time of registration.
Close to the start of the season, your player’s coach will be in touch to outline the practice and game/meet schedule for the upcoming season.
CYO Coaches Needed! We are in need of enthusiastic coaches and coordinators! Please know that we cannot field teams without volunteer coaches. Coaching is easy, and the children really appreciate parent coaches. There are plenty of YouTube videos on coaching youth soccer and cross country, so please don’t hesitate to volunteer. Coaching satisfies the full volunteer hour requirement for the year.
Requirements for all coaches:
- ADW Child and Youth Protection & Safe Environment Requirements:
- Virtus Training
- Fingerprint Background Check
- Coach Code of Conduct Form
- Coach CYO Participation & Consent Waiver Form
- Play Like A Champion Today - Coaching As Ministry Clinic
- NFHS Heat Illness Prevention
- CDC's HEADS UP to Youth Sports
The training can be completed virtually in a couple of hours.
Our CYO program prides itself on fostering life-long bonds between the players and nurturing athletic abilities and good sportsmanship in a friendly, Christian atmosphere. Plus, we have a lot of fun! Come join the Holy Cross Hawks!
Want to volunteer? Have questions? Contact Holy Cross CYO Coordinator CJ Tresky at hcrosscyo@gmail.com.
CURRENT MASS AND CONFESSION SCHEDULE
Montgomery County’s indoor mask requirement went into effect August 7.
Masks should be worn in Church by everyone 2 years and older.
The dispensation from Sunday and Holy Days Mass obligation has been lifted and the obligation was reinstated beginning Saturday, June 26, and Sunday, June 27. To see the full statement of the Bishops of the Province of Baltimore and the Archdiocese of Washington, visit the Archdiocesan website at www.adw.org.
We look forward to safely welcoming you back into our beautiful sacred space. Wipes for the pews and hand sanitizer will continue to be available for your use. The clergy will continue to sanitize their hands during the distribution of the Eucharist. The faithful are encouraged to remain respectful of their neighbor in all circumstances.
Saturday Vigil Mass - 5:00 pm in Church
Sunday Mass - 9:30 am in Church
Sunday Mass – 12 Noon in Church (live-stream link at www.hcrosschurch.org)
Weekday Masses are offered Monday thru Saturday at 8:30 am in Church
On Saturdays, Confessions are heard from 9:00 to 10:00 am.
There will be copies of the September Magnificat magazine and Magnifikid magazine for you to pick up in the back of church this weekend while supplies last.
You can access the parish bulletin by:
- viewing it here,
- select "News" on the parish website (www.hcrosschurch.org) or
- pick up a copy at Church.
- select "News" on the parish website (www.hcrosschurch.org) or
- pick up a copy at Church.
WAYS TO SUPPORT HOLY CROSS
ONLINE - Make a donation by credit card via Faith Direct. Go to the parish website: www.hcrosschurch.org and click on One-Time Donation. You do not have to enroll in Faith Direct or, if you are enrolled in Faith Direct, you can elect to not sign in.
RECURRING - Visit www.faithdirect.net or call 866-507-8757 (toll-free) to enroll in our electronic giving program using your bank account or credit card (Holy Cross Code is MD22). Another way is to use your bank's bill pay.
DROP OFF your contribution in the mail slot in the Rectory office door
MAIL your offertory to Holy Cross Church, PO Box 249, Garrett Park, MD 20896