In this issue: Super Full Moon Over Holy Cross, Thank You from Social Concerns Committee, Rediscovering the Eucharist Series, First Friday, Explore the Faith through RCIA, Aid for Ukraine, Remember in Prayer Those Who Have Died, Current Mass and Confession Schedule...
Thank You from the
Social Concerns Committee
The members of the Social Concerns Committee would like to send a HUGE THANK YOU to all Parishioners, School and SOR Families of Holy Cross for your EXTREMELY GENEROUS SUPPORT during the past year as Covid related needs and restrictions continued. Your responses to our many requests were AMAZING!!!
Donations to our Drive-by Food Drives and monthly Poor Box Collections enabled us to assist many agencies, primarily through their Food Pantries. These included Mid-County United Ministries (MUM), Catholic Charities, Saint Martin’s, Saint Jude’s, Saint Camillus and Linkages to Learning. Also, through our donations to the Mulholland Food Drive, we were able to assist several of the Innes inner-city food pantries. We kept our emphasis on food security throughout the pandemic. We were also able to assist Parish Families who were directly affected by job loss due Covid restrictions and those families struggling with major illness and other emergencies. Monetary donations were used to purchase Giant gift cards. These were given to the food pantries and individuals enabling them to buy perishable items and even diapers, which were in great demand. Staples were supplemented with fresh produce that was donated on many Saturdays by the Chicano Sol Farmers Market in Garrett Park. We continued to respond to the needs of Catholic Charities shelters, Bethesda Cares soup kitchen, Betty Ann Krahnke domestic violence shelter and some immediate needs such as the arrival of Afghan refugees in Bethesda and the loss of a local fire fighter. We are investigating ways we might be able to help Ukrainian refugees here and abroad.
Although our committee volunteer visitors and drivers have not been able to fully resume their ministries in person, the sick and elderly of our parish remained a priority. Cards were sent on a regular basis by dedicated and creative volunteers.
At Christmas, your response to the Giving Tree was unbelievable. After numerous discussions the Giving Tree Committee decided to continue with the VIRTUAL GIVING TREE… and it worked!!! The parish response was overwhelming!!! We were able to fulfill gifts for over 600+ individuals and families. This was done via gift cards and Amazon links. The recipients were extremely grateful as they continued to struggle with just providing the basics for their families and did not think they would have Christmas gifts this year.
Our Environmental Committee is seeking to promote environmental awareness and individual and community action through our Care for Creation and Environmental Stewardship notices in our Parish Bulletin.
Our Rebuilding Together project scheduled for April 2021 was postponed and was completed in September 2021. We tackled our 2022 project in April of this year. In both cases, our volunteers, with volunteers from Saint Mark Presbyterian and Bethesda United Church of Christ completed repairs needed to make homes of seniors in our neighborhood safe and sound. Their gratitude was most evident as they visited us as we worked.
We truly appreciate your support and generosity during another challenging year. We are hopeful that things will continue to move forward and we would welcome your support and participation. Have a great summer!
Please visit us at www.hcrosschurch.org and click on “Social Concerns” or email us at socialconcerns.hc@gmail.com.
Who is the minister for the celebration of the Eucharist?
The celebrant of the Eucharist is a validly ordained priest (bishop or priest) who acts in the Person of Christ the Head and in the name of the Church.
Further reading: CCC 1348, 1411
What are the essential and necessary elements for celebrating the Eucharist?
The essential elements are wheat bread and grape wine.
Further reading: CCC 1412
In what way is the Eucharist a memorial of the sacrifice of Christ?
The Eucharist is a memorial in the sense that is makes present and actual the sacrifice which Christ offered to the Father on the cross, once and for all on behalf of mankind. The sacrificial character of the Holy Eucharist is manifested in the very words of institution, "This is my Body which is given for you" and "This cup is the New Covenant in my Blood that will be shed for you" (Luke 22:19-20). The sacrifice of the cross and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one and the same sacrifice. The priest and the victim are the same; only the manner of offering is different: in a bloody manner on the cross, in an unbloody manner in the Eucharist.
Further reading: CCC 1362-1367
The celebrant of the Eucharist is a validly ordained priest (bishop or priest) who acts in the Person of Christ the Head and in the name of the Church.
Further reading: CCC 1348, 1411
What are the essential and necessary elements for celebrating the Eucharist?
The essential elements are wheat bread and grape wine.
Further reading: CCC 1412
In what way is the Eucharist a memorial of the sacrifice of Christ?
The Eucharist is a memorial in the sense that is makes present and actual the sacrifice which Christ offered to the Father on the cross, once and for all on behalf of mankind. The sacrificial character of the Holy Eucharist is manifested in the very words of institution, "This is my Body which is given for you" and "This cup is the New Covenant in my Blood that will be shed for you" (Luke 22:19-20). The sacrifice of the cross and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one and the same sacrifice. The priest and the victim are the same; only the manner of offering is different: in a bloody manner on the cross, in an unbloody manner in the Eucharist.
Further reading: CCC 1362-1367
On July 1 (First Friday) there will be Benediction and the Sacred Heart Novena following the 8:30 am Mass. The OVER 50 CLUB will take a summer break and will not have its breakfast after Mass this month. Breakfast will resume in August.
Do you know someone who wants
to explore the Catholic Faith?
Holy Cross offers sessions of instruction and discussion to assist the individual in their spiritual journey as they seek answers to their questions and learn more about the Teachings and sacramental life of the Church. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 7-9pm starting on October. Email Michelle at ilagan@hcrosschurch.org for more information or questions.
Aid for Ukraine
You can provide assistance to the victims of the war in Ukraine by donating to Catholic Relief Services (CRS). CRS is the U.S. Bishops main international charitable arm. CRS has staff in Ukraine providing humanitarian relief. You can help by donating here.
May the Holy Spirit strengthen and protect the people of Ukraine in this war.
CURRENT MASS AND CONFESSION SCHEDULE
Saturday Vigil Mass - 5:00 pm
Sunday Mass with choir 9:30 am (live-stream link: www.hcrosschurch.org)
Sunday Mass – 12 Noon (live-stream link: www.hcrosschurch.org)
Weekday Masses are offered Monday thru Saturday at 8:30 am
On Saturdays, Confessions are heard from 9:00 to 10:00 am.
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