Holy Cross News
January 2, 2024
Blessings for a Happy New Year!!
Thank you to all who donated for our beautiful Christmas Flowers! See below to learn of loved ones and names of those remembered during this Christmas season.
The Knights of Columbus Baby Bottle Campaign begins next weekend! Learn more under "Ministries."
This Sunday, January 7th is the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord
Readings are HERE
The gifts from the Magi offering gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
To learn of updates on the
Altar Renovation Project, see below under "Parish News."
Upcoming Calendar Events
Upcoming this Week
Jan 2 Men of the Cross, 4pm in Commons
Jan 3 Rosary after 9am Mass
Jan 4 Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, 7pm
Jan 5 First Friday Mass, Reconciliation and Adoration, 9am -11am
Jan 7 Sunday morning Faith Formation, 9:30am
Jan 8 Ladies os the Altar 9:45am
Jan 8 Cenacle of Divine Mercy, 9:45am in Commons
Jan 8 Eucharistic Revival Team Meeting, 1pm in Commons
Jan 8 Mass at Wesminster Canterbury, 4pm
Jan 8 Becoming Catholic, 7pm
Jan 9 Adult Faith Formation, Life of St Catherine of Siena, 10am and 6:30pm
Next Week
Jan 10 Rosary after 9am Mass
Jan 11 Adult Faith Formation, "Jesus, the Way, the Truh, the Life", 10am
Jan 13/14 Blood pressures taken by parish nurses after all Masses
Jan 14 Adult Formation talk by Director of the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, 9:30am in Commons
Upcoming
Jan 15 Holy Cross closed for Martin Luther King Day
Jan 16 Men of the Cross, 4pm
Jan 19 March for Life in DC
Jan 19 Holy Hour with Adoration, 5pm
Jan 22 Ladies of the Altar, 9:45am
Jan 22 Cenacle of Divine Mercy, 9:45am in Commons
Jan 22 Becoming Catholic, 7pm
Jan 22 Ultreya Meeting, 7-8:30pm in Commons
Jan 24 St Terese of Liseux Arts and Environment meeting, 10am
Jan 27 Daily Bread Service Opportunity, 9:30am -12:30pm
Feb 17 Rite of Election, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Roanoke, 10am
Feb 13 Mardi Gras Pancake Supper, 6pm
Feb 14 Ash Wednesday, Masses at noon and 6pm
Feb 21 March for Life in Richmond
Feb 22 Confirmation, St Thomas More Parish, 7pm
Worship
Mass Intentions for this week
Jan 3 Special Intention for Jim Blandine
Jan 4 Souls in Purgatory
Jan 5 Souls in Purgatory
Jan 6 Living Intention for Hilda Macejka 4pm
Jan 7 Souls in Purgatory 8am
Jan 7 +Glenn Trent, Sr. 11am
Jan 7 Living Intention for Jose Leal and Jesus Garcia 2pm
Jan 8 +Margaret Rose Beeton
Jan 9 No Mass, Fr Sal's day off
Parishioners to keep in prayer
Due to the graphic nature of some scenes, parental guidance is suggested.
Please pray for...
Todd Beck
If you would also like to be added to our Prayer Line of prayer warriors, or if you'd like strickly confidential prayer,
contact Irma Campbell at mincampbell@yahoo.com.
The funeral Mass of Halina Geier will be this Friday at 11:30am at Holy Cross. Visitation is the night before at Heritage Funeral Home from 6-8pm.
Mass Count
To be shared next week...
Altar Flowers
Poinsettias are before the Altar through the Feast of the Ephiphany .
Congratulations to Geoff and Kim Ayscue Wertz on the reception of the Sacrament of Matrimony!
Parish News
Altar Renovation Update
January 2024
In the last update in August, we were working on a response to the diocesan Building and Renovation Committee (BARC) request to consider returning the sanctuary to its original orientation.
We examined this option in detail and reviewed the 1986-88 work records when the sanctuary was put into its present configuration. We identified many significant hurdles that would have to be overcome, such as removal of a load bearing wall that now separates the sanctuary from the chapel. This wall supports a crack in the original arch in front of the old altar location. This would greatly add to the expense and difficulty of reorienting the church.
A letter was sent to the BARC describing the problems and significant added expense to reorient the church and we again requested to proceed with our plan renovation of the altar area. In October, both the current and previous BARC chairman (Fr Cole and Fr Capuano) visited Holy Cross met with Fr Sal and me to examine the church and consider our request.
We received the attached letter from the bishop on 11/8/23. The letter stated, “Since, it was your original intention to simply have a proper tabernacle stand constructed for the sanctuary, at this time, it might be best to return to this initial plan and put on hold the remainder of the project until a future time when other elements of a master plan might be revisited that would include reviewing and addressing the crack in the triumphal arch and the possibility of reorienting the nave and sanctuary.”
Fr Sal has decided to replace the existing temporary tabernacle stand with a permanent wooden tabernacle stand. (A marble stand cannot be used because the floor cannot support the weight.) The plan to renovate the altar area will be placed on indefinite hold. We may also replace the carpet on the altar platform.
I will be in the commons the weekend of January 13 and 14 after all Masses to answer your questions.
Tony Lexa
Building Ministry Chairman
To see the entire letter from the Bishop, see below
Faith Formation
New! Adult Formation Featuring Three Saints!
January’s adult formation classes will focus on three great saints of the Church, beginning with St. Catherine of Siena. One of the first women to be named a Doctor of the Church, St. Catherine was both a mystic and an advisor of popes and kings. This Italian laywoman of the 15th century transformed her culture and contributed to healing schism in the Church through her unrelenting faith. Her strength came from a life lived in relationship to and love of Jesus.
Come and learn more about this remarkable woman through a video from Bishop Barron’s Catholicism: The Pivotal Players series, followed by discussion.
There is no workbook, no fee, and no need to sign up—just show up in the Commons at 10:00 a.m. or 6:30 p.m.
Topics for January will be:
- January 9: St. Catherine of Siena
- January 16: St. Augustine
- January 23: St. Benedict
Future topics of study for 2024 will include a series on King David and another on the Old Testament Prophets. Watch FlockNote for more details!
New Women's Bible Study beginning this year!
Join us Thursdays at 10am beginning January the 11th as we study the Ascension Press Series, "Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
Over 10 weeks we will be immersed in scenes from the Holy Land coming face to face with the Incarnate Son of God. This series is designed to help us know who Jesus is, what he taught, what he did for our salvation, and what this means for us.
Please join us!
For more information or if you would like to join us, contact Kaky Bowden kbowden@holycrosslyncbburg.org or Susan Oliver (942-3870).
Questions about the Church or our Catholic Faith?
Our apologists from "My Neighbor Said" can give you the answers!
My Neighbor Said:
“Christmas is a Pagan Holiday.”
See what the Church teaches below.
Ministries
Fill the Crib with Baby Bottles!
Help us Fill the Crib!!!! The Knights of Columbus will host a Baby Bottle Fundraiser Campaign the weekends of January 13-14 and January 20-21.
Return the bottles with your donation by an January 28th to the parish. Makes checks to Knights of Columbus – Council #595, and indicate it’s for the Respect Life Campaign.
One hundred percent of money raised will go to support respect life/prolife agencies, such as the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, Bedford Pregnancy Center, More Aid and others.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Needed!
Volunteer Sewers!
Holy Cross is in need of several 4 x 4 ft altar linens to adorn our altar.
If you like to sew and desire to help beautify our worship space, please consider this ministry. We will provide the fabric and pattern for you to complete the piece in your time frame.
If interested, contact Cathy Wills,
Chair of the Ladies of the Altar, at cathywills99@comcast.net or
St Paschal's Food Pantry
Thank you to all who donated food for our Christmas bags and helped with packing the bags! Many families will benefit from your generosity!
We are extremely low on the following items due to our Christmas efforts:
Spaghetti Sauce
Spaghetti
Mac and Cheese
Canned Tuna
Canned Chicken Masa
Canned Fruit Coffee
Cocoa
Tea bags
Dry Beans
Jelly
Financial News
Collections for Weekend of
to be shared next week...
To Give online, click HERE
Have you signed up with Kroger Rewards Program???
Holy Cross earns money each time you shop at Kroger and use your card. Connect your Kroger card to Holy Cross if you have not already!
Diocesan and Universal Church News
Click here to learn more about Twin River Outfitters.the rto see the
Click here to learn more about Twin River Outfitters.
Fr Sal will be installed as the Pastor of Holy Cross on Sunday, September 19th at the 11am Mass by The Most Reverend Bishop Barry Knesout. All are invited!
We have a New Confession Schedule!
See under "Parish News".
The Feast of our Lady of Sorrows follows the Exaltation of the Cross Why? Read HERE
Holy Cross website click HERE
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”It is easier for a camel to pass through the needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” -Gospel of Mark 10 : 25
Gus Lloyd is coming to Holy Cross this Saturday!!
Join us for a day retreat on Magnetic Christianity!
Saturday, October 16, 8:30am-3:30pm
Light breakfast and lunch included
Retreat is FREE but there will be an opportunity to make a good will offering to cover costs of the retreat.
The blind eyes but seeing heart of Bartimaeus. Mark 10:46-52
Veterans Appreciation Lunch! See below under "Fellowship".
Veterans Day Lunch on Sunday, Nov 7th at 12 noon. See below under fellowship to sign up.
To see the schedule and how you may become involved, see below.
To see the schedule and how you may become involved, see above left.
The Book of Life is in the Santuary for names of our faithful departed. Please add your loved one's name if not in it yet. We will pray for them this month.
The
Come participate in these Mexican Traditions during Advent!
There will be sign up sheets to help at the Food Pantry table in the Commons or by contacting Catherine Madden: cmadden105@gmail.com to sign up
Mass Count
Dec 11/12
The Christmas Masses
are at 4pm and 10pm on Christmas Eve and 10am on Christmas Day.
2021 Jesse Tree Ministry
Elves Delivered! This past week Jesse Tree gifts, food, and even stockings for the younger children, were distributed to 77 households in our area. Families came from our parish community, as well as those referred to us by Interfaith Outreach Association, Lynchburg Social Services, Miriam’s House and McGurk House.
Thanks: Many thanks to all those who made the 2021 Jesse Tree Ministry a success!
We will resume distributing the monthly bags in the Commons the first weekend in February.
SYNOD group sessions available to share and listen about how we are Church. See below to sign up!
What is the Transfiguration?
Please return any books or videos checked out from The Holy Cross Library. It will be c losed for 2 weeks for "spring Cleaning" and reorginization.
Thank you!
We are so blessed to have Cathy as she is a committed parishioner and is involved in many ministries such as the Altar Guild, Greeter ministry, Fellowship to name a few. Welcome Cathy!!
To learn more about Diocesan YA activities, Click HERE.
Nurses will be available to take blood pressures after Masses the weekend of August 13th and 14th.
To learn more about the Orchard, click HERE.
The Diocesan Synodal Synthesis Report is available to review. Please click HERE to read it.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Procession, Mass and celebration is this Sunday at 2pm. All are welcome!
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is this Thursday, August 3 at 7pm and First Friday Mass, Confession and Adoration will be on Friday, August 4th. All are welcome.
Please come worship our Lord in Adoration this Thursday pm and Friday am. All are welcome.
New Job Posting for Holy Cross.
See under "Parish News."
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, click
2024 Altar Flower Sign-ups in the Commons this weekend.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS!!
DEC.17TH 2-4 P.M.
SANTA VISIT 2:30-3:30
201 SWEENEY CIRCLE, FOREST
COME CELEBRATE JESUS BIRTHDAY,
CRAFTS, SNACKS, TREATS AND CHRISTMAS STORIES
ALL ARE WELCOME !
Please see under "Parish News" if you are interested in making a last donation to Holy Cross this year.