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651 East Springfield Road • Springfield, Pennsylvania 19064DECEmBER 6, 2015 • SECOHD 3utiDlAV OY t\oVErfP.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERSBusiness Office I Rectory 61 0-626-3321 • 610-626-3322Parish School ··············610-626-1709Religious Education 610-626-1057Convent 610-626-2492Pastoral Minister ·········610-626-8266Korean Catholic Center 610-259-2240Website www.holycrosscatholics.orgE-mail contactus@holycrosscatholics.org

MASS SCHEDULESaturday Evening: 5:15 PMSunday, Upper Church: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 AM

Holy Day: 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM

Weekday: 8:30 AM

CONFESSIONSSaturday, Lower Church: 4:00 to 5:00 PM

MARRIAGE POLICYArrangements are made directly with the Parish Priests, withinsix months before the intended wedding date. Weddings arereserved for active parishioners. Pre-Cana Session is required.Please call Rectory for appointment with Parish Priests. Ournext Pre-Cana day will be on April 23, 2016. To register, callBill & Nicole @ 610-626-8486.

VISITATION TO SICK AND INFIRMPlease call the Rectory or Sister Mary Carmela, PastoralMinister, when a parishioner is hospitalized or homebound.

REGISTRATIONSBy Appointment. All Catholics living in the parish shouldregister at the Rectory. Please call Parish Office to make anappointment with one of the Parish Priests.

PARISH PASTORAL STAFFRev. John D. Gabin PastorRev. Edward B. Cahill Pastor EmeritusRev. Msgr. Paul F. Curran In ResidenceDeacon Robert FrankenbergerDeacon Joseph N. GousieSr. Loretta Saudarg, RSM Business ManagerSr. Mary Carmela, RSM Pastoral MinisterMrs. Maureen Ward PrincipalMrs. Kelly Meliti Director of Religious EducationMr. Timothy Reilly Music Coordinator

BAPTISM POLICYBaptisms are celebrated every Sunday, except for the firstSunday of the month, at 12:30 PM. Please call the rec-tory at 610-626-3321 to set up an appointment with a Priest.First time parents and godparents are required to attend aBaptism Preparation Session. Only when Certificates of Eli-gibility from godparents are presented, then a date for thebaptism can be set.

The Baptism Preparation Sessions are held the first Sundayof the month at 12:30 PM in the Upper Church, with registra-tion required. To register, please call the parish secretaryduring regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AMto 4:00 PM). Registration must be made prior to the last Fri-day of the month. If no registrations are received, a sessionmay not be held.

BUSINESS OFFICE HOURS(Entrance through the middle, rear door of the Church)Monday - Friday Only: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Closed for Lunch12-1 PM); Closed Saturday and Sunday

BIBLE STUDY - 7 PMPARISH CENTERCHRISTMASDECORATING 12:30 PMCHURCHPREPCHRISTMASPRESENTATION6 PM - CHURCHSCHOOLCANDLELIGHTSERVICE7 PM - CHURCHCHRISTMAS FLOWERSDECORATING9:30 AM - CHURCHCONFESSIONS7 - 8 PM -LOWER CHURCHBABY JESUSPLAY -KIND.9 AM - LOWER CHURCH

PASTOR'S CORNER

A big thank you to our Holy Cross Knights of Columbus for a beautiful Pancake Breakfast. Nobodywent away hungry!

Thank you for voting for the new Mass times. The vote was fairly evenlysplit among the four options, with more votes going for the 9:00 and 11:00 timeand the 8:30 and 10:30 time. Since 9:00 is probably too late for a parish's firstMass on Sunday and 10:30 is too early for its last Mass, the fairest solution seems

to be to make the Mass times 8:30 and 11:00. The intentions already arranged for the 7:30 and 9:30Masses will be combined at the 8:30 Mass. The new schedule will begin Saturday, January 2 with the 4:30Vigil Mass. Confessions will be 3:30 to' 4:15 PM. The 8:30 and 11:00 Masses will begin the next day,Sunday, January 3. I know these times will not satisfy everyone, but I do thank you for your understanding,flexibility and cooperation.

Solemnity of the ImmaculateConception

of the Btessed Virgin MaryA Holy Day of ObligationTuesday, December 8

Masses: 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM

VOLUNTEERSNEEDED FOR

CHURCHCHRISTMASDECORATING

STABLE AND TREESSUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 12:30 PM

FLOWERSSATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 9:30 AM

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ADVENT SCHEDULE

DECEMBER 10

DECEMBER 13

DECEMBER 13

DECEMBER 16

DECEMBER 19

DECEMBER 22

DECEMBER23

To honor the memory of a loved one, friend orparishioner, a donation of $150 can be madefor sanctuary flowers in front of the main altarand the Blessed Mother's statue. Aremembrance will be printed in the bulletinfor the donation. If interested, please call thebusiness office at 610-626-3321.

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MONDAY DECEMBER 7Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

8:30 AM Francis Armstrong

TUESDAY DECEMBERSThe Immaculate Conception of the

Blessed Virgin Mary

8:30 AM James and Doris Scott7:00 PM Matthew Humphreys

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 9Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin

8:30 AM Harold Walton, Sr.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 10

8:30AM Sarah Walton

FRIDAY DECEMBER 11Saint Damasus I, Pope

8:30 AM Nicole Gallo

SATURDAY DECEMBER 12Our Lady of Guadalupe

8:30 AM Paul Rooney

NEXT WEEKEND MASS INTENTIONS

SATURDAY DECEMBER 12

5:15 PM Catherine JudgeCatherine Ruane

SUNDAY DECEMBER 13

7:30 AM9:30AM11:30 AM

Hazel BoylePeople of Holy CrossCass and Bob Kling

NOVEMBER 29$10,672

SUNDAY COLLECTIONAMOUNT RECEIVED

Jane Berry Mary Kull

John Boyle Kendall Lambert

Louise Casciano Rose Leto

Paige Convery Joanne Marks

Kim Cook Annette Marone

Sharon Diemer Marie Mc Cann

Jim Donahue Catherine McNulty

Cornelius Dunleavy Don Palermo

Dorothy Eberhard Eve Palermo

Mary Anne Farrell Laurann E. Pazuier

John Gerace Anna Rokos

Carole Henderson Beth Spayde

Carole Kime Theresa Torelli

Jim Zaleta

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED'CHRISTMASPRESENCECHRISTMAS PRESENTS

We want our sick andhomeboundparishioners to know

we think about them and pray for them,especially during this Holy Season. Pleaseshare your Christmas joy by helping to delivera special Christmas card and plant to ourhomebound on Wednesday, December 16. CallSister Mary Carmela at 610-626-8266 beforeDecember 14 if you can help us. All'Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers to thehomebound and volunteers will come to theConvent to pick up the poinsettia andChristmas prayer card to be delivered any timebetween 9:15 AM and 1:00 PM on Wednesday,December 16. All visitations will be done onthat day. Thank you to all who can help bringour parish greetings to our homebound.

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FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK

From my friendship with Father Ted Heckmann, the pastor of St. Mark Orthodox Church inWrightstown, I know that Eastern Orthodox Christians are in the middle of a strict fast before Christmas.

In the Eastern Churches, Advent is really another Lent. We Westerners know that Advent is a timeof joyful preparation - not only to commemorate Our Lord's First Coming, but especially to remind us howto live to be ready for His Final Coming.

But St. John the Baptist in today's Gospel teaches us that this holy season also must have a Lentenflavor. He call us to repent of our sins.

And that makes much sense! If we are to commemorate Our Lord's First Coming rightly and beready for His Final Coming with the faith and love He wants - we must look honestly at our lives to see whatwe need to work on changing.

This purpose of Advent can be totally lost on us. It's a busy, crazy, shopping, decorating, visitingand partying season.

But the Church calls us to remember that this is Advent and not Christmas. You won't heara Christmas carol in church until Christmas Eve. The church is decorated close to Christmas.

And you notice the color for Advent is purple - the color of repentance. We cannot allow ourselvesto be taken over by the secular, materialistic and commercialistic spirit that invades this season.

Instead, the Church wants us to prepare for Christmas by doing penance - by prayer, fasting andworks of charity.

We need, above all, to return, with our families, to a regular, frequent use of the wonderfulsacrament of confession. After Sunday Mass and Holy Communion, there is no greater blessing and help tous than going to confession every month or two. I urge you to take advantage of this powerful means ofgrace and peace and growth.

Besides confession, perhaps we can contribute to the poor box, or fast a bit until December 25. Canyou imagine the challenge it is to fast at this time of year?!! I understand parishioners contributed over 40turkeys and many money donations to our food pantry for Thanksgiving. Dozens more are buying gifts forneedy children from our Giving Tree. What wonderful generosity, thoughtfulness and goodness thatshows! Congratulations!

The deepest joy of this season springs from focusing on Jesus, the real reason for the season, andresponding to His invitation to repent, to grow in faith and love-

The best way to get ready for Christmas!

FOOD PANTRY UPDATEThank all of you for your continued generosity and support. This Thanksgiving ... Because oj all oj

you, we were able to provide a" the fixings and either a turkey, chicken, or ham to almost 100 clients andtheir families.

We also received numerous donations from the Boy Scouts, eyO, Brinker Foundation, FitzgeraldMercy Hospital and many individual contributions. Due to this outpouring of generosity, there is no foodcollection next weekend.

God bless you and please know that you are making a difference in the lives of our most in need inour community.

Our sincerest thanks,

The St. Vincent dePaul Society Team

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PRAYERFORADVENT WREATH - SECONDWEEK

~ ~) God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that~ hinder us from receiving Christ with joy so that we may share His wisdom and

become one with Him when He comes in glory, for He lives and reigns with Youand the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

WHAT IS HAPPENING AT HOLYCROSSSCHOOL?

November came to a close with a beautiful Thanksgiving prayer service put together by Miss Govannicci andMiss Hope. Many people attended the Turkey Bowl football games on a beautiful Thanksgiving morningbefore getting together with their families. Our first trimester closes this week, and report cards will bedistributed on Friday, December 11. Our Christmas shop will be set up for our students on Friday, December11 as well.

November students of the month for practicing the virtue of Peace were:

Pre K 3Pre K4

Lily DinhBrooke Zebuski

Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5

Grade 6 Brielle TerinoniGrade 7 Maria McNicholasGrade 8 Philip Sharpe

Alex CooperEmily FisherAlexandra YoungRebecca McVeigh

Kindergarten Olivia WengGrade 1 Peyton Crawford

The following essay from our eighth-grader Jonathan Menta tells about his experience at ,"!oly Cross:

Il

Hello, my name is Jonathan Menta and I am currently an eighth grade student at Holy CrossSchool. I have been attending Holy Cross since pre-kindergarten and this is my tenth year as a student here.

From the last three years attending, I've participated in sports and activities Holy Cross offers.The sports I played over those years are basketball (my favorite) and track.

I was very active in the activities Holy Cross offered. I am currently an altar server and this is my thirdyear in the ministry. I was also in the school choir and the band. Currently, I am also the Secretary of StudentCouncil. I try my best to help my fellow students and I am always looking for opportunities to assist my teachersand class. I am proud to be involved in school activities and to support Holy Cross School in any way possible.

Throughout my years at Holy Cross, I have learned much about the Catholic Faith and Jesus Christ andI try to follow His example in my life as a student. I have taken all that I learned about the Catholic Faith and Jesusand have worked to serve the church and school in several different ways. I strive to model Jesus in everythingI do.

In closing, Holy Cross School changed me from a child to a young adult. When I started my eighth gradeyear, I realized how much Holy Cross has meant to me and knew it was the best place for me and that the sloganCROSSIS BOSS,made my years at Holy Cross, "boss."

NATIONAL NIGHT OF PRAYERSaint Kevin's Church is Springfield will be holding a National Night of Prayerfor Life from 9:00 PM until 1:00 AM starting on December 8 and ending onDecember 9. All are welcome.

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WE J:»RAY FORTHESAFETY,AND

PROTECTION OF OUR

LOVED ONES IN THEARMED FORCES:

MAJOR PAUL ALLEN

LT. AMY CALLAHAN, USN, MD

LT. JAMES P. CALLAHAN, USN

LT. JOHN R. CALLAHAN, USN

LANCE CORPORAL JUSTIN D'ARCY

STAFFSERGEANTGERALD DEJOHN

CPL.JOHN G. LAROUCHE

SGT. ALEX RANKIN, USMC

CEMETERY BLANKETS

Cemetery blankets will besold this year by the HolyCross Knights of Columbus.These are the same blanketsas sold in past years. Prices

will again be $19.00 per blanket. To place an order,you can call.Andy Grajek @ 484-472-6970 and leaveyour name and phone number and the amount ofblankets you wish to order; then mail a check.Checks are payable to Holy Cross K.O.C. #15482.Checks can be mailed to Cemetery Blankets c/oAndy Grajek, 492 Indian Rock Drive, Springfield, PA19064. Cemetery blankets will be delivered on'Saturday, December 12, between 9:00 AM andnoon. .

GIVING TREEThe Respect Life group at HolyCross Church is once againsponsoring a Giving Tree forthe holidays. Please take anornament for someone in·need, wrap' the item, attachthe ornament to the front of .

.the gift, and place it back under the tree by Sunday,December 13.

HOLY CROSSHOME AND SCHOOL EVENTSANDNEWS UPDATE

Peddler's Alley in Secane has partnered up withHoly Cross for a Fundraiser! During the months ofNovember and December, Holy Cross School canget 10% of your total purchase! If you spend tendollars or more, 10% comes off your purchase aswell! It's a Win/Win! Look for the pamphlets at allentrances of the church! Thank you for supportingthe children. If you have any questions, you cancontact Bernadette Udovich at 610-937-1312.

BIBLE STUDY WITH

FATHERGABIN

SAINT MATTHEW'S GOSPEL

THURSDAYS

7:00 PM - PARISH CENTER

Children's Holiday ShoppeOn Friday, December 11, the childrenwill have the opportunity to purchasegifts from the holiday shoppe! Santawill be available for pictures, and willdine with the students-at lunch! If youwould like to help out and have yourclearances, please call the school andleave a message.

Nina's Nails in the Westbrook Park section ofUpper Darby Township is willing to collaborateagain with Holy Cross School for the month ofDecember! Ten per cent of your total nail serviceswill go back to the school! Treat yourself for the·holidays, and you can help our school.

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