The Parish of the Holy Cross

95 Nichols Road + Nesconset, NY 11767 + 631.265.2200 +

www.pothc.org + www.facebook.com/pothcnesconset

WE CELEBRATE EUCHARIST

Monday—Thursday: 9:00 A.M. (Chapel)

Saturday: 5:00 P.M.

Sunday: 8:00 A.M. + 9:30 A.M. + 11:30 A.M.

WE CELEBRATE RECONCILIATION

Saturday: 3:45 P.M.—4:30 P.M.

or call Father Michael for an appointment.

WE CELEBRATE BAPTISM

Baptisms are celebrated on the second and last Sunday

of each month at 1 P.M. Please contact the Parish

Office for more information.

WE CELEBRATE WEDDINGS

Couples should contact the Parish Office at least six

months in advance of the proposed wedding date.

LET ALL BE WELCOMED AS CHRIST!

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time - January 15, 2017

Come and pray with us!

John testified

further, saying,

“I saw the Spirit

come down like a

dove from heaven

and remain

upon Him.” John 1:32

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We are here for you!

Rev. Michael F. Holzmann Pastor

Ms. Ellen Fox Director of Religious Education

Mrs. Connie Calabro Mrs. Mary Anne Mc Culloch Co-Coordinators of Parish Outreach

Mrs. Judith Pickel Pastoral Associate

631.265.2200 + Fax 631.265.2229 + pothc@optonline.net Parish Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (closed 12:15-1:00 PM)

Deacon Ralph Rivera Pastoral Minister

Mrs. Elizabeth Shea Business Manager

Mr. Brian Reich Director of Music Ministry

Mr. Salvatore Finocchiaro Coordinator of Youth Ministries

PASTORAL TEAM

PASTORAL STAFF

Mrs. Jane Wirth Parish Secretary

Mr. Edward Guise Mr. Gerald Farrell Custodians

Mrs. Mary Inghilterra Weekend Sacristan

Mr. James Reiss Mrs. Mary Pannone Religious Education Secretaries (hcreled@optonline.net)

Dr. Vincent Mazurek Music Minister

Mass Intentions Schedule

Week of January 15th, 9 AM Mass

Mon. Joe Brindisi (living)

Tue. Pearl Cahoon

Wed. Carol Komlosy

Thu. Irene Rodechko

Saturday, January 21st, 5 PM Mass

Ann Keena, Heather Mongogna, Tereza Santos,

Bernadette Tokarcsik, Catherine Henry

Sunday, Jan. 22nd, 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

8:00 AM Anne Geisel

9:30 AM People of the Parish

11:30 AM Walter Hilbert, Irene Rodechko, John

Sureau Sr., Rose Allen, Anna Morreale

New Life in Christ New Life in Christ

Remembering our Sick

Please pray for those in our parish who are sick,

their families and caregivers:

Francis Metzgar Frances Monaco

Scripture Readings for January 22, 2017 + Isaiah 8:23-9:3

+ 1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17

+ Matthew 4:12-23

Celebrants for Next Weekend’s Masses

January 21st/22nd

5:00 PM Fr. Kenan Peters

8:00 AM Fr. Mickey Bancroft

9:30 AM Fr. Mickey

11:30 AM TBA

Banns of Marriage - Third Time

Alyssa Marino & Erik Nordmann

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From Ho-Ho-Ho to Snow-Snow-Snow by Father Michael

We have now put the Christmas season behind us. I have to say, my assessment of Christmas leaves me with a sense of contentment and satisfaction. My own personal celebration with family and friends was beautiful. I believe Holy Cross celebrated the day with faith and joy. And so, we move forward. (By the way, if you are now overwhelmed with the Christmas bills that are rolling in you might consider enrolling in our next session of Financial Peace University.

Well, last weekend was a winter wonderland. The original forecast made it seem as though it would be a non-event, but as so often happens Mother Nature had something else in mind. As the storm drew nearer the predictions increased. By mid-Saturday morning my thoughts turned to the evening Mass. All the forecasts predicted snow continuing steadily through the evening. I was not certain we would be able to keep the walkways clear or our hilly driveways plowed. And so, by lunch I decided to cancel the Mass.

We did our best to spread the word. The cancellation was posted on Facebook and our website. We sent an e-mail to every parishioner for whom we have an address, almost 1,800. And, we included the announcement on our phone message. I waited at the bottom of our driveway to tell anyone who showed up that Mass was cancelled. In total, 7 parishioners arrived. For future reference, if there is questionable weather, check our website or call for any changes or cancellations. If you did not receive an e-mail and would like to in the future, please contact the parish office so that you can be included in the notification.

I appreciate that the Mass is an important moment of prayer for many people. But, I also need to be mindful of assuring your safety. I think you will agree our parish property poses potential dangers in inclement weather. (If you recall, 2 years ago we had an icing condition during the 5:00 Mass that caused many cars to jump the curb and even several “fender benders” on our exit driveway.) A fall on a slippery sidewalk can be serious. There is no obligation to place yourself in a potentially dangerous situation in trying to attend Mass. I’m sure God will understand.

Unfortunately, on Saturday night I also had to cancel one of the dinners at the parish house for the raffle basket winner. I still owe Arlene Lechner and her friends a dinner. This was the meal that our Music Director, Brian Reich, was to cook and I was to serve. Apparently, Brian had a platter of meatballs and a bottle of Chianti that he enjoyed as he watched the snow pile up.

)

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Would you like your New Year’s resolution for 2017 to be getting out of debt and

living with a balanced budget? If so, this could be for you . . .

Dave Ramsey’s

Financial Peace University

Tuesday’s @7:15 PM January 24 – March 28, 2017

What is Financial Peace University?

This is a program which teaches how to create a balanced budget, how to get out of debt, plans for saving (college and retirement) as well as giving. This program has a Christian foundation, and its teachings are rooted in scripture.

Who is Dave Ramsey?

Dave Ramsey has dedicated his life to getting people out of debt and teaching the basics of financial responsibility. He hosts a nationally syndicated radio program. He can be heard locally M-F 7:00-10:00 PM on WOR710 radio or on I-Heart radio.

What will the classes be like?

The heart of each class is a one hour DVD presentation taught by Dave Ramsey. There will be a few minutes for questions and discussion.

You will be given a work book, and there are brief “homework assignments” to be completed for the next class.

Other important info:

You will NOT be asked to reveal any information about your personal income or financial situation.

No Sales Presentations for financial planning or other investments will be made. I am interested. What should I do?

Call the Parish Office to register by giving your name and an e-mail address.

You are asked to make a commitment to be present for all nine weekly presentations. If you are a couple, it is essential that both of you agree to participate.

Please Note: This program normally costs $99 per person/couple. Previous participants of the program as well as several “angels” have underwritten this cost. So, this opportunity is being offered Free of Charge! The class is limited, so please sign up quickly if you are interested.

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EVENING OF FELLOWSHIP & PRAYER

Come join us for an evening of

fellowship and prayer as we pray for

our nation on the eve of a new

beginning, January 19th. Fellowship

will begin at 6:30pm with food and drinks, followed by a Holy Hour prayer

service starting at 7:30pm. BYORB (Bring Your Own Rosary Beads).

The parish will provide the main course, and we invite you (if you are able) to

bring a side-dish or dessert. Your RSVP is needed if you plan on dining with

us. Please visit the table in the atrium after all Masses on the weekend of

January 14/15 to RSVP.

Scripture Study

On Thursday, January 19th, our morning Scripture Study will meet at 10AM in

the Atrium. Then, in lieu of our evening Scripture Study at 7PM,

we invite all to join us for an Evening of Fellowship and Prayer

(see above).

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Special Collections

This weekend at the Offertory we will also be collecting for our Regional Schools. Thank you for your support!

The Parish Office is closed on Monday, January 16th, for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. There will be a 9:00 Mass Monday morning.

ANNUAL TELETHON

Telecare Telethon Time!

The Telecare Telethon is the weekend of Saturday, January 14th, from 2PM to10PM

and Sunday, January 15th, from 12PM to 10PM. Please tune in on Cablevision

channel 29/137, Time Warner Channel 471 or Verizon FiOS channel 296 to support our Diocesan Television Station. It will be 18 hours filled with many guest “stars” including many of the clergy, religious and dedicated lay people of our Diocese and beyond. Additionally, visits from some celebrity chefs, musical groups and New York sports teams will help fuel the enjoyment. Join Msgr. Jim Vlaun for the 24

th annual Telecare Telethon, and consider making a

donation by phone or a secure donation over the internet at www.TelecareTV.org.

Our own, Father Michael Holzmann,

will be on-air from 3:00 to 3:30 PM

on Sunday!

PARISH NEWS

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YOUTH MINISTRY

Hi Everyone! Are you in high school? Do you want to make new friends as you play fun games and activities? Do you want to build more of an understanding about yourself and your faith? If you answered "Yes!" to any one of those questions, then you MUST check out the Holy Cross Youth Group! You will be glad you did! If you made your Confirmation, then come on down with a friend and check out the wonderful opportunities the Youth Group has for you! We would love to see you! The Holy Cross Youth Group is the perfect opportunity for you to continue to grow in your faith and build relationships with others in the parish.

Here are our upcoming youth events and happenings! Take a look: Sunday, 1/15: No Youth Day/Night Event. Have a wonderful Martin

Luther King Jr. holiday weekend!

Sunday, 1/22: 11:30AM Youth Mass with the Core Band! Then, we will be having a Youth Day Event, 12:30 - 3PM. All are welcome to join us! Lunch will be served. :-)

So, if you are thinking about coming to the church to see what we are all about… do it! You will not regret it. Come with a friend or family member, and join us as we continue to grow in the endless love of Christ. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you are thinking about joining us and you would like more information, then please do not hesitate to contact Sal Finocchiaro, Coordinator of Youth Ministries, at HCyouthgroup@hotmail.com or call the parish office. :-)

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COMMUNITY NEWS

St. Joseph Renewal Center at Montfort Retreat Center 26 South Saxon Avenue

Bay Shore, NY 11706

The following programs will take place in February at the St. Joseph Renewal Center at Montfort Retreat Center in Bay Shore. If you are interested in attending any of these programs, please call the office at 631-647-8683. Living with Alzheimer's & Dementia, February 1

st - 1 to 2:30 pm:

Free will offering. Program is held 1st Wednesday of the month until June.

Facilitators: Josephine Daspro, CSJ, D. Min. & James Morris Guided Meditation for Inner Healing, February 1

st - 7 to 8 pm:

Program is held 1st Wednesday of the month until June.

Offering $15.00 ($25.00 for Individual session by appointment) Facilitator: Irene Moore, CCH/Meditation Therapist Integrating Spirituality & Everyday Life for Men & Women – Relationship Styles “Why do you do the things you do?” February 4 - 12:30 to 2:30 pm: This program will be offered the 1

st Saturday of the

Month until May. Offering: $25.00 per session. Facilitator: Josephine Daspro, CSJ, D. Min. A Gathering of Spiritual Women, February 7

th – 10 am to 12 Noon: This

program is offered the 1st Tuesday of every month until June.

Offering $15.00 Facilitator: Beth Barker Men 2 Men Gathering, February 11

th - 8:00 to 9:30 am: This program is

offered the 2nd

Saturday of every month until August. Offering $20.00 includes breakfast Facilitators: Michael Dunne & participants from the gathering

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Parish of the Holy Cross Nesconset, New York

December 1, 2016 thru December 31, 2016 Financial Report- Fiscal Year 2016/2017

Dear Parishioners,

In an attitude of responsible stewardship and fiscal accountability, we publish a simple reporting of

our financial position for your information on a monthly basis. Our new Fiscal Year began with the month

of September 2016.

We are reporting on what you have provided through your Stewardship of Treasure and how we

are using your gift. The format follows the categories of Diocesan accounts on which our extensive year -

end Financial Reports are based. This report is for the fourth month.

We thank you for your support. If you have questions and/or suggestions, we would welcome

them. May God continue to bless us all. The Pastoral Team

December 1—31, 2016 Assets: Liabilities:

Checking A/Cs: $ 99,821. MAC Loan: $ 95,000. Unitas Fund: $ 136,898. A/C’s Payable: $ 6,171.

Institutional Invest: $ 56,114. A/C Payable-DRVC: $ 20,978.

MoneyMarket: $ 64,754. R.A.M.R.: $ 69,423.

Revenue: Sunday Collections: 12/1/16-12/31/16 $ 43,180. Average Weekly Collection in December: $10,795. Christmas: 30,617.

Christmas Flowers: 4,152. Immaculate Conception: 1,441. R.A.M.R.: 3,323. CMA Rebate: 12,795. Donations & Fees Parish Programs: 9,638. Includes: Rel Ed(3,200)Par Out(2,890) Seniors(2,388)Youth(1,160)

Fund Raising: 3,930. Includes: Cash Calendar (10) Wreaths (3,920)

Auxiliary Revenue: *48,055. Includes: Donations, Baptisms, Funerals, Masses, Books, Candles, Cell Tower Interest: 840. Includes: Unitas Fund (686) Bank A/Cs: (16) Inst. Invest (138) Collections on Behalf of Others: 1,757. Includes: CCHD, Rel. Retirement

Total Revenue: $ 159,728.

Expenditures:

Clergy & Lay Salaries: $ 32,484. Includes: Priests, Rel.Ed, Parish Out, Clerical, Maintenance Pastoral Assoc., Bus Mgr., Music, Youth, Sacristan Clergy Fringe Benefits: 2,810. Includes: Health & Dental, Sick/Dis/Ret, Allowance, Retreat Lay Fringe Benefits: 3,590. Includes: Medical, Pension FICA Employer Taxes: 1,950. Workers Comp. 1,381.

Quarterly Regional School Subsidy 20,978. Quarterly Diocesan Assessment 16,081. DRVC Collections Paid: 1,887. Includes: Arch. Of the Military, Respect Life (1/2) Parish Programs: 6,910. Includes: Par Out.(920),Srs(4,095),Rel.Ed (701)Youth (908)Hosp.(286)

Fund Raising: 3,401. Includes: Cash Calendar (1,950), Christmas Wreaths (1,451)

Printing & Office: 1,796. Includes: Office Supp, Postage, Printing, Phone, Cable, CC fees

Liturgical Expenses: 1,834. Includes: Altar Hosts, Flowers Building Utilities: 2,674. Includes: Electric(1,754), Gas (791) ,Water(129) Buildings’ Maintenance & Supplies: 1,644. Includes: Supplies(218), Prop.Taxes(351), Contract.Maint.(1,075)

Rectory: 1,233. Includes: Gas, Elec., Food, Phone, Cable, Maint.

Total Expenditures: $ 100,653. Surplus– Dec. 1—31, 2016: $ 59,075.

*Includes a one-time Memorial Donation of $38,500 which will be saved and invested

Current Year to Date-Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2016: Prior Year to Date-Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2015:

Revenue: $ 448,279. Revenue: $434,450.

Expenses: $ 344,584. Expenses: $356,661.

Surplus: $ 103,695. Surplus: $ 77,789.

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CASH CALENDAR

Parish of the Holy Cross Cash Calendar

11

Sunday, January 15th 11:30 Mass

ANNUAL BAPTISM CELEBRATION Worship Area Monday, January 16th 9:00 AM

MASS Worship Area (The Parish Office is closed for the holiday.) Tuesday, January 17th 7:30 PM

FINANCE COMMITTEE Fr. Joe Room

Wednesday, January 18th 11AM - 2:30 PM

SENIORS Atrium LEVEL 2 CATECHIST MTG. 7PM Atrium STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE 7:30PM Conference Rm. Thursday, January 19th 10:00 AM

SCRIPTURE STUDY Atrium LEVEL 2 CATECHIST MTG. 1:30PM Atrium FELLOWSHIP/PRAYER EVENING 6:30PM Atr./Wor.Ar.

Saturday, January 21st 10:00 AM

WOMEN’S ENRICHMENT Fr. Joe Room

Sunday, January 22nd After 11:30 Mass

RELIGIOUS ED HOSPITALITY Atrium YOUTH DAY EVENT 12:30-3PM Atrium

MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Faith and Light is an international

faith sharing organization for people

with developmental challenges,

along with their families and other

caregivers. The next Faith and Light Meeting

will be held:

Friday, January 20th at 7 PM

St. Thomas More Church

115 Kings Highway

Hauppauge, NY 11788

COMMUNITY NEWS

Today is

Religious Freedom

Sunday

Since 1993 the President of the United States

has proclaimed January 16th as Religious

Freedom Day and the preceding Sunday as

Religious Freedom Sunday.

Last year, in his proclamation of the commemo-

ration, President Barack Obama stated, “I call

upon all Americans to commemorate this day

with events and activities that teach us about

this critical foundation of our nation’s liberty.”

Religious Freedom Day commemorates the Virginia

General Assembly’s adoption of Thomas Jefferson’s

landmark “Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom,”

on January 16, 1786, the basis for the U. S. Consti-

tution’s First Amendment and which led to freedom

of religion for all Americans.

Today, religious freedom is being challenged in many

corners of American society, including schools, hospi-

tals, health care, charities and businesses.

Since the 1980’s, more than a dozen non-profit, free-

representation legal foundations have emerged, focus-

ing on defending religious freedom. One of these is

the Becket Fund. Said a Becket Fund spokesperson,

“Every generation has its own fight over religious free-

dom – it’s a debate that has driven the American

story from the day the pilgrims set sail on the May-

flower.”

First Amendment to the Constitution:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an

establishment of religion or prohibiting

the free exercise thereof. . .”

Today is

Religious Freedom

Sunday

Since 1993 the President of the United States

has proclaimed January 16th as Religious

Freedom Day and the preceding Sunday as

Religious Freedom Sunday.

Last year, in his proclamation of the commemo-

ration, President Barack Obama stated, “I call

upon all Americans to commemorate this day

with events and activities that teach us about

this critical foundation of our nation’s liberty.”

Religious Freedom Day commemorates the Virginia

General Assembly’s adoption of Thomas Jefferson’s

landmark “Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom,”

on January 16, 1786, the basis for the U. S. Consti-

tution’s First Amendment and which led to freedom

of religion for all Americans.

Today, religious freedom is being challenged in many

corners of American society, including schools, hospi-

tals, health care, charities and businesses.

Since the 1980’s, more than a dozen non-profit, free-

representation legal foundations have emerged, focus-

ing on defending religious freedom. One of these is

the Becket Fund. Said a Becket Fund spokesperson,

“Every generation has its own fight over religious free-

dom – it’s a debate that has driven the American

story from the day the pilgrims set sail on the May-

flower.”

First Amendment to the Constitution:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an

establishment of religion or prohibiting

the free exercise thereof. . .”

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

www.cffor.org

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