Holy Cross News
January 21, 2025
Jerry Carney will present the final findings of the Synod ending in 2024 on Sunday, January 26 at 9:30am in between the Masses. More infomation is below under "Parish News."
Thank you to all who signed up to participate in the St Gianna Pro Life Ministry or a March or Advocacy day. The St Gianna Pro-Life Ministry display will remian in the Commons this weekend again for your information.
We welcome new staff member, Nick Nebraski, to Holy Cross. See more under "Parish News."
Interested in joining the Knights of Columbus? See below under "Ministries" to learn more and about an opportunity on Sunday, January 26th after the 11am Mass.
Update on the Ladies of Charity Used Book Sale: See below under "Ministries."
Our St Paschal food pantry is very empty Please bring any donations listed below under "Ministries" this Sunday. Your generosity is appreciated!
Upcoming Calendar Events
This Week
Jan 22 Staff Meeting, 10:30am, office closed 10:30am -2:30pm
Jan 22 St JP II Young Adult Gathering, 5:30pm in Commons
Jan 23 Women's Bible study, Angels and Saints, 10am
Jan 24 March for Life in Washington, DC
Jan 25 Daily Bread Service Opportunity, 9:30am-12:30pm
Jan 26 Sunday morning Faith Formation, 9:30am
Jan 26 Formation talk on the Synod, Jerry Carney, 9:30am in Commons
Jan 26 Knights of Columbus Gathering, after 11am Mass
Next Week
Jan 27 Divine Mercy Cenacle, 9:45am in Commons
Jan 27 Becoming Catholic, 7pm in Commons
Jan 28 Adult Formation, Church History, 10am and 6:30pm
Jan 29 Virginia Pro-Life Day, Richmond, VA
Jan 29 Rosary after Mass, 9:30am
Jan 29 St Jerome Library Workers, 9:30am
Jan 29 St JP II Young Adult Gathering, 5:30pm in Commons
Jan 30 Women's Bible study, Angels, 10am
Upcoming
Feb 5 St Clare Prayer Shawl Ministry, 10am in downstairs classroom
Feb 6 Adoration, 7pm
Feb 7 First Friday Mass, Adoration and Confession, 9am -11am
Feb 7-9 Diocesan Youth Convention, Rchmond, VA
April 2 Virginia March for Life, Richmond, Va
To learn more about the Jubilee Year 2025, click HERE.
Jubilee Year Celebration Begins!
Pope Francis has called for 2025 to be a year of Jubilee. Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of Saint Peter's Basilica thereby officially inaugurating the 2025 Jubilee of Hope. He reassures during his Christmas evening Mass that the Christ Child of Bethlehem offers the world infinite hope and joy.
Prayer and Worship
Mass Intentions
Jan 22 +Pat Iliff
Jan 23 +Joanne Butler
Jan 24 Living Intention for Bob Bowden
Jan 25 +Larry May 4pm
Jan 26 +Todd Beck 8am
Jan 26 +Robert Schumacher 11am
Jan 26 Intentions of Parishioners of Holy Cross
Jan 27 Souls in Purgatory
Jan 28 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...
The Beck Family
Jan Perrigeaux
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.
We congratulate Palmer and Madeleine Ferguson, whose daughter, Maeve Wood Ferguson, was baptised Sunday, January 19. Welcome to the Body of Christ Maeve!
Altar Flowers
The flowers near the altar are offered to the Glory of God in loving memory of Marie Anderson.
Given by her daughters.
Mass Count
The counts for January 18/19 will be available next week.
We welcome and congratulate: Sierra Bowers, Charlotte Nebraski, Corey Walton and Katie Walton who came into full Communion in the Catholic Church this past Saturday. We also congratulate Joe Jensen on his reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday.
Parish News
Welcome to our new Administrative Associate Nick Nebraski!!
You most likely have seen Nick in the office or at Mass with his wife Charlotte. Nick is the new face you will see in the office and around the parish to help you with your questions and/or needs.
Welcome to the Holy Cross Family Nick!
To read his brief bio, see below.
A New Way to Help People Become Catholic:
The St. Anne Child Care Ministry
Imagine that someone you know wants to learn more about becoming Catholic. You’ve told them about our Becoming Catholic meetings, but they have no one to watch their kids during class. Would you offer to help, or would you shrug and walk away?
Multiple families who have approached Holy Cross are in this situation right now: The parents want to become Catholic, but they can’t attend the necessary classes because they have no child care.
To help, we are forming the St. Anne Child Care Ministry. Our mission is to provide child care during Adut Formation events at Holy Cross. The most urgent need is to cover child care for parents who attend Becoming Catholic on Monday nights at 7 pm. However, we hope to expand to other events such as Bible study, thus enabling parents of young families to participate more fully in the life of the parish.
If you are over 18 and able to commit to 2 hours of online VIRTUS (child safety) training, plus 2–4 volunteer hours per month, please contact Kaky Bowden, kbowden@holycrosslynchburg.org, or Jeff Pratuch, jehpratuch@yahoo.com
College students seeking service hours are encouraged to volunteer.
Sunday Formation Series
What happened at the Synod?
Come Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 9:30 in the Commons to hear fnal reflections with Jerry Carney
Jerry will report to the parish on the recently concluded second Synod session. Pope Francis opened the Synod process in October 2021. Almost ten percent of Holy Cross parishioners took part in the first round of listening sessions. The first session of the Synod took place in Rome in October 2023. Their "Synthesis Report" formed the basis for more consultation (we participated), leading up to the second session in October 2024. The members met for most of the month and adopted a final report which was immediately accepted and promulgated by Pope Francis as a road map for "being Catholic" in our time.
The final report was not about "hot button issues" but about a way of being Church, of listening to each other and to the Spirit, and of discerning together the "next good steps" in our journey as a local Church. A lot happened, less than what some people wanted and less than some others feared.
Come together, listen, share your thoughts, and let us walk together…
The Final Report from the Synod session (65 pages) can be found below.
Ministries
Help the St Gianna Ministry support the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center!
Upcoming Advocacy & Marches to support the Sanctity of Life
National March For Life – Washington, DC January 24th
The National March for Life is an annual rally and march against the practice and legality of abortion, held in Washington, D.C. either on or around the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. This march tends to draw hundreds of thousands of attendees from around the country. Click HERE for more information.
Virginia Pro Life Day – Richmond, VA January 29th
Join us at the Greater Richmond Convention Center for a morning rally with speakers and educational information about the most important pro life bills and proposals moving through the chambers of the Virginia State Assembly. After the rally, we advocate! Visit the office of your delegate or representative to share your support for pro-life legislation in the Commonwealth. Defending Life Day is a great opportunity for those who have never deeply engaged in the political process to take their first step. Click HERE for more information.
Virginia March for Life – Richmond, VA April 2nd
The St Martha After Mass Hospitality Ministry needs your help!
We know that parishioners love enjoying a bagel bite, donuts, and a hot cup of coffee while visiting with friends after Mass.
Without our volunteers, this ministry can not happen. If you love to entertain, serve others and like to share your sunny disposition, come help with this ministry!
We have opportunities to serve refreshments after all Masses. Please give prayerful consideration in serving after one Mass a month.
We invite all men 18 and older the opportunity to join the Knights of Columbus on Sunday January 26. We will hold a new member ceremony following the 11:00am Mass. This is a chance to participate in our many Faiths in Action programs, which include community, family, prolife, and fraternal activities.
If you are interested you can sign up online at www.kofc.org/joinus. When it prompts you, just type in your parish name and council 595. Or you can contact Kevin Parry at kpparry1095@gmail.com to let him know of your interest.
St Paschal's Food Pantry needs your help!! Our shelves are empty!!
We are currently out of these items:
Coffee/Tea
Jello/pudding
Ramen noodles
We're extremely low on:
Dry powdered milk
Peanut Butter
Cracker/cookies
Jiffy mix
Pasta sauce
Mac and cheese
Thank you for your generosity!!
The Lady of Peace Circle will no longer sponsor the Annual Used Book Sale
After many years of having a used book sale here at Holy Cross, it has been decided to end this fundraiser. This book sale has always been a HUGE project. Logistically is has become difficult to manage the process of set up, take down, moving books and finding a place to which donating unsold books is easy. Our contact is no longer available to assist us. It seems it is time.
Our Lady of Peace Circle is so appreciative of your donations, purchases and overall support over the years. We wish to say THANK YOU!!! Please continue to support all of the other initiatives offered by the Ladies of Charity. God bless!
Financial News
Collections
See the offertory and Mass count numbers from January 18/19 in next week's Flocknote..
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.
Parishioner Warren Wittkopf was born into life eternal. His funeral will be Wednesday, June 12 at 1pm.
An excellent read!
Review by: Cathy Wills
The Sanctuary/Commons Renovation
The carpet installation in the Commons is curently under way. The blue chairs in the sanctuary in the back and to the side of the altar platform will be recovered in stages starting this month.
We hope that this renovation enhances your devotion and celebration of the liturgy. If you have any questions, contact Kaky Bowden kbowden@holycrosslynchburg.org.