Holy Cross News
March 4, 2025
Ash Wednesday is tomorrow, March 5th. Masses are at 12 noon and 6pm. There is NO 9am Mass.
Ashes are available at the Church all day for imposition if unable to attend Mass.
Also, pick up a Lenten devotional and Rice Bowl in the Commons.
To see the Lenten schedule, see below under "Prayer and Worship."
The norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting on Ash Wed and Good Friday, one is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. Those age 14 and above are to abstain from eating meat on Fridays.
Soup and stations begin this Friday at 6pm. We will pray the Sations of the Cross followed by a simple meal. All are welcome!
Pray for Pope Francis!!
On weeksends March 8/9 & March 15/16, the 2025 Annual Diocesan Appeal, Sharing His Love with Others, will begin. There will be envelopes with information in the pews next week. For more information or to donate, click HERE.
The Holy Cross Cemetery meeting with the Diocese of Richmond has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 18th at 10am in the Commons. Please come to learn of the transition of ownership.
Upcoming Calendar Events
This Week
March 4 Men of Cross, 4pm in Commons
March 4 Shrove Tuesday Pancake dinner, 5:30pm
March 5 St Jerome Library Workers, 9:30am
March 5 St Clare Prayer Shawl gathering, 10am in upstairs classroom
March 5 Ash Wednesday, Masses at 12 noon and 6pm
March 6 Women's Bible Study, Sorrowful Mysteries, 10am in Commons
March 6 St Gianna Pro-Life, 12 noon in Commons
March 6 Adoration, 7pm
March 6 First Friday Mass, Adoration and Confession, 9am-11am
March 7 Soup and Stations begin, 6pm
March 8/9 Parish nurses to take blood pressures after all Masses
March 9 Sunday Morning Faith Formation, 9:30am
Next Week
March 10 Becoming Catholic, 7pm in Commons
March 11 Adult Formation, Vatical II documents, 10am and 6:30pm in Commons
March 12 Rosary after 9am Mass
March 12 St Jerome Library Workers, 9:30am
March 12 Staff Meeting, Church closed 10:30am -2pm
March 12 Pastoral Council Meeting, 5:30pm, upstairs classroom
March 12 St John Paul II Young Adults Prayer and Potluck, 5:30pm
March 13 Women's Bible Study, Sorrowful Mysteries, 10am in Commons
March 14 Soup and Stations, 6pm
March 16 Sunday Morning Faith Formation, 9:30am
Upcoming
March 17 Altar Guild, 9:45am
March 17 Our Lady of Solace Bereavement, 1pm in Library
March 18 Men of the Cross, 4pm
March 19 Cemetery Meeting with Diocese, 10am in Commons
March 20 St Catherine Laboure Eucharist to Homebound Ministry, 10am in upstairs classroom
March 21 Soup and Stations, 6pm
March 25 Annunciation of the Lord
March 27 Penance Service, 7pm
April 2 Virginia March for Life, Richmond
April 9 Confirmation, St Thomas More, 7pm
April 12 Lenten Retreat, 12-3pm at Holy Cross
April 13-20 Holy Week
Save the Date
April 25 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, 6pm
May 9 "Fairways to Heaven" golf tournament
May 11 First Communion Masses, 11am and 2pm
June 23-27 Vacation Bible School
Prayer and Worship
Mass Intentions
March 5 Living Intention for Jim Blandine noon
March 5 +Robert A. Schill 6pm
March 6 +Nancy McCabe
March 7 +Jack Gallagher
March 8 +Elizabeth Hodulik 4pm
March 9 Living Intention for Vallejo Family 8am
March 9 +Olivia Isabell Mindangoa 11am
March 9 Intentions of Parishioners of Holy Cross 2pm
March 10 +Francis Calhoun
March 11 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
Jim Weigand
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.
Altar Flowers
There are NO flowers at the altar during Lent as a symbolic gesture of penance and introspection, reflecting the somber nature of the season which commemorates Jesus' 40 days in the desert.
Mass Count
March 1/2
4pm 185
8am 248
11am 234
2pm 95
Total 762
Lenten Schedule for Holy Cross Catholic Church
March 4 Shrove Tuesday pancake supper 5:30pm
March 5 Ash Wednesday Masses at 12noon and 5pm
March 7 First of Six Soup and Stations of the Cross, 6pm
Soup and Stations
Fridays at 6pm from March 7 to April 11
Adoration
Thursday March 6 7pm/ Friday March 7 9:30am -11am
Friday, March 21, 5pm
Thursday, Aril 3, 7pm/ Friday April 4 9:30am-11am
Penance Service
Thursday, March 27 at 7pm
Lenten Retreat
Saturday April 12 12noon-3pm Christ's last 7 words
Holy Week
April 12/13 Palm Sunday Masses
April 17 Holy Thursday Mass at 7pm followed by Adoration until midnight
April 18 Good Friday, Church open for prayer 12-3 Passion of the Lord Service 7pm
April 19 Holy Saturday Blessing of Food, 10am
April 18 Holy Saturday Vigil Mass, 8pm
April 20 Easter Sunday Masses, 8am, 11am and 2pm
Shrove Tuesday marks the last day before Lent for Christians and is traditionally a period of abstinence. This is associated with clearing your cupboards of goods such as sugar, fats, and eggs. Pancakes were traditionally eaten on this day to use up such foods before the 40-day fasting season of Lent began
Ash Wednesday is a holy day that marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. Catholics receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. This symbolizes that everyone is made of dust and will return to dust. It reminds us that we are sinners who need God's mercy. We are also encouraged to turn away from sin, repent, and believe in Jesus Christ.
Parish News
The Schill family at Holy Cross has exciting news!!
Profession of Perpetual Vows:
On March 1, 2025, Sister Mary Philomena Anne of Divine Mercy, O.Carm. professed Perpetual Vows with the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. The Eucharistic liturgy was held at Saint Teresa’s Motherhouse in Germantown, New York. The principal celebrant and homilist was Bishop Gerard Colacicco, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York. Joining him at the altar were Reverend Raymond Maher, O.Carm. and Very Reverend Mario Esposito, O.Carm. as the Master of Ceremonies.
Sister Philomena Anne is from Lynchburg, VA where she was born and raised. Her proud parents are Joseph and Denise Schill. Her sister Kelly and brother-in-law, Joe, live in New Milford, NJ with their three young sons and another on the way! Her brother Tony lives in North Carolina.
Sister Philomena entered the Congregation on May 31, 2015 and made her First Profession of Vows on June 9, 2018. She is currently missioned at Mother Angeline McCrory Manor in Columbus, OH. She wrote about her vocation story for the Congregation’s website found HERE.
To learn more about the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, click HERE.
CONGRATULATIONS Sister Mary Philmena Anne!
NEW KNEELERS!
The existing kneelers installed in 1987 are being replaced! They have problems with frequent breakage, structural problems and are very noisy.
The new kneelers will utilize a different bracket design, are lighter and stronger and should make a lot less noise. They will be installed over the next few weeks by Midtown Millworks (Larry and Thomas Filiaggi). Enjoy.
RECOVERED CHAIRS!
The blue chairs in the Church have been restored and recovered with new pads and fabric. They remain in the back of the church and near the altar in the front. All of the kneelers we have are also recovered and have been placed in the front with the recovered chairs. Please use them!
The additional blue chairs normally found in the Chapel and the Commons are currently being repaired and recovered with new pads and fabric.
Faith Formation
How to Lent on FORMED
Sign up to receive these prior to Lent at https://daily.formed.org/lent.
Sometimes, it feels like Lent is just about giving up chocolate. But deep down, we all desire to do something more for Lent—we just don’t know how to do it.
How to Lent is a new series from the Augustine Institute that aims to equip Catholics with the tools to understand and practice the pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
This series will challenge our preconceived notions about Lent, laying out a roadmap for entering the season with a purpose. Don’t let Lent sneak up on you like it did last year. Instead, heed the call of St. John the Baptist by preparing for the Lord, using How to Lent to transform your spiritual life this Lenten season.
Financial News
On the week-ends of March 8th/9th & March 15th/16th the 2025 Annual Diocesan Appeal, Sharing His Love with Others, will begin.There will be envelopes with information in the pews next week. For more information or if you would like to give electronically, click HERE.
Collections
March 1/2
In the Mail 3,040.00
Online 6,360.00
Env/Loose 8,762.16
Total 18,162.16
Contingency
$1,917.30
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.