Dear friends in Christ,
This Update is going out to the members and friends of Holy Cross parish. Please feel free to share it with anyone who you think may be interested.
I hope that you are having a good week. It seems that winter has revisited us, but Spring cannot be far away!
Fr. Smith has taken our latest food donation to the Open Door Mission. It totaled 281 lbs! Let us spend our lives doing good, praying and working for the day when no one will go hungry while we enjoy a good meal, or shiver in the cold while we sleep in warm beds, or kneel under oppression while we kneel before our shining altars. Our Lord calls us to be salt and light in the world. We cannot do everything, but each of us can do something, and together we can make a real difference in the lives of real people. 283 lbs of food will feed a lot of hungry people. That said, we must remember that people need to eat every day. Our parish food bin is now empty. Let's begin refilling it this Sunday. Give, give and then give again. Believe me, you will be blessed. You cannot out-give God.
The celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the chapel of Douglas County Hospital scheduled for Saturday morning, May 4th, has been cancelled.
Last week's potluck luncheon was wonderful. We have seldom seen so much good food! Our monthly potluck luncheons are a real highlight at Holy Cross parish. On the last Sunday of every month we enjoy a wonderful meal and warm fellowship together.
Please be sure to mark your calendar for Friday, May 24th and Saturday, June 8th. On Friday evening, May 24th, we will have dinner and a movie at Holy Cross. We will be showing the movie Chariots of Fire and grilling hamburgers and hotdogs. Everyone is invited to bring salads, sides and beverages of all kinds to share. May 24th is the Friday after Pentecost so there will be no Friday abstinence. So mark your calenders, invite family and friends, come hungry, and plan on having a wonderful evening!
On Saturday, June 8th, the Sisters of Holy Cross will hold their annual fund raising rummage sale. Everyone is invited to participate by donating items to be sold. The more you donate the better. Donated goods can be brought to the church on Sunday morning June 2nd, or on Wednesday evening June 5th. I'll give you more details as they become available.
Can you believe that this Sunday is the last Sunday in Eastertide? With the snow we have just had it feels like we should still be in Epiphanytide! Next week we will celebrate the Holy Eucharist on Wednesday at 12:10 PM as usual. It will be the last Liturgy at which we will light the Paschal Candle until next year. Receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion two or three times a week will change your life. We cannot receive too much grace! Come and experience the transforming love and power of the Lord.
Next Thursday, May 9th, is Ascension Day, a Holy Day of Obligation. We will celebrate the Holy Eucharist for the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord at 6:00 PM. There will be no morning Mass on that day. Please mark your calendar and plan to be at church on Ascension Thursday at 6:00 PM to celebrate this great Feast.
Choir practice will be held Wednesday evening, May 8th, at 6:30 PM. A big thank you to our choir and music director for all of your hard work. You are a real blessing to the parish!
My adult Christian Education class on Church History continues this week. We will be taking a close and careful look at the teaching of Christ in Matthew 16: "on this rock I will build my Church." If you have ever wondered who or what is the rock, or what Jesus meant when He promised that the gates of hell will never prevail against His Church, then you will not want to miss this class! Class begins at 9:00 AM. Come, learn, be blessed and become equipped to bless others.
Sunday School begins at 9:00 AM, followed by Morning Prayer at 9:30 AM, and the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 AM. Nursery care for children under the age of four is available during the 10:00 AM Liturgy. Fellowship and refreshments in our parish hall immediately follows worship. Don't let "u" be missing from Ch_rch this Sunday. We are a faithful and friendly congregation, and we have a place for you. See you Sunday!
Wishing you every grace and blessing,
Father+
Fr. Victor E. Novak
HOLY CROSS PARISH
7545 Main Street
Ralston, NE 68127
www.holycrossomaha.net
(402) 573-6558
