Monday, December 23, 2013

HOLY CROSS UPDATE

HOLY CROSS PARISH NEWS

Christmas Midnight Mass

We will celebrate the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ at Holy Cross parish with a Midnight Mass on December 25th. Jesus is the reason for the season, and there is no better way to begin the celebration of his birth than by coming together for Worship. The Liturgy will include our vested choir and Gregorian chant. Christmas is indeed the most wonderful time of the year! A Christmas party in our new parish hall will follow worship. Everyone is invited to bring Christmas goodies to share at the party.  Our processional hymn will be Adeste Fideles, so "come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem... O Come let us adore him, Christ the Lord." Everyone is always welcome!

New Parish Hall

Holy Cross parish continues to expand. In December we moved into our new parish hall which is about twice as large as our old one. 

Ministry to Those in Need

Our final food donation to the Open Door Mission for 2013 was made last week. It totaled 298 pounds of food! When we began this ministry our goal was 100 pounds of food per month, totaling 1,200 pounds for the year.  We finished 2013 with a total of 4,997 pounds of food, more than four times our original goal and only three pound short of 2.5 tons. Imagine, Holy Cross has provided the Open Door Mission with about two and a half tons of food this year! In addition, deliveries of large amounts of donated gourmet bread are made to the Francis and Siena House Shelters every week. We don't just talk about helping the poor at Holy Cross parish, we are impacting the lives of those most in need all year long. 

Holy Cross Parish Website

Our parish website has been updated and it looks great! If you haven't had a chance to visit it yet I hope that you will and that you will tell your friends about it. I have already been getting positive feedback from around the country. The address is: www.holycrossomaha.net

Christmas Season

Christmas is not a one day event for Christians. The Christmas season begins on December 25th and lasts twelve days until the Epiphany on January 6th. Join us for Christmas Midnight Mass and enjoy the Christmas celebration from Christmas Day until the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year!

Sunday Morning Prayer is at 9:30 AM, followed by the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 AM. Christian Education will resume after Epiphany. Nursery Care for children under the age of four is available during our 10:00 AM Liturgy. Fellowship and refreshments in our parish hall follow Services. Jesus is the reason for the season and wise men still seek him!  We are a faithful and friendly congregation and we have a place for you. I'll be looking forward to seeing you soon! 

Wishing you every grace and blessing,

Fr. Victor Novak+
Rector