Dear Friends,

 

Last weekend, we celebrated First Holy Communion for about half of our second graders. Next weekend, we will celebrate this beautiful sacrament for the remaining half. In all, there are 120 boys and girls in this year’s class. It is always nice to celebrate this sacrament with them because they are so serious, while at the same time are so excited. I am excited, too, because they now can join us adults who share the Eucharist each Sunday at Mass. In my homily, I spoke about going to my grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving or Christmas. So much of the celebration focused on the special meal that my grandmother prepared. As kids, we had to sit at the “kids” table, and sometimes felt left out of what was taking place at the grown-ups table. We yearned for the day we would “graduate” to the adult table so we could share the meal with Gram and everyone else. I told them with their first communion, they had been moved up to the grown ups table. Now they are able to share in the Eucharistic Banquet with everyone else. And, unlike the meals on special holidays, they can share in this “meal” every week. I only hope that each one’s parents will bring them to church at least frequently, if not every week. Unfortunately families get so busy that weekly church attendance is not the norm, as it once was. If all of our parents who celebrated the first communion of their son or daughter each year came to church, our Masses would be full to overflowing. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Hopefully, this trend will change in the coming year.

 

During the First Holy Communion Mass last weekend, the church was crowded, as you might imagine – with our usual 4:00 Mass attendees, being joined by 20 second graders and all of their families. This certainly is not the first time the church has been filled to capacity. However this is the first time I have ever witnessed people being so disrespectful of the fact that they were in church, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.  Both Fr. Walter and Anne Tarallo were appalled at the conduct of many of the adults. He equated the behavior to that of a baseball or football event. I mention this because at times the atmosphere in the church prior to the start of Mass is anything but prayerful.  I’d ask you to think about your conduct once you arrive at Mass – whether it is the 4 pm Mass or one of the Sunday Masses. There’s a time and a place for everything.  Once in church we ought to be quiet, reflective, and prayerful.

 

Finally, let me bring to your attention a change we wish to make regarding your posture (standing, sitting, kneeling) during the Mass. For all of my time here, everyone remains standing after the Our Father and during the start of Holy Communion. People kneel, only when they return to their pew following their reception of the Eucharist.  The norm of the Church is that we kneel when the Lamb of God begins and stay kneeling until those in your row get up to receive the Eucharist.  Once you return to your pew, we ask that you kneel again until Holy Communion is complete and the priest returns to his chair. At that time everyone should be seated. Fr. Walter and I will be reminding you of this change at the beginning of Mass, as well.

 

As we move into the warmer weather. I know that there are many things going on in your lives. I urge you to remember the importance of the Eucharist and make every effort to attend Mass every weekend – even during the summer. God never takes a vacation from us!

 

Faithfully yours,

Fr. Brad

 

 

REACH OUT AND HELP

MainSpring Homeless Shelter

Saturday, May 17, 2008

 

Please bring your donation to the church kitchen between 1:00 and 3:00 on Saturday, May 17, 2008.

 

This month’s dinner will be:

CHIX and the FIXINS

 

Why:  To provide a dinner for the homeless

What:  Chicken pieces, mashed potatoes, tossed salad, fresh fruit, cranberry sauce, canned gravy, canned vegetables and dessert

Specifics can be found on the sign up sheet in the vestibule.

Concerns:  Please call Jeannine Donovan 508.238.4509 or Claire Smith 508.238.1899.

 

Thank you in advance for your contribution.

 

Sunday, May 11

·          Mother’s Day

Monday, May 12

Tuesday, May 13

·          Bible Study, 7 p.m., in the parish center

Wednesday, May 14

·          1^st Communion Class 2B, rehearsal, 5 p.m., Class 2E, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 15

·          1^st Communion Class 2F rehearsal, 5 p.m.

·          Children’s Choir practice 6-7 p.m.

·          Adult Choir practice 7-8:30 p.m.

·          Youth Ministry, Adult Youth Team Meeting, 7-8:30 p.m.

Friday, May 16

·          Bible Study, 9:30 a.m., in the parish center

Saturday, May 17

·          MainSpring dinner drop-off, 1-3 p.m., in the church basement kitchen

·          1^st Communion, Class 2B, 4 p.m.

·          Middle School Ministry, grades 6-8, Saturday Night Live, 7-9 p.m.

Sunday, May 18

·          1^st Communion, Class 2E, noon, Class 2F, 2 p.m.

·          High School Ministry, Grades 9-12, Ice Cream Social,    6-8 p.m.

 

 

Generations of Living Faith

We have completed a very successful year of G.O.L.F.  Registrations for next year’s program will be sent out soon.

 

Anne Tarallo

 

First Communion Schedule 2008

All First Communion Masses have been assigned by class!

 

Saturday, May 17^th, 4 p.m., Class 2B

                Rehearsal, Wednesday, May 14^th, 5 p.m.

 

Sunday, May 18^th, 12 p.m., Class 2E

                Rehearsal, Wednesday, May 14^th, 6:30 p.m.

 

Sunday, May 18^th, 2 p.m., Class 2F

                Rehearsal, Thursday, May 15^th, 5 p.m.

 

YOUTH MINISTRY COMING EVENTS:

 

Middle School Ministry (Grades 6 – 8)

May 17:  Saturday Night Live

All students are welcome to join us for some fun and exciting games, along with meeting new friends this evening, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., in the Parish Center.

 

High School Ministry (Grades 9 – 12)

May 18:  Ice Cream Social, 6-8 p.m.

All students are welcome to join us for a get together of friends while enjoying some of your favorite ice cream flavors.

 

Adult Youth Team:  Team Meeting, May 15  Would you like to know more about our Parishes new Youth Ministry Program and how you can become involved in it?  Please join us for an informational meeting, in the Parish Center from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

 

If you have any questions regarding our Youth Ministry Program, please contact Jeff Cahill at 508-238-2235 or e-mail him at jcahill@holycrosseaston.org     Thank You.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baccalaureate Mass

Sunday, June 1^st, 10 a.m.

This is for all graduating seniors, both O.A. and private schools.  Please wear your cap and gown and arrive at the church by 9:45 a.m.  Please plan to join us for coffee and pastries immediately following Mass. 

 

 

You’re invited to spend a fun day with Father Brad

On Tuesday, June 10^th

At Foxwoods Casino and the Venus De Milo

Departure is 9 a.m. from Holy Cross parking lot, and 3:30 p.m. from Foxwoods.  Full course dinner at Venus de Milo at           5 p.m., Back to Easton around 7:30 p.m.  Dinner at the Venus De Milo is choice of baked stuffed shrimp, prime rib, or famous chicken de Milo, rolls, soup, potato, vegetable, dessert and coffee.  The cost is $55 per person, which includes roundtrip luxury coach transportation, Foxwoods $10 food coupon, $15 for keno, full course dinner, and all tax and gratuities.  For reservations call (508) 230-5749.

 

Blood Pressures

Blood pressures will be taken after all Masses this weekend.

 

Catholic Charities Appeal has collected $5,295, as of May 5^th.  Thank you to the parishioners who have already donated so far.  The Catholic Charities Appeal goes until June 19^th.  Please be as generous as possible.

 

Save the Date!

Golf Tournament

At the Easton Country Club

Sunday, June 22^nd

 

Auction

At the Shaw’s Center

Friday, October 24^th

 

Holly Fair

In the Parish Center

Sunday, December 7^th

 

Fr. Murphy Scholarship

Applications for the Fr. Murphy scholarship are now available at the parish office. This scholarship is open to any graduating senior who is an active member of Holy Cross Parish and who will be pursuing further education after high school.  Applications are available in the parish office. Completed scholarship forms must be returned to the pastor, Fr. Brad Beaupré, NO LATER than Friday, May 30^th.

 

 

What Do Catholics Really Believe?

This column is for adult education.  Every Catholic home should have a bible and a Catechism of the Catholic Church.

 

Private Revelation

 

Public revelation is binding on all Christians, but private revelation is binding only on those who receive it. The Catholic Church teaches that public revelation was completed, and therefore was concluded, with the death of the last apostle (Vatican II, Dei Verbum 4), but private revelation has continued.

 

"Throughout the ages, there have been so-called ‘private’ revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ’s definitive revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium [collective sense of the faithful] knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church. Christian faith cannot accept ‘revelations’ that claim to surpass or correct the revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such ‘revelations’" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 67).

 

Some people tend to go to one extreme or the other on private revelation; they either completely reject the concept or they consider private revelation their chief rule of faith. The original sixteenth century Protestant Reformers denied all private revelation—they had to, for all the miracles that had occurred and all the private revelations that had been received over the previous fifteen hundred years had confirmed rather than attacked the Catholic faith. The original Reformers’ actions were in direct disobedience to the binding command of the New Testament: "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good" (1 Thess. 5:19–21).

 

The Reformers’ eradication of all new revelation led people to forget the distinction between public and private revelation. Thus when people appeared claiming to have new revleation, Protestants were left vulnerable to thinking any new revelations would be binding on all Christians. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, religious organizations which claim such new revelations have evolved in Protestant circles; for example, the Mormons, the Seventh-Day Adventists, and the current "Word Faith" or "Prosperity Gospel" movement.

 

When the Pentecostal movement started in 1900, it faced the problem of explaining why private revelations had ceased for so many centuries, as the original Protestant Reformers claimed, only to begin again during this century. The correct answer, as the following passages from the early Church Fathers show, is that private revelation never did stop.

                                                     Submitted by Deacon George

 

MESSAGE TO THE WORLD

Of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina)

“Dear children!  Also today, I call all of you to grow in God’s love as a flower which feels the warm rays of spring.  In this way, also you, Little children, grow in God’s love and carry it to all those who are far from God.  Seek God’s will and do good to those whom God has put on your way, and be light and joy.  Thank you for having responded to my call.”

 

The Ventresco family and Starlight Photography is offering to donate to Holy Cross Parish 25% of their proceeds from portraits of parish members. Also, Starlight Photography will donate to the parish 10% of their proceeds from weddings or special events of Holy Cross parishioners. For more information, please contact John at 508-238-6950.

 

Financial Status Report

April 30, 2008

Parish Center Debt

                                                           2008          2007          

Beginning Debt Balance– Jan. 1^st  1,153,834    1,180,486

Year-To-Date Principal Payments   (16,700)      (11,052)

Ending Debt Balance                    1,137,134   1,169,893

 

   Year-To-Date Interest Expense           22,046      22,581

 

 

Liturgical Ministers Schedule:

 May 17^th  and 18^th

Lectors                      Altar Servers          Eucharistic

                                                                                         Ministers

4 p.m.    Linda Sullivan           Brendan Clifford            Joe Kennedy

                Kendall Clifford              Claire Martucelli

        Jane Moroney

                                                                                        Barbara O’Donnell

                                                                                        Ike Osiecki

8:30 a.m.  Brian Sheehan        Katie Stallings                 Joe Struzik

                                Anthony Murphy          Bill VanLaarhoven

                                                                        Carol Chace

                                                                                        Stephanie Coose

                                                                                        Robin Durgin-King

10 a.m.:  Mark Bright            Matthew Foley               Hugh McLaughlin

                                                Kasey Murray                Chris Behan

                                                                                        Frank Paul

                                                                                        Gail Shea

                                                                                        Bob Sullivan

                                                                                        Nancy Zarella

                                                                                        Gary Angeles

 

 

 

2^nd Annual Service of Remembrance

May 17, 1 p.m.

Immaculate Conception Church

This is a non-denominational service hosted by the Copeland-MacKinnon Funeral Home.  During the service, your loved one’s name will be read and a rose will be presented in their honor.  Following the service, light refreshments will be served in the parish hall.  This is open to anyone that has recently had a death in their family.  Please call (508) 238-6641, by May 12^th to add your family members name and number of attendees.