The Parish of the Holy Cross 95 Nichols Road + Nesconset, NY 11767 + 631.265.2200 + www.pothc.org LET ALL BE WELCOMED AS CHRIST! The Lord said: I think thoughts of Peace and not of affliction. Jeremiah 29:11 Come and pray with us! 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - November 13, 2016 WE CELEBRATE EUCHARIST Monday Thursday: 9:00 A.M. (Chapel) Saturday: 5:00 P.M. Sunday: 8:00 A.M. + 9:30 A.M. + 11:30 A.M. WE CELEBRATE RECONCILIATION Saturday: 3:45 P.M. 4:30 P.M. or call Father Michael for an appointment. WE CELEBRATE BAPTISM Baptisms are celebrated on the second and last Sunday of each month at 1 P.M. Please contact the Parish Office for more information. WE CELEBRATE WEDDINGS Couples should contact the Parish Office at least six months in advance of the proposed wedding date.
We are here for you! 631.265.2200 + Fax 631.265.2229 + pothc@optonline.net Parish Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (closed 12:15-1:00 PM) Rev. Michael F. Holzmann Pastor Ms. Ellen Fox Director of Religious Education Mrs. Connie Calabro Mrs. Mary Anne Mc Culloch Co-Coordinators of Parish Outreach Mrs. Judith Pickel Pastoral Associate Mrs. Jane Wirth Parish Secretary Mr. Edward Guise Mr. Gerald Farrell Custodians PASTORAL TEAM PASTORAL STAFF Dr. Vincent Mazurek Music Minister Deacon Ralph Rivera Pastoral Minister Mrs. Elizabeth Shea Business Manager Mr. Brian Reich Director of Music Ministry Mr. Salvatore Finocchiaro Coordinator of Youth Ministries Mrs. Mary Inghilterra Weekend Sacristan Mr. James Reiss Mrs. Mary Pannone Religious Education Secretaries (hcreled@optonline.net) Celebrants for Next Weekend s Masses November 19th/20th 5:00 PM Fr. Michael/Dcn. Ralph 8:00 AM Msgr. Jim Vlaun 9:30 AM Fr. Kenan Peters 11:30 AM Fr. Michael/Dcn. Ralph Mass Intentions Schedule Week of November 13th, 9 AM Mass Mon. Trudi McConkey Tue. Matthew Akuntius Wed. Patricia A. Grasso Thu. Raymond Hummel New Life in Christ Scripture Readings for November 20, 2016 + 2 Samuel 5:1-3 + Colossians 1:12-20 + Luke 23:35-43 Remembering our Sick Please pray for those in our parish who are sick, their families and caregivers: Philomena Giordano Ben Monaco Frances Monaco 2 Saturday, November 19th, 5 PM Mass Concetta Brady, Katherine Smith, Rocco Distefano, Rosa Distefano, Daniel Rocco Distefano Sunday, November 20th, Christ the King Sunday 8:00 AM People of the Parish 9:30 AM Matthew Akuntius 11:30 AM Anthony DiGiovanna, Diana Milton, M/M Frank Czub, M/M Walter Tafuri If you would like to advertise on the back of our bulletin, please call Bill at The Church Bulletin, Inc., at 631-943-3639.
Frosty Mornings by Father Michael For the first time this season we have awakened to chilly weather and frosty windshields. While there are some people who do not like the cold, I think there is something life giving and exciting about the change of seasons. At the very least, it keeps us rotating our clothes through the dresser drawers and closets. I am writing this article on the morning of Election Day; the results are not yet known. There is the potential for there to be angry people and factions. Regardless of the outcome, we need to remain committed to our faith and to work to build and support the values in which we believe. The intensity of this election has stirred a passion in many people. We need to use that desire to move forward in a positive way. Continue to pray for our nation and continue to discern how God calls you to respond to the needs of our day. This Friday our nation celebrated Veterans Day. As a nation, we recognize the men and women who have served our nation through military service. When I was younger this was a day that often went unnoticed. However, today we are becoming more aware of remembering those who have faithfully served the United States. There are many who still carry scars of having faced difficult circumstances during their time of service. As a nation we need to care for those who have been injured in any way in their duties. As individuals we need to be grateful for all those who have made this sacrifice. A charism of Holy Cross that has been present from the beginning is a spirit of hospitality and welcome. This is a great blessing that many have come to appreciate. There are aspects of this part of parish life that need a bit of attention. In the coming weeks I will be addressing the topic of greeters and those who assist with the collection. Traditionally, both of these duties are carried out by ushers. Most Sundays, by the time the collection rolls around we have enough people to assist. This is an important task. But, there are other things that can be done such as welcoming parishioners as they arrive, assisting those in wheel chairs, and directing people to available seats on crowded days. We need to be a bit more organized with those who assist with these tasks. In particular, we need to be sure we have coverage for our busiest days like Christmas. More information will be forthcoming regarding this. Congratulations to Fr. John Sureau who was installed as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Center Moriches last Saturday. Many of you remember Fr. John as a newly ordained priest. He served here at Holy Cross for his first six months of priestly ministry from December, 2011 to June, 2012. 3
PARISH NEWS Basket Raffles Once again, the Fund Raising Committee is sponsoring our annual BASKET RAFFLE. Ticket prices are 1 ticket for $2, 3 for $5, and 7 for $10. Tickets will be sold on November 12/13 and November 19/20. On November 20th the winners will be drawn after the 11:30 Mass. Wine and cheese will be served. Please try to support this wonderful fund raising event. Thanks to you the BASKET RAFFLE has been a great success for our parish! LITURGICAL MINISTERS Blessing of Liturgical Ministers During all Masses on the: Feast of Christ the King, November 19/20 Lectors Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Ushers Altar Servers Members of the Choir All will be blessed and asked to recommit in their ministries. PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE AT HOLY CROSS ON THE WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 19/20. Attention Liturgical Ministers! Would you like to serve at a Christmas Mass? Please circle your choices. Name: I am an: Altar Server Eucharistic Minister Usher Lector I would like to serve at Mass: Christmas Eve 4PM 6PM 10PM Christmas Day 8AM 10AM 12Noon 4
PARISH OUTREACH BE AN ANGEL THIS CHRISTMAS! ANGEL TAGS are available this weekend in the baskets on the small marble pillars on the Altar. Once again we are requesting gift cards for both clothing and toys for the households in our area that Outreach assists. Therefore, the BLUE angel tags have requests for a store gift card on them. We encourage you to consider providing a holiday gift card so that our neighbors are able to purchase the items that best fulfill their family s needs. When you purchase a gift card, please put it in an envelope and place it in the Gift Box on the table near our Angel sign. Gift cards do not need to be wrapped. PLEASE BE SURE THE AMOUNT IS NOTED ON THE GIFT CARD OR ENVELOPE. THIS INFORMATION IS NEEDED SO PARISH OUTREACH CAN DISTRIBUTE THE CARDS EQUALLY. (Remember: Gift cards need to be activated at the store register.) The Angel tags are coded as follows: BLUE: Families of the Holy Cross Outreach Program RED: Our friends at Olsen s Rest Home PURPLE: Talbot House, the Catholic Charities crisis center for those struggling with addiction GREEN: Toys for children in the Brentwood area serviced by Pronto ORANGE: Mercy Haven, an organization that provides community residence housing for those living with mental illness If you choose a tag listing a gift item for Olsen s or Mercy Haven (red or orange), please wrap and attach angel to top of package. Items for Pronto and Talbot (green or purple) do not need to be wrapped. Gifts and gift cards can be returned for the next 3 weekends. PLEASE NOTE: Sunday, December 4 th is the last day to return gifts and gift cards. Unfortunately, gifts returned after Dec. 4 th will not get to the persons in need of them. Many thanks to our Holy Cross Angels who give so generously each year to make our Angel program successful!! 5
PARISH OUTREACH Monetary Basket Donations Cash, Check or Supermarket Gift Cards These will be greatly appreciated to help defray the expenses of our Thanksgiving Basket program. You can mark your envelope Thanksgiving and drop it in the collection basket or bring it to the Outreach office. We thank you for your continuing support of our Outreach ministry. SCRIPTURE STUDY Join us for Scripture Study on Thursday, November 17th 10AM in the Atrium or 7PM in the Father Joe Room! SPECIAL COLLECTIONS This week at the offertory we will also be collecting for our Repairs and Major Renovations Fund. Next weekend, we will also be collecting for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. CCHD funds programs in communities across the United States, helping people living in poverty to join together to identify problems, make decisions, and find ways to improve their lives and neighborhoods. Please visit www.povertyusa.org to read more about CCHD s efforts to spread Christ s love by helping to break the cycle of poverty. Thank you for your support of these important collections! 6
PARISH OUTREACH NEWS Bereavement Groups & Special Programs St. Patrick Church, 280 E. Main St., Smithtown, meets weekly on Mondays from 7-9 pm in the rectory. Call Diane Williams in Parish Outreach 265-2668. They also have a Rainbows Group for children suffering a loss. St. Joseph Church, 45 Church St., Ronkonkoma, meets every Thursday from 7-9 pm in the library of the new school, room 2, facilitated by Barbara Piccola, 588-0476. Good Shepherd Hospice runs many different groups in different locations. For more information, call 631-465-6363 or check online at www.goodshepherdhospice@chsli.org The Compassionate Friends of Brookhaven meets in the St. Sylvester Church basement, 68 Ohio Avenue, Medford once a month. Contact Justin McMann, 631-475-4506, Ext. 121 for more information. Loss of a Baby (miscarriage, stillborn, infant death) support group meets every Tuesday from 6:30-8:30 pm at Good Samaritan Hospital. Call 631-376-4673 for information. GRASP (Grief Recovery After A Substance Passing), Holbrook Chapter meets the first Monday of every month. Call Vivian Mercurio, 631-872-5843, for more information. The organization s website is www.grasphelp.org You re Not Alone Support Group for those left behind after suicide loss, meets at St. Anthony of Padua Parish Outreach office, 20 Cheshire Place, E. Northport. Call Pat Karpowicz to register 266-2656 Joe s Project offers support for family members who lost someone to suicide; trained responders will meet with you to help you through this difficult time. To request a bereavement contact, call 1-888-375-2228. Bereavement Seminar The Branch Funeral Home is holding a presentation focusing on getting through the holidays after a loss. It is at their Smithtown Branch on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016 between 10:30-12:00. For further information/ registration call 724-9500. (Also, see page 11 of this bulletin for Calverton Cemetery Holiday Visit.) Holiday Hope Moloney Funeral Home will hold a presentation on coping with loss during the holidays. It will be held in the Mother Teresa Tribute Center, 132 Ronkonkoma Avenue, Ronkonkoma on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Please call 588-1515 to RSVP by Nov. 13 th. 7
YOUTH GROUP Hi Everyone! Are you in high school? Do you want to make new friends as you play fun games and activities? Do you want to build more of an understanding about yourself and your faith? If you answered "Yes!" to any one of those questions, then you MUST check out the Holy Cross Youth Group! You will be glad you did! If you made your Confirmation, then come on down with a friend and check out the wonderful opportunities the Youth Group has for you! We would love to see you! The Holy Cross Youth Group is the perfect opportunity for you to continue to grow in your faith and build relationships with others in the parish. All Fall Retreat monetary donations can be dropped off in the parish office, and they will be given to Sal Finocchiaro, Youth Minister. We are extremely excited to begin a wonderful year with the Youth Group, and the amazing individuals who are a part of it! Here are our upcoming youth events and happenings! Take a look: 11/11-11/13: Youth Group Fall Retreat @ Sisters of Mercy Villa! 11/19: Saturday 5PM Youth Mass with the Core Band! Then, we are going to have our Thanksgiving Feast & Retreat Recap, 6-8PM! So, if you are thinking about coming to the church to see what we are all about do it! You will not regret it. Come with a friend or family member, and join us as we continue to grow in the endless love of Christ. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you are thinking about joining us and you would like more information, then please do not hesitate to contact Sal Finocchiaro, Coordinator of Youth Ministries, at HCyouthgroup@hotmail.com or call the parish office. :-) 8
Dear Parishioners, Parish of the Holy Cross Nesconset, New York October 1, 2016 thru October 31, 2016 Financial Report- Fiscal Year 2016/2017 In an attitude of responsible stewardship and fiscal accountability, we publish a simple reporting of our financial position for your information on a monthly basis. Our new Fiscal Year began with the month of September 2016. We are reporting on what you have provided through your Stewardship of Treasure and how we are using your gift. The format follows the categories of Diocesan accounts on which our extensive yearend Financial Reports are based. This report is for the second month. We thank you for your support. If you have questions and/or suggestions, we would welcome them. May God continue to bless us all. The Pastoral Team October 1 31, 2016 Assets: Liabilities: Checking A/Cs: $ 40,092. MAC Loan: $ 105,000. Unitas Fund: $ 136,653. A/C s Payable: $ 9,028. Institutional Invest: $ 55,843. A/C Payable-DRVC: $ 20,978. Money Market: $ 63,233. R.A.M.R.: $ 59,713. Revenue: Sunday Collections: 10/1/16-10/31/16 $44,151. Average Weekly Collection in October: $11,038.* R.A.M.R.: 2,984. Donations & Fees Parish Programs: 7,618. Includes: Rel Ed(4,165),Par Out(1,446),Seniors(69),Youth(738),Other(1,200) Fund Raising: 2,360. Includes: Cash Calendar Auxiliary Revenue: 10,039. Includes: Bapt,Funeral,Wedding,Masses,Candles,Verizon,All Souls,Charity Collection on Behalf of Others: 3,719. Includes: World Missions(1332), Respect Life(1282),CRS(973),others(132) Interest: 267. Includes: Bank A/Cs (15), Inst. Invest (137), Unitas(115) Total Revenue: $ 71,138. Expenditures: Clergy & Lay Salaries: $ 27,836. Includes: Priests, Rel.Ed, Parish Out, Clerical,Maintenance Pastoral Assoc., Bus Mgr., Music, Youth, Sacristan Clergy Fringe Benefits: 2,810. Includes: Health & Dental, Sick/Dis/Ret, Allowance Lay Fringe Benefits: 3,742. Includes: Medical, Pension, Con. Ed FICA Employer Taxes: 1,937. Parish Programs: 4,955. Includes: Rel.Ed (474), Par Out(2,983),Youth(500),Hosp(48),Other(950) Fund Raising: 2,454. Includes: Cash Calendar (1,950), Baskets(21),Wreaths(483) Printing & Office: 2,380. Includes: Office Supp,Printing,Phone,Cable,CC fees,tel. Auxiliary Expenses: 3,827. Includes: Altar Hosts,Missalettes,Candles and Holders,Pre-Cana Crosses Charity: 400. Includes: Heifer Collection on Behalf of Others: 3,359. Includes: Cath U (950), St. Pius X(1,436), CRS (973) Building Utilities: 2,527. Includes: Electric(2,404), Gas(123) Buildings Maintenance & Supplies: 2,200. Includes: Supplies, Maint. Contracts Rectory: 1,107. Includes: Gas, Elec., Food, Phone, Cable, Maint.,Repairs Total Expenditures: $ 59,534. Surplus October 1 31, 2016: $ 11,604. Current Year to Date-Sept. 1, 2016-Oct. 31, 2016: Prior Year to Date-Sept. 1, 2015-Oct. 31, 2015: Revenue: $ 200,039. Revenue: $ 216,521. Expenses: $ 183,662. Expenses: $ 190,129. Surplus: $ 16,377. Surplus: $ 26,392. * Collection for Oct.29/30 was deposited in November and will be included in November s collections. 9
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MEETINGS THIS WEEK Saturday, November 12th BASKET RAFFLE SALES Sunday, November 13th BASKET RAFFLE SALES BAPTISMS Monday, November 14th ONE TO ONE LEVEL 1 PARENT MTG. Tuesday, November 15th LEVEL 8 PARENT/STUDENT MTG. Wednesday, November 16th SENIORS LEVEL 1 PARENT MEETING STEWARDSHIP MEETING Thursday, November 17th SCRIPTURE STUDY SCRIPTURE STUDY FINANCIAL PEACE UNIV. Saturday, November 19th 5:00 PM Atrium All Masses Atrium 1PM Worship Area 5:00-6:00 PM All Areas 1:30 or 7PM Worship Area 7:00 PM Worship Area 11AM-2:30PM Atrium 7PM Atrium 7:30PM Fr. Joe Room 10:00 AM Atrium 7PM Fr. Joe Room 7:15PM Chapel 5:00 PM LIT. MINISTER RECOMMISSIONING Worship Area BASKET RAFFLE SALES Atrium YOUTH NIGHT 6-8PM Atrium Sunday, November 20th All Masses LIT. MINISTER RECOMMISSIONING Worship Area BASKET RAFFLE SALES Atrium BASKET RAFFLE DRAWING After 11:30 Mass Atrium (The winners will be picked at our Wine & Cheese Party!) COMMUNITY NEWS This November 16th marks the twentyseventh anniversary of the assassination of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter in the small country of El Salvador. In addition, this year will mark the thirty-sixth anniversary of the murders of the four Churchwomen and Archbishop Oscar A. Romero, also in El Salvador. With those anniversaries in mind, a prayer service is planned to commemorate the lives of these holy people and to remember all those who have, and continue to, dedicate their lives to the struggle for social justice and peace all over the world. This service will be held on Sunday, November 20th at 3:00 PM at: Sisters of St. Joseph Sacred Heart Chapel 1725 Brentwood Road Brentwood, NY 11717 All are welcome to join in prayer. COMMUNITY NEWS The Branch Funeral Home is offering a Holiday Visit to Calverton National Cemetery on Wednesday, November 30th. Bus pick-up time at the Branch Funeral Home is 8:15AM or at the Smithtown Senior Center at 8:30AM. To reserve a seat on the bus, call 631-724-9500 by November 23rd. For your convenience, you may also call to order grave wreaths. Your order will be waiting for you on the bus the day of the trip. This is a free trip sponsored by the Branch Funeral Home. Coffee, donuts and cold drinks will be served, along with pizza on the way back. The bus has a lavatory. Please arrive 15 minutes before bus departs. 11
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