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 Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity greedy, dishonest, adulterous or even like this tax collector. Luke 18:11 Come and pray with us! 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 23, 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 October 29th/30th 5:00 PM Fr. Michael 8:00 AM Fr. Michael 9:30 AM Fr. Michael 11:30 AM Fr. Michael Mass Intentions Schedule Week of October 23th, 9 AM Mass Mon. Matthew Akuntius Tue. Victor Lamarque Wed. Larry Carnevale Thu. Roger Dillon & Gerald Griffin New Life in Christ Scripture Readings for October 30, 2016 + Wisdom 11:22-12:2 + 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 + Luke 19:1-10 Banns of Marriage First Time Rebecca D Andrea & Sean Daly Third Time Jennifer Baribault & Todd Keyes Saturday, October 29th, 5 PM Mass Patrick Keena Jr., Patrick Keena Sr., Margaret Maher, James Eagers, James Schiavone Sunday, Oct. 30th, 31st Sun. in Ordinary Time 8:00 AM People of the Parish 9:30 AM David Scinicariello, Rose Cacioppo, Maureen Melchiona, Robert Schmidt, Matthew Akuntius 11:30 AM Dora & Danny Deamicus As Election Day approaches, you are encouraged to take a copy of the Catholic Update entitled Gospel Values in an Election Year...and Beyond. They are available on the bulletin table. 2
Fall s-a-popping All Around Us by Father Michael A few weeks ago on my day off I went for a drive out on the North Fork. It is a beautiful time of year to visit that part of Long Island. It was peaceful and quiet on a lazy Friday morning. I understand that weekends get quite busy. I did not venture into any of the haunted houses or corn mazes, but I did buy some great vegetables, a few pumpkins, and a homemade pie. (But, when I got home I noticed that pumpkins at Meat Farms were cheaper.) The North Fork feels like you have been transported to New England or somewhere many miles away. Have you noticed, this seems to be a booming year for the acorn crop? They are dropping in amazing numbers all over the place. As I sit in my office I hear them bouncing off the metal roof of the shed for the cell phone equipment; it is a constant barrage. This was a busy week for our Religious Education program; classes began. Being that all the classes take place in homes, we sometimes forget that there is an abundance of parish activity taking place throughout our community. Thank you to all those Catechists who bring our Religious Education program to life. We appreciate your sharing your faith with our children and young people. The Second Collection next weekend is for the Catholic Ministries Appeal. Thank you to all those who have given thus far. Because of your generosity, we have reached about 90% of our goal. I am hopeful and optimistic that we will hit this year s goal. In addition to supporting many ministries on a diocesan level, the parish will benefit in receiving a rebate of over $12,000. For those who have not yet given, please consider helping us reach our goal by using the envelope you received at home or the special envelopes that are available in the atrium. Thank you for your support. As you know, this column is a regular part of our bulletin. There are times I use it to inform you of news regarding some part of parish life. Sometimes I share some little event that happened to me during the week. In general, I try to maintain an upbeat and light hearted tone. But, in the process of writing about Holy Cross or my own life I do not intend to ignore some of the bigger issues of life. This week I could not help but get caught up in the increased violence and war in the Middle East. The human suffering involved in this conflict is enormous. And, our nation finds itself at contentious crossroads in terms of our election. In the midst of difficult times we cannot overlook the power of prayer. Sometimes our prayer brings us peace. Sometimes it brings us in union with those who are suffering. And, sometimes it helps us to understand the path we need to walk. Pray for our nation and pray for peace. 3
PARISH OUTREACH LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS As we transition from summer breezes to cool crisp autumn air, Parish Outreach is beginning our preparations for the holiday season ahead. We always have the generous support of our community in helping us to reach out to those who may not always feel God s love. We invite you to consider the following suggestions as possible ways to bring the love of God and of our community to others. 1. Monetary basket donations (cash, check or supermarket gift cards) will be appreciated to help defray the expenses of our Thanksgiving Basket Program. You can mark your envelope Thanksgiving and drop it in the collection basket. 2. Volunteer shoppers are needed to purchase and package a Thanksgiving basket for a needy family. You will be given a menu/shopping list and gift cards to cover the cost. We anticipate about 80 baskets will be provided to families in our community this year. If you would like to do a basket, you can sign up after any of the Masses on the weekend of Nov. 5/6 in the rear of the atrium. 3. During last year s winter, Outreach was able to provide some emergency oil as a direct result of your generosity. If you would like to help keep a family warm this winter by making a donation, please mark Fuel Assistance on your envelope. 4. Participate in our Christmas Be An Angel program. Again this year, we will provide gift cards to the families Outreach assists throughout the year and gifts for several other agencies. This program will run from November 12 th through December 4 th. Future bulletins will contain important information on this year s Christmas Angel program. If you have questions about any of the above, please call the Outreach office. We sincerely appreciate the support we continuously receive from our parishioners. We are truly blessed with a loving and generous community! 4 PARISH OUTREACH
PARISH OUTREACH what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." Mother Teresa Have you been looking for some way to embrace the generous, loving spirit of Mother Teresa? Perhaps the Outreach Thanksgiving project will offer an opportunity for you and your family. This year we will again be supplying Thanksgiving Dinners to people from our community who are in need of assistance. Last year we were able to provide 78 families with a complete Thanksgiving meal. Once again, we look to our parish community for volunteers to help make this possible. Each volunteer will be responsible for buying and packaging the food for a basket. They will be given the suggested menu and shopping list with supermarket gift cards to cover the cost. The completed baskets will be brought to the parish center on Monday, November 21st between 7:00 a.m. and 11:30 am. We hope this program will offer those in our parish the opportunity to share with our struggling neighbors, making Thanksgiving a time of joy and blessings. Over the years we have seen many parish families embrace this project with creativity and enthusiasm. Our outreach families are always touched by the caring of the community of Holy Cross. Anyone interested in participating can sign up in the Atrium after Mass on the weekend of November 5 th / 6 th. Donations of money or supermarket gift cards will also be greatly appreciated and very necessary to help defray the expenses of this program. Envelopes marked Thanksgiving can be dropped in the collection basket or brought to the Outreach office. We are grateful for anything you can do, particularly in these difficult economic times, to help make this a day of Giving Thanks for everyone in our community. 5
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 recently 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. Here is a picture of our Youth Group enjoying a beautiful day at Avalon Park in Stony Brook. We all took a trip there for our Youth Day Event and we had a blast! 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: 10/23: Youth Night, 6-8PM. The Youth Night will be located in the Atrium. 10/30: Youth Night, 6-8PM. The Youth Night will be located in the Atrium. (All retreat paperwork and payment is due!) 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. :-) The Youth Group would like to thank all parishioners who bought and/or donated to the Youth Group last weekend at our Fall Bake Sale! We truly appreciate the endless love and support. Also, the Youth Group would like to thank Bagel Cafe and Blvd. Bagels for the freshly baked muffins that were sold over the weekend! 6
YOUTH GROUP SPECIAL COLLECTIONS This weekend at the offertory we will also be collecting for World Missions. Your prayers and support offered to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith directly benefit the Mission Church around the world. Next weekend we will also be collecting for the Catholic Ministries Appeal. Every day, because of the Catholic Ministries Appeal, we are able to serve our brothers and sisters who are without shelter and adequate food. We are able to support the formation studies of our Seminarians and Deacons, and help provide religious education to hundreds of thousands of our youngsters in public schools, while forming future generations of Catholics through Campus, Young Adult and Youth Ministry programs. K OF C The Knights of Columbus will have a Communion Breakfast on Sunday, October 30th. The Knights will attend the 9:30 Mass and then have breakfast at the Paradise Diner in Hauppauge. Thank you for your support of these important collections! 7
CATHOLIC MINISTRIES APPEAL The The Catholic Catholic Ministries Ministries Appeal Appeal supports supports our efforts our efforts to: to: LIVE AND SHARE OUR FAITH by providing support for religious education LIVE AND programs SHARE for public OUR school FAITH children, by providing faith formation support for for religious those receiving education the Sacraments, programs for and public vocations school for children, the formation faith of formation our Priests, for those Deacons receiving and Lay the Leaders. Sacraments, and vocations for the formation of our Priests, Deacons and Lay Leaders. CARE FOR GOD S PEOPLE through support for the great works of our CARE Parish FOR Outreach GOD S programs PEOPLE and through Catholic support Charities. for the The great Appeall works also of supports our Parish other Outreach programs programs that help and us care Catholic for God s Charities. people, The Appeall including: also supports our hospital other and programs prison ministries, that help us Respect care for Life God s initiatives, people, and including: our Mission our in hospital the Dominican and prison Republic. ministries, Respect Life initiatives, and our Mission in the Dominican Republic. BUILD GOD S KINGDOM by supporting programs that reach out to Catholics of all races and backgrounds, celebrate special BUILD needs GOD S Masses KINGDOM for children by and supporting adults, and programs support that reach vibrant out college to Catholics campus of ministry all races and and dynamic backgrounds, youth ministry celebrate programs. special needs Masses for children and adults, and support vibrant college campus ministry and dynamic youth ministry programs. Next weekend we will give everyone an opportunity to make a gift - if you have not already done so - to the Catholic Ministries Appeal. Next weekend we will give everyone an opportunity to make a gift - if you have Join not already us as One done Faith, so - to Family the Catholic and Community! Ministries Appeal. Join us as One Faith, Thank You! Family and Community! Thank You! 8
Dear Parishioners, Parish of the Holy Cross Nesconset, New York September 1, 2016 thru September 30, 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 first 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 September 1 30, 2016 Assets: Liabilities: Checking A/Cs: $ 39,080. MAC Loan: $ 110,000. Unitas Fund: $ 136,539. A/C s Payable: $ 6,753. Institutional Invest: $ 55,706. A/C Payable-DRVC: $ 20,978. Money Market: $ 61,722. R.A.M.R.: $ 55,373. Revenue: Sunday Collections: 9/1/16-9/30/16 $42,689. Average Weekly Collection in September: $10,672. R.A.M.R.: 3,110. Donations & Fees Parish Programs: 12,882. Includes: Rel Ed(9,312),Par Out(985),Seniors(156),Youth(2,429) Rel Ed Revenue Collected May-Aug.: 59,600. Fund Raising: 2,590. Includes: Cash Calendar Auxiliary Revenue: 5,801. Includes: Donation,Bapt,Funeral,Wedding,Masses,Candles,Verizon Collection on Behalf of Others: 2,080. Includes: Cath Univ. (775), St. Pius X Enr. Liv. Fac.(1,305) Interest: 149. Includes: Bank A/Cs: (16) Inst. Invest (133) Total Revenue: $128,901. Expenditures: Clergy & Lay Salaries: $ 39,905. Includes: 3 Payrolls: Priests, Rel.Ed, Parish Out, Clerical,Maintenance Pastoral Assoc., Bus Mgr., Music, Youth, Sacristan Clergy Fringe Benefits: 4,924. Includes: Health & Dental, Sick/Dis/Ret, Allowance,Auto Ins. Lay Fringe Benefits: 3,375. Includes: Medical, Pension FICA Employer Taxes: 2,713. Parish Programs: 23,522. Includes: Rel.Ed (21,758), Sr(203),Youth(1,219),Hosp(342) Fund Raising: 2,000. Includes: Cash Calendar Printing & Office: 3,101. Includes: Office Supp,Printing,Phone,Cable,CC fees,tel. Auxiliary Expenses: 485. Includes: Altar Hosts,Choir Exp.,Flowers 1st Quarter Diocesan Assessment: 16,080. 1st Quarter Regional School Subsidy: 20,978. Building Utilities: 2,984. Includes: Electric(2,876), Gas(108) Buildings Maintenance & Supplies: 838. Includes: Supplies, Maint. Contracts Rectory: 1,418. Includes: Gas, Elec., Food, Phone, Cable, Maint.,Repairs Insurance: 1,804. Total Expenditures: $ 124,127. Surplus September 1 30, 2016: $ 4,774. Prior Year to Date-September 2015: Revenue: $ 140,165. Expenses: $ 113,001. Surplus: $ 27,164. 9
CASH CALENDAR 10
MEETINGS THIS WEEK Saturday, October 22nd WOMEN S ENRICHMENT DAY Sunday, October 23rd YOUTH NIGHT Monday, October 24th ONE TO ONE K OF C OFFICERS MTG. Wednesday, October 26th 10 AM - 3:30PM Atrium 6:00-8:00 PM Atrium 5:00-6:00 PM All Areas 7-8:30 PM Fr. Joe Room 7:00 PM LEVEL 8 PARENT/STUDENT MTG. Worship Area STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE 7:30PM Fr. Joe Room Thursday, October 27th MOMS GROUP FINANCIAL PEACE UNIV. Sunday, October 30th 11:00 AM Sacristy 7:15PM Chapel 9:30 AM K OF C COMMUNION BREAKFAST WA/Paradise Diner LITURGY COMMITTEE 10:30AM Conference Rm. BAPTISMS 1PM Worship Area YOUTH NIGHT 6-8PM Atrium 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 5/6, 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! ELECTION NEWS The Catholic bishops of the United States offer a teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics. Their statement is guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy. For more information, please visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website at usccb.org and click on The Call to be Faithful Citizens. MASS OF REMEMBRANCE We invite all of our parishioners who have lost a loved one during the past year or who are still grieving a loss in their life, to join us for a special Mass of prayer and remembrance. This year our Liturgy will be celebrated on the: Feast of All Souls Wednesday, November 2nd 7:30 PM in the Worship Center. We hope as many people as possible are able to join us for this special Mass, which celebrates your loved one s place in the Communion of Saints. Light refreshments will be served after the Mass. 11
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