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My Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Let me share with you some highlights of the past month.

As you know Fun Time Kid’s Academy has begun fourth year using facilities of the Fr. John Slysz building. In the spirit of Halloween the children had smiling faces regardless chili temperature on Friday morning October 31, 2008. We wish FTKA successes in years to come. The program offers special rates for the children who are members of our parish.

On Saturday, November 1st, 2008 I administered the Sacrament of Matrimony to Stephen Morgan and Karen Jarmarkowicz. We express our best wishes to Karen and Stephen and their families. Congratulations to Karen’s mother, our parishioner Mrs. Helen Jarmarkowicz. May Stephen and Karen’s happiness and love express unconditional love of Christ toward his Church. It is fitting to congratulate our newest couple.

On Saturday. November 29, 2008 I administered the Sacrament of Matrimony to the new couple of Steven Marricone and Alexis Fikes. Best wishes to Steven and Alexis on their special day. Our best congratulations are addressed to Steven’s mother, Maria Makos, grandmother, Bronislawa Makos, sister Daniella Price, brother-in-law Kevin Price. May their life be filled with love and happiness.

On Saturday, November 8, 2008 I participated in the preparation meeting to organize Convo 2010. The meeting was held in Scranton, PA. Bishop Anthony Mikovsky, Ph. D, several youth, parents and some clergy were present.

On the last week of July 2010 the Convo will take place at the location to be specified. The next meeting will be held at our church ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2009 AT NOON. I invite all youth and their parents to come for the meeting.

On November 30, 2008, we begn the holy season of Advent.

The four Sundays of joyful time of Advent are our preparations for the Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord. I wish that we all prepare our souls to welcome Jesus once again into our hearts and into our lives. On this special Solemnity of Christmas, we need to let Jesus be born again in us and in our homes. Before this celebration takes place, there will be a lot of responsibilities that we must accomplish either in our homes, work places, or schools. In addition to that we need to set aside time for private prayer and Sunday worship with our parish family. Advent above all time to set aside for our spiritual growth.

Furthermore in this time we need to be aware about the needs of others, especially those who are less fortunate in our society. Therefore, we keep in our parish a wonderful program called the ADVENT TREE. This will help boys and girls of DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services), senior men from EVA’S SHELTER and women with babies from SHELTER OUR SISTERS. All gifts are due on Sunday, December 14, 2008.

Next Sunday, December 7th the children of School of Christian Living will present a Christmas program before the dinner after 11:00 a.m. Mass. Let us enjoy invite our friends and enjoy this event.

We thank you in advance for your generosity toward our parish especially at Christmas time. We all need to nourish our spiritual life with the Word of God and His precious presence in the Holy Eucharist. Therefore I encourage all of you to make a great resolution to attend Christmas celebrations and attend regularly in year 2009. May we keep Christ in our hearts at Christmas and throughout the New Year 2009.

May the Lord send upon you, your dear ones, His abundant blessing in this Holy Season and throughout the New Year – 2009!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year – 2009!
Wesołych Świat Bożego Narodzenia i Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku – 2009!
Joyeux Noël et Bonne Novell L’Année 2009!
Feliz Navidad y Buen Ano Nuevo 2009!
Froehliche Weinachten und ein gutes neues Jahr 2009!

— Father Joseph with Family and the Parish Committee

P.S. I keep you in my daily prayers. Please remember me in your prayers.

– Fr. Joseph

My Dear Parishioners and Friends,

November is already here with the beautiful and colorful leaves falling off the trees. In spring the new life will start again. This reminds us about our human life which is also so colorful but at the same time inevitably short. On the other hand, in our Lord Jesus Christ we have the assurance that after our passage to eternal life our soul will live forever.

The Church reminds us about this transition of life through the feast of All Saints on November 1st and Remembrance of All Souls on November 2nd which we celebrate this weekend.

The month of October was quite a busy time in our church. On October 5th, 2008 the blessing of animals took place at 11:00 A.M. Mass in the parish hall. Over a dozen of pets, dogs, cat and turtle were blessed on that day. Please remember to bring your pet(s) next year for the special blessing on the first Sunday of October.

On Saturday, October 4, 2008 The School of Christian Living organized first Annual Flea Market. I include a reflection written by Michele Lazor in regard to this event:

Furniture, toys, appliances, lightly used adult and children’s apparel, and much more was for sale. Our students are making a great effort to raise money to benefit Iraqi children. One hundred percent of the proceeds are directly sent to these children. Other fundraisers include “Common Cents,” “Spring Car Wash”, and the “Bake Sale”. Parishioners, parents, and students were instrumental in advertising, soliciting donations, organization, setup, food service, and cleanup. Hot dogs, hot pretzels, popcorn, homemade cakes, cookies, cupcakes, coffee, and cold beverages were sold to the shoppers. Contributions of this food were made by the parish and several parishioners. As a result of the unified support, genuine love, generosity, and volunteerism, the flea market was a great success netting four hundred and fifty dollars. All unsold items were donated to Father English Food Pantry in Paterson.

On Sunday – October 12, 2008 a group of parishioners enjoyed an unusually warm and sunny autumn day at Demarest Farms in Hillsdale, N.J. This outing has become a popular annual event that brings parishioners, family and friends together for fall fun and camaraderie. Apples, pumpkin, cornstalks, hay bales, and mums were available for sale at the outdoor market while fresh-baked pies were available at the bake shop. An indoor market featured a vast array of local farm grown fruits and vegetables. The group enjoyed potato pancakes, hot dogs and of course, the children could not resist the old fashioned donuts and ice cream cones. Think about joining us next year. The more the merrier!

Our successful Autumn Tricky Tray event, the biggest annual fundraiser, took place on Friday, October 24th 2008 at Three Saints Orthodox Church, Outwater Lane, Garfield, NJ. Our special thanks are expressed to those who: Donated Special Prizes, Regular and Super Trays, Door Prizes, Gave monetary donations Served as captains, Sold tickets, Did advertisement and solicitations, Picked up donations, Numbered the trays for the Program Set up the hall on Thursday, Delivered and set up trays on Friday, Were selling tickets at the event, Served as runners, Served in the kitchen, Served as MC, Served as security guard, Cleaned the hall and kitchen after the event, And to anyone who in any shape or form helped to organize Tricky Tray 2008 — Thank You and God Bless you!!!

In October our Lord called to himself our parishioner Anna Surak (93). She passed away on Sunday October 19, 2008 and funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, October 21, 2008. Anna loved the art of sewing which was reflected in her role as a seamstress and sample maker for the show­rooms of the garment industry. She had a culinary talent too. According to her son, she baked the best apple cake in the world!!! She was an active mem­ber of the church, member of the choir, a lector and a past secretary of the parish committee. She was committed to Veterans affairs as evi­denced in her role as past pres­ident of the Passaic County American Legion Auxiliary. We express our sympathy to her devoted son John Surak, and her loving sister Amelia Senius and other relatives and friends. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord ….

On Saturday, November 1, 2008 I administered the Sacrament of Matrimony to Stephen Morgan and Karen Jarmarkowicz. We express our best wishes to Karen and Stephen. May their love express unconditional love of Christ toward his Church.

Our future events? Everyone is invited for a Thanksgiving Eve Mass on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. Let us give thanks for the Almighty God for all His gifts which we so often take for granted.

CHRISTMAS DINNER – December 7, 2008 after 11:00 A.M. Mass

My Dear Parishioners, I thank all those who spent their time, talent and treasure to build our parish family in different aspects of life. I encourage all of you to use your talents by serving in different ministries of our parish. Let us work together so that the Holy Cross will continue to be a “second home” for each one of us.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Joseph

P.S. I keep you in my daily prayers. Please remember me in your prayers.

My Dear Parishioners and Friends,

In September our School of Christian Living began its fall semester. The teachers of the School of Christian Living are Mrs. June Pettegrew, Mrs. Michele Lazor, and Mrs. Karen Paulison who use their talents of teaching for the good of young people in our parish. Two substitute teachers, Mrs. Carol Montero and Mrs. Karen Peano offer their help as it is needed. I encourage all parents to bring their children for SOCL classes that provide a wonderful educational and spiritually oriented program.

On Saturday September 6, 2008 Tanya Broniszewski and Rocco Cerrato exchanged their vows of marriage during the celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony. We wish both of them a happy and blessed life together.

On Sunday September 7, 2008 a joyful occasion of the Sacrament Baptism took place in our parish. Nicholas John Gizzi, son of John Gizzi and Michele (Suvajac) was baptized as a new member of Christian family. We welcome Gizzi’s family as new parishioners of Holy Cross Church and wish them happiness by sharing in the life of our community of faith.

On Friday September 19, 2008 our parish had another wonderful event – The Third Annual Beefsteak Dinner. Through the efforts of Dominick and Angela Bucci and the help of others, we had a successful affair with over two thousand dollars of net profit. There were about eighty people – adults and children – attending the dinner that enjoyed food, fellowship and live music. Children too enjoyed the event. We are glad that the Mayor of West Paterson, Pat Lepore joined us for the dinner. There were several businesses that supported our event. We thank them in helping us to make this event a success.

On September 28, 2008 the Polish National Union celebrated its 100th Anniversary of service. For that occasion the past President of PNU, Mr. Edmund Kotula, organized a bus trip for the NY/NJ Seniorate members. The solemn Mass took place at St. Stanislaus Cathedral, Scranton, PA. The reception with over three hundred participants took place at the Radisson Hotel, Scranton.

The Polish National Union is a fraternal organization of our Church selling insurance polices. It is also supporting many programs of our Church such as seminary fund, Manor at Waymart, youth programs, scholarship programs, clergy pension fund etc. The church needs the support from PNU and our fraternal organization needs support from all members of the church. The PNU offers also loans through Spojnia Credit Union. For more information on the PNU services and special promotions in the program “$10 Million Sales Challenge” contact branch secretary Alice Kriskewic – 973-427-9648, or call directly the PNU office at 1-800-724-6352.

From Monday September 29th to Tuesday September 30th 2008 I participated in the Doctrine Commission Meeting that took place at the National Church Center, Scranton, PA. The Prime Bishop, bishops and some clergy who volunteered to work at this commission reviewed the prayers and the liturgy of the church.

In October our greatest fundraiser “FALL TRICKY TRAY” will take place on Friday, October 24, 2008. Let us do make our best by using our God given talents and sharing them for the well being of our parish. We have enough special trays, however we need more regular and super trays. Please use the flyers about upcoming Tricky Tray to advertise this event.

I ask everyone to continue support the ongoing and future fundraisers, such as shopping certificates sale, dinners, pierogi project, so that with our combine efforts we will be financial stable and capable to cover the necessary expenditures.

Above all each Sunday our Savior invites us to nourish with His Word and His real presence in the Holy Eucharist. As we all need Jesus, His guidance, support, and His love, we need to worship Him each Sunday.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Joseph

My Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Welcome Back! The beautiful summer is almost over and with thankful hearts we begin our regular life of the parish. We are eager to hear our children telling us of their summer adventures. The regular School of Christian Living classes will begin this Sunday September 7, 2008 at 10:10 A.M.. We are getting ready for our Third Annual Beefsteak Dinner which will take place on Friday, September 19, 2008. Please support this important fundraiser.

Time is drawing near for our annual “Autumn” Tricky Tray fundraiser on Friday, October 24, 2008. We have enough special prizes however we need regular and special trays. We hope that with the help and efforts of all parishioners and many friends of our parish, we will make this event a successful one.

I thank all parishioners who actively serve the Holy Cross Church and I ask everyone to join us to work hard for the good of our parish family. Equally important is to pray and do more efforts to increase membership of our parish. We wish that new members will find satisfaction in joining our family to take advantage to grow spiritually in the Lord.

I take this opportunity to congratulate Rocco A. Cerrato and Tanya Broniszewski on their special day of the Sacrament of Matrimony that took place on Saturday, September 6, 2008. May the Lord bless their family with His love and happiness.

Our regular Mass schedule begins today September 7, 2008 with Masses celebrated at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and weekday Masses as scheduled in the bulletin. We all have the responsibilities and a privilege to worship our God on Sunday. We present to the Lord many personal intentions as well the needs of others. Each Sunday our Savior invites and nourishes us with His Word and His real presence in the Holy Eucharist. We all need Jesus, His guidance, support, and His love. May God richly bless you. I keep you in my daily prayers. Please remember me in your prayers.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Joseph