Parish Life

Christmas Dinner “Happy Birthday Jesus”

Come and enjoy! Invite your family and friends!

This Christmas Program is presented by our School of Christian Living on December 5th after 11am Holy Mass (approx. 12:15pm). Dinner includes Tilapia with Mango Sauce, Roast Chicken, Roast Pork, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Cheese Ravioli with Vodka Sauce, String Beans Almondine, Baby Carrots, Cole Slaw, Rolls & Butter and Desserts, Coffee and Tea.

There will be a Raffle for a brunch for two at the Bethwood Restaurant, Totowa (value $100), a 50/50 raffle, and a Santa Clause basket raffle. Santa Claus – (St. Nicholas) will be present.

Tickets are $12 for adults. Children are free; Youth helping with clean up are free. One free ticket for a table of 10.

Please call 973-256-4888 for tickets and information. The deadline for tickets is November 28th.

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The Seasons ahead – Advent and Christmas

Thanksgiving Eve Mass will be held on Wednesday, November 24th at 7 p.m. Let us give thanks for the Almighty God and for all His gifts which we so often take for granted.

Advent – The First Sunday of Advent will begin on Sunday November 28, 2010. The last Sunday of Liturgical year – The Feast of Christ the King – will take place on Sunday November 21, 2010.

Christmas Dinner – “Happy Birthday Jesus” will be held on Sunday, December 5th after 11 A.M. Holy Mass – Don’t forget to mark your calendars for an enjoyable afternoon with great menu and Christmas Program by the children of our School of Christian Living. The dinner will be prepared by Deacon David Gaydos and his helpers. Tickets are $12 for adults. Children are free of charge and the youth helping with clean up are free of charge as well. Tickets are now available. The deadline to purchase tickets is Sunday, November 28th. The Menu is: Fish Tilapia with Mango Sauce, Roast Chicken, Roast Pork, and Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Cheese Ravioli with Vodka Sauce, String Beans Almondine, Baby Carrots, Cole Slaw, Rolls & Butter and Desserts, Coffee and Tea. We will have a raffle for a Brunch for two at the Bethwood Restaurant, Totowa. The value is $100, 50/50 raffle and Santa Claus – (St. Nicholas) will be at the dinner. Invite your family and friends. One Free ticket for a table of 10.

Christmas Eve Holy Masses – We will celebrate traditionally two Holy Masses on the Vigil of the Nativity (Christmas Eve), Friday, December 24th. The Holy Mass with the participation of children and youth will be held at 4 PM. The second solemn Holy Mass will be celebrated at 10 PM.

Solemnity of the Nativity (Christmas Day) Holy Mass – One Holy Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, December 25th at 10 AM.

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Halloween Party Memories

On Sunday October 31, 2010 a Halloween party was prepared by the teachers of the School of Christian Living: Mrs. Claire Centrella, Mrs. Karen Paulison, Mrs. Jamie Santos and Mrs. Natalie Lazar. The children came in wearing their favorite costumes. During the Mass the youth read prayers of the faithful especially for all children who will be out celebrating Halloween: for their safety and well-being … and that all monsters would stay under the bed.

Musical chair game was one of the several games children participated in during their Halloween party. All children received prizes for participation and for winning different games.

The winners of three categories costumes were; from left the prettiest costume – Natalie Cyman, the original costume – Angie Cardona, and the scariest costume – Nayef Kiame.

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National United Youth Project

Brothers and Sisters, On Behalf of the National United Youth Association Board and its President Lauren Bilinski, may I take this opportunity to invite you to share in a ministry project.

By now, I’m sure you have no doubt heard of the report that Lauren had made to the 23rd General Synod. Therein she had asked all of us to participate in “Operation Christmas Child”. For some of you, this is an annual project in your parish; for some, this may be new. Your participation involves filling shoeboxes with various items that a child would like to have (small toys, personal hygiene items, crayons, coloring books; well, you get the idea.) Along with your box, Samaritan’s Purse will provide a copy of the Scriptures in that child’s language, so that the whole story of God’s love will be shared. I have provided a sheet of labels that you can place in your box -just indicate whether it is for a boy or a girl and their age. Feel free to place a greeting from your parish in your box(es); there is a good chance you’ll receive a reply. After filling as many as your congregation is able, you need to check out the Samaritan’s Purse website to find out where the closest collection point is in your area. The website is also filled with helpful hints, downloadable and requested promotional materials. They do ask a small donation for each box to help with the shipping.

I remember the year our parish received a card back from a young girl in Zimbabwe. She wrote that she enjoyed all the gifts in the box; and learning about Jesus. What a gift we can give to someone we will probably never ever meet somewhere in the world – a joyful gift and the joy of Jesus! The collection week is 15-22 November; so get busy fillin’! And may our gracious Lord bless whatever sacrifice you make for His kids!. Fr. Stan, Chaplain.

Dear Youth – You are all invited to participate in this worthwhile project. In our parish hall you can see one shoe box already filled in. Bring empty shoe box and any items you can donate for the children who will greatly appreciate your Christmas Gift. – Fr. Joseph.

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Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament Society (ANS) News

The New York/New Jersey Adoration Societies were honored this year to have our Prime Bishop, the Most Rev. Robert M. Nemkovich, as our guest speaker at the annual convention held on September 19, 2010 at the Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish, Wallington, NJ. He made some wonderful suggestions as to how to increase our membership by getting some more people involved in our projects, or just by asking them to sit with us and hold a candle to adore the Blessed Sacrament. It was very inspiring.

Right now our Society is selling raffles to win a gift certificate to a local restaurant worth $100. The drawing will take place at Christmas Dinner on December 5, 2010. Our last raffle, a Basket of Cheer, enabled us to buy four new liquid wax candles for our altar. We sell majority of our tickets at the various dinners held at our parish.

In the spring on Saturday May 14, 2010 from 9 AM to 4 PM we will be holding a Flea Market at which time we will be selling homemade food including stuffed cabbage. In 2009 Mrs. Renata Cyman and Fr. Joseph made quite a few, but they were sold out before Lunch. Next year the women will be helping so that we can make many more.

We are very fortunate that the Daughters of Holy Cross chose to join our ANS. Combining the two has enabled us to accomplish so much more.

We are also blessed to have dedicated members such as Alice Kriskewic, who has faithfully taken on the job as treasures for so many years. Also, Nelly Cabrejos washes and changes the altar linens whenever it is needed. We have much to be thankful for.

We are looking forward to the upcoming beautiful and joyous holidays. Greetings to all members of the ANS.

Karen Peano, Holy Cross ANS President

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All Saints and All Souls Days

All Saints Day – On November 1, 2010 we will gather to remember and praise God for all those who have gone before us and who now rejoice in God’s presence — holy men and women of every time and place. The Holy Mass will be celebrated at 7:00 PM.

All Souls Day Envelopes – On Tuesday November 2, 2010 the Church will celebrate All Souls Day. On that day Holy Masses with the reading of All Souls remembrances will be held at 12 PM and 7:30 PM. It is our Catholic custom to remember the souls of the faithful departed. Please use All Souls Day envelopes and print the names of the departed you wish to remember and send it to the parish office or place it on Sunday in the collection basket. The envelopes with the names will be kept on the altar during the month of November. In addition to that, Father Joseph will celebrate Holy Masses for their intentions in the upcoming weeks and months. Please write and suggest the date when you wish to have the Holy Mass celebrated. Thank You.

All Souls Cemetery Service – will take place on Sunday, October 31, 2010 at the PNCC section of East Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clifton NJ beginning at 2:00 p.m. For this annual event the clergy and faithful from four parishes, SS Peter and Paul, Passaic, Transfiguration of Our Lord, Wallington, The Most Holy Name of Jesus, Passaic, and from our Holy Cross Parish, Woodland Park are invited to attend. Please remember your departed loved ones who need your prayers and they depend upon your remembrance.

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Welcome Natalie and First Communion class news

In September 2010 Natalie Lazar joined our group of School of Christian Living teachers. On the picture you see her with her husband John Held. Here are few words which Natalie was kind to write about herself and her family.

I am a proud member of the Holy Cross Church. I have been working with youth in many capacities. I have taught Sunday school for many years. I taught at the Calvary Temple Church in Wayne and the Life Christian Church in West Orange. I was a youth leader for Learning For Life with the Law Enforcement Explorers Program in Passaic County. I am an advisor with the (S.A.D.D.) Students Against Destructive Decisions Program in Passaic County Technical where I am currently assigned as a school resource officer from the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department. My husband and I are both law enforcement officers. We have a total of 5 children in our family. Four of them are adults. I am also a part time student at Montclair State University.

We are glad to welcome Natalie and her family to our Holy Cross Church family

First Holy Communion Classes: The next preparatory classes for First Holy Communion are scheduled Sunday, October 24, November 7, November 14, November 28, December 12, 2010 after 11 AM Mass. We are asking the parents of whose children who started the second grade in September 2010, and those who are older and didn’t receive First Holy Communion, to register them for classes. Please call 973-256-4888 or contact Fr. Joseph.

We pray for all our students who are preparing to receive the Holy Eucharist for the first time. The First Holy Communion celebration is scheduled on Sunday May 22, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. Holy Mass.

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Thank you for your support

Our successful Luck of the Draw Tricky Tray event, the biggest annual fundraiser since 1982, took place on Friday, October 22nd at Three Saints Cultural Centre and Orthodox Church, 464 Outwater Lane, Garfield, NJ.

Many people worked hard to make this event a success. Taking under consideration the weak economy we had many generous donors of beautiful trays. This event brought in a good number of people. Consequently our Tricky Tray was another success of our parish. Our special thanks are expressed to those who:

  • Donated Grand, Regular and Super Trays;
  • donated Door Prizes;
  • gave monetary donations;
  • paid for 50/50 tickets;
  • served as captains;
  • sold tickets;
  • did advertisements and solicitations;
  • picked up donations;
  • numbered the trays for the program;
  • set up the hall on Thursday;
  • delivered and set up trays on Friday;
  • served at the event by selling tickets, actings as runners, or working in the kitchen;
  • served as MC or security guards;
  • cleaned the hall and kitchen after the event;
  • and, to anyone who in any shape or form helped to organize our Tricky Tray 2010.

And most especially and particularly to all who came out to support this event.

Thank you, and God bless you.

Fr. Joseph, Parish Committee and the Tricky Tray Committee

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Ś+P Steven Ludkiewicz

Mr. Steven Ludkiewicz (91) died on October 14, 2010 at the Compassionate Care Hospice in Dover. He was born in Indian Orchard, MA and lived in Springfield, MA for many years before moving to Ledgewood 48 years ago. He was a Technical Sergeant in the U S Army during WWII as part of the Pacific Theater Campaign in New Guinea. He studied at the Joseph A. Stone professional school of photography and then started the Wayne Steven Photography Studios in MA. He worked at Ludlow Papers in MA, which then transferred him to COMPAC Corp. in Netcong for 31 years before retiring in 1991. Prior to serving in the U S Army, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Waterbury, VT. He was a member of the Kenvil VFW post #2833, the Holy Cross Polish National Church in Woodland Park, Roxbury Township Senior Citizens Club, and the YMCA in Randolph, an avid fisherman and crafter of jewelry and homemade clocks, and enjoyed being at Atlantic City and Mount Airy Lodge.

He is survived by his wife Stephanie (Trzepacz) of 62 years, son Dr. Wayne (and Charlene) Ludkiewicz of Beaver, PA, daughter Lee Ann Pellegrini of Succasunna, and Fae (and Erick) Urban of San Francisco, CA. He also leaves his brother Michael of Ludlow, MA, 5 grandchildren; Steven, Brian, Benjamin, Candice, and Nicole, 2 great-grandsons; Charles and Sebastian, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was predeceased by his 2 brothers; William and John.

Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna (973-584-7264) on Sunday from 2-5 pm. The funeral Liturgy will be held on Monday 10 am at the Holy Cross P N C Church in Woodland Park. The interment will follow at the Holy Cross P N C Cemetery in Ware, MA. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in his name to Holy Cross Church 220 Browertown Rd, Woodland Park, NJ 07424

Eternal rest grand unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.

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Annual Blessing Of Pets

Our annual blessing of pets in commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi took place last Sunday, October 3rd at 11:00 o’clock Mass in the parish hall. Several pets were brought in for the blessing in commemoration of Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4).

St. Francis believed based on the Holy Scripture in the ability of all animals to praise God. One of the Psalms is asking the nature, all creatures to praise God for his goodness. Therefore let us remember that we praise our God together with the nature and all creatures around us.

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