Holy Cross and Passaic Valley UNICO are sponsoring a pasta dinner at the parish on Saturday, February 18th starting at 6 p.m.. Dessert, soda, water, and coffee are provided.
B.Y.O.B. (over 21). There will also be a 50/50 drawing. Donation: Adults – $10.00, Children 6 – 12 – $5.00, Under 5 “FREE.” Please make your reservations by Wednesday, February 15th. No tickets will be sold at the door.
For reservations call: Dominick J. Bucci 973-703-6473 or Holy Cross Church at 973-256-4888
We thank everyone who participated in the Advent Tree project and our parishioner, Pat Olsen, who coordinated this noble cause. It benefited the less fortunate of our society – boys and girls of DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services), and men and women living in Eva’s Shelter, Paterson. Over forty gifts were donated to above mentioned institutions. Your generosity is appreciated and rewarded by the Lord who asks us to take care of the needy.
In the picture the Advent Tree (that had been covered in names tags before) has been changed into a Christmas tree due to the generosity of our parishioners.
Polish National Union of America District #2 Meeting
The Polish National Union of America District #2 fraternal organization of our Church met quarterly at the meeting on Saturday, November 12th at Transfiguration of our Lord parish in Wallington, NJ. The election of new officers took place and various issues of the organization were discussed. In our parish hall you can find several pamphlets telling about PNU programs. For further information you can contact Alice Kriskewic, Judy Lamping or Fr. Joseph.
Confirmation Class
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be administered by Rt. Rev. John Mack, Bishop of the Central Diocese in spring of 2013. The next classes are scheduled as follows: Sunday December 11, 2011, January 15, 29, 2012 at 10:10 AM. The Sacrament of Confirmation is a very important step in youth’s religious education. Confirmation is the sacrament through which we receive gifts of the Holy Spirit to make us soldiers of Christ, ready to profess our faith in word and deed. The bishop confirms by laying of hands on the person to be confirmed and anointing the forehead in the form of the cross with Holy Chrism.
The confirmation imprints on our soul sacramental character, which entitles us to strength needed to show our faith in word and deed. The Sacrament of Confirmation is the completion of baptism, because we are strengthened to live a Christian life within the Church and defend its truths.
In the picture from the left: Carlos Garcia, Michael Cyman, Chris Paulison, Melissa Betancur, Nicole Romero, Amber Harth, Nayef Kiame and Fr. Joseph. The following students are also in the Confirmation class: Cris Carnemolla, Monica Kulbacki, Alexis Kulbacki and Jasmine Negrini.
First Communion Class
It is an enjoyable time for Fr. Joseph to prepare these students for their special celebration of receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist for the first time on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The next preparation classes for First Holy Communion are scheduled as follows: Dec. 11, 2011; January 8, 22, 2012 after 11 AM Mass. The Holy Eucharist is Jesus Christ really present under the forms of bread and wine. In the Eucharist Jesus Christ gives us Himself as a food for our souls. The bread and wine becomes the Body and Blood of our Lord during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass when the priest says words of consecration which Jesus used during the Last Supper: This is My Body… This is My Blood.
In the picture from left: Natalie Cyman, Vanessa Smith, Ariana Rubio, and Kaylee Gonzales who are preparing for their First Holy Communion with Fr. Joseph.
New Hymnals
On Sunday, November 13th, after 9am Holy Mass Alice Kriskewic and Judy Lamping presented the new PNCC hymnal to our organist, Neil Estanislao. The choir members are equipped with new copies. We invite and encourage interested parishioners to share their vocal and musical talents for the good of the parish. The choir is helping the congregation to sing hymns during Sunday liturgy. We thank Neil for his service as organist in our parish. We thank, as well, Jessica Muccilli for her service when Neil is not available.
Advent
On Sunday, November 27th we began the season of Advent. At the beginning of Sunday Masses in Advent we light one candle on the Advent wreath. They symbolize hope, love, joy and peace which Jesus brought into our lives.
Our Annual Advent Tree project, coordinated by our parishioner, Pat Olsen, started on Sunday, November 27th. Through our efforts, the project will be benefiting the less fortunate of our society. This will help boys and girls of DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services) as well as senior men and women from EVA’S Village.
You are being asked to take a tag from the tree and write your name in the registry located near the tree. Please affix the copy of the tag you take from the tree to your gift so that the present may be given to the proper individual. All gifts are due back on Sunday, December 18th. Your generosity will be appreciated and rewarded by the Lord who asks us to take care for the needy.
Last Sunday we concluded our food collection. We assembled eight beautiful Thanksgiving baskets (each one had $25 Gift card from Supermarkets, boxes of stuffing, plates, cans of non-perishables for a Thanksgiving Dinner) for our local residents and eight bags of non-perishable food items and two bags of clean clothes for the Fr. English Food Pantry in Paterson. All items were delivered on Tuesday, November 22nd; baskets to Memorial Middle School, Woodland Park and bags to Paterson for the needy. In each case many words of appreciation for our generosity were expressed by the nurse of the school and the workers at the Fr. English Food Pantry.
We certainly fulfilled last Sunday’s Solemnity of Christ the King by fulfilling our Lord’s command:
“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40
We thank all those who brought items and gave monetary donations to purchase the gift cards. We thank our youth and their parents who wrapped the baskets last Sunday after 11 am Holy Mass. Happiness comes from sharing as expressed in the smiling faces of our youth.
Our Annual Advent Tree project, coordinated by our parishioner, Pat Olsen, will begin on Sunday November 27th. Through our efforts it will benefit the less fortunate of our society. You will be asked to take a tag from the tree and write your name in the registry located near the tree. Please affix the copy of the tag you take from the tree to your gift so that the present may be given to the proper individual. All gifts will be due on Sunday December 18th. Your generosity will be appreciated and rewarded by the Lord who asks us to take care for the needy.
Hurricane Irene luckily didn’t damage our church property. The window wells and sump pump we recently installed were very effective. As you know from the mass media, there were many families and businesses flooded in Woodland Park and other towns along the Passaic River. Several people were evacuated. The devastation was terrible. In helping victims of the flood we began a Food Drive on Sunday September 4, 2011 which will continue through September 25, 2011. Please bring non perishable food items to the parish hall which will be given to Father English Food Pantry.
The Parish Committee decided to donate anonymously to a family from our parish. In addition we decided to donate $1,000 to the volunteer West Paterson Fire Department who was there for our town during this difficult time.
Passaic County, in conjunction with the Federal Food Stamp Disaster Program, announced that flood victims can submit their application on Monday, September 12, 2011 from 4-8PM at the Woodland Park municipal building, 5 Brophy Lane in order to receive food stamps.
Hurricane Irene luckily didn’t damage our church property. The window wells and sump pump we recently installed were very effective.
As you know from the mass media, there were several families and businesses flooded in Woodland Park and other towns along the Passaic River. In our town several people were evacuated and many were able to return to their homes no sooner than Friday. The devastation is terrible. In helping victims of flood we begin a Food Drive on Sunday, September 4th. Please bring non perishable food items to the parish hall which will be given directly to flooded families or through the distribution of the Borough of Woodland Park if such case will occur.
In addition to that I ask the Parish Committee Members to attend short meeting after 9 AM Mass Sunday, September 4th to make further decisions on how we can help the flooded community of Woodland Park.
Venus Creations, A Jeweler from Little Falls, will be hosting a gold buying event as a fundraiser here at Holy Cross Church on Sunday, June 5th, from 10 AM to 11 AM and from 12 PM to 2 PM. Bring in your old gold, silver, platinum, diamonds and coins a receive immediate cash no matter what condition it is in. As an added bonus, Holy Cross Church will receive 10% of the proceeds. Gold is at it’s all time high! So don’t miss out.
The Brownstown Restaurant in Paterson -- our community supporting the Zachary Decker Fundraiser Dinner
On Sunday April 3, 2011 our parish sponsored Zachary Decker Fundraiser Dinner held at the Brownstone Restaurant, Paterson.
Over one hundred people attended the dinner and tricky tray to express their support for the Decker family. Members of our parish, Claire Centrella, with the help of Lynn Imperiale, Hughie and Beverly Vickerilla (uncle and aunt), Cathy Pietrkowsky (grandmother) were instrumental in organizing this event. The entertainment was provided by Sounds of Sinatra and More – Al Russo and Garry Colletti.
Zachary is a 5 year old son of Kevin and Marlene Decker. He was diagnosed in January 2010 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We all hope and pray that he will have a successful treatment. Zachary’s parents, Kevin and Marlene, were married at Holy Cross Church in 2004. They are also blessed with their beautiful and healthy daughter, Brianne. One of the most joyful moments that took place at the fundraiser dinner was when Zachary won his preferable toy. Yes, his parents, family members and all of us wish him now and in the future a normal, healthy and happy life. Zach is an amazing little boy who has a positive outlook despite all he has gone through. The dinner raised $5,416.00. to defray the cost of medical expenses for Zach’s treatment.
Zachary Decker and his familyClaire Centrella and Zachary. Claire, on behalf of Holy Cross Parish, worked tirelessly in organizing the fundraiser.Fr. Joseph and Zachary
