Virtual Lenten Retreat
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Lent
Pastor’s Letter for Ash Wednesday and Lent 2021
Ash Wednesday is February 17th. Two Holy Masses will be celebrated with the blessing and distribution of ashes.
- 12:00 Noon – Holy Mass and distribution of blessed ashes sprinkled on the top of our head.
- 7:30 PM Holy Mass and distribution of blessed ashes sprinkled on the top of our head.
This Ash Wednesday, in the interest of safety concerns, the ashes we will be sprinkled / strewn over the crown of the head at both Holy Masses.
Sprinkling a few ashes on the top of the head is an ancient custom in the Church and is used in different countries (e.g., several countries in Europe). This decision was made by our bishops to avoid the contact of finger to forehead, and thereby to encourage everyone’s fullest participation in this ancient rite.
Our Observances in Great Lent
As we enter into the Season of Great Lent this Ash Wednesday, February 17th, I extend to you my invitation and encouragement to observe a Holy Lenten season through self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial. By reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.
I hope you will find time each day to read a portion of Holy Scripture daily of Gospel. You may choose the Gospel of St. Mark since it is us is used in this liturgical year, Cycle B.
This Lent, I want you to consider doing something you might never have thought before to do: ask yourself where God may be leading you in your personal life and in your discipleship for the benefit of Holy Cross Church.
Please remember about abstinence from meat each Wednesday and Friday. The elderly and children do not have to fast and those who have chronic illnesses. Most importantly plan fast from the most serious of your moral failings or weaknesses. I pray that you will make this Lenten a time to renew your faith and your commitment to God and God’s community of Holy Cross Church.
Putting into Practice the Four Traditional Lenten Disciplines
PRAYING is the first of the Lenten disciplines: Praying daily at home. Praying every Sunday in Church at Mass. Prayer through attendance at Stations of the Cross each Friday at 7:30pm (plan to attend).
ALMSGIVING • providing increased offerings to the Church • contributing more broadly to various parish projects and needs. • consider responding to some requests you receive in the mail for worthy charities. • consider in your will and testament to include a bequest from your estate to the Holy Cross Church.
FASTING is a long-hallowed Lenten discipline: • adjusting your dietary routines by abstaining from eating meat on every Friday and Wednesday • giving up one or more things you like to eat or something you enjoy during Lenten season • fasting from wrongdoing, rather, plan doing acts of love towards others, random acts of kindness towards others.
On Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays and Wednesdays of Lent everyone of age 14 and up should abstain from consuming meat.
On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday: Everyone of age 18 to 59 should fast, unless exempt due to medical reason; individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also, pregnant women should not fast. Fasting means a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two light meals that together are not equal to a full meal.
As you give up something for seven weeks that you are particularly fond of, fast also on those things that distance yourselves from God such as greed, unkindness, untruth, disregard for others, self-centeredness. As you abstain from these, eliminating them from your patterns of behavior, replace them with Christian virtues listed in St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians: “Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
As Jesus Christ preached, taught, healed and served others, plan to spend some time with others on the phone or in person who is alone and who need your help, support and encouragement.
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Annual Agape
The Annual Agape (commemoration of the Last Super of Jesus with His Apostles) for NY/NJ Seniorate clergy and parishioners was held on Sunday, April 2nd at Holy Cross parish. The clergy were represented by Fr. Sr. Gregory Mludzik, Fr. Marian Tarnowski, Fr. Andrew Koterba and Fr. Joseph Cyman, host Pastor. A group of parishioners from Dunellen, Bayonne, Wallington, Passaic and Holy Cross participated in reflection, prayers and the meal. Music and songs appropriate for the occasion solemnized this event. Discussion on the commitment toward God, family, work, community and in general was a part of our discussion and reflection. Fr. Joseph invited youth from Holy Cross, especially Confirmation Class students, to experience this annual prayerful celebration. The menu consisted of chicken, lamb, salmon, and rice, variety of salads, soft drinks, coffee and deserts. We thank all who prepared this program and came to be a part of commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper. Thus deepened our personal relation with our Lord and Savior.
Lenten Devotions
On Fridays in Lent everyone is invited to attend Lenten Devotion of Stations of the Cross at 7:15 pm beginning Friday February 20, 2015. The 14 stations depict the following scenes: 1. Jesus is condemned to death; 2. Jesus accepts the cross; 3. Jesus falls the first time; 4. Jesus meets His Mother; 5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross; 6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus; 7. Jesus falls the second time; 8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem; 9. Jesus falls the third time; 10. Jesus is stripped of His garments; 11. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross; 12. Jesus dies on the cross; 13. Jesus’ body is removed from the cross; 14. Jesus is laid in the tomb.
This liturgy helps us to meditate on the sufferings of Jesus and better understand his greatest love for us by dying on the cross for our sins.
Ash Wednesday – The Beginning Of Lent
Tomorrow, February 18, 2015 we begin the season of Lent. Two Masses will be celebrated with the blessing and distribution of Ashes at 12 PM and 7:30 PM.
My friends, it is hard to enter into a penitential mode in our culture, where excess is everywhere. But Paul tells us that “now is a very acceptable time.” Many religious traditions stress the need for prayer, fasting and good deeds, and Lent is our opportunity to enter into those ancient practices — signs not of excess, but of simplicity. Now is our acceptable time to focus on what really matters in life without resentment, martyrdom or pride. Now is our time to be grateful, knowing that we can be reconciled to God and to one another.
Scripture Readings for Ash Wednesday
Joel 2:12-18 Return to the Lord with fasting, weeping and mourning.
Psalm 51 Be merciful, O God, for we have sinned.
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 Now is the acceptable time.
Matthew 6:1-6,16-18 Give alms, pray and fast for God alone to see.
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NY/NJ ANS Lenten Agape
This year the annual Adoration Society of the New York/New Jersey Seniorate Agape celebration will take place at Holy Cross parish on Sunday March 17th at 3:30 P.M. Parishioners from NY/NJ Seniorate are invited to attend this annual event. This Agape celebration will commemorate the feast of Passover in the Jewish faith as well as the last feast of Passover celebrated by our Lord with His disciples. Refreshments will be provided afterward.
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Lenten (and Spring) Fish & Chips Dinner
We will hold our Lenten Fish & Chips dinner on Friday, March 22nd from 6-8pm. The menu includes Manhattan Clam Chowder, Fresh Rolls and Butter, Salads and Coleslaw, Fish & Chips, Chicken Fingers (must be pre-ordered), Coffee & Tea, and Assorted Desserts. Children’s dinners include fish sticks and mac & cheese.
Tickets are $15 for adults. Children 12 and under when attending with parents are free.
Please RSVP by March 20th by calling 973-256-4888 or by E-mail.
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Ash Wednesday – The Beginning of our Lenten Journey
The Church begins the Season of Lent this year on Ash Wednesday, February 13th. On that day two Holy Masses will be celebrated: at 12 P.M. with blessing and distribution of Ashes and at 7 P.M. with blessing and distribution of Ashes.
Beginning with Ash Wednesday we are called to repent, to change our minds about the way we live our lives in the sight of God. In the reading from the Book of the Prophet Joel we will hear that he summoned infants, children, the newly married and the elderly to an assembly of prayer indicating that they were repenting. Ash Wednesday summons everyone to enter into a forty-day fast. All are called to pray. All are invited to give alms. We will all gather on Ash Wednesday because we know that we need to “to return to the Lord.” Joel tells us that we can do that only by returning with our whole hearts, that is, with a motivation that is deep inside us. The ashes marking a cross on our foreheads will indicate that we are entering in the Lenten period of change that will leave us never to be the same again.
During the season of Lent all parishioners are welcome to attend Lenten Devotions.
On Fridays in Lent you are invited to attend Stations of the Cross with the reading on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ at 7:15 P.M. This will give us the opportunity to reflect upon the redemptive sufferings of our Lord.
Remember: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of Fast and Abstinence. Abstinence from meats is to be observed by all Polish National Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent. Fasting is to be observed by all Polish National Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.
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Annual NY/NJ ANS Agape, March 25th
This year’s annual Adoration Society of the New York/New Jersey Seniorate Agape celebration will take place at Transfiguration of our Lord Parish, Wallington, NJ on Sunday, March 25th beginning at 3:30 PM. ANS members and parishioners from NY/NJ Seniorate are invited to attend. Please sign your name on the sign-up list located in the parish hall by Sunday, March 18th, 2012. This Agape celebration will commemorate the feast of Passover in the Jewish faith as well as the last feast of Passover celebrated by our Lord with His disciples. Refreshments will be provided.
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Ash Wednesday – The Beginning of Lent
On Wednesday, February 22nd, the Church begins the season of Lent. On that day two Holy Masses will be celebrated: at 12 and 7 P.M. along with the Blessing and distribution of Ashes.
Spiritual reflection for Ash Wednesday: Beginning on Ash Wednesday we are called to repent, to change our minds about the way we live our lives in the sight of God. In the reading from the Book of the Prophet Joel we will hear that he summoned infants, children, the newly married and the elderly to an assembly of prayer indicating that they were repenting. Ash Wednesday summons everyone to enter into a forty-day fast. All are called to pray. All are invited to give alms. We will all gather on Ash Wednesday because we know that we need to “to return to the Lord.” Joel tells us that we can do that only by returning with our whole hearts, that is, with a motivation that is deep inside us. The ashes marking a cross on our foreheads will indicate that we are entering in the Lenten period of change that will leave us never to be the same again.
During the season of Lent all parishioners are welcome to attend Lenten Devotions. On Fridays in Lent you are invited to attend Stations of the Cross with the reading on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ at 7:15 PM. This will give us the opportunity to reflect upon the redemptive sufferings of our Lord.
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