Our annual Christmas Dinner was held last Sunday, December 4th. We enjoyed great attendance, delicious and abundant festive food prepared by Deacon David his wife Laurie, Edward Obssuth and their helpers. Our School of Christian Living students presented a play which invited the audience to participate in singing Christmas Carols. A special cake was made to honor the birth of Jesus. St. Nicholas came and distributed gifts to the precious children asking them in return to be god for another year.
A Candle basket and 50/50 cash prize were raffled. We thank also ladies who brought delicious bake goods. A thank you is also extended to the parishioners who contributed desserts, sold raffles, and invited friends for last Sunday celebration. Merry Christmas!
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 pet blessing, in Commemoration of St. Francis, will take place Sunday, October 2nd at the beginning of the 11am Holy Mass. The Mass will take place in the parish hall. Well behaved dogs, cats, fish, birds and all God’s creatures are invited with their owners. The blessing will be given in Commemoration of Saint Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4). As we know, animals trusted St. Francis and he treated them with courtesy. Near the end of his life St. Francis composed a song of praise and thanks to God for all his creations, called “Canticle to Brother Sun” – also known as the “Canticle of the Creatures.” From this song we know that St. Francis did not perceive himself isolated from other creatures. He simply assumed that all creatures – not only humans – form one family of creation. So we are encouraged to bless and praise God with cats, dogs, birds and all God’s creatures.
We thank organizers and participants of last Monday’s Drive In Movie. We watched the movie “Mars Needs Moms,” a Walt Disney Picture, by Simon Wells.
We had about 50 viewers enjoying the weather, friendship, refreshments and the movie. Several people helped to organize this fundraiser for our youth. We thank:
Natalie Lazar for organizing this event, producing a flyer which was included in the bulletin and on the web site. Natalie also donated bags, powdered sugar, flour, chocolate syrup, and eggs;
Antonio Lazar who prepared a BBQ of hot dogs and prepared other items;
Claire Centrella who donated hot dogs, buns, licorice, chips, popcorn;
Merry Sleece who donated hot dogs;
The Kiame family for their donation of soda and water;
The Fernandez family for their donation of water;
Kathy Villagomez who donated whipped cream;
Renata Cyman who donated strawberries and bananas; and
Karen Paulison who donated hot dog buns.
We also thank and appreciate the help offered by John and Natalie Lazar’s friend who set up the screen, projector, computer, and speakers.
Last Sunday, June 12th, our School Of Christian Living had graduation day. Good and participation awards were given by the teachers of SOCL to the following students:
Level I – Pre-school – Kindergarten
Jassie Santos – good attendance
Aubrey Santos – good attendance
Level II – 1st and 2nd grades
Natalie Cyman – good attendance
Neil Kiame – good attendance
Level III – 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades
Angie Cardona – good attendance
Nicholas Desch – good attendance
Chris Paulison – good attendance
Elizabeth Fernandez – good attendance
Syera Plitt – good attendance
Nayef Kiame – good attendance
Ned Kiame – good attendance
Amber Harth – participation award
Level IV – 6th, 7th, and 8th grades
Michael Cyman – good attendance
Emily Fernandez – good attendance
Henry Fernandez – good attendance
The students with good attendance received $10 gift certificates and students with participation awards received $5 gift certificates to Barnes and Noble. All students received SOCL certificates signed by Bishop Anthony Mikovsky, Fr. Joseph R. Cyman and the teacher of each class.
The Holy Cross Parish, children and parents thanked the following teachers Mrs. Claire Centrella, Mrs. Natalie Lazar, Mrs. Karen Paulison, and Mrs. Jamie Santos, and substitute teachers Mrs. Karen Peano, Mrs. Carol Montero, and Ms. Alissa Paulison for their time and efforts in preparing and conducting the lessons.
SOCL student list changes in fall 2011: Emily Fernandez will begin high school in fall 2011. Even though she will leave SOCL she will stay as an active member of Holy Cross Church Youth Group. Other students will be placed to SOCL levels according to their age.
We hope that in 2011 we will increase the number of students in our SOCL.
The program is free of charge and special social events were already scheduled for 2011 – 2012 school year. Dear parents and students, invite other children to enjoy our program. School Of Christian Living classes will begin on Sunday, September 11th.
Three decades ago, seminarian John Mack taught St. Stanislaus children catechism, followed with a lesson on the basketball court.
At 6 feet 3 inches, Mr. Mack impressed his students with a passion for the Lord and the layup. Sunday, some of those former students looked on as the man they met as a seminarian was installed as bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church’s Central Diocese at a Mass at St. Stanislaus Cathedral
“He was very friendly and energetic,” said one of those students, Fred Aebli, after the service. “It’s neat to see him come back in such a big way.”
Bishop Mack had been in the post since Feb. 1, but his era as the eighth bishop of the Scranton-based religion officially began at the Mass with the certification of the election results and passing of the symbolic pastoral staff.
Prime Bishop Anthony Mikovsky reminded those at the ceremony that the elected bishop has the authority of God and God’s people, and he exhorted them to “Unite in faith…. follow, listen and work.”
Bishop Mack had recently been auxiliary bishop in the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese. He was elected to the new post after Bishop Mikovsky was elected Prime Bishop in the fall.
Bishop Mack will also serve as pastor of St. Stanislaus Cathedral, the denomination’s mother church.
While Bishop Mack moved on from his education in Scranton, he never really left, said Joe Nasser, president of the St. Stanislaus Men’s Association.
With the headquarters of the church in the city, he was a common sight in Scranton throughout his career.
“He’s the same as a bishop as he has always been in his career: down-to-earth, a good communicator, and easy to get a hold of,” Mr. Nasser said. “The new leadership has made this an exciting time here.”
After the Mass, the church held a reception in the parish youth center.
Bishop Mack was born and raised in the Polish National Catholic Church in the Greater Detroit area and attended Savonarola Theological Seminary in Scranton.
Eight wonderful children from our parish received the Holy Eucharist for the first time on May 22nd
We congratulate all students and their parents, relatives and friends on this special occasion. Special thanks to parents for their support and help in preparing children by bringing them to the church and studying also at home. Parents sponsored beautiful flower arrangements which decorated the sanctuary. The First Holy Communion classes are offered to those who are in the second grade or older. Sunday School classes, free of charge, will start again on September 12, 2011.
From the left in the first row: Nicole Romero, Syera Plitt, Carlos Garcia, Neil Kiame, Angie Cardona, Elizabeth Fernandez, Henry Fernandez and Emily Fernandez. Second row: Fr. Joseph, pastor and altar servers serving at the Mass Ned Kiame, Michael Cyman and Nayef Kiame.
The oath of the Parish Committee for the Year 2011 took place on Palm Sunday, April 17th, after 9 A.M. Holy Mass.
Congratulations! First row from left: altar servers serving at the Mass Parish Committee members second row from left: Hughie Vickerilla (Trustee), Alice Kriskewic (Trustee), Adele Merson (Trustee). Karen Hitchcock (Recording Secretary), Alexandra Lazor (Trustee), Claire Centrella (Trustee), Fr. Joseph R. Cyman (Pastor), Deacon David Gaydos; Edward Obssuth (Trustee), Dominick Bucci (Chairman of the Parish Committee); Bob Sleece (Vice-Chairman); Richard Daum (Financial Secretary/Treasurer); Absent was Lynn Imperiale
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
