Prayer

Ash Wednesday – The Beginning of our Lenten Journey

Announcements, Events, Parish Life, PNCC /

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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Presentation of the Lord, February 2nd

PNCC /

The Solemnity of the Presentation takes place forty days after the birth of Jesus. The Gospel for that day introduces different people and events that in themselves provide numerous lessons for reflection. First of all, Mary and Joseph respect the Mosaic Law by offering the sacrifice prescribed for the poor: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

Simeon and Anna were two venerable elderly people dedicated to prayer and fasting and so their strong religious spirit rendered them able to recognize the Messiah. In this sense we can see in the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple an extension of the Presentation of Mary (21 November). On this day, the Church demonstrates its gratitude to all those in the community that dedicate themselves in a privileged way to prayer, to those who have a particular religious vocation to the contemplative life. In the figure of the venerable Simeon, Jesus’ presentation in the temple, also reminds us that prayer and contemplation are not just a waste of time or an obstacle to charity. On the contrary, time could not be better spent than in prayer as true Christian charity is a consequence of a solid interior life. Only those who pray and offer penance, like Simeon and Anna, are open to the breath of the Spirit. They know how to recognize the Lord in the circumstances in which He manifests Himself because they possess an ample interior vision, and they have learned how to love with the heart of the One whose very name is Charity.

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Ś+P Wanda Zajac

Parish Life /

Wanda Zajac parishioner of Holy Cross Church passed away on Sunday November 11, 2012. The Funeral Mass took place at Holy Cross Church on Wednesday November 14, 2012. All members of Holy Cross Parish extend our deep sympathy to daughter Diane, son-in-law Richard Torre, brother Louis, grandchildren Kimberly, Robert and Diane, nieces nephews and other relatives and friends on the loss of Wanda Zajac.

Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

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Ś+P Stephanie (Trzepacz) Ludkiewicz

Parish Life /

Ś+P Stephanie (Trzepacz) Ludkiewicz (87), parishioner of Holy Cross Church passed away on November 19, 2012 at Compassionate Care Hospice in Dover surrounded by her loving family.

All members of Holy Cross Parish extend our deep sympathy to son, Dr. Wayne (and Charlene) Ludkiewicz of Beaver, PA, daughter Lee Ann Pellegrini of Succasunna, and daughter Fae (and Erick) Urban of San Francisco, CA. 5 grandchildren; Steven, Brian, Benjamin, Candice, and Nicole, 2 great-grandsons; Charles, Sebastian, and many nieces, nephews, and friends on the loss of Stephanie Ludkiewicz. The funeral Mass took place on Saturday November 24, 2012 at Holy Cross Church. The interment took place at the Holy Cross P N C Cemetery in Ware, MA.

Ś+P Stephanie was predeceased by her husband of 62 years Ś+P Steven (2010) and 9 siblings. She was born in Palmer, MA, lived in Springfield, MA before moving to Ledgewood, NJ 50 years ago. She recently resided at Mt. Arlington Senior Living.

She worked at Wrights supporting the war effort sewing cargo parachutes and for Westinghouse. She also worked for Uniguard in Randolph, and retired from Travelers Insurance Company in 1981. She was a member of the Holy Cross Polish National Church in Woodland Park and Roxbury Township Senior Citizens Club. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations may be made in his name to Holy Cross Church 220 Browertown Road, Woodland Park, NJ 07424.

Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

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Donation for Hurricane Victims

Events, Parish Life /

Our parish decided to donate $1,000 to assist the victims of devastating Hurricane Sandy. On Thursday November 15th the parish presented a check to The Salvation Army.

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are will all those who were affected by the hurricane.

In the picture from left: Mayor of Little Falls, Darlene Post and Fred Batelli P.V.O.E.M. from Little Falls, Irene Wall, Donor Relations Manager representing The Salvation Army, Fr. Joseph R. Cyman -Pastor, Irene Macones P.V.O.E.M and Mayor Keith Kazmark of Woodland Park.

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All Saints and All Souls Observances

Announcements, Events, Parish Life, PNCC /

Solemnity of All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation. This year this feast will be celebrated on Thursday, November 1st. We remember and pray with all holy saints. Special Holy Masses will be celebrated at 9 am and 7:15 pm with the reading of All Souls Remembrances.

All Souls Day Envelopes – Are available in the vestibule of the church. On Friday November 2nd the Church will commemorate All Souls Day. On that day Holy Mass with the reading of All Souls remembrances will be held at 9 am. It is our Catholic custom to remember the souls of the faithful departed on that day and throughout the entire month of November.

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 in the collection basket on Sunday. 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 propose the date when you wish to have the Holy Mass celebrated for the intention of your departed loved ones. Fr. Joseph will confirm the availability of the date. These Masses will be listed in the bulletins as All Souls Day Masses.

All Souls Cemetery Service – will take place on Sunday, October 28th at the PNCC section of East Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clifton beginning at 2 pm. 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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Annual Blessing Of Pets

Announcements, Events, Parish Life, PNCC /

Our annual Blessing Of Pets will take place on Sunday, October 7th at the beginning of 11am Holy Mass. The Holy 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 the Feast 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.

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