Prayer

Ś+P John Swider

Dear Parishioners,

I kindly ask you to say prayers for our departed parishioner, John Swider (86). Our sincere sympathy to his wife, Verna, daughter Gaylene and her husband James Ambrosini, son John Jr and wife Robyn and grandchildren John III and Paige, his sister, Lee Studwell, and a niece and three nephews, other relatives and friends.
John was formerly member of the Parish Committee and active parishioner of our parish since it was built in Woodland Park in 1965-65.

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

Wake Service on Thursday, September 15th, 4-8 PM (5:30 pm -prayers) at Bizub Parker Funeral Home, Little Falls, NJ

Funeral Mass on Friday, September 16th at 9 AM at Holy Cross Church

JOHN SWIDER, age 86, long time resident of Little Falls passed away on Tuesday.

Born on Nov 20, 1924 in Dupont, PA, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941 working Montana and Washington St. as a lumberjack building fire roads. He proudly served during WWII as Petty Officer 2nd Class aboard the USS LST 269 and USS O’Hare Destroyer 889, participating in eight invasions including the Hollandia, Marianas, and Leyte Operations. During the Leyte invasion, his ship suffered mortar damage from shore based fire. John earned four (4) Bronze Battle Stars during his service.

Upon returning to the States after the war, he briefly sailed the Great Lakes aboard the Captain John Roen ore carrier. He married the love of his life, Verna Kutzer, on May 6, 1961.

John was formerly employed by Ford Motor Co and AT&T Bell Labs as a Gold Seal Stationary Engineer. He was a member of the Holy Cross Church, Woodland Park; Charter Member of the VFW Post 4909, Dupont, PA; Little Falls Jolly Seniors; and a Distinguished Brother of the Little Falls Lodge #263, F&AM.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing. John was always there for his family and friends, always ready to lend a helping hand. A beloved husband, loving father and grandfather, and a proud America, John will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife Verna, daughter Gaylene and her husband James Ambrosini, son John Jr and wife Robyn and grandchildren John III and Paige, his sister, Lee Studwell, and a niece and three nephews. He is predeceased by a sister Adele Novak.

Funeral Services will be 8:30 am Friday from Bizub-Parker Funeral Home, 47 Main St, Little Falls and 9:00 am at Holy Cross Church, 220 Browertown Rd, Woodland Park. Interment will follow at Holy Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Dupont, PA. Visitation on Thursday from 4-8 pm with a Wake Service at 5:30 pm and Little Falls Lodge #263 Masonic Funeral Service at 7:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Holy Cross Church and the Little Falls Masonic Temple, 14 Lincoln Ave., Little Falls, NJ 07424.

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Congratulations newlyweds

Congratulations to our newlywed couple, Adam Joseph and Carolyn Marie (Hrinuk) Petruzzelli!

On behalf of Holy Cross Church, and my family, we extend congratulations to Adam Joseph Petruzzelli and Carolyn Marie (Hrinuk) who received the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony on Friday, August 26th in Holy Cross Church. Your wedding is will be remembered as the beginning of many joyous moments in your life together, the moment two people’s lives become one; where love between a man and a woman is joined, by the Holy Church, in Sacrament.

Almighty Father, we ask you to bless Adam and Carolyn with love, happiness and guidance during their married life. Bless their parents Lenny and Carolyn Hrinuk, and Suzan Pontecorvo and Late Richard Petruzzelli who gave them the gift of life and raised them to be responsible for having their own family. Bless their wedding party and all their friends.

– Fr. Joseph, Pastor

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Ś+P Eleanor Niedzwiecki

I kindly ask you to join me in prayers for deceased parishioner, Ś.P. Eleanor Niedzwiecki,who passed away Monday, August 15th. Ś.P. Eleanor was the loving grandmother of Karen Hitchcock, a member of our Parish Committee. You are invited to attend, if possible the Wake Service, and Requiem Holy Mass.

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

On behalf of Holy Cross Church, Parish Committee and my Family I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Ś.P. Eleanor.

Fr. Joseph R. Cyman, Pastor

Ś.P. Eleanor was 96 years old. She was born in Brooklyn, NY and had lived in North Haledon for over 60 years. She worked as a key punch operator at Broadway Bank in Paterson. Eleanor was a parishioner of Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church in Woodland Park, where she was a member of the Daughters of Holy Cross. Eleanor was the beloved mother of Diane Hitchcock and her late husband James of Pequannock and Ronald Niedzwiecki and his wife Sandra of New Bern, NC. Loving grandmother of Karen Hitchcock of Pompton Plains, James Hitchcock and his wife Elaine of Pompton Plains, Jennifer Bartolozzi and her husband Richard of Pompton Plains and Diane Roberts and her husband Shawn of Hanover Twp. Dear great-grandmother of James, Ryan, Logan, Kiley, Lauren and Kaylan. Dearest sister of Edmund Niedzwiecki and his wife Nancy of Haledon. Funeral will depart the Browning-Forshay Funeral Home, 557 Lafayette Ave., Hawthorne, on Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 9:15 AM for a 10 AM memorial mass at Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church, Woodland Park. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa. Memorial donations may be made to Holy Cross PNC Church, 220 Browertown Rd., Woodland Park 07424.

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Installation of Bishop Mack

From The Scranton Times Tribune: The Installation of Rt. Rev. John E. Mack as the New Bishop of the Central Diocese

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.

He and his wife have three children.

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Holy Masses For The Homebound And The Sick

Parishioners and community members are welcome to attend Holy Masses for the homebound and the sick on Thursdays at 7:15 PM. You can pray for your intention or for someone else. “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord…” — James 5:14.

Upcoming dates for Healing Holy Mass: Thursday June 9, 16, 23, 30 at 7:15 PM.

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Ś+P Letizia Gulla

Prayers of Sympathy and condolences to Angela Gulla (formerly Bucci) and her family on the loss of her mother and our dear sister in faith Letizia Gulla

Wake service will be Friday May 27, 2011 from 2 – 4 PM and from 7 to 8 PM at the Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, 1313 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, NJ. Fr. Joseph will offer prayers at the Funeral Home at 3PM. Requiem Holy Mass on Saturday, May 28th at 9:30 AM.

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


GULLA – Letizia (nee Casella), 85, of Paterson, formerly of Passaic, passed away on May 26, 2011. Born in Gioiosa Marea, Messina, Sicily, Mrs. Gulla came to the United States in 1953 and settled in Passaic. She lived there for many years before moving to Paterson in 1992. Prior to her retirement, she was the owner of Lydia’s Dress Shop in Passaic for many years. Mrs. Gulla was a former parishioner of St. Anthony R.C. Church in Passaic.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Anthony Gulla, Sr. in 1992.

Survivors include: her devoted daughters, Rosemary Furtek of Wayne and Angela Gulla of Little Falls; her devoted sons, Anthony Gulla, Jr. of Blairstown and Rossano Gulla of Westfield; seven loving grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

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Mother’s Day 2011

Last Sunday, May 8th, we celebrated Mother’s Day. Each mother received a single pink carnation corsage at 9 AM and 11 AM Masses. Children read prayers of the faithful and beautiful poems. In addition to that, on their special day, we enjoyed a delicious Mother’s Day Breakfast. Edward Obssuth with the help of Lenny Hrinuk, Dominick Bucci, and Alejandro Romero prepared a delicious breakfast. The menu included: Pancakes, Sausages, Eggs, Bacon, French Toasts, Home Fries, Danish, Rolls and Butter, Fruits, Coffee, Tea. We thank all of them for sharing their culinary talents, time and efforts for the good of our parish.

May God bless all mothers, our daily heroes for their love, service and kindness.

Each mother received a pink carnation corsage

Children and youth presented prayers of the faithful and read beautiful Mother's Day poems

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The Liturgies of Holy Week

Each parishioner, the the members of our community, are invited to participate in these significant and important services for Holy Week.

HOLY WEDNESDAY – April 20, 2011: The decoration of the church will take place at 12 P.M. Especially ANS members are asked to help. The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance – General Confession will take place at 7:00 P.M. The youth who have received First Holy Communion and are under 16 years are strongly encouraged to attend the private forms of confession at 7:30 PM. Adults if wish can attend private form of confession.

MAUNDY THURSDAY – April 21, 2011: we will commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus in the Upper Room and the institution of the Sacraments of Holy Orders, Holy Eucharist and Penance at 7:15 P.M. On that day we will celebrate the Holy Mass in white vestments. On Holy Thursday we will ring bells during the Gloria. The bells will not be used until the liturgy of Resurrection. At the end of Holy Thursday Mass, the Holy Eucharist will be taken to the side altar to signify that Jesus was taken at night from the Garden of Olives and imprisoned by the Sanhedrin. The exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament will be until 9:00 P.M. Please sign up for the adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament on the list located in the parish hall.

GOOD FRIDAY – April 22, 2011: The liturgy of the Stations of the Cross with children and youth participation will take place.at 3:00 P.M. We will meditate for the last time during this Lent the passion and suffering of our Lord. The opening of the Lord’s tomb will take place. A simple reception will take place consisting of coffee and juice with crackers.

The Liturgy of Good Friday this year will take place at 4:15 P.M. The Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified on Good Friday consists of the Passion of Jesus according to the Gospel of St. John. The main purpose of the liturgy will be veneration of the Cross, the symbol of victory over death and sin. On that day the Holy Communion will be distributed (consecrated on Holy Thursday) and the adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament will take place until 6:30 p.m. Please sign up for the adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament on the list located in the parish hall.

HOLY SATURDAY – April 23, 2011: On Holy Saturday you can bring the Easter baskets with festive food to be blessed at 4:00 p.m. Easter baskets will be blessed also after the Liturgy of Holy Saturday. Since the ancient times the Holy Saturday was a day for the new catechumens to be baptized. Our Liturgy will begin at 6:00 P.M. with the blessing of fire and the Pascal candle. The Liturgy of the Word with the history of salvation will take place. The Holy Water will be blessed which we use during the upcoming weeks to bless ourselves in the church, to baptize children and for the Asperses on Sundays. The Easter Vigil will take place at the end of the celebration.

EASTER – SUNDAY – APRIL 24, 2011: The Resurrection Liturgy will be celebrated on Easter Sunday at 8:00 a.m. preceded with the procession around the church. The solemn Holy Mass of the Resurrection will follow. The second Holy Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m.

My Dear Parishioners and Friends, each and everyone is welcomed to attend these beautiful celebrations in order to more completely understand the meaning and important events of the life of Jesus especially His passion and glorious resurrection.

Wishing you a Happy and blessed Easter.

Christ has risen! Indeed He is risen!

Father Joseph R. Cyman, Pastor

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Special thank you

We would like to thank the St. Nicholas Ministry who donated Easter flowers for the sick and homebound of our parish. All home bound greatly appreciated the fact that they are remembered by the Holy Cross Church family. Special thanks are extended to Lucy and Richard Daum, who made arrangements to purchase flowers and delivered them to the church. We thank also Alfreda Bazanowski for sending cards to home bound, and for special occasions to our parishioners on behalf of Holy Cross Church.

Our Parish recently received a bequest of $5,000 as a beneficiary of Jean Biegel’s Last Will and Testament. Jean Begiel (96) passed away on Dec. 11, 2010. As a token of appreciation our parish remembered Jean last Sunday April 3, 2011 during both Holy Masses. We ask parishioners to remember Jean in personal thoughts and prayers. Each Friday the Holy Mass is celebrated with the intention for the benefactors of Holy Cross Church. Eternal rest, grant unto her O, Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

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