Jesus Christ departed the earth and he sent apostles and, after them us – to go and proclaim the Gospel to all people on the earth. Over the twenty centuries the Church grew in number and widened the territory of goodness in the world. Today our Church has the same mission to live more deeply by the Gospel and proclaim it making the new disciples for Christ. Today the success of this mission is upon us.

The Eucharist, which we now celebrate, is the anamnesis – Reminder and Participation in the Ascension of the Lord. We remember this event and at the same time we participate in it. Therefore the message of our Master Jesus Christ is in force to us today too. We are the Disciples of Christ and we have to live in the communion with Jesus in his Church and proclaim His message to all people on the world.

Holy Masses

May 20, 2012 – 7^th Easter Sunday – Ascension of our Lord

10:00 AM for ++Alvira & Eugene Przybylowicz from Walter Pry

May 27, 2012 – Pentecost Sunday

10:00 AM for++Cecilia Eyring & Joan Charvat from Pat & Marge Feehley

June 03, 2012 – Trinity Sunday

10:00 AM for+Danny Jagodzinski from Augusta Kutrik

June 10, 2012 – Corpus Christi Sunday

10:00 AM for+Rev. Louis Victor from Denice Funk

Announcements

¨      The May Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary will be on Sunday May 20, 2012 after Holy Mass.

¨      Acolyte Retreat will be from Tuesday June 26th to Friday June 29^th in Spojnia Farm (Waymart, PA). Applications are available – see Father.

¨      The Father’s Day is coming (June 17, 2012) if you would like to mention your Father’s Name in the intention of the Mass please fill out the envelope for Father’s Day in vestibule of the Church.

¨      MY MISSION: When I am the disciple of Christ and the member of his Church I realize this and participate in all matters which concern Him. The Easter season and the Sunday’s Masses are not my challenges are my privilege.

Welcome Our Visitors

We welcome all our visitors who are present with us for worship this Sunday! Please introduce yourself to the Pastor afterMass.Please write your names in the guest book located in the vestibule of the church. Please remember that you are always welcome to join us in worship atHolyCrossChurch.

We are again reminded today that the heart of Christianity is love: love of God, love of one another. Jesus tells us that we have to love one another as he has loved us. This is a very demanding love, for it commits us to love not only those we like and who love us or like-minded fellow Christians, but also the difficult ones, the “unlovable,” people far from perfect, outsiders… That is not so easy, and this is probably why he calls it a commandment.

Today is also Mother’s day. We thank God for the gift of motherhood, both biological motherhood and spiritual motherhood. We ask God for his special blessing on our earthly mothers living or dead.

One important fact that cannot be dismissed is that mothers are generally very protective of their children. The Church is described as “Holy Mother Church”. God entrusted to the Church the responsibility to guide His sons and daughters aright with the word of God and to follow the path established by God for the salvation of souls.

Let us ask our Lord in this Eucharist that we may grow in this openness of genuine love.

Holy Masses

May 13, 2012 – 6^th Easter Sunday – Mother’s Day

10:00 AM for all Mothers, living and dead especially

In Memory of

+Norma Wasilewska Victor from Denice Funk,

+Cecelia Dabrowski from Bernard Dabrowski,

+Frances Gierczak from Joyce Dabrowski,

+Alvira Przybylowicz, + Antonetta West from Eugene & Elvira Przybylowicz.

+Helen Jagodzinski from Augusta Kutrik

+Helen Nowak from Theresa Wiatrowski

+Alice Tierney from Tami Peyton

In Honor of

Denice Funk from Dawn Funk and Madison

Dawn Funk from Madison Funk

May 20, 2012 – 7^th Easter Sunday – Ascension of our Lord

10:00 AM for ++Alvira & Eugene Przybylowicz from Walter Pry

May 27, 2012 – Pentecost Sunday

10:00 AM for++Cecilia Eyring & Joan Charvat from Pat & Marge Feehley

Announcements

¨      The May Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary will be on Sunday May 20, 2012 after Holy Mass.

¨      MY MISSION: When I am the disciple of Christ and the member of his Church I realize this and participate in all matters which concern Him. The Easter season and the Sunday’s Masses are not my challenges are my privilege.

Welcome Our Visitors

Reflections

1. As we meditate on the image of the vine, or on the word “abide”, how is this reflecting your own community? Do you belong to any believing community? Who are the members? What does this community mean to you?
2. Love is not a word but an action. What are some of the problems in your community? Misunderstanding? How does a loving action bring the community together?
3. Reflect on an experience of being loved by someone, recall the happiness, how is this experience a manifestation of Jesus’ love?

Today we celebrate the 4^th Sunday of Easter – so-called The Good Shepherd Sunday: we pray for the new and good Vocation to the priesthood, especially in Our Polish National Catholic Church.

Being the Good Shepherd to the others it is our main task as followers of Jesus Christ this task is not only for the priests is for all of us. We pray and follow our Master to be his true image in our surroundings.

The Eucharist which we now celebrate is the great Thanksgiving to God for the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ and his salvation. We glorify God our Father for his Son, and we attempt to be the same as he is. From the other site the Eucharist is the part of our ministry to feed the sheep with the food from heaven and this is our daily duties as regular Christian.

Holy Masses

April 29, 2012 – 4^th Easter Sunday

10:00 AM for +Paul Mryncza from Denice Funk

May 6, 2012 – 5^th Easter Sunday

10:00 AM for ++ Nagrabski Family from Michael Nagrabski

May 13, 2012 – 6^th Easter Sunday – Mother’s Day

10:00 AM for all Mothers, living and dead especially for…

Announcements

• Philadelphia Seniorate meeting – Saturday April 28, 2012 in Reading, PA
• The 12^th Annual Katyn Remembrance – Sunday Apr. 29, 2012 at 1:00PM – Ceremonies at the National Katyn Memorial – Baltimore Inner Harbor East 600 block of President St. (at Aliceanna St.).
• The Mother’s Day is coming (May 13, 2012) if you would like to mention your Mother’s Name in the intention of the Mass on that day please fill out the envelope for Mothers’s Day offering  in vestibule of the Church.
• The May Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary will be on Sunday May 6&20, 2012 after Holy Mass.
• MY MISSION: When I am the disciple of Christ and the member of his Church I realize this and participate in all matters which concern Him. The Easter season and the Sunday’s Masses are not my challenges are my privilege.

Welcome Our Visitors

- We welcome all our visitors who are present with us for worship this Sunday! Please introduce yourself to the Pastor afterMass.Please write your names in the guest book located in the vestibule of the church. Please remember that you are always welcome to join us in worship atHolyCrossChurch.

This Sunday gives us the simple direction what we have to do as Disciples of Christ. We have to be the witnesses of the Christ’s life, death and resurrection. We have to be the disciples who go to the neighbors and proclaim our own encounter with Jesus Christ.

First of all we have to hear about the resurrection of Jesus from our parents, priests  and friends. Secondly, we have to meet Jesus on our own way of life as the two disciples encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus, and go with this experience to the other disciples to share our faith. And after these steps we will meet Jesus face to face at Mass.

The Holy Mass is the simply way to meet Jesus in our lives. Here and now we hear the Word, we break the bread and wine, we share our faith with the others and we touch the real Jesus in the Eucharist. In this situation we need only to believe that these things are true and real for us. We have to believe, that these things concern us and only us in particular.

Holy Masses

April 22, 2012 – 3^rd Easter Sunday

10:00 AM for +Lidia from Nellie Dobrowolski

April 29, 2012 – 4^th Easter Sunday

10:00 AM for +Paul Mryncza from Denice Funk

May 6, 2012 – 5^th Easter Sunday

10:00 AM for ++ Nagrabski Family from Michael Nagrabski

May 13, 2012 – 6^th Easter Sunday – Mother’s Day

10:00 AM for all Mothers, living and dead especially for…

Announcements

¨      Philadelphia Seniorate meeting – Saturday April 28, 2012 in Reading, PA

¨      The Mother’s Day is coming (May 13, 2012) if you would like to mention your Mother’s Name in the intention of the Mass on that day please fill out the envelope for Mothers’s Day offering  in vestibule of the Church.

¨      The 12^th Annual Katyn Remembrance – Sunday Apr. 29, 2012 at 1:00PM – Ceremonies at the National Katyn Memorial – Baltimore Inner Harbor East 600 block of President St. (at Aliceanna St.).

¨       The May Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary will be on Sunday May 6&20, 2012 after Holy Mass.

¨      MY MISSION: When I am the disciple of Christ and the member of his Church I realize this and participate in all matters which concern Him. The Easter season and the Sunday’s Masses are not my challenges are my privilege.

Welcome Our Visitors

- We welcome all our visitors who are present with us for worship this Sunday! Please introduce yourself to the Pastor afterMass.Please write your names in the guest book located in the vestibule of the church. Please remember that you are always welcome to join us in worship atHolyCrossChurch.

We believe that Christ is risen and alive. What does that faith mean to us today?

Is Jesus so much alive to us that we can meet him personally in prayer, listening and speaking to him as a friend to a friend, heart to heart?

Do we touch his wounds in those wounded in life whether in their bodies or their hearts?

Do we encounter him in our own sorrows?

Do we encounter him in our joys and the joys of our friends?

Is he alive in our Christian community, and do we encounter him there?

 Let us pray to the Lord in this Eucharist that he may be real and alive to each and all of us.

Holy Masses

April 15, 2012 – 2^nd Easter Sunday

10:00 AM for +Helen Rachuba from William Rachuba

April 22, 2012 – 3^rd Easter Sunday

10:00 AM for +Lidia from Nellie Dobrowolski

Announcements

¨      Many Thanks to all people who cleaned the Church on Saturday.

¨      Thanks Denice and Joyce for helping with the egg hunting prizes.

¨      Thank you for the donations on flowers. God bless you.

¨      Philadelphia Seniorate meeting – Saturday April 28, 2012 in Reading, PA

¨      The Mother’s Day is coming (May 13, 2012) if you would like to mention your Mother’s Name in the intention of the Mass on that day please fill out the envelope for Mothers’s Day offering  in vestibule of the Church.

¨      The 12^th Annual Katyn Remembrance – Sunday Apr. 29, 2012 at 1:00PM – Ceremonies at the National Katyn Memorial – Baltimore Inner Harbor East 600 block of President St. (at Aliceanna St.).

¨      MY MISSION: When I am the disciple of Christ and the member of his Church I realize this and participate in all matters which concern Him. The Easter season and the Sunday’s Masses are not my challenges are my privilege.

Welcome Our Visitors

- We welcome all our visitors who are present with us for worship this Sunday! Please introduce yourself to the Pastor afterMass.Please write your names in the guest book located in the vestibule of the church. Please remember that you are always welcome to join us in worship at HolyCrossChurch.

Today we celebrate the most important of all the Christian Feasts, the Resurrection. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ and our own resurrection in the future. 

But this cannot be isolated from what has gone before. Actually the three great feasts – three days are all of a piece: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday and they should not really be seen in isolation from each other.

Put together we call them the Paschal Mystery; and so, to be more correct, it is this that is the most important event in the Christian year.

Every Holy Mass is the Paschal Mystery in a pill, in each Eucharist we go with Christ from the death to life, from our bondage of sin to the freedom of God’s greace. To be in that Paschal Mystery we need our free will to say yes and be in the Church for service.

Holy Masses

April 7, 2012 – Holy Saturday

5:00 PM for all sponsors and donors of the Holy Cross Parish

April 8, 2012 – Easter Sunday

10:00 AM for all parishioners living or dead

April 15, 2012 – 2^nd Easter Sunday

10:00 AM for +Helen Rachuba from William Rachuba

April 22, 2012 – 3^rd Easter Sunday

10:00 AM for +Lidia from Nellie Dobrowolski

Announcements

¨       Many Thanks to all people who cleaned the Church on Saturday.

¨       Thanks Denice and Joyce for helping with the egg hunting prizes.

¨       Thank you for the donations on flowers. God bless you.

¨       On Saturday Apr. 14 at 2:00 PM we will have the baptism of Luke William Peyton please pray for good growth of faith for him and his Family.

¨       Philadelphia Seniorate meeting – Saturday April 28, 2012 in Reading, PA

¨       The Mother’s Day is coming (May 13, 2012) if you would like to mention your Mother’s Name in the intention of the Mass on that day please fill out the envelope for Mothers’s Day offering  in vestibule of the Church.

¨       The 12^th Annual Katyn Remembrance – Sunday Apr. 29, 2012 at 1:00PM – Ceremonies at the National Katyn Memorial – Baltimore Inner Harbor East 600 block of President St. (at Aliceanna St.).

¨      MY MISSION: When I am the disciple of Christ and the member of his Church I realize this and participate in all matters which concern Him. The Easter season and the Sunday’s Masses are not my challenges are my privilege.

Welcome Our Visitors

We welcome all our visitors who are present with us for worship this Sunday! Please introduce yourself to the Pastor afterMass.Please write your names in the guest book located in the vestibule of the church. Please remember that you are always welcome to join us in worship atHolyCrossChurch.

 Reflections

Imagine that you standing in front of the empty tomb and looking in, what does the tomb look like? Is it foul? What do you see?

The blessing of the Easter food, or the “Swieconka” is a tradition dear to the heart of every Pole. Being deeply religious, he is grateful to God for all His gifts of both nature and grace, and, as a token of this gratitude, has the food of his table sanctified with the hope that spring, the season of the Resurrection, will also be blessed by God’s goodness and mercy.

The usual fare on the Easter table includes ham and kielbasa, cakes of all kinds – particularly babka; eggs – some shelled or some decorated. There is usually a Paschal Lamb or “Baranek” made of butter, some cheese, horseradish, salt, vinegar and oil.

The food is brought to the church and blessed by the parish priest on Holy Saturday. The food can also be blessed in the home. After the blessing, the food is usually set aside until Easter morning when the head of the house shares the blessed egg, symbol of life, with family and friends. Having exchanged wishes, all continue to enjoy a hearty meal.

This centuries old custom is indeed richly symbolic and beautiful. It is one in which the whole family can participate and help prepare. May this tradition endure for many generations to come.

All of you can enjoy this beautiful Polish custom by participating at the blessing of the Easter food “Swieconka” at the Polish church nearest you. This is an excellent way to teach the younger members of your family about this treasured Polish tradition.

A Traditional Polish Easter Basket

Maslo (Butter) – This dairy product is often shaped into a lamb (Baranek Wielkanocny) or a cross. This reminds us of the good will oi Christ that we should have towards all things.

Babka (Easter Bread) – A round or long loaf topped with a cross or a fish, symbolic of Jesus, who is the Bread of Life.

Chrzan (Horseradish) – Symbolic of the Passion of Christ still in our minds.

Jajka (Eggs) and Pisanki (decorated with symbols of Easter, of life, of prosperity) – Indicates new life and Christ’s Resurrection from the tomb.

Kielbasa (Sausage) – A sausage product, symbolic of God’s favor and generosity.

Szynka (Ham) – Symbolic of great joy and abundance. Some prefer lamb or veal. The lamb also reminds Christians that the Risen Christ is the “Lamb of God.”

Slonina (Smoked Bacon) – A symbol of the overabundance of God’s mercy and generosity.

Sol (Salt) – A necessary element in our physical life. Symbolic of prosperity and justice and to remind us that people are the flavor of the earth.

Ser (Cheese) – Symbolic of the moderation Christians should have at all times.

Candle - Represents Christ as the Light of the World.

Colorful Ribbons and Sprigs of Greenery - are attached to the basket as signs of joy and new life in the season of spring and in celebration of the Resurrection.

Linen Cover - drawn over the top of the basket which is ready for the priest’s visit to the home or the trip to church where it is joined with the baskets of others to await the blessing. The food is then set aside and enjoyed on Easter Sunday.

For five weeks of Lent we have been preparing, by works of charity and self-sacrifices, for the celebration of our Lord’s paschal mystery. Today we celebrate the Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion the first day of the Holy Week.

On this day the Church celebrates Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish his Paschal Mystery. Accordingly, the memorial of this event is included in every Holy Mass with the procession or the solemn entrance before the Mass.

Our wonderful daily lives can be only express by our worship of God our Creator. By Palm Sunday we praise our Lord Jesus Christ, we call him Holy Son of David and King of Israel. We give him the worship of God to make Him equal with God Creator for his work of our Salvation.

During this Holy Mass we will hear the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Mark. We have to find ourselves in that story of salvation because our sin is the purpose of this event and our own role is very important in the whole economy of Salvation.

The Holy Mass which we now celebrate is the Paschal Mystery of Jesus and ours therefore we need to be present on that event.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

Apr. 5: Maundy Thursday   - 6:30 PM Holy Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Apr. 6: Good Friday             - 6:30 PM The Stations of the Cross and Liturgy of the Word and Adoration of the Cross

Apr. 7: Holy Saturday         - 5:00 PM Blessing of Food Baskets and followed by the Easter Vigil Eucharist; Parish Dinner and Hunting the Eggs

Apr. 8: Easter Sunday         - 10:00 AM Holy Mass of Easter with Procession

Holy Masses

April 1, 2012 – Palm Sunday

10:00 AM for +Mary Watcheski from Carolyn Hanson

April 5, 2012 – Maundy Thursday

6:30 PM for all priest who served for the Holy Cross Parish

April 7, 2012 – Holy Saturday

5:00 PM for all sponsors and donors of the Holy Cross Parish

April 8, 2012 – Easter Sunday

10:00 AM for all parishioners living or dead

Announcements

¨       HC – On Saturday April 7, after Easter Vigil Eucharist at 5:00 PM, we will have the Parish Dinner, it is the Agape Supper. Every Parishioner with Family is invited. This is the Potluck Dinner everyone can bring something – please ask Ewa what to bring.

¨       Many Thanks to all people who cleaned the Church on Saturday.

¨       On Tuesday April 3 Father will participate in Clergy Conference and in the Holy Mass of Chrism inScranton,PA.

¨       On Saturday Apr. 14 at 2:00 PM we will have the baptism of Luke William Peyton please pray for good growth of faith for him and his Family.

¨       Philadelphia Seniorate meeting – Saturday April 28, 2012 in Reading, PA

¨       For Easter Letter and Holy Week Schedule look on our web site www.holycrosspncc.org

¨       MYMISSION: When I am the disciple of Christ and the member of his Church I realize this and participate in all matters which concern Him. The Holy Week Liturgy is not my challenge it is my privilege.

Welcome Our Visitors

 The Eucharist which we now celebrate is once again the participation in the safety dead of Christ on the Cross, the participation in the Hour of Jesus. We know that our salvation is only by the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Mass is the great thanksgiving for that.

Holy Masses

March 25, 2012 – 5^th Sunday of Lent

10:00 AM for ++Lawrence Piwinski, Kathrine Piwinski, Michael Piwinski, Elzbieta Piwinski, Bertha Piwinski, Walter Potrzuski, Eva Potrzuski, Mary Stokowski, Vera Dobsakowski from Frank Piwinski

April 1, 2012 – Palm Sunday

10:00 AM for +Mary Watcheski from Carolyn Hanson

Announcements

• We are in Lent. In that season we learn about the power of fasting, praying and almsgiving. These are three great works which can help us to prepare ourselves for Resurrection of our Lord and our own resurrection in the future.
• The Stations of the Cross – the devotion which is a very good reminder of the last moments of Jesus Christ on earth. It will take place on Saturdays – 5:00 PM (March 10, and March 31) and on Good Friday 6:30PM.
• All people who want to help cleaning the Church, we invite them on Saturday – March 31 at2:00 PM.
• The Agape Dinner will be on Holy Saturday. April 7 is the date for it. Please remember of it and provide for it some dishes – this is the dinner in the form of Potluck dinner.
• If somebody wants to be a sponsor for the egg hunting prizes please let Fr. Andrew know of it.
• As the members of our Church we are responsible for our future and we will pray and look for the new active members of our Community of Holy Cross in Baltimore, MD.
• Please check the Blog of our web site: www.holycrosspncc.org

Welcome Our Visitors

- We welcome all our visitors who are present with us for worship this Sunday! Please introduce yourself to the pastor after Mass. Please write your names in the guest book located in the vestibule of the church. Please remember that you are always welcome to join us in worship at Holy Cross Church.

In our churches and in most of our homes the crucifix is given a place of honor. Does that mean that we have to love crosses? No, but it says that we believe in our crucified Lord and that we love him dearly. He saved us by his cross and resurrection. He is the sign that God loved us so much that he gave us his only Son to bring us forgiveness and life and love. It is to Jesus on the cross that we look up for strength to bear the crosses (the sufferings) that come to us in the difficulties of life.

The Eucharist which we now celebrate is the real taste of God’s love. We gather together at the Mass with crucified Jesus. We hear his voice in readings and we eat him in the communion. God so loves us that he gives us his only Son, so we have to believe in him and we might have eternal life, but after the Eucharist we have to do the same as God did: to give love to one another.

Holy Masses

March 18, 2012 – 4^th Sunday of Lent

10:00 AM for +Norma Victor (2 year anniversary of her death) from Denice Funk

March 25, 2012 – 5^th Sunday of Lent

10:00 AM for ++Lawrence Piwinski, Kathrine Piwinski, Michael Piwinski, Elzbieta Piwinski, Bertha Piwinski, Walter Potrzuski, Eva Potrzuski, Mary Stokowski, Vera Dobsakowski from Frank Piwinski

Announcements

1. We start the Lent. In that season we learn about the power of fasting, praying and almsgiving. These are three great works which can help us to prepare ourselves for Resurrection of our Lord and our own resurrection.
2. The Stations of the Cross – the devotion which is a very good reminder of the last moments of Jesus Christ on earth. It will take place on Saturdays – 5:00 PM (March 10, and March 31) and on Good Friday 6:30PM.
3. All people who want to help cleaning the Church we invite them on Saturday – March 31 at2:00 PM.
4. The Agape Dinner will be on Holy Saturday. April 7 is the date for it. Please remember of it and provide for it some dishes – this is the dinner in the form of Potluck dinner.
5. If somebody wants to be a sponsor for the egg hunting prizes please let Fr. Andrew know of it.
6. As the members of our Church we are responsible for our future and we will pray and look for the new active members of our Community of Holy Cross in Baltimore, MD.
7. Please check the Blog of our web site: www.holycrosspncc.org

Welcome Our Visitors

- We welcome all our visitors who are present with us for worship this Sunday! Please introduce yourself to the Pastor after Mass. Please write your names in the guest book located in the vestibule of the church. Please remember that you are always welcome to join us in worship at Holy Cross Church.