MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM

Sunday 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM

Holy Day Vigil 7:00 PM

8:00 AM

Weekdays 8:00 AM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

HOLY CROSS DIRECTORY

Rev. William C. McGuirk

Pastor & Trust Administrator

Email: Wmcguirk@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Pastoral Council: Gerald Andrews, Bob Kimmick,

Anthony & Sharon Rizzardi, Debbie Schotting,

Kay Sofranko, Joe Sostarich, Rose Yoder

Faith Formation: Brian Lohr

Finance Council: Mark Frick, Georgie Gamberoni,

Sally Hurrianko, Dennis McManus

Ministry of Care: Facilitator Joan Jones

Prayer Chain: Pat Cassa

Parish Staff Choir Director: Carol Sostarich

Organists: Linda Eismont, Carol Kalich, Mimi McManus

Sacristan: Eleanor Hamrock

Business Manager: Sara Thomas

Women’s Guild: President: Eleanor Hamrock

Health Ministry Coordinator/Parish Nurse: Melanie Orndoff

Knights of Columbus: Charles Stack Meeting 2nd Wednesday at 7:30 PM

Confession Saturday 4:00 PM

Marriages Call the parish office at least 6 months in advance.

Baptisms Contact the parish office.

Anointing of the Sick Call the parish office.

Parish Office Hours Monday-Friday 9:00 AM—4:00 PM

facebook.com/hcyoungwood

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord April 9, 2017

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Psalm 22:2a

MASS INTENTIONS

Sat: Apr 8 5:00PM+

Sun: Apr 9 8:00AM+ 10:00AM+

Mon: Apr 10 8:00AM+

Tue: Apr 11 8:00AM+ 12:30PM

Wed: Apr 12 8:00AM+ Thur: Apr 13 8:00AM 10:00AM 7:00PM

Fri: Apr 14 8:00AM 10:30AM 1:00PM 7:00PM Sat: Apr 15 12:00PM 5:00PM 8:30PM

Sun: Apr 16 8:00AM+ 10:00AM+

he death of Jesus on the cross was not merely a dutiful Son fulfilling his role. It was a total self-emptying, self-surrender, self-giving sacrifice that led him, and leads us, to resurrected life.

How would you have responded in the various situations described in the Passion?

What does your use of words reveal about your faith in Jesus and your willingness to do God’s will?

Triduum A Sense of the Season

The word Triduum comes from the Latin and means “three days.” It is

commonly pronounced “TRIH-doo-uhm” and is usually used in reference

to the Easter Triduum, the three most sacred days in the church year. The

Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on

Holy Thursday, reaches its high point at the Easter Vigil and concludes

with evening prayer on Easter Sunday. Often there is confusion about

how that block of time can be counted as three days. The traditional Jew-

ish practice of counting days from sunset to sunset is used during the

Triduum. Thus, Holy Thursday evening to Good Friday evening is the

first day, Good Friday evening to Holy Saturday evening is the second

day and Holy Saturday evening to Sunday evening is the third day. After

centuries of neglect, Pope Pius XII in 1955 restored the Triduum liturgies

to their rightful place as the culmination of the entire liturgical year.

Although we talk of the three days, our Triduum prayer is best under-

stood as one liturgy in three interlocking movements. The death and res-

urrection of the Lord cannot be separated. The meaning of these days is

distorted when we imagine that the liturgy re-enacts the final events in

the life of Jesus in a sort of historical review. We miss the point in that

case. The mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection is a present reality; the

boundaries of time, and the boundaries of death, have no power here.

Our past, present and future are irrevocably marked by our own im-

mersion into this mystery through baptism. We wash one another’s feet,

reverence the cross, light fires in the night and proclaim the stories of our

salvation with an awed awareness that this is what it means to be bap-

tized. The Easter Vigil then is the premier time to welcome new members

into the church through baptism, confirmation and Eucharist.

Ideally, no other parish events are scheduled on these three days; the

presence, time and energy of every person in the community are needed

for what we do here. Yes, this may be inconvenient, but birth and death

are rarely convenient! Our forty days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving

lead us to the Triduum—beyond its history, into its mystery. Copyright © 1997 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1800 North Hermitage Ave-

nue, Chicago IL 60622-1101; 1-800-933-1800. Text by Kathy Luty. Art by Rita Corbin.

On Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the 5:00 PM Mass we will honor those

students who are graduating from High School this year. Following Mass

we will host a reception for the Seniors and their families. If you haven’t

received a letter and invitation with an RSVP, please call the parish office

and fill out the form below.

Our tradition for this reception is to have the High School Juniors

and their families serve at the reception. Please call the office if you

are able to serve.

Holy Cross Church

High School Seniors

Mass and Reception

April 29, 2017

Name: _________________________

How many will be attending: ________

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Vigil Kenneth E. Geiger (Terri Hart, Daughter)

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Living & Deceased Holy Cross Members

Anthony Benyacko (A), Dennis Weeks & Terrie Kohan (B) (Paul & Dorothy Carbisiero)

Monday of Holy Week Dolores Griffin (Lisa Brady)

Tuesday of Holy Week Betty Winter (Sister, Ann) Stations of the Cross

Wednesday of Holy Week LaVon Skowronek (Gertrude Moore)

Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday) No Mass Chrism Mass at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral

The Lord’s Supper Adoration until 10PM Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday)

No Mass Ecumenical Walk Celebration of Lord Passion Stations—KOC

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord (Vigil)

Blessing of Easter Food Baskets No Mass Vigil of Easter Easter Flower Intentions

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

Easter Flower Intentions

Easter Flower Intentions

Bishop Malesic to lead Divine Mercy Sunday service April 23 Bishop Edward C. Malesic will lead a Divine Mercy Sunday outdoor

service and eucharistic procession April 23 at 3 p.m. in St. Clair Park,

Greensburg. In the event of inclement weather, the service will be

moved to Blessed Sacrament.

Stewardship 4/2/17

Offertory $6,177 Loose Collection $294 Monthly Inflation $417 Children’s Collection $34 Total $6,922 Candles $170 Holy Thursday $35 Good Friday/Holy Land $65 Easter Donation $90 Easter Flowers $7 Budget: $6,600 Over/Under +322

Sincere thanks for your financial stewardship to Holy Cross Parish.

Diocesan

Lenten Appeal

Goal: $67,000

Total Pledged: $38,535

Percent of Goal: 57%

Number of Pledges 111

Due to HIPPA Law, Westmoreland

Hospital can no longer tell pastors who is

ill. Families must call the office.

If you are admitted to the hospital and wish

to have a Catholic Chaplin visit you, you

must let them know.

Any personal injury on church property,

please make sure you call the office or

speak to the priest.

Lenten Luncheon & Service — Youngwood Ministerium — Wednesdays at

Noon. Meager Meal of soup and bread with Lenten Reflection. April 12 Holy Week—No Luncheon Scheduled

THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE

SCHOOL ABOVE THE RECTORY:

ATTENTION! SAFETY AWARENESS!

Please park like good Christians. Allow

others access by creating three rows. Pull up

so that others can park straight behind you.

One thousand blessings if you implement

this request.

Women Guild meeting scheduled for April 11 has been

cancelled. Women’s Guild meeting has been resched-

uled for April 18 at 6:30 PM.

Washing of Feet Throughout the centuries, artists have used their gifts to tell us the story of

Christ’s life. They have told the story in music, marble, and paint on canvas.

In John’s Gospel, we see a Christ on bended knee washing the feet of Peter.

Washing dusty feet was the work of slaves, not of a Teacher and Lord. “You shall

never wash my feet,” Peter said. But Christ made it clear that this was not an empty

symbol. It was a profound teaching moment. “If I do not wash you” Jesus answered

“You will have no share in my heritage.” Peter apparently got the message and

said, “Then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Peter’s response

should be a model for all Christians. We cannot follow Christ half-heartedly. In

responding to Christ there should be no halfway measures or no negotiations.

We are surrounded by people who need us and need our service. We do not do

service, we are service. We must not wait until we are asked.

At the beginning of each Eucharistic Liturgy, we are asked to call to mind our

sins. We then ask a merciful God for forgiveness. At the conclusion of the Eucha-

rist, we are told to “go and serve.” It was only when the apostles left the Upper

Room at Pentecost that the Church began to continue the mission of Christ. We do

not wait until they ask to have their feet washed. As sensitive caring people, shaped

by the Eucharist, we will see the need. We will initiate the loving service.

Scripture reminds us that Christ frequently went to a quiet place to pray. But His

prayer was always prelude to His deeds. He went about doing good. Love is ex-

pressed in deeds, deeds which are humbling and frequently difficult. We are privi-

leged to carry on His work. His mission begins when we walk out the church door.

As we service one another on bended knee, we become modern images of Christian

Art.

Jesus, Teacher and Lord. Help us to understand more profoundly what you taught

us when you knelt and washed your disciple’s feet. Our lives are to imitate yours.

We seek to be prayerful, as you were prayerful. Help us to understand that we are

in the midst of our brothers and sisters as servants, as foot washers. Help us over-

come pride which prevents us from doing so. Give sight to our blindness which

prevents us from seeing those who need us. Help us to see how we can best serve

them. Help us to understand and live the lesson you taught at the first Eucharist.

You have told us that unless we do so, we will have no share in your heritage.

Grant that after we have gathered around the Eucharistic table we will go forth

from the church with a new commitment that as a Eucharistic people we are to love

and serve you by serving one another.

Our Customs & Traditions

The Easter Basket

Foods traditionally blessed for Easter, the feast of the Lord’s Passover from death to

life, are the foods which God prescribed for the ancient Passover meal: lamb, bread,

wine and bitter herbs. Children’s baskets of candy and eggs may be included in the

blessing service.

Everything for the Easter meal may be blessed. The custom is to reserve the eating

of the blessed food until after the Easter Mass. These articles are placed in a wicker

basket and a ribbon or bow is tied to the handle. A candle is placed in the basket. A

linen cover is placed over the food when it is brought to the Church.

Night at the Races: Saturday, April 22, 7:00 PM in the School

Hall. For horses or ads call Chuck Glorioso

at 724-837-8769 or email:

cag050844@aol.com.

THE CROSS We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus

Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrec-

tion; through whom we are saved and delivered. —Entrance Antiphon, Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Roman Missal