Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross February 21, 2016

HOLY CROSS CHURCH February 21, 2016 CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS

PASTORAL STAFF SERVING HOLY CROSS

Fr. David Sajdak, S.D.B., Pastor Fr. Joseph Santa Bibiana, S.D.B., Parochial Vicar

Fr. William Bucciferro, S.D.B., in residence Deacon Henry ‘Hank’ Hart Deacon Ed Mohrbacher

Deacon Robert ‘Bob’ Ulbrich

TRUSTEES Tom Murray John Powers

DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Cindy Howie

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC Scott Montgomery

TRIBUNAL AUDITORS Deacon Ed Mohrbacher Deacon Henry Hart

MASSES

Saturday: 5:30 p.m. Vigil Mass Sunday: 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., & 4:00 p.m. Daily: 7:00 a.m. Mon--Fri, 6:30 p.m. Wed, and 8:15 a.m. Sat.

HOLY CROSS PARISH OFFICE 405 W. Clark St., Champaign, Illinois, 61820 Phone: 217-352-8748 Fax: 217-366-2929 e-mail address: office@holycrosscatholic.org website: www.holycrosscatholic.org

HOLY CROSS SCHOOL Christina Ellis, Principal 410 W. White, Champaign, Illinois, 61820 Phone: 217-356-9521 Fax: 217-356-1745

ADORATION Fridays all day, with Benediction at 4:45 p.m.

RECONCILIATION

Saturday: 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday: 6:45 to 6:55 a.m. Or by appointment.

BAPTISM: Second and fourth Sunday of the month,

after the 10:00 a.m. Mass. Parents must be registered members and attend a baptismal preparation session, preferably before the birth of the child. Contact the Parish Office three months in advance to schedule.

MATRIMONY: Couples contemplating marriage should

call the Pastor at least eight months in advance. At least one partner must be a registered parishioner at Holy Cross and be actively practicing the faith. If you have had a previous marriage, set no marriage date until you have discussed this with your Pastor.

CARE OF THE SICK: Call the Parish Office to make arrangements at any time for Communion and/or the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

BULLETIN DEADLINE: Two Wednesdays prior to the bulletin in which the information will be posted.

GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

When I was a kid, my fellow kids and I used to say “Cross my heart and hope to die” when we made a promise. What we meant was that if we were to break the promise we hoped something bad would happen to us. Actually, the original phrase is: “Cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a needle in my eye.” (I guess the only thing kids could think of that was worse than dying was sticking needles in their eyes.)

Children understand the importance of keeping promises. That’s why parents must be careful what they promise their children. The Lord God understands the importance of keeping promises too.

Throughout the Bible the Lord tells us and shows us that He will keep the promises He has made. The most significant kind of promises God made were called “covenants.” A covenant is a super promise, like a promise on steroids. It is bigger, better, and more binding than a promise, and the consequences of breaking a covenant would be more painful than having a needle stuck in your eye.

In ancient Biblical times, if you “cut a covenant” with someone, you would go through an elaborate ceremony in which you would cut an animal in two, placing the parts a few feet apart to create a path between the pieces of the dead animal. Then the parties making the covenant would walk between those dead parts. They were essentially declaring: “May I be like this dead animal if I ever break this covenant.”

God made a covenant with Abram (whose name would be changed to “Abraham,” who is our father in faith.) God wanted to begin His plan of salvation through Abraham. Abram and Sarah were old and childless, but God promised that they would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and land that would be bountiful. But, for this to come to pass, Abram had to move away from the land of his ancestors, and go where God would lead.

Abram believed in God’s promise. He packed up his tent, put his wife on a camel, and went off to where God led him. Abram (or Abraham) becomes a hero of faith for us because, against all odds, he believed and trusted God.

God made a new covenant with all of us. At the Last Supper, Jesus took the chalice and said to His apostles: “Take this and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.” In this new covenant, we are God’s people.

Abraham’s claim to fame was his faith and trust in God. He did nothing to deserve God’s promises. We need to keep in mind that we can do nothing either to deserve God’s promise of salvation. God made an eternal covenant with us in the blood of His Son. We will be saved only through our faith and trust in God’s promises in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Fr. Dave

Second Sunday of Lent

OUR PARISH

HOLY CROSS MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Catholic Community of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is to provide a home for all who wish to join our spiritual family and share our Catholic beliefs and values. We are here to continue the life-giving works of Jesus Christ, to make His name known and loved, and to live our lives according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, under the leadership of the Bishop of the Peoria Diocese.

2015 CHURCH CONTRIBUTIONS TAX STATEMENTS: Annual Statements for 2015 contributions to Holy Cross are now

available. If you’d like a copy for your tax return, call the Parish Office at 352-8748, or email: office@holycrosscatholic.org.

Monday, Feb. 22 7:00 a.m. In honor of Emily & Eli Lazar Tuesday, Feb. 23 7:00 a.m. Ruth Doyle

Wednesday, Feb. 24 7:00 a.m. Therese Reilly 6:30 p.m. Memorial Mass

Thursday, Feb. 25

7:00 a.m. Alfred “Bud” Cler

Friday, Feb. 26

7:00 a.m. Jennifer Deponai 8:15 a.m. Ray Drebes (All School Mass)

Saturday, Feb. 27 8:15 a.m. Rosemary Pisani 5:30 p.m. Philip Brown

Sunday, Feb. 28 8:00 a.m. Joe & Velma Jerkovitz 10:00 a.m. For the Parishioners 4:00 p.m. Francis Deters

AN INVITATION OF MERCY

The sixth corporal work of mercy is to comfort the sick. In a previous bulletin, we invited you to join in a ministry of reaching out to people who can no longer participate ac-tively in parish activities but are still very much a part of our family. One thinks especially of the elderly in our parish who may be in our local nursing homes, perhaps isolated geographically from their loved ones, or those who are “sick at heart” from being lonely and forgotten who would enjoy friendship.

Our hope is that some of our parishioners would be willing to “adopt” a person who may be included in the groups just mentioned. One could keep in touch with the person by mail, phone calls, or possibly even a visit in person. Please contact the office if you have an interest in this ministry. Thank you to those parishioners who have already ex-pressed an interest. The Sacramental Life Committee of the Parish Council will support you in this endeavor.

FIRST CONFIRMATION CLASSES BEGINNING!

Holy Cross First-Year Confirmation classes are beginning for all students who attend a non-Catholic school and are ready to prepare for Confirmation. Please call the Parish Office at 352-8748 for more information.

COFFEE & DONUTS VOLUNTEERS for Febru-

ary 28th are Stan and Susan Burton for the 8:00 a.m. Mass crowd, and Mike and Patti McKinney for the 10:00 a.m. Mass crowd. Thank you for your gift of time!

PARISH NURSE NEWS. The Parish Nurses will

be taking blood pressure in the Parish Center next Sunday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Undetect-ed high BP can lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Take advantage of this free con-venient service. It could save your life!

MOM’S EXTRA GROUP. We will be meeting in the Parish

Center Library on Wednesday, February 24th, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Come and join us for some reflection, prayer, and fellowship. Free childcare provided!

UPDATE ON THE CRUX

We wish to thank Jan Weber for taking on the task of put-ting together the CRUX newsletter, which is now a two-sided insert in the bulletin. Jan plans to have a new edition each month, inserted usually into the first Sunday’s bulletin. She would love to have parishioners contribute articles. If you would be interested, just email your contribution to: cruxathc@gmail.com, or drop it off at the parish office.

LITURGICAL MINISTER SCHEDULE

Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 27 Lector:

Euch Min:

Servers:

Greg Durbin

John Kelley, Charlie Parr, Gloria Fellers, John Bingaman, Patty Bingaman

Daniel Caughlin, J.D. Sexton, Max Walters

Sunday, 8:00 a.m.

Feb. 28 Lector:

Euch Min:

Servers:

Jay Geistlinger

Sharon Kristovich, Frances Hacker, Joseph Hacker, John Deponai III, Barry Dickerson

Josh Koerner, Marlin Smock, Beth Geistlinger

10:00 a.m. Lector:

Euch Min:

Servers:

Victoria Fitzgerald

Bonita Higgerson, Pat Dixon, John Dixon, Carol Bergeson, John Cunningham, Vanna Cunningham

Jessica Duchinsky, Adam Zasada, Sean Coffey

4:00 p.m. Lector:

Euch Min:

Servers:

Laura Mohrbacher

Ed Seebauer, Elaine Hershbarger, Rob MacKichan, Mark D. Friedman, Dawn Friedman, Penny Devall

Maci Walters, Alondra Feliciano, Jerrica Gallegos

7:00 a.m. WEEKDAY SERVER SCHEDULE

M on T u e W e d T hu F r i

22

Ginny Friedman,

Owen Robinson

23

Abigail Deptula,

Sofia Cadena

24

J.D. Sexton, Sarah Gibas

25

Alexander Luna-Ow, Amanda Hummel

26

Marshall Gudauskas, Donavan

Gudauskas

FISH FRY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We need volunteers to work at least one hour during the Fish Fry. Choose from the follow-ing times, any or all Fridays: 5:15-6:15 p.m., or 6:15-7:15 p.m., or clean-up crew. Jobs

include cleaning tables, helping people to their seats, taking out trash, refilling supplies, etc. Please call Dawn Longfellow at 217-841-7442 to sign up. The Fish Fry con-tinues until March 18th.

DONATIONS FOR CAKE MIXES AND FROSTINGS are needed for the Fish Fry Cake Table. It

takes 3 boxes of the same mix to make one sheet cake. Please drop off your donations at the back of the church or at the Parish Office.

We also need eggs, as it takes up to 3 dozen per week. Please bring eggs to the Parish Office to be refrigerated. Donations of vegetable oil would also help.

Proceeds from the cake sale benefit the orphanage that is home to our sponsored child, Lydia Patrick, through Children of Hope and Faith. Volunteers are also needed to bake cakes at the Parish Center and serve at the dinners. Please call Tracy Duchinsky at 721-2524 to volunteer.

Also needed: A gluten-free dessert, one item each week. If you’d like to prepare a gluten-free dessert (brownies, cookies, etc.), please call Tracy Duchinsky to let her know which week or weeks you are willing to bake for. Thank you!

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION continues all day Fridays from around 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is chanted at 3:00 p.m. All are invited to this beautiful devotion to the mercy of God.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS are held every Friday during Lent at 5:30 p.m. in the Church, followed by Benediction.

FISH FRY continues every Friday through March 18th in the Great Hall of the Parish Center from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

CONFESSIONS: In addition to the regular confession schedule, confessions are also heard Wednesday evenings during Lent, beginning at 6:15 p.m.

LENTEN SEASON

SAVE THE DATE!

On Wednesday evening, February 24th, there will be an Informational Meeting for the Permanent Diaconate for any men who might be interested in this ministry. The meeting will begin after the 6:30 p.m. Marian Mass and will be held in the Great Hall in the Parish Center.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Father Santa will be celebrating his

50th anniversary of answering

God’s call as a priest.

Please reserve 5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 6th.

Refreshments will be served.

If you plan to attend, please call the

Parish Office at 352-8748 by March 1st,

or email office@holycrosscatholic.org.

OUR SCHOOLS

High School of St. Thomas More 352-7210

www.hs-stm.org

STM YOUNG ALUMNI OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS.

The STM Alumni Association Board of Directors is asking for nominations for the Young Alumni of the Year Award to be presented Saturday, April 2nd, at the STM Annual Gala. This award is given to an STM alum who has made a positive impact on the community (local, long distance, or international), has displayed exceptional human and ethical qualities, and has exemplified success in and out of the classroom or in his/her chosen career.

If you know of a deserving STM Alum, submit his/her name to Sister Mercedes at srmmercedes@hs-stm.org along with a short explanation of why you feel this STM alum is deserving of this prestigious recognition. Nominations are due by Wednesday, March 2nd.

VOCATIONS “A call from God to live in a particular way”

OUR DIOCESE

Holy Cross School 356-9521

www.holycrosselem.org

THIS YEAR’S HOLY CROSS SCHOOL CALENDAR RAFFLE will be held daily from February 15th–March 27th.

That's 42 chances to win anywhere from $50 to $1,000! Tickets are $10 and will be sold after Mass in the upcoming weeks. It’s a great way to help raise funds for our school. Thanks for your support!

HOLY CROSS SCHOOL is accepting applications for

Preschool to Grade 8 for the 2016-2017 school year. We would welcome the opportunity to share with you all that our school has to offer!

Offering for February 13th-14th…………….....$10,287.27

Development Fund……….……………………...$1,786.83

Church in Central & Eastern Europe…………..$1,138.62

www.cdop.org

Did you Know? You can attend a Catholic School.

Financial assistance available

Tuition assistance scholarship grants from the endowment fund established as a result of the Diocese of Peoria ROOTED IN FAITH Campaign and named in honor of Archbishop Spalding, the first Bishop of Peoria, will be available for the 2016-17 school year for students enrolled in or intending to enroll in grades Kindergarten through 12 in any Catholic school in the Diocese of Peoria whose fami-lies are members of a Catholic parish in the diocese. All grants will be based on financial need objectively assessed.

Information about the grants and application materials may be obtained from any Catholic elementary or secondary school in the Diocese of Peoria or on the Diocesan website www@cdop.org, under Catholic Education and then un-der Financial Assistance. Consult the detailed protocols and procedures and checklist for all requirements neces-sary to be eligible for an award.

Parents are encouraged to apply online at: online.factsmgt.com/aid. Families of students currently receiving grants are reminded that all grants are for one year only, and anyone seeking to renew a grant for the 2016-2017 year must reapply.

Deadline date for the completed application is March 15, 2016. Notification of grant awards will be made by mid-April.

HOLY CROSS SCHOOL & PARISH Contribution Goals for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2016

Actual ….Excess Fiscal Year Goals Pro Rata Goal Contributions (Deficiency) 7/1/15—6/30/16 7/1/15—1/31/16 7/1/15—1/31/16 7/1/15—1/31/16 Sundays & Holy Days $778,000 $453,833 $425,055 ($28,778) Development Fund $100,000 $58,333 $21,058 ($37,275) Holy Cross School Tuition Assistance $79,900 $46,608 $23,217 ($23,391) St. Thomas More Tuition Assistance $73,500 $42,875 $3,022 ($39,853)

Totals $1,031,400 $601,650 $472,352 ($129,298)

“This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.” If in your listen-ing to the Lord you are sensing the invitation to follow Christ as a priest, deacon, sister or brother, call Fr. Tim Hepner at (309) 671-1550, or write: fr_hepner@cdop.org.

Please pray for all vocations: Marriage, Priestly, Religious Life, Consecrated Single Life. Pray also for all Salesian seminarians and Diocese of Peoria seminarians.

Devall, Desmier, Jensen Families Menke & Leahy Families Jerry & Loretta M. Dano Paul, Joe, & Edward Knoke Dec. Mem. of Henry, Butler, Reynolds Families Dec. Mem. of Donato, Pace, Follis Families Dec. Mem. of Mueller, Neunhoffer, Willard Families Robert F. Reiser Family Dec. Mem. of Corkery, Cox, Murray Families Nichols, Parod, Fotzler Families Bruns Family Dec. Mem. of Happ, Krueger Families William Pellum & Kevin Pellum Thelma Sparks, Parents of Charles & Thelma Sparks Ed & Jean Bown Chuck, Chad, Meghan Schweighart; Larry Hausmann, Bob Soucie Living & Dec. Mem. of Cler & Flavin Families Graham & Huguet Families ALL SOULS, Living and Deceased Pastore, Buzinsky, & Piccolo Families

Lamendola/Smith/Hammers Families Hammel & Mitsdarfer Families Margaret & Eldon Tufte and Dec. Mem. of their family Living & Dec. members of Baum & Decker Families Barham & Bosch Families Tangora & Kovera Families William McMahon, Linda & Mike Wesolowski McNamara & Mulcahey Family Living & Dec. Mem. of Giuffre & Cacioppo Families Boudreau & Arseneau Family Margaret Turkcan Aloysius J. Winka Evelyn Bell Wm. Zeilenga Jr. Eleanor Zeilenga Ellen Zeilenga Arlin Rentfrow Rita Rentfrow Ron Murphy Fred Porter Harold Kremer

Rakers-Wade Families Dec. Mem. of Slykas Family Hershbarger & Kick Families Dec. Mem. of Cochrane-O’Brien families Liv. & Dec. Mem. of David & Bernice Williams Family Liv. & Dec. Mem. of Gilbert & Betty Graham Family John E. Sullivan Family Birdie & Edward Cronau Margaret Hettinger Raymond Timpone Maxine TImpone Living & Dec. Mem. of Schwenk Family Bill Gilles Loretto B. Doyle Perrodin Family Living & Dec. Mem. of McNabney Family Christie & Hoss Families Liv.& Dec. Mem. of Eli & Hazel Kinser Family John Michael Cabutti

HOLY CROSS FIRST FRIDAY MEMORIAL

OUR COMMUNITY

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PRO-LIFE ISSUES

February 10th to March 20th

This is an ‘unofficial’ campaign, since we do not have any-one to head up our campaign. No matter, we can do prayer and sidewalk outreach anytime! Keep your regular time. Call Joy at 217-359-8406 for more information. We will still help women and children.

Prayer & Fasting, Vigil & Outreach

Thank you for your faithful prayer and presence at our local Planned Parenthood, 302 E. Stoughton, Champaign. Clinic is open M, W, Th., F. Please park in on-street parking, NOT at County Market, or the city or PP parking lots. Thank you!

FOOD PANTRY NEEDS Thank you to everyone who donates food to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry! They continue to need TUNA HELPER. (no Hamburger Helper please), and also JELLY, as the number of people in need is great.

To help feed the poor and needy, please consider donating these items. Drop them off at the main entrance to the church, or in the Parish Office.

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is inspired by Gospel values and leads men and women to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person

service to the needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederick Ozanam, and its patron, St. Vincent de Paul.

The Holy Cross/St. Matthew Conference is blessed by the generosity of our parishioners who make this outreach possible, and special thanks for your generosity with the second collection. Your collective food and financial contri-butions enabled us to assist 145 adults and 203 children in Champaign during January.

Please continue your support and keep the members of St. Vincent de Paul Society and those they help in your prayers. Our donation poor box is in the vestibule of the Church.

A WORD FROM JOY

I want to thank everyone who has helped deliver diapers, wipes, baby clothes and food to our families! This was a huge help recently and highlights the need to introduce this outreach ministry to people who want to serve the poor. We have given families hope for the future and hope in others, since kindness from you helps these families see love. Thank You! Need knows no season. It is constant! Want to help the poor in our midst? Call Joy at 359-8406.