Our Parish Life
Holy Cross Catholic Church
May 2014
Living Our Mission
Capital and Endowment
Campaign
By Msgr. Rush
Our Beautiful Easter Flowers
The Diocese of Richmond has announced the $65
million Living Our Mission Capital and Endowment
Campaign which will be conducted over the next two
years in all the parishes in the Diocese. The Catholic
Virginian has a lead article about the campaign in its
March 31st issue, detailing where the campaign
monies will go in the various ministries and programs
of the Diocese.
Holy Cross Parish is one of fourteen pilot parishes for
the Campaign.
HIGHLIGHTS INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Living Our Mission Capital Campaign
2-4
Spirituality of The Mass
5
Seasons of Hope/ Come to Me My Child
6
Rev. McEleney Obituary/ New and Deceased
7
Road of Life/ Holy Cross School News
8
Holy Cross School News (Continued)
9
The Garden/ News From Parish Nurses
10
News From Nurses Continued
Our goal is $627,000 which represents one times our
regular offertory. To date, April 16, 2014, 51% has
been pledged toward the goal in lead gifts. One third
of the money realized from the three to five year
Campaign pledges will be returned to the parish.
Should the parish raise more than the goal, then the
parish will receive two-thirds of the proceeds over goal.
In the coming weeks, more information about the
Campaign and how to make a pledge will be available
at all the Sunday Masses.
Greater Mission, the fundraiser company hired by the
Diocese to manage the Campaign, met with our Parish
Council and Finance Council. The Parish Leadership
was asked where the parish plans to invest the funds
returned to the parish from the Campaign.
Continued on page 2
Our Parish Life 1
Continued from page 1
Their response was to invest most of the money in
youth ministry and young adult ministry in the
parish. Depending on the parish response to the
Campaign, that could be over $200,000 in the next
five years. This is certainly an exciting possibility for
our parish and its ministries for youth and young
adults.
It is important to know that if the parish does not
reach our goal, there will be no penalty from the
Diocese. The Annual Appeal will not be conducted
in October, 2014. The Appeal will resume in
2015.Any monies raised via the Campaign will not
be taxed by the Diocese. And of course any pledges
to the Campaign are over and above your regular
parish offertory contributions.
The parish has been fortunate to have a
representative from Greater Mission helping us
through this process. Many people have met Marty
Alves in these past several weeks. His help has
been invaluable. He comes to us free of charge
which is a great gift!
Thank you for your generosity to this historic
Diocesan Campaign.■
Living Our Mission Prayer
Lord our God, hear our humble prayer. Empower us
with your grace to faithfully live the mission entrusted
to us by Christ. Keep our heart and minds fixed on
Jesus so we might continue the sacred work He
began with self-sacrificing generosity. With the help
of Mary, our Mother, may we bear witness to the
glory of God with great joy. Bless this Campaign by
igniting an enthusiasm for living our faith and fulfilling
our tremendous mission. We ask this in the name of
Jesus Christ, our Hope, who lives, and reigns with
You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
Amen
Reflections on
Spirituality of the Mass
By Jean Radford
We continue our series on how to make the Mass a
more spiritual experience. The last article concerned
the Gathering portion of the Mass with it beginning not
as you enter the church but during the week with the
reading of all the scriptural readings for the coming
Sunday. It was suggested that you begin by reading
the gospel first because it contains the theme of the
Mass and all the other readings relate to it.
The first reading comes next. It is always connected to
the gospel. By knowing the theme of the Mass from
the gospel, the first reading makes much more sense.
It no longer is an isolated reading. You can easily see
the connection between the two.
Next, the Responsorial Psalm is sung which is always
related to the first reading. As you meditate on the
words, you will see the connection.
I suggested you read the second reading last which is
also connected to the theme but a bit of meditating
upon the words is needed. It contains the Epistles,
especially those written by St. Paul, before the gospels
were even penned. Other authors are attributed to the
Apostles or their disciples. Here we see the power of
the Holy Spirit at work in the early church.
As you meditate upon the readings, you will soon learn
how the messages within them fit into your life and
how they make answering God’s call easier to accept
and carry out.
If you have done your “homework “you will approach
the door of the church with a sense of anticipation and
a desire to more fully participate in the various parts of
the rituals.
Continued on page 3
Our Parish Life 2
Continued from page 2
Some people don’t realize that the whole Mass is
Eucharist, not just the holy meal. Eucharist means
thanksgiving and there are six areas of the Eucharist
in which we should give thanks: 1) for being part of a
faith filled community 2) for the music, songs and
dances that add so much to the celebration 3) for the
Liturgy of the Word 4) for the priest 5) for the homilist
if different from the priest and 6) for the holy meal
which is Eucharist with a capital ‘E”.
Why so many areas? Because God is present in
each of them: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We must
learn, recognize and find the Blessed Trinity in all
these areas.
As we enter the Commons we are welcomed by the
Greeters. They represent our first contact of being
part of our faith filled community. They welcome all
people and show the warm hospitality that is part of
the universal Church but also Holy Cross parish.
You, in turn, must acknowledge their greeting for
they are welcoming you into God’s house.
You then meet other parishioners and visitors in the
Commons. Here we increase our awareness of being
part of something bigger then ourselves. We share
their friendliness, anticipation and joy of what is to
follow in the Sanctuary.
Upon entering the Sanctuary, there is a major act of
faith in which you can participate. As we approach
the Baptismal Font, most people will dip their fingers
into the water and make the sign of the cross. Other
will expand upon the sign and say “In the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.
These are good in themselves; it’s much better than
saying “I wonder where I’ll sit today”. What a waste!
There is a personal ritual that you can do to meet
God in a special way. As you approach, look at the
“living” water, dip your hand in it saying “I denounce
Satan and all his ways and choose you, Lord, above
all things, in the name of you, Father, and in your
Son and in the Holy Spirit. Amen.” This is an
abbreviated form of your Baptismal Vows. It sets the
format for the rest of the celebration.
You are giving your all to God. Think of the words
and how they relate to your relationship with God.
The more you practice this rite, the deeper your
humility will be and the greater your joy. Practice
makes perfect as God is perfect.
Next comes the Introductory Rites: 1) the entrance
procession, 2) the singing of a song of praise, 3) the
greeting by the priest, 4) the Sign of the Cross, 5)
the penitential act, 6) the Gloria (not during Advent
or Lent, and 7) the opening prayer or collect.
After the people are assembled, the entrance song
begins. Like every single part of the Mass, the
procession and song have a definite purpose. They
are designed to bind us together as a community
and to intensify our unity. The song should be
carefully selected to lead our thoughts to the
mystery of the particular feast or season we are
celebrating.
To connect with this mystery, we should make an
effort to sing. I personally love to sing the song and
if the people around me don’t like my efforts they
have my permission to drown me out. If you don’t
like to sing or are unable to do so, at least follow the
words which are meant not only to be sung but to be
prayed. If a correct selection has been made, it will
follow the theme of the Mass or season. By
reflecting upon and praying the words of the song,
you will be challenged or offered comfort and joy.
Next comes the greeting from the priest. He greets
the community by offering us the grace, peace and
love of the Lord. We respond by returning them to
him (“and with your spirit”).This greeting is a mutual
reminder that everything we do here together is a
sacred act, done in the name of the Holy Trinity.
Having been reminded by the generous love God
has for us, we now turn to the Penitential Rite.
“Penitential” means to be sincerely sorry for
something and “Rite” is a solemn ceremony or
action.
Continued on page 4
Our Parish Life 3
Continued from page 3
Unfortunately, this is where many of us dig in our
heels and come to a screeching halt. Penitence is
hard on our ego-centered false selves. We don’t
like to admit to the imperfections in our lives or to
admit to any wrong doing. We fear the judgment
of God so we subconsciously try to block our bad
behaviors to avoid this fear. To be truly authentic
and transparent we must admit that we are all
sinful and need and want to seek God’s
forgiveness. If we enter the Penitential Rite
mindfully and whole heartedly, we cannot help to
become humble by seeing the whole truth about
ourselves.
Remember that God is always willing to forgive
us. He will never hold our sins against us and is
always full of mercy and forgiving love. As long as
we have the correct attitude, the Holy Spirit will
help us to heal.
Personally, I believe that taking time to recite the
Confiteor with other members of our faith filled
community helps us to share our sinfulness with
each other and to ask God’s forgiveness. It is
such a powerful prayer and rite. All we need to be
is repentant.
One important thing to remember: Although we
acknowledge our need for forgiveness, notice that
the priest does not give absolution at the end of
the rite. We know that the Eucharist will forgive
any venial sins if we are sincere, but we need to
go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be
forgiven for serious (mortal) sins and those
habitual venial sins that we bring to Mass week
after week after week. The special graces we
receive at the sacrament and the guidance from
the priest to overcome these ongoing sins is
invaluable.
The last part of the Introductory Rites is the
Opening Prayer or the Collect. When the priest
says “Let us pray”, it is actually an invitation to the
people to offer a prayer in their hearts to God to
prepare for Mass.
The Collect “collects” all those silent prayers of
the people and offers them to God in one
universal prayer of the Church. The prayer that
the priest recites is specifically written for the
particular day or season, therefore its words are
different for each celebration. It expresses the
theme of the Mass in the form of prayer.
I find, that if I don’t study the opening prayer
before Mass, I don’t “tune in” until near the end of
the prayer which is always the same. It is the part
that begins with “through Christ our Lord”, or worst
yet not until the “Amen”. What a waste.
Knowing that not a single word of the Mass is
accidental or without significances, I find that
using “The Word Among Us” (WAU.com) is an
invaluable tool for me. It lists the complete
Catholic Mass for each day of the week plus a
daily meditation and other articles. I use it every
day.
Please feel free to share your comments and
personal practices by submitting them to me
through the newsletter email address:
ourparishlife4hc@gmail.com ■
When the Kyrie is said at the Penitential Rite, the
meaning of the words can be lost. To avoid this
we need to make an examination of conscience
before Mass then we can think of our faults as we
say:” Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord
have mercy”. If we cry out to God with faith and
confidence, He will answer us.
Our Parish Life 4
In Dedication
To Loved Ones Left Behind
Dear loved ones; this is the wish of my Heavenly
Father. Do not hold me back. Let me go.
Seasons of Hope
Bereavement Support
Come To Me My Child
By Lorraine Kopack
During the holy season of Lent, several Holy
Cross parishioners participated in the six week
program, Seasons of Hope, a bereavement
support group. Using the book, Seasons of Hope,
by M. Donna MacLeod, our group of ten men and
women were guided through scripture readings,
sharing, music and prayer as we took the next
steps in the grief recovery process.
For several of us, our losses were recent; for
others a few years ago. We all realized that
dealing with grief is unique to each individual and
there is no time limit to recovery. Sometimes grief
is compounded by other types of loss such as
loss of a job, divorce, empty nest, relocation, even
loss of a pet.
Antoinette Kirchner
I came to the world to save souls from the deep,
It is now the right time to come out of your sleep.
I open My arms as I reach for your hand,
My home will not be a castle of sand.
So grasp My hand as you enter My realm.
The plan of My Father, He'll be at the helm.
Your tired body, My Father will soothe,
Your childlike manner, you developed the mood.
You made My Father well pleased to the nines,
So come and rest to the end of all times,
Your family and friends will shed more than a tear
Yet, come to Me, child, there is nothing to fear.
Looking to our Catholic faith through scripture,
prayer, music and sharing was extremely helpful
to all of us. And for each of us, “church family” has
a new meaning as we have become like family
with our common bond of loss.
You will find My home full of love and peace.
As My Father promised, His love will not cease.
Come into My house as we will share
The world of sorrows never again to bear.
Heartfelt thanks to Ellen Nygaard and Joy
Swift for their wonderful efforts in facilitating
this group.
Come home to Me with My Father's love
and spread your angel wings above,
Come My sweet child, come to Me,
Come to Me for eternity. ■
When this program is offered in the future, I would
encourage you to consider attending Seasons of
Hope. There is great comfort in being there for
someone else as we take this walk of faith
together. ■
PRAISE the GOOD LORD!
I managed to squeeze Tom's hand yesterday. Oh how
good it felt even though it wasn't super tight. It moved.
AMEN.
I want to thank everyone for the prayers and everything
to help me toward my recovery. It's now JUST the
beginning for me to work my therapy even harder.
March 11, 2013 & March 13, 2013 is my one year
Anniversary for my 3rd and 4th strokes.
Antoinette
Our Parish Life 5
Reverend Robert James
McEleney Obituary
The Reverend Robert James McEleney of
Appomattox died Thursday, January 23, 2014, in
Virginia Baptist Hospital. He was preceded in death
by his parents, Mary Ann and Thomas McEleney.
He was born April 15, 1928, in New York City. In
1936, he traveled with his parents to their native
Scotland. Because he had dual citizenship, he was
drafted into the British Navy. After an honorable
discharge he undertook studies at Campion House
in London which prepared him to enter St. Mary's
University and Seminary in Baltimore. Upon the
completion of theological studies in May 1958, he
was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Richmond
for service in the Roman Catholic Church. In post
graduate studies he earned a Licentiate in Sacred
Theology, a Master of Education in Speech at the
University of Virginia, a Master of Arts in Victorian
Literature at Longwood University and Doctor of
Ministry at St. Mary's Seminary and University.
Pease remember in your prayers the deceased
members of Holy Cross who have died since the
publication of our last newsletter. May they rest in
peace and may their families find comfort in our
thoughts and prayers:
Doris Ballagh 1/23/14
Rev Robert McEleney 1/23/14
Dot Saunders 1/24/14
Lieng Huynh 2/8/14
Jennifer Campbell 1/31/14
Harry Sara 2/21/14
Polly Ficor 3/3/14
Betty Keane
3/6/14
Bep Creemers 3/11/14
Alberta Alexander 3/18/14
Rene Contreras 3/19/14
Craig Ballagh 3/24/14
Loretta Lysaght
4/1/14
Mary Saunders 4/9/14
Rita Christian 4/17/14
Alice Carpenter 4/21/14
Father McEleney served in many locations within
the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond including
churches in the greater Lynchburg and Farmville
areas. In his 55 years of ministry, Father McEleney
promoted and established Christian education in his
assigned parishes. He leaves us to continue and to
fulfill the challenge of Christian education in
harmony with what Pope Francis is promoting as
The New Evangelization.
Father McEleney is survived by his sisters, Annie
Lafferty of Arbroath, Scotland and Elizabeth Harold
of Hyannis, Mass.; his nieces, Roberta (Wayne)
Fawbush of Montpelier, Vt., and Bernadette (Bruce)
Holland of Leesburg, Va.; and great nieces, Kristen
and Jennifer Holland. ■
We welcome the following new parishioners to
Holy Cross:
Our Parish Life 6
James & Laura Greer
Margaret Schoew
Raymond & Kelli Yuzon
E. Carter Richards
Jose & Luz Maria Soriano
Mary Jane Hall
Clara Sangston
Terry & Deirdra Flavin
Larry Nordick & Jennifer Severn
The Road of Life
Author unknown
At first I saw God as my observer, my judge,
keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to
know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die.
I thought He’d wreck it; but He knows bike secrets,
knows how to make it bend and take sharp corners,
knows how to jump to clear danger, and knows how
to fly to shorten scary passages.
And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the
strangest places.
He was out there, sort of like a president. I
recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn’t
really know Him.
And I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool
breeze on my face with my delightful constant
companion, Jesus Christ.
But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though
life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem
bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back
helping me pedal.
And when I’m sure I can’t do it anymore, He just
smiles and says, “Pedal.” ■
I don’t know when it was that He suggested we
change places, but life has not been the same
since.
When I was in control, I knew the way. It was rather
boring but predictable…it was the shortest distance
between two points.
But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long
cuts, up mountains and through rocky places at
breakneck speeds…it was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it looked like madness, He said
“Pedal!”
I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are
You taking me?” He smiled and didn’t answer and I
started to learn to trust.
I forgot my old life and entered into the adventure.
And when I’d say “I’m scared,” He’d lean back and
touch my hand.
He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts
of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me gifts
to take on my journey, my Lord’s and mine.
And we were off again. He said “Give the gifts
away; they’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So
I did, to the people we met and I found that in
giving, I received, and still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him at first, in control of my life.
Hello from Holy Cross
Regional Catholic School!
By Catherine Mosley, Director of Enrollment
& Marketing
Spring has sprung at Holy Cross School (HCRS)!
It’s hard to believe that March ended with one final
snow day, but we are now into April and our final
stretch until graduation and summer break!
Our elementary students enjoyed Kite Day on April
4, and some of our kindergartners were featured on
the front page of the News & Advance’s local
section on April 5! The fifth grade visited
Washington, DC on Friday, April 11, including a
special visit to the National Gallery of Art.
Our second graders re-enacted the Last Supper in
their classroom on Wednesday, April 16.The next
day, the seniors presented the Passion Play, and
our fifth graders re-enacted Jesus’s steps to his
crucifixion through the Stations of the Cross in our
cafeteria.
Continued on page 8
Our Parish Life 7
Continued from page 7
Holy Cross has been out in the community, working
with other organizations through sponsorships and
other activities.
Our school partnered with
Amazement Square and Givens Books-Little
Dickens to bring national award-winning children’s
author and parenting expert, Julia Cook, to HCRS
and Amazement Square on March 4. We were a
sponsor and had a presence at the Randolph
College Scifest March 29-30, and we also
participated in an Easter Egg Hunt at Presbyterian
Home on April 12. Other activities include our
school’s sponsorship of the caricature artist at
Amazement Square’s Museum After Dark event
coming up on Friday, June 13.
See
http://www.amazementsquare.com/information.php
?p=i-fundraising for more information!
Holy Cross School Grandparents – is scheduled for
Friday, May 2! The afternoon is sure to be filled
with fun, music, art and visits to your
grandchildren’s classrooms!
Summer camp information is posted on our website
– holycrossforyou.org. Camps include sports,
Vacation Bible School, several partner camps and a
new software coding camp led by Randolph College
science professor, Dr. Katrin Schenk!
HCRS will present Shrek Live! at Randolph
College’s Thoresen Theatre on May 23 at 7 p.m.
and May 24 at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets will be
available online and at the school. Call 434-8475436 for more information.
HCRS now has a Jr. LEGO League team, and it is
19 members strong! These kindergarten through
third graders will present their projects at the expo
held on April 26 at LCA.
Holy Cross is still accepting applications for the
2014-15 school year. June 1 is the deadline for
financial aid applications – applicants can apply at
online.factsmgt.com.
If you have questions or concerns about the FACTS
application process, you may speak with a FACTS
Customer Care Representative at 1-866-315-9262
or Ann Hoffman, HC Business Manager, or Iris
Charter, HC Bookkeeper, at 434-847-5436.
As the school year ends, we congratulate our
seniors! Those from Holy Cross Church include
Tom Bruzek, Annie and Mary Paige David, Kate
Lemley, Thomas Schubert, Daniel Sheedy and
Wilson Park. College acceptances so far include
Virginia Tech Honors and Engineering, Fordham,
UVA, VCU, Randolph Macon Ashland, George
Mason, Lynchburg College, Penn State and SUNY
Stoneybrook.
If I can ever be of service, don’t hesitate to contact
me at 434-847-5436 or cmosley@hcfaculty.com if I
can be of service. ■
Scholarship  Service  Christian Values
www.holycrossforyou.org
The next deadline for our August Newsletter will
be July 10th. Please feel free to email me at any
time with your submissions and/or suggestions. Our
newsletter email is ourparishlife4hc@gmail.com
Newsletter address:
Email: ourparishlife4hc@gmail.com
Editor: Lorraine Kopack
1286 Farmington Dr.
Forest VA 24551
Church address and phone:
710 Clay Street
Lynchburg, Virginia 24504
Phone: 434-846-5245
Church email: hcrosshome@aol.com
Our Parish Life 8
News From Our Parish
Nurses
The Garden
Submitted by Cherie Shallock
I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on
the roses…..Spring is just around the corner – Here
are some ideas for your garden.
Mark Your Calendars
Parish Nurse
FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING
PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:
Blood Drive
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul
Thursday, June 5th
11:00am-5:00pm
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Holy Cross Church
Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness
Donors Needed
Just Add Water
Getting well hydrated is the fastest route to more
energy, less hunger, a stronger body, and better
skin. While that might seem simple, drinking enough
becomes tougher as you get older and your sense
of thirst fades. In fact, nearly half of adults don’t
consume enough water, according to a new BMC
Public Health study. So are you skimping on fluids?
Fill up by drinking plenty of low calorie fluids (water
is best; seltzer and coconut water are good) and
eating water-rich produce like apples, grapes,
celery, and lettuce. ■
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be patient
Lettuce really love one another
NO GARDEN WITHOUT TURNIPS:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another
TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE
THYME:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Thyme for God
Thyme for each other
Thyme for family
Thyme for friends
Avoid Anti-bacterial Soap
Using plain soap prevents illness just as effectively.
Also, antibacterial ingredients (like triclosan) may
promote drug resistance.
95% of people don’t wash their hands long
enough to kill infection-causing bacteria, according
to a new study. Most of the subjects scrubbed their
hands for an average of 6 seconds, as opposed to
the recommended 15-20 seconds. Source: Michigan State
University ■
Our Parish Life 9
Allergies – Stop
Symptoms before They
Start
Know the Five Signs of
Heart Attack
If you have any of the signs of a heart attack, acting
fast can improve your chances for recovery and
survival.
These simple moves can make the difference
between breathing easy and being miserable.




Limit the time you spend outside on high
pollen count days – even short exposures
can cause symptoms to flare up.
Protect your car. Avoid parking under a tree,
which will shed pollen all over your
windshield that will come home with you,
too.
Always keep your windows closed. Run the
air conditioner. And use an air purifier with a
HEPA filter.
Undress before hitting the bedroom so that
you don’t bring in allergens (and inhale them
all night long).■
Call 911 immediately if you or a loved one
experiences any of these signs of a heart attack:





Pressure or Squeezing in the center of the
chest.
Shooting pain that spreads to shoulders,
arms, neck or jaw.
Nausea, dizziness, fainting or sudden
abnormal sweating.
Shortness of breath
Heartburn or indigestion-like pain
Women may also experience abdominal pain and
weakness. To learn more, visit:
www.knowthefive.com ■
What You Should Know
Supplements do not do what prescription drugs do
and should not be used as a substitute, so don’t
stop taking your regular medications. Always speak
with your doctor before starting any supplement.
People who have certain conditions or take certain
medications should not take some of these
supplements due to interactions.
Protect Your Heart
by taking
aspirin at bedtime. If your doctor put you on a daily
aspirin regimen to lower your risk of heart attack, ask
if you can start taking your aspirin at night. A brand
new Dutch study shows that a bedtime aspirin
lowers your risk even more.
Why it works: Letting aspirin thin your blood
overnight better protects you from a.m. blood clots –
which is when they most commonly occur.
Bonus: It lowers blood pressure too! A p.m. aspirin
also lowers systolic blood pressure (the top number)
nearly 7 points and diastolic blood pressure 4.6 in
points in hypertensive patients in just three months—
while taking it in the morning doesn’t lower it
significantly.■
Our Parish Life 10