HHolyoly CCrossross

Roman Catholic Church

Pastor PARISH OFFICE Rev. Francisco Gomez, OMI 345 Seventh St., Buffalo, NY 14201 PAROCHIAL VICAR Rev. James Loiacono, OMI Phone: 847-6930, Fax: 847-6934

Permanent deaconS Email: [email protected] Deacon Miguel Santos Hours: Mon.−Fri. 9:00 AM−4:30 PM (Other times by appointment.) Deacon Jorge Silva

Parish office manager & LITURGIES Organist/choir director Nancy Cannizzaro Sunday: 10:00 AM (English), 12:30 PM (Spanish)

Religious ed coordinator Monday to Saturday: 8:15 AM (English) Jodi Miller Thursday: 7:00 PM (Spanish) (Miraculous Medal Novena at 7:30 PM)

Bulletin editor Holy Days: Consult Bulletin David Smith RECONCILIATION (Confessions) 20 minutes before each weekend Mass, or anytime upon request.

BAPTISMS: Parents and Godparents must participate in a Baptismal Preparation program, and the parents must be registered parishioners at Holy Cross. Please call our office for the date of the next available program. Do not choose a date for baptism before consulting with the pastor. Sponsors must present a letter of recommendation from their parish.

MATRIMONY: Call the parish office at least six months before the wedding date to make arrangements and receive our guidelines.

Recommendation letters: A letter of recommendation to act as sponsor will be issued to those registered, baptized and confirmed Catholic parishioners who regularly practice their faith.

SICK AND HOMEBOUND: Call the parish office anytime in an emergency. We will visit, with the sacraments, those at home.

MOVING IN/OUT: Let us know as soon as possible. To be considered a member of our parish, registration is necessary.

SCHOOLS: Head Start 150 Maryland St. • 852-8373

Catholic Academy 1069 Delaware Ave. • 885-6111

Serving the people of the historic parishes of Holy Cross and Immaculate Conception. Page Two Holy Cross Church

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY’S LITURGY THIS WEEK AT HOLY CROSS 3rd Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 13 Reading 1: I rejoice heartily in the Lord. (Isaiah 61:1- • Masses—10:00 AM & 12:30 PM—in Church and 2a, 10-11) live streamed on Facebook Reading 2: Rejoice always. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24) Monday, December 14 Gospel: Make straight the way of the Lord. (John 1:6- • RCIA—6:00 PM to 7:30 PM—Rectory Basement 8, 19-28) • Charismatic Prayer Group—7:00 PM—Church Tuesday, December 15 MASS SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK • Silent Adoration—7:00 PM to 8:00 PM—Church Sunday, December 13—3rd Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 20 10:00 AM Virginia Brown by nieces Betty & Marian & • Masses—10:00 AM & 12:30 PM—in Church and in nephew Dan Campisi live streamed on Facebook 12:30 PM open intention

Monday, December 14—St. John of the Cross THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT: This Sunday’s 8:15 AM Sandra Greco by Nancy Cannizzaro Gospel invites us to continue our reflection on the

Tuesday, December 15 person and mission of John the Baptist. The 8:15 AM Joseph Rizzo by Family Gospel for today combines a brief passage from

Wednesday, December 16 the prologue to John’s Gospel with a report about 8:15 AM Ralph Spagnuolo by Amelia Spagnuolo John the Baptist. We learn about the attention that

Thursday, December 17 John the Baptist received from the Jewish 8:15 PM Shirley Acciari by Thomas & Jaqueline Valone authorities. Messengers from the Jewish priests, 7:00 PM For the People of Holy Cross the Levites and the Pharisees question John about 7:30 PM Miraculous Medal Novena his identity and the meaning of the baptisms that Friday, December 18 he is performing. John’s Gospel uses these 8:15 AM open intention questions to establish the relationship between Saturday, December 19 Jesus and John the Baptist. John the Baptist is not 8:15 AM open intention the Messiah, nor is he Elijah or the Prophet. In 4:30 PM NO MASS John’s denials, we hear echoes of the kind of Sunday, December 20—4th Sunday of Advent messianic expectations that were common in first- 10:00 AM Joe Fuentes by Holy Cross Ladies Society 12:30 PM open intention century Palestine. The only affirmative response that John the Baptist gives is when he quotes the ADORATION: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and praying the Divine Mercy chaplet takes place here at Holy prophet Isaiah. Upon answering the next question, Cross Chapel on Monday to Friday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. John announces that the savior they seek is

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK— Fr. Antonio Rodriguez, already among them, but as yet unrecognized. William Fuentes, Franklin Schweitzer, Gregoria Diaz John’s response highlights for us an important Mendez, Edwin DeJesus, Rose Ann Geraci, Herman Geraci, Advent theme: Jesus has already come into the Deacon Roberto Miranda, Daniel Figueroa Sr., Elba world as our savior. During Advent, we pray that Figueroa, Tania Fuentes, Claudia Guercio, Luis Angel we will be able to recognize Jesus’ presence in our Lozada, Lilliana Lozada midst. Advent also reminds us that Jesus will come LOTTERY WINNERS again to fulfill the promise of salvation. We pray November 15 #978 Hector Castro November 16 #334 Kathy Alemany that we will continue to be watchful as we November 17 #588 Teresa Ponce anticipate that great day. The third Sunday of November 18 #709 Joseph Yak Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete, a November 19 #571 Maria Cruz Latin word which means “rejoice,” is taken from the November 20 #235 Kathy Alemany entrance antiphon for Sunday’s Mass. This theme November 21 #152 Donna Guarino November 22 #820 Unsold is echoed in today’s second reading from the first November 23 #403 Michael Caruana Letter to the Thessalonians. It is a reminder that November 24 #292 Roxanne Schweitzer Advent is a season of joy because our salvation is November 25 #228 Unsold already at hand. (from Loyolapress.com) November 26 #882 Unsold November 27 #899 Unsold November 28 #340 Antoinette Castaldo Page Three December 13, 2020

WORD OF LIFE: “Having received the gift of the OCTOBER 2020 HC FINANCIAL REPORT: Gospel of Life, we are the people of life and a Expenses owed from prior months: $37,128.06 people for life. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel September 2020 expenses: +27,841.99 of Life to the world. To proclaim Jesus is to Total amount owed: 64,970.05 proclaim life itself. Gratitude and joy at the September 2020 collections: 8,202.45 incomparable dignity of the human person impel Deficit: $56,767.60 us to bring the Gospel of life to the hearts of all people and make it penetrate every part of RCIA AT HOLY CROSS PARISH: For more society.” - USCCB. information call Fr. Francisco (716-847-6930) or speak with Wanda Peñalbert or Milagros NEW BISHOP: Michael William Fisher was born Gonzalez. RCIA/RICA sessions will be held on in Baltimore as the eldest of five children. Fisher Mondays from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in the rectory received a bachelor of science in business basement. The next session is on Monday, administration and accounting at the University of December 14, 2020. Maryland in 1984. Fisher worked as a comptroller for a psychiatric practice in Bethesda before MISSION WITH YOUTH: The next Youth Group entering seminary at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary meeting will be at Our Lady of Hope, on Friday, in Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1986. He was December 18, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. For ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of questions, leave a message for Tania at 261-0892.

Washington by Cardinal James A. Hickey on June III DOMINGO DE ADVIENTO: Hoy es el Domingo 23, 1990. Fisher worked as a priest at Sacred Gaudete. ¡Estamos tan cerca del nacimiento de Heart parish in La Plata, as pastor of Holy Family Jesús que comenzamos a alegrarnos! parish in Hillcrest Heights in 1995, and as pastor at Encendemos la vela de color rosa en la corona de St. John Neumann parish in Gaithersburg in 1999. Adviento, recordándonos esa alegría. Una vez He was named a chaplain to His Holiness by John más, nos encontramos con Juan el Bautista, quien Paul II in 2005. In 2005, then-archbishop Theodore reconoció que él no es la luz (el Mesías), sino que McCarrick appointed Fisher vicar general for the vino a dar testimonio de la luz para que muchos apostolates, in which role he oversaw the creyeran a través de él. También estamos archdiocesan ministries for education, ethnic llamados a reflejar la luz de Cristo con nuestras ministries, social justice and service, parish life palabras y acciones. Aunque somos indignos, and youth ministry. Fisher has served on various como lo fue Juan, estamos llamados a ser luz el boards and committees of the Archdiocese of uno con el otro en todo lo que decimos y Washington, including the College of Consultors, hacemos. (from Las Familias Católicas) the Priest Council, the Administrative Board, the Priest Retirement Board, the Clergy Personnel PALABRA DE VIDA: “Tras haber recibido el don Board, the Deacon Review Board, the Deacon del Evangelio de la vida, somos el pueblo de la Council, the Needy Parish Committee, and the vida y un pueblo para la vida. Es nuestro deber Forward in Faith Committee. Pope Francis proclamar el Evangelio de la vida al mundo. appointed Fisher auxiliary bishop for the Proclamar a Jesús es proclamar la vida. La Archdiocese of Washington on June 8, 2018. gratitud y la alegría ante la incomparable dignidad Fisher was consecrated as a bishop on June 29, de la persona humana nos impulsan a llevar el 2018. On December 1, 2020, the Pope named him Evangelio de la ida al corazón de todas las the 15th bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo. His personas y hacer que penetre en todas las partes installation is planned for January 15, 2021. [from de la sociedad.” - USCCB Wikipecia] RICA EN LA PARROQUIA HOLY CROSS: Para BAPTISM PREPARATION: Deacon Jorge Silva más información llamar al Padre Francisco Gomez will be teaching Baptism Preparation classes at (716-847-6930) o hablar con Wanda Peñalbert o Holy Cross on the second Monday of each month. Milagros Gonzalez. Las sesiones de RICA / RICA The next baptism class is on Monday, December se llevarán a cabo los lunes de 6:00 p.m. a 7:30 14 at 6:00 PM, in the Cafeteria. p.m. en el sótano de la rectoría. Joanne M. Smith Owner & Principal Broker Century Architectural • SIT-DOWN [email protected] Sheet Metal LLC • TAKE-OUT “Your Local Real Estate Team” • DELIVERY RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Residential Roofing• Copper Work - • Slate Contact us today and let our team of Bus 716-873-0655 $2.00 off Any Large Pizza with Coupon professionals service your real estate needs. 1901 Niagara St. • Buffalo, NY 14207 716-768-8966 Call for a free market evaluation of your home. Michael Zink Rich Kraft www.ricottaspizzaniagara.com 716-465-1361 812-0954 380-0711 349 Niagara St • Buffalo, NY www.buffalofirstrealty.com (formerly of Peter W. Eberz & Son)

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