Holy Cross Catholic Church District Six

12/09/2025

19/05/2018

MAY 20, 2018 IS PENTECOST SUNDAY - BIRTHDAY OF THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH . . .

SPIRIT of wisdom and understanding, enlighten our minds to perceive the mysteries of the universe in relation to eternity. Spirit of right judgment and courage, guide us and make us firm in our baptismal decision to follow Jesus' way of love. Spirit of knowledge and reverence, help us to see the lasting value of justice and mercy in our everyday dealings with one another. May we respect life as we work to solve problems of family and nation, economy and ecology. Spirit of God, spark our faith, hope and love into new action each day. Fill our lives with wonder and awe in your presence which penetrates all creation. Amen.

01/04/2018

✝️ HE IS RISEN, ALLELUIA!

DEAR ALMIGHTY GOD,

THANK YOU that you make all things new.
Thank You for the victory and power that is in Your name.
Thank You that you hold the keys over death.
Thank You that by Your might, Jesus was raised from the grave, paving the way for us to have new life with You.
Thank You that you had plan, thank You that you made a way.

WE PRAISE YOU for your great strength, we praise You for your lavish love. We praise You that you are Conqueror, Victor, Redeemer, and Friend. We praise You that you are Deliverer, Worthy One, Everlasting Father, Great and Awesome God.

WE CONFESS OUR NEED FOR YOU…fresh…new…again. We ask that You renew our hearts, minds, and lives, for the days ahead. We pray for Your refreshing over us.

KEEP YOUR WORDS OF TRUTH planted firm within us, help us to keep focused on what is pure and right, give us the power to be obedient to your word. And when the enemy reminds us where we have been, hissing his lies and attacks our way, we trust that Your voice speaks louder and stronger, reminding us we are safe with You and that Your purposes and plans will not fail. We ask that You will be our defense and rear guard, keeping our way clear, removing the obstacles, and covering the pitfalls. Lord, lead us on Your level ground.

SHINE YOUR LIGHT IN US, through us, over us. May we make a difference in this world, for Your glory and purposes. Set You way before us. May all Your plans succeed. We may reflect your peace and hope to a world that so desperately needs Your presence and healing.

THANKS BE TO GOD, FOR YOUR INDESCRIBABLE GIFT!

To You in union with the Holy Spirit, be glory and honor, together with Mary, our Mother, be praise on this Resurrection Day, and forever.

In Jesus’ holy name,
AMEN.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!

31/03/2018

Easter Vigil begins this evening at 8pm

Easter Sunday Mass at 9am

31/03/2018

THE SACRED TRIDUUM
(The Three Most Important days in the Liturgical Calendar)

Holy Week is the most solemn and glorious week in Christianity, the pinnacle of the liturgical year. It is more sacred than Christmas! This is because Holy Week commemorates the final week of Our Lord’s life, the very purpose for which Christmas happened.

It is important that we went to church on these three Holy days

THE SACRED TRIDUUM
Sundown on Holy Thursday to sundown on Easter Sunday is considered the most solemn part of the liturgical year. This three-day period is referred to as the Easter Triduum, also known as the Sacred Triduum, or Paschal Triduum.

Basically, the Sacred Triduum is one great festival recounting the last three days of Jesus’ life on earth, the events of his Passion and Resurrection, when the Lamb of God laid down his life in atonement for our sins.

“Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery”

HOLY THURSDAY
Understanding the Sacred Triduum: The Last Supper

The evening Mass on Holy Thursday is referred to as The Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This is where the Church relives the institution of the Eucharist and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Last Supper, as well as the institution of the priesthood, which took place the evening before Jesus was crucified.

After the homily there is an optional washing of the feet ceremony, where the priest washes the feet of others to signify his role as servant, just as Jesus did with his disciples. Extra hosts are consecrated at this Mass to be used on Good Friday when no Mass will be celebrated.

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday concludes with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the “altar of repose,” a place where the consecrated host is kept other than the main altar where Mass is normally celebrated.

GOOD FRIDAY
Understanding the Sacred Triduum: Good Friday

Good Friday is a mandatory day of fasting and abstinence. This is the day of the crucifixion, the day Jesus died for the sins of the world. The parish altar looks very different on Good Friday, it is plain and bare. There is no consecrated Host in the Tabernacle at the main altar of the church; it was carried away on Holy Thursday night to the “altar of repose” to signify Jesus’ death. The candle by the Tabernacle is blown out, and the Tabernacle doors are left open to show that it is empty. Jesus is gone. This is quite dramatic, highlighting that Good Friday is a solemn day of prayer and mourning.

The ceremony on Good Friday is not a Mass, but rather a communion service using the consecrated hosts from Holy Thursday. It often takes place at 3pm, the hour that Jesus breathed his last on the cross. Veneration of the Cross also takes place at this service, processing to kneel before a cross and either touching it or kissing it. Often the priest will begin the service prostrate in front of the altar.

HOLY SATURDAY
Understanding the Sacred Triduum: Holy Saturday

On this day Christ is in the tomb. There is no daytime Mass on Holy Saturday. It is still a day of fasting and sorrow, the final one before the Easter Vigil begins that evening. We remember, with Mary and the disciples, that Jesus died and was separated from them for the first time as he lay in the tomb. The faithful often continue their Good Friday fast through Holy Saturday.

EASTER VIGIL / EASTER SUNDAY
Understanding the Sacred Triduum: Easter Sunday

A vigil Mass is held after nightfall on Holy Saturday, or before dawn on Easter Sunday, in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. This is called the Easter Vigil, the most glorious, beautiful, and dramatic liturgy for the Church.

The vigil is divided into four parts and can last up to three hours: 1) the service of light, 2) the liturgy of the Word, 3) the liturgy of Baptism, and 4) the liturgy of the Eucharist.

CELEBRATING EASTER FULLY
Easter Sunday is what we’ve all been waiting for! The 40 days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during Lent was in preparation for this day, when our hearts and souls can drink in deeply the culmination of the Pascal mystery: the Resurrection.

30/03/2018

Our Catechism children dramatizing the Stations of the Cross.

Well done to all. It was truly amazing.

30/03/2018

JESUS OF NAZARETH Jewish and Roman trials, was flogged, and was sentenced to death by crucifixion. The scourging produced deep stripelike lacerations and appreciable blood loss, and it probably set the stage for hypovolemic shock, as evidenced by the fact that Jesus was too weakened to carry the crossbar (patibulum) to Golgotha. At the site of crucifixion, his wrists were nailed to the patibulum and, after the patibulum was lifted onto the upright post (stipes), his feet were nailed to the stipes. The major pathophysiologic effect of crucifixion was an interference with normal respirations. Accordingly death resulted primarily from hypovolemic shock and exhaustion asphyxia. Jesus' death was ensured by the thrust of a soldier's spear into his side. Modern medical interpretation of the historical evidence indicate that Jesus was dead when taken down from the cross.
. . . . PRAYER . . . . .

Lord, by shedding His blood for us, Your Son, Jesus Christ, established the Paschal Mystery. In your goodness, make us holy and watch over us always. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen

29/03/2018

"Beginning with the EASTER TRIDUUM as its source of light, the new age of the Resurrection fills the whole liturgical year with its brilliance. --- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1168 "

We celebrate Jesus sharing His last Passover meal with His disciples. We also celebrate His institution of the Eucharistic celebration – “DO THIS, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."

Jesus celebrated the dinner as a Passover feast. CHRIST WOULD FULFILL HIS ROLE AS A VICTIM OF THE PASSOVER FOR ALL TO BE SAVED BY HIS FINAL SACRIFICE. During the Passover meal, Jesus breaks bread and gives it to his Disciples, uttering the words, "THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS GIVEN TO YOU". He passes a cup filled with wine. He then says "THIS IS THE CUP OF THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD, WHICH IS POURED OUT FOR YOU." --- LUKE 22: 19-20

29/03/2018

Holy Thursday Mass at 7pm this evening.

26/03/2018

Holy Week Mass Times:

Holy Thursday Mass at 7pm

Good Friday - Stations of the Cross at 10am

Good Friday - Veneration of the Cross at 3pm

Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil at 8pm

Easter Sunday - Mass at 9am