HCCS sixth graders reflect on the first beatitude, 'Blessed be the Poor in Spirit'

Submitted by Mrs. Jo Sato.

The sixth grade class at Holy Cross Catholic School did a fantastic job leading the first Catholic Virtue Assembly of the school year. Their job was to help us learn the first beatitude: Blessed be the Poor in Spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This is the first beatitude spoken by Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus transforms the list of rules to live by from the Old Testament to attitudes we need to have in order to find true happiness with Him in Heaven.

What does it mean to be “Poor in spirit?” It means being humble to the point of realizing that all of your talents, gifts and blessings come from the grace of God. We have nothing without Him. If we empty ourselves of pride we will be ready to open our hearts and souls to God’s Word. Humility brings the inner peace required to do God’s Will.

Your reward for being poor in spirit will be eternal life with God in his kingdom when your life is finished here.

Ignatius of Loyola: Poor in Spirit

All of the Saints lived lives exemplifying the teachings of Jesus. At the heart of Jesus’s teachings is the Beatitudes. We chose St. Ignatius of Loyola as a powerful representation of being “poor in spirit”

St. Ignatius was born in Spain in a castle at Azpeita to a noble family. He was the youngest of 13 children. He did not have much interest in school as a boy. He was enthralled with glory and power. He went from being a court page to joining the military.

He was wounded when a cannonball shattered his leg while in battle for Spain against the French. While convalescing, he did a lot of reading. Many of the books his sister-in-law had laying around were books about saints. Ignatius decided he would be a soldier again, but this time it would be for Christ.

When healed, he made a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Monserrat. He laid down his sword and dagger at the altar and traded his expensive clothes for a beggar’s. He allowed his hair to grow wild in atonement for the former pride he had taken in it. He received a number of mystical visions.

Realizing he had much to learn, he returned to school. Picture if you will, he was a man in his thirties sitting next to students 9 to 13 learning Latin grammar. Eventually he finished his studies at the age of 43 with a master of arts degree.

He and a group of men he studied with and who decided to follow him started the Jesuit order known then as “the Society of Jesus”. Their vows were of poverty, chastity and obedience.

In 1550, Ignatius was given funds toward building the Roman College for the Jesuits, which became the model for all of his other schools of learning.

He is the patron saint of retreats and spiritual exercises. One of the prayers he wrote in his “Spiritual Exercises” is shown below. It is a prayer that may help us to become “poor in spirit."

Saint Ignatius Prayer of Surrender
Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will.

All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will.

Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.

Let me stand before you with true poverty of spirit and things as well.

What is Catholic Virtue Education?
Catholic Virtue Education focuses on teaching students and their families about Catholic virtue as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. While all of the virtues, works, gifts and fruits are intricately intertwined into our Catholic Faith, Catholic Virtue Education at Holy Cross Catholic School focuses on certain aspects each month in order to enhance learning for all students, of all abilities, in all grades.

Each month a new virtue is developed, and the students are involved in defining, discussing and exhibiting that trait in their daily lives. Principal Robin Jo Jensen includes reflections on the month's virtue in her weekly parent letter to spur discussions at home. At the end of the month parents are encouraged to attend a student-directed, all-school assembly focusing on the lessons taught throughout the month.

About Holy Cross Catholic School
Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Road, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community.

Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 140 years and has an enrollment of 189 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: www.holycrossfamily.org/.

US Bishops Offer 5 Keys to End Financial Crisis

Urge Responsibility for Choices Made

WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPT. 29, 2008 (Zenit.org).- As Congress goes back to the drawing board to consider the nation's finances after today's failed bailout vote, the country's bishops have their own list of principles they hope will be taken into account.

In a letter sent to government leaders Friday, Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, chairman of the episcopal conference's Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, urged a consideration of five key principles when considering how to bail out the nation's failing economy.

He first promised that the bishops are praying for the situation, which he called "both terribly disturbing and enormously complicated." Then, acknowledging that "my brother bishops and I do not bring technical expertise to these complicated matters," he affirmed that "our faith and moral principles can help guide the search for just and effective responses to the economic turmoil threatening our people."

The first key Bishop Murphy encouraged was taking into account the "human and moral dimensions" of the crisis.

"Economic arrangements, structures and remedies should have as a fundamental purpose safeguarding human life and dignity," he affirmed. The prelate said a "scandalous search for excessive economic rewards," which gets to the point of exacerbating the vulnerable, is an example of "an economic ethic that places economic gain above all other values."

"This ignores the impact of economic decisions on the lives of real people as well as the ethical dimension of the choices we make and the moral responsibility we have for their effect on people," Bishop Murphy wrote.

Second, the New York bishop called for "responsibility and accountability."

"Clearly, effective measures are required which address and alter the behaviors, practices and misjudgments that led to this crisis. […] Those who directly contributed to this crisis or profited from it should not be rewarded or escape accountability for the harm they have done," he said.

Meeting needs
The prelate next recalled that in any case, the market will always have "advantages and limitations."

"[T]here are human needs which find no place on the market," Bishop Murphy said. "It is a strict duty of justice and truth not to allow fundamental human needs to remain unsatisfied." In this regard, he called for a "renewal of instruments of monitoring and correction within economic institutions and the financial industry as well as effective public regulation and protection to the extent this may be clearly necessary."

"Solidarity and the common good" is the fourth principle the prelate encouraged.

"The principle of solidarity reminds us that we are in this together and warns us that concern for narrow interests alone can make things worse," he explained. "The principle of solidarity commits us to the pursuit of the common good, not the search for partisan gain or economic advantage."

Finally, Bishop Murphy recommended recalling the principle of subsidiarity.

"Subsidiarity places a responsibility on the private actors and institutions to accept their own obligations," he said. "If they do not do so, then the larger entities, including the government, will have to step in to do what private institutions will have failed to do."

The bishop concluded recalling words from the encyclical "Centesimus Annus": "Our Catholic tradition calls for a society of work, enterprise and participation which is not directed against the market, but demands that the market be appropriately controlled by the forces of society and by the state to assure that the basic needs of the whole society are satisfied.

"These words of John Paul II should be adopted as a standard for all those who carry this responsibility for our nation, the world and the common good of all."

© Innovative Media, Inc.

Reprinting ZENIT's articles requires written permission from the editor.



Thank you ZENIT!
The Holy Cross Family Blogspot features regular news and information thanks to ZENIT, an international Catholic news agency. If you enjoy ZENIT articles on the Holy Cross Family Blogspot, you can show your support and appreciation by visiting their website and spreading the word. Please click on the logo to visit the site.

Media coverage of the blessing and dedication of the HCCS addition

Kathryn Bracho from WBAY reported on the dedication of the new classrooms at Holy Cross Catholic School on Sunday, September 28. Please press the PLAY button to see the segment.

Robert Hornacek from FOX 11 also stopped out for the dedication Sunday morning. You can see FOX 11 coverage at this link: Catholic School Celebrates New Addition.

Holy Cross Parish Youth Stewardship Corner

I shared my TIME and TALENT by:

• I changed William's diaper, cleared the table and picked veggies for Mom.
• I did my sisters hair.
• I helped my brother get his pajamas, and I gave him some of my toys.
• Spent time with my cousin Jesse who just lost his Dad.
• I helped Mommy clean up the living room.
• I brought my sister Emma a library book to read from the HC library.
• I shared my toys with my sisters and did my chores and cleaned my room.
• Sharing in school, played with other kids.
• I set the table for Mom.
• I played nicely with the baby, listened to my parents and helped my big sister.

Total TREASURE shared: $5.00

Our Holy Cross Parish Youth Stewardship program is a tool available for us to help teach the basics of stewardship to our youth. Stewardship is a decision we make to live as Christians and to thank God for all of His blessings by helping to take care of the church and the world on behalf of God. Stewardship is often touched upon throughout the Bible and in our faith formation process; the Youth Stewardship Program helps bring all of these teachings together.

For more information about Holy Cross Faith Formation, please check out the links located on the right hand side of the blog.

What's Happening in Faith Formation?

Faith Formation Classes
Wednesday, October 1
Grades 1 - 6: 5:30 - 6:30pm
Grades 7 - 10: 6:45 - 8:00pm

Sunday, October 5:
"I Am Special" Sunday School: 10:00-11:00am

Confirmation Parent/Guardian/Candidate Orientation this week!
Wednesday, October 1 at 7:00pm in the school gym. All candidates must be accompanied by a parent / guardian.

First Reconciliation & First Communion Parent Orientation next week! Mark your calendars! All PARENTS with children in Grade 2 in both the day school and faith formation are required to attend our Parent/Guardian Orientation on: Monday, October 6 at 6:30 PM in the gym. This is for the parents only.

About Holy Cross Faith Formation
All children in the Holy Cross Parish Family have the right and opportunity to be educated in their faith. Children and young adults often have questions about God. The Holy Cross Parish Faith Formation program works with parents to answer these questions and to bring our young people into a closer relationship with God; a relationship which motivates them to make good moral decisions in order to live Christ-like lives.

To see Faith Formation photos, click on the photo albums underneath Faith Formation Contact Information on the right hand side of the blog. To read all Faith Formation blog posts, click here.

Holy Cross Athletics basketball signup is here!

Holy Cross Athletics offers 5th thru 8th grade boys and girls basketball teams. The program is open to Day School and Faith Formation students. The deadline for signup is October 3. Please e-mail Athletics@HolyCrossFamily.org for more information.

About Holy Cross Athletics

The mission of Holy Cross Athletics is to provide the opportunity for our children to learn new skills, be part of a team, to have fun, and to make new friends in competition against themselves and other schools in our community.The Holy Cross Athletic Program offers soccer, basketball and track to boys and girls in grades five through eight. All children of registered parishioners are welcome to play on Holy Cross athletic teams.

Mass Times/Intentions this Week

Monday, September 29 NO MASS
6:00 PM Rosary

Tuesday, September 30
6:45 PM Patrick Moreau

Wednesday, October 1
8:00 AM Rose Corsten

Thursday, October 2
8:00 AM Norbert Skaletski

Friday, October 3
8:00 AM Shirley Corsten
3:00 PM Wedding-Kathleen Harmeling & Adam Servi

Saturday, October 4
4:00 PM Bernadette & Orville VanLieshout

Sunday, October 5
8:00 AM Holy Cross Parish Family
10:00 AM Irene VanLanen

September 27/28 From the Pastor's Desk...

My Dear Parishioners,

This weekend we welcome with Great Joy and Enthusiasm to Holy Cross Parish our new Bishop, David Ricken! We celebrate 140 years of passing on our Catholic Faith through our Day School and Faith Formation Program and also dedicate and bless the new addition to our Catholic Education Center. These two events proclaim to our parish, our neighbors, and our Diocese that Holy Cross Parish in Bay Settlement not only has been here for a long time but also is a strong, vibrant and growing faith community. The sign in front of our church says it loud and clear…―Building for our future by the Grace of God."

A word of thank you and appreciation is offered to all who participated in the construction of our new addition. Our worship sheet for this week’s Dedication Mass lists all of those who have given of their time, talent and treasure. All of them should know that they and their families will be remembered in the Masses and Prayers that are offered in our Parish and that God will abundantly Bless them for their generosity.

Oremus pro invicem,
Fr. Tom H

Related link:

9.28.08 Church Bulletin

Bishop David Ricken to Dedicate & Bless Holy Cross Catholic School Addition

--HCCS celebrates 140 years in existence through "God's Grace," principal cites growth as positive indicator for the future of Catholic education locally --

Green Bay, WI--The "little school that could" has big reason to celebrate this Sunday. Slated to close just three years ago under the Green Bay Catholic Diocese's GRACE proposal, the school will celebrate 140 years of Catholic education with the blessing and dedication of two new classrooms by Bishop David Ricken.

Bishop Ricken will celebrate Mass at 10 AM on Sunday, September 28 at Holy Cross Parish, 3001 Bay Settlement Road. The dedication and blessing of the new classrooms will occur immediately following Mass (around 11:00 AM). Bishop Ricken will say a prayer to dedicate the school classrooms, and then he will hang a crucifix in each room to complete the ceremony. There will also be displays in the school gym to commemorate the school's 140th Anniversary.

Holy Cross Pastor, Fr. Thomas Hagendorf, cites the construction project as one of many miracles that has been occurring in the Bay Settlement area over the past several years.

“The miracle is that God’s Grace has touched the hearts and minds of its parishioners, and energized them to accomplish what many would feel is impossible," commented Fr. Tom. "I feel that the Grace of God is very active in this area, and we have come to know that with God all things are possible.”

Principal Robin Jo Jensen agrees, and notes that Holy Cross Catholic School is also proud to be moving forward as part of the new Catholic School System--a fact that wasn't a given just three years ago.

"Our success and growth over the past three years has been incredible for our community," commented Mrs. Jensen, "There is also another story unfolding here, and that involves the viability and development of a strong Catholic school system in the Green Bay area through the Faith Alive project."

Holy Cross Catholic School's enrollment for 2008/2009 is 189 students. That number has steadily increased over the past several years: the school had 166 students enrolled for 2007/08 and 152 students enrolled for the 2005/06 school year.

The parish also has need of the additional space to accommodate the needs of a growing community for ministry programs and the Faith Formation program.

The Holy Cross construction project was funded by monetary donations from parishioners and school families. Several contractors stepped forward to donate their expertise and building materials. Labor was donated by parishioners and construction was completed in the "barn-raising tradition" of a bygone era.

The Holy Cross community's dedication was noted by Bishop David Ricken, who was installed as the 12th Bishop of the Green Bay Diocese less than a month ago.

“The growth of Holy Cross Catholic School is a sign of the tremendous love the people have for this church and school, and of their unwavering commitment to Catholic education," commented Bishop Ricken. "It is my honor to be with them on September 28 to dedicate their new space, which will be used by schoolchildren, religious education students and the parish community as a whole.”

About Faith Alive
The Faith Alive project was approved by the Green Bay Catholic Diocese in January 2007 to benefit the parishes and schools in the Greater Green Bay area. The purpose of Faith Alive is to identify common ministries and deliver them more effectively through collaboration.

About Holy Cross Catholic School
Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Roads, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community.

Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 140 years and has an enrollment of 189 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: www.holycrossfamily.org/.

The Holy Cross Parish Family
Founded in 1852 by Fr. Edward Daems, the Holy Cross Parish Family is the third oldest parish in the Green Bay Diocese. Bay Settlement literally grew up around the church, and Holy Cross is the spiritual cornerstone of the community to this day. Our mission is "to praise and serve God, and to recognize and serve Jesus, in those for whom the world makes no room."

Holy Cross offers Internet safety presentation for parents

Submitted by Mrs. Robin Jo Jensen.

Parents and Guardians: Mark your calendars for this important presentation! I am very pleased to announce that Deputy John Flannery, Directed Enforcement Officer of Allouez and affiliate of the Diocese of Green Bay, will be offering this FREE and VITALLY important presentation for all Holy Cross parents and guardians on Monday evening, September 29th at 7:00PM in the school gym.

The following is a description of what John tells me he will present to the parents: “I will share information and discuss how kids are at risk specifically with social networking sites. I present real case files and give examples of how children tend to post too much information on the Internet about themselves. I will also provide parents with tips on how to protect their children, and show how offenders surf the net and the techniques they use to find information about their kids. We all know of the dangers of chat rooms. However many parents don't realize that what their kids are posting online in these social networking sites about their friends, family and themselves can be just as dangerous. Likewise, many schools and churches may post things that seem innocent enough but provide offenders with the necessary information to obtain background information on a potential victim. The Powerpoint is graphic (not inappropriate in any way).”

I strongly encourage you to take the time to attend this seminar that could ultimately save your child from harm. All parents of all students are invited and encouraged to attend. This seminar is NOT just for parents of middle school students! It is never too early in your child’s life to get this important safety information!

Encounter Jesus in an atmosphere of love, acceptance and fun!

KOINONIA RETREAT
St. Gabriel's in Neenah, September 26-28

Koinonia is the Greek word for community. During a Koinonia weekend retreat, you are invited to encounter Jesus, the dying and rising of Christ in a real and powerful way. The weekend consists of talks, discussion, reflection, sharing prayer and liturgical celebration with others who are also seeking to strengthen and nourish their relationship with our Savior. This whole experience is led by a team of lay people, clergy and religious.

The retreat starts on Friday evening at 5:00 and ends on Sunday around 4:30 PM. The Christian community invites you to come and experience it. Call the parish office if you have questions: 920.468.0595. Now is the time to let us know you are coming! Pick up a brochure, fill it out and send it in.

HCCS students learn about 'Dia de la Independencia'

Submitted by Mrs. Mary Lardinois

Holy Cross Catholic School Students in K-8 marked Dia de la Independencia on September 16. Students studied this very important day in Mexican history as the day that Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain. As a salute to freedom, each of the classes will recite the familiar and important United States of America ’s Pledge of Allegiance translated into Spanish:

The Pledge of Allegiance
Juro fidelidad a la bandera de los Estados Unidos de
America, y a la republica que representa, una nacion bajo
Dios indivisible, con libertad y justicia para todos.

About Holy Cross Catholic School
Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Road, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community.

Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 140 years and has an enrollment of 189 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: www.holycrossfamily.org/.

Mass Times/Intentions this Week

Monday, September 22
NO MASS
6:00 PM Rosary

Tuesday, September 23
NO MASS

Wednesday, September 24
8:00 AM Shirley Corsten

Thursday, September 25
8:00 AM Deceased Members of the Truman Corsten Family

Friday, September 26
8:00 AM Rose Corsten

Saturday, September 27
1:00 PM Wedding-Bridgett Karstein & Bryan Gerl
4:00 PM Bernard Herman
Baptism—Brayden Stokes

Sunday, September 28
8:00 AM Pieta & Paul VanDenMeerendonk
10:00 AM Holy Cross Parish Family
Blessing & Dedication of new classrooms

Catechetical Sunday: A chance to thank and bless those who teach the Faith

Submitted by Marti Burkard

This week-end we celebrate Catechetical Sunday. We pray for and encourage those who are teaching people about the faith. That includes all of us! Catechesis is the process of sharing the Good News of Jesus, celebrating it in worship and responding to it in service. When we think of catechists, we usually think of those who work in our faith formation program, high school and adult education programs, or our religion teachers in our day school, Catholic high schools and colleges.

Parents have a unique role as catechists. They have a responsibility to raise their children in the faith. This can be challenging. There are many factors that oppose the faith in our culture. These include: materialism, disrespect for human life and human sexuality, moral relativism and an economic system that leaves many children in our nation in poverty. Alternately, there are factors that support the faith in our culture: freedom or religion, a sense of responsibility toward our neighbor, freedom of speech and the right o vote and influence the laws of our nation. Amidst this, parents try to teach their children about the love of Christ. As a parish family we try to support our parents through our Faith Formation Program, our adult education opportunities and in our Holy Cross Catholic School.

Just as our regular school education doesn't end after high-school, faith formation does not end when we are Confirmed or finish high-school. The same holds true for faith formation. We continue to learn about our faith as we grow older. When we get married or enter the work world, new challenges to our faith emerge. Questions about work ethics or how to raise children in the faith sometimes surprise us.

Pray for our parents, catechists and those learning about the faith for the first time. As a parish family, let us continue to help one another grow in faith.

We recognize and bless our Catechists who’ve responded to the call of Jesus to: “Go…and make disciples of all nations.” (Matt 28:19)

September 19/20 From the Pastor's Desk...

My Dear Parishioners,

I have returned from my annual vacation/visit to my family back East, and I am so glad to get back home again. It is always nice to get away for some time off, but it is even better when you are able to get back home and settled in again. The trip was relaxing and enjoyable, and my brother and I traveled a total of 2,234 miles during the time we were gone and had no difficulties or even traffic problems. The two trips across Lake Michigan on the SS Badger were pleasant and enjoyable and helped us avoid the Chicago traffic and we estimate saved us 350 miles each way. If you have never taken a cruise on the car ferry, consider it as it is a very enjoyable 4-hour trip, and there are activities for the kids as well.

In addition to the joy of being with family members and re-connecting, the trip was good for me as a priest because I stayed most of the time with my niece, Jeanine; her husband, Dr. Ray; and their two sons, Raymond, 5th grade, and Michael, 3rd grade. Living with a family let me see first hand all that takes place in the family home: getting the kids ready for school, feeding and walking the dog, food shopping (and its cost!!!), taking the kids to soccer, karate, visits to friends, etc. Sometimes we priests can forget what it takes to run a family and a house, the joys and sorrows, etc. I told my niece and her family that I had gathered enough information staying with them that I can use in at least 8 homilies. Believe me, I was exhausted just watching them fulfill their duties as mom and dad everyday!

You are all already aware that next Sunday, September 28, is a special weekend for us here at Holy Cross because our new Bishop will be coming to celebrate the 10 am Eucharist with us and then after Mass process to our new classrooms to bless, dedicate them, and install the crucifix in each room. We are named Holy Cross Parish and all that we do, we do in the name of the Cross of Christ. So the hanging of the cross in each classroom will bring to a completion the process we began last June 29th when we broke ground for this new construction. At this Eucharist we also celebrate 140 years of passing on our Catholic Faith to our children through our day school and faith formation program. Think of how many children have come to know and love and embrace our Catholic faith because we as a parish were willing to pay the price, employ the energy, and give of our time, talent and treasure to make this happen. As one of the oldest parishes in the Green Bay Diocese, we can celebrate those 140 years and take great pride in the fact that we are "Building for our future by the Grace of God.”

Bishop Ricken, the pastor, people and children of Holy Cross Parish in Bay Settlement welcome you and thank you for coming to celebrate the Eucharist and bless our new classrooms. We also welcome you as our new Shepherd and say “Ad multos Annos.”

Oremus pro invicem,
Fr. Tom H

Related link:

9.21.08 Church Bulletin

Symposium Finds "Stunning" Facts About Pius XII

Pope Says He Hopes Truth Can Be Made Known

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, SEPT. 18, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says he hopes the 50th anniversary of the death of Pope Pius XII this year will offer an occasion to get to the historical truth about him, overcoming prejudices that hide the facts.

The German Pontiff said this today when he spoke to an interreligious foundation that organized a symposium this week to study the life of Pius XII (1876-1958).

The Pope's address to the Pave the Way Foundation and its president, Gary Krupp, thanked the group for aiming to analyze "without bias the events of history and [concern] yourselves only with seeking the truth."

"So much has been written and said of [Pius XII] during these last five decades and not all of the genuine facets of his diverse pastoral activity have been examined in a just light," the Holy Father noted. "The aim of your symposium has been precisely to address some of these deficiencies, conducting a careful and documented examination of many of his interventions, especially those in favor of the Jews who in those years were being targeted all over Europe, in accordance with the criminal plan of those who wanted to eliminate them from the face of the earth.

"When one draws close to this noble Pope, free from ideological prejudices, in addition to being struck by his lofty spiritual and human character one is also captivated by the example of his life and the extraordinary richness of his teaching. One can also come to appreciate the human wisdom and pastoral intensity which guided him in his long years of ministry, especially in providing organized assistance to the Jewish people."

Benedict XVI said the Pave the Way symposium offers the public forum the possibility of knowing better what Pius XII achieved for Jews persecuted by the Nazi and fascist regimes.

Courageous and paternal
The symposium gathered and presented a large amount of documented material, supported by authoritative testimonies.

"In the proceedings of your convention," the Holy Father noted, "you have also drawn attention to [Pius XII's] many interventions, made secretly and silently, precisely because, given the concrete situation of that difficult historical moment, only in this way was it possible to avoid the worst and save the greatest number of Jews. This courageous and paternal dedication was recognized and appreciated during and after the terrible world conflict by Jewish communities and individuals who showed their gratitude for what the Pope had done for them."

"It is my great hope that this year, which marks the 50th anniversary of my venerated predecessor's death, will provide the opportunity to promote in-depth studies of various aspects of his life and his works in order to come to know the historical truth, overcoming every remaining prejudice," the Pontiff concluded.

Direct contradiction
Krupp, himself a Jew, told ZENIT that the results of the symposium were significant. He said that the Pave the Way Foundation feared that misinformation about Pius XII will "never go away" even when the Vatican Archives for the war years are opened.

"We discovered that many messages and orders were verbal and encrypted and since archival researchers seem to believe that if it wasn't written it didn't happen, that any lack of discovered documents would only spawn accusations of intentional document destruction," he said. "This is why we sought out those who are eye witnesses to papal intervention."

In his address to the Pope today, Krupp explained why the foundation took on the project of investigating Pius XII.

"Pave the Way has identified the papacy of Pope Pius XII as a source of friction and misunderstanding," he said. "Accordingly, we have undertaken an independent investigation to identify significant documents and to video-record eye witness testimony. I wish to report to you that results of this investigation [are] stunning, and directly contradict the negative perception of the Pope's wartime activities."

"This year," he continued, "for Catholics, Oct. 9, 2008, will be the commemoration the 50th anniversary of the death of Pope Pius XII. For Jews that date is also significant as it is our holiest Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur, our Day of Atonement. May this providential date usher in a new effort to correct the historical record and bring to light the truth of this papacy."

© Innovative Media, Inc.

Reprinting ZENIT's articles requires written permission from the editor.

Related links:
Pave the Way Website: Investigating the papacy of Pope Pius XII
Vatican Website: Pius XII



Thank you ZENIT!
The Holy Cross Family Blogspot features regular news and information thanks to ZENIT, an international Catholic news agency. If you enjoy ZENIT articles on the Holy Cross Family Blogspot, you can show your support and appreciation by visiting their website and spreading the word. Please click on the logo to visit the site.

Green Bay Diocese offers Adult Faith Formation Opportunities

Below are several adult faith formation opportunities offered in our area by the Green Bay Diocese Department of Education. All offerings are free of charge. For registration information, please contact Shelia Schaut at sschaut@gbdioc.org or 920.272.8276

W.O.W: WATER, OIL, WINE
The Sacraments of Healing: Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation, Holy Orders, and Marriage

October 6, 13, 20, 27, 2008
6:30 pm – 8:00 PM
St. Mary Parish in Algoma, WI

Here’s everything you always wanted to know about the sacraments of healing, but did not know who to ask!

Session One: The Anointing of the Sick
Like all the sacraments, holy anointing was instituted by Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry. The Catechism explains, "This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament. It is alluded to indeed by Mark, but is recommended to the faithful and promulgated by James the apostle and brother of the Lord" (CCC 1511; Mark 6:13; Jas. 5:14-15).

Session Two: Reconciliation
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32) our Lord demonstrates the “heart” of this sacrament: of Reconciliation. We find in this story a four-step process of conversion leading to reconciliation between God and the sinner: a situation of conflict; the sinner’s close encounter with the evil effects of sin, which eventually brings him to self-discovery; and the amazing grace that leads the sinner to personal transformation in the loving embrace of the Father.

Session Three: Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate. (CCC 1526)

Session Four: Marriage
"It is not good for man to be alone," said the Lord, after He created man. Indeed, man's road through life and the execution of his true destiny requires of him to participate with other people in mutual efforts and cooperation. For this purpose the Lord established marriage and blessed it, as is written in the Holy Scripture: "And God created man in His image, in God's likeness He created him, as male and female He created them. And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and have dominion over it"(Genesis 1:26-28).


The Christian Moral Life: Life in the Holy Spirit with Fr. John Doerfler

November 13, 2008
Quad Parish at St. Joseph Parish in Green Bay
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

An engaging and challenging moral theology presentation by Fr. John Doerfler, Chancellor of the Diocese of Green Bay.

• Questions answered about moral theology
• Areas of Catholic moral teachings that are difficult to understand
• Information on “stem cell research”

Father John Doerfler was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin and ordained a priest in 1991. Since his ordination, he has served as a parish priest and in various positions at the diocese. Currently he is serving as diocesan chancellor and as sacramental minister at St. Martin Parish, Cecil. He holds a doctorate in moral theology and a licentiate degree in canon law.

Know Your Faith with Fr. John Girotti

January 8, 2009
St. Bernard Parish in Green Bay
6:30-9:00 PM

• Have you ever been asked questions like this about your Catholic Faith and been unable to answer?
• Have you ever felt uncomfortable when friends at work or family members challenged you because of what you believe?
• Have people ever come to your door trying to convince you that your Catholic Faith is just plain wrong?
• If you answered 'YES' to any of these questions, come to “Know Your Faith” - a presentation on how we as Catholics can charitably explain and defend our faith to others.

Fr. John Girotti is a priest of the Diocese of Green Bay. Ordained in 2002, he is pastor of four parishes and is active on several Diocesan councils. He regularly teaches and speaks about the Catholic faith and how to explain and defend it in our modern world.

Christ Our Hope Lives through Pope Benedict XVI as Father, Pastor and Teacher with Fr. James Massart

April 23, 30, May 6, 13, 20, 27 - 2009
6:30-8:00 PM
St. Joseph Parish in Sturgeon Bay
Religion Certification: 10 points (Theology)

Extending the vision of Vatican II Father Jim Massart invites you to explore the meaning today of Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic visit to the United States. The speeches and addresses given by Pope Benedict XVI to the American people during his visit in April of 2008 will be used as the basis for the series of talks.

Father James P. Massart, Ph.D., has more than 25 years experience in teaching Theology, English and Philosophy. He holds two Master’s degrees, one in Theology from St. John University, Collegeville, MN and one in English from the University of Notre Dame. He also has a Doctorate in Ministry from St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD and a PH.D in Pastoral Psychology from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Indiana completing half the work in Oxford University in England. His passions include reading, traveling and continuing research as Diocesan Special Projects Coordinator and an instructor for the Department of Education in adult faith formation.

Department of Education, Catholic Diocese of Green Bay
Education in our Catholic faith and tradition is a critical component of the Diocese of Green Bay's greater mission. Lifelong education, employing the three distinct and fundamental forms, is an integral part of our past success and future vision as a community of believers. Through Catholic schools, adult faith formation, and religious education, we continue to support all members of our Catholic community in becoming well-versed in the tenets of our faith and committed to living as Jesus asked us to live.

Visit the Department of Education on the web at: www.gbcatholiced.blogspot.com

Booksigning at St. Catherine's Book Shop

Meet Bishop Robert Morneau
and Kathy Berken

on Friday, September 19
from noon - 3 PM
at St. Catherine's Book and Gift Shop
131 S. Madison St.


Kathy Berken is the author of Walking on a Rolling Deck, which has garnered high praise. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, President, Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas writes of Walking: "A powerful story of eventually looking for love at all the right places! L'Arche is a community of simplicity, faith, and happiness embedded inside a world growing ever more falsely-sophisticated, unable to find its God, and incapable of experiencing the simple joys of living. Kathy Berken, a journalist now living inside the community, takes us inside an alternative world, but without false sentiment or naïve romanticism. If your search for love has come up empty too many times, you need to read this book. This is a story of being found."

Bishop Robert Morneau's latest titles include Pathways to Community, A New Heart, and Waiting in Joyful Hope for Advent 2008. A poet and author, Bishop Morneau has written several books, and many of his essays appear in such periodicals as U.S. Catholic, St. Anthony Messenger, AMERICA and Emmanuel. In addition to writing, he gives retreats and lectures throughout the United States to lay groups as well as bishops and cardinals. He is considered the U.S. Catholic Church’s premier resource on stewardship, an expression of discipleship through which we gratefully receive God’s gifts, tenderly care for them, generously share them, and humbly return them to God. (From the Green Bay Diocese website.)

Weekly Catholic Virtue Reflection: The Beatitudes

By Mrs. Robin Jo Jensen

What is a virtue?

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), a virtue is defined as “a habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows a person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself.” (CCC 1803) “They (virtues) make possible ease, self-mastery, and joy in leading a morally good life.” (CCC1804)

The focus of our Catholic Virtue Education-Faith Based Character Development Program this year will be “The Beatitudes”. The CCC, under the title “Our Vocation to Beatitude” (CCC 1716-1729) presents all of the Beatitudes.

What is the significance of the Beatitudes?

They beautifully respond to our natural desire, as human beings, for happiness; they reveal the goal of human existence; they reflect not only individuals but the body of the Church and all of humanity; they proclaim the New Law, through Christ; they bring us to the Cross; they fulfill the sense of belonging to God; and they reflect our personal relationship with God, our responsibilities to Him, and the relationships and responsibilities we have to others.

This month, the Beatitude that we are focusing on is: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Next week, I will delve deeper into this Beatitude, what it means to us, and how we can ‘live it’ in our daily lives.

What is Catholic Virtue Education?

Catholic Virtue Education focuses on teaching students and their families about Catholic virtue as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. While all of the virtues, works, gifts and fruits are intricately intertwined into our Catholic Faith, Catholic Virtue Education at Holy Cross Catholic School focuses on certain aspects each month in order to enhance learning for all students, of all abilities, in all grades.Each month a new virtue is developed, and the students are involved in defining, discussing and exhibiting that trait in their daily lives. Principal Robin Jo Jensen includes reflections on the month's virtue in her weekly parent letter to spur discussions at home. At the end of the month parents are encouraged to attend a student-directed, all-school assembly focusing on the lessons taught throughout the month.

About Holy Cross Catholic School

Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Road, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community.

Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 140 years and has an enrollment of 189 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: www.holycrossfamily.org/.

Support the HCCS Eighth Grade Service Project at Paul's Pantry

Submitted by Mr. Jason Johnson.

The Holy Cross Catholic School 8th graders will participate in the World Food Day Program on Wednesday, October 15, at 10:00 AM at Paul’s Pantry.

This will be the first in a series of service days that the 8th grade class will participate in at Paul's Pantry this year. The 8th graders are asking people to bring in:

• used brown paper grocery bags
• bread bag ties
• empty egg cartons.

These items can be dropped off at the school office until October 14th.

About Holy Cross Catholic School
Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Road, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community.

Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 140 years and has an enrollment of 189 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: www.holycrossfamily.org/.

Focus on Faith: Holy Cross Faith Formation Family Newsletter

WELCOME BACK TO FAITH FORMATION!

It is with great joy and excitement that I welcome you back to the 2008-2009 Faith Formation Program. Have you ever experienced hospitality at someone's home where you felt you were really welcome, and they were really happy to have you there? We are REALLY happy that you and your children are here and part of our Holy Cross Parish Family!

To contrast that, have you ever been in a home where you were worried about spilling a drink or that your shoes might make a mess on the carpet? As Christians, it is part of our calling to open our homes and make everyone welcome. We must treat the stranger like a friend, and be warm and hospitable to them as well. Our culture does not embrace uninvited guests, or surprise company every easily. But those opportunities are there for us to share the good news and to BE Christ to others. Next time you have uninvited guests, or one that stays a bit too long, dig deep and find the well spring of joy and welcoming that God so generously provides to us!

Our family is growing! At this writing we have invited 15 new families to join our Faith Formation family. We are glad you're here and we look forward to growing in faith with you and your children.

Faith Formation Parent Night is next Wednesday, September 17!
GRADES 1 - 10
Parents and children will come together for the Parent/Guardian Night in the church. After the teachers are introduced, children in Grades 1 - 5 will be called forth and taken to their classrooms for an activity. After the meeting you will be invited to join your child in their classroom and meet their teachers. Students in Gr. 6 - 10 will remain in the church with their parent/guardian.

GRADES 6 - 10
Students are to come to church with their parents/guardians for Parent Night. Following the program, students and parents/guardians are invited to walk over to the school gym to check out their room assignments which will be posted in the gym.

Dedication of our new classrooms and 140th Anniversary Celebration of Holy Cross Catholic School: MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
We invite you to attend a very special Liturgy, Dedication Ceremony and Reception to bless and dedicate our two new classrooms and to celebrate the 140th anniversary of Holy Cross School, on Sunday, September 28, 2008! We will begin this special event with a 10:00 AM Liturgy at Holy Cross Church, celebrated by Bishop David L. Ricken. We are planning a very special day for our parish family, so please plan to join us!

We need your help!
We are asking school, faith formation, and parish families to help by donating either food items, or money to purchase items for the reception.

Please consider donating any of the following: cut-up vegetables of any kind, crackers, cheese, summer sausage, tortilla chips, salsa, whole fruit such as watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, kiwi, etc., any type of cookies bars, juice boxes or punch.
OR
If you don't feel like cooking, or don't have time to run to the store; cash donations will be greatly appreciated and will be used to purchase and prepare additional items.

Please contact Mary Peterson at josephpeterson@centurytel.net or call her at 866.3567 if you are able to donate any items.

We are also asking each child who attends Mass to bring a flower. We will be honoring our Mother Mary as a part of our Liturgy. The children will be asked to bring their flower and present it to Mary at a special point in the Mass. Thank you!

Catechical Sunday Next Week!
As we begin these first few weeks of September, the shorter days remind us that school has once again started. We will celebrate the beginning of our new Faith Formation year next week-end on Sept. 21, which the church calls Catechetical Sunday. On this day we will recognize and bless our Catechists, students and parents, along with those who've responded to the call of Jesus to "Go…and make disciples of all nations." (Matt.28:19)

Wrapping Paper Needed!
We are in need of lots of different types and occasions of wrapping paper. We are going to be pre-wrapping many of the cookbooks when they are available for sale in mid-November. We hope that this will make it more convenient for your rampant gift giving for all those occasions coming up! (hint hint!) From Christmas to Birthday to just plain wrapping paper, we would REALLY appreciate what ever you could donate to us.

Please bundle your rolls together, mark it "Faith Formation" and bring them to our upcoming Parent Night on Sept. 17. Thank you so much for your generosity!

Join us for the Blessing & Dedication of our New Classrooms!

Holy Cross Parish in Bay Settlement
proudly announces and invites you to attend

The Blessing and Dedication of

the New Addition to the Parish Education Center

Sunday, September 28, 2008

by
The Most Reverend David L. Ricken,
Bishop of Green Bay, Wisconsin

Mass at 10 AM

~ Blessing and Dedication immediately after Mass ~
~ Reception to follow in Parish Center ~

To read more about how the addition project came to be, please click here

.

Mass Times/Intentions this Week

Monday, September 15 NO MASS
6:00 pm Rosary

Tuesday, September 16
NO MASS

Wednesday, September 17
NO MASS

Thursday, September 18
NO MASS

Friday, September 19
8:00 AM Joe and Adam

Saturday, September 20
1:00 PM Wedding—Heather Cayan & Corey Rupp
4:00 PM Bernadette & Orville VanLieshout

Sunday, September 21
8:00 AM Holy Cross Parish
10:00 AM Emma & Louis Charlier

September 13/14 From the Pastor's Desk...

Dear Parishioners,

Happy Feast Day! Today's Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross dates back to the discovery in Jerusalem of what was believed to be the true cross by Constantine's mother, Helena, on September 14, 320. For Christians the cross symbolizes Jesus' complete and total love for all humanity. The Gospel today contains one of the most well known and often quoted passage in the Bible, ―For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. (John 3:16) God gave us the gift of his Son, and Jesus gave us the gift of life by dying on a cross for us. And, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit working in and among us.

As I expand on last week’s discussion of gifts and share further insights from the collaborative ministry seminar, I would like you to take some time to reflect on the other gifts God has given specifically to you. First, how do you define a gift? Brother Sofield explained that our concept of gift is too narrow. EVERYONE has been called and gifted by God. Therefore, you have a personal responsibility to recognize, develop, and use those gifts. Being part of a loving community allows you to discern and then develop your gifts because you have a greater number of people with whom you can share your talents. Don’t think that your gift is ordinary, that everyone can do that. I am living testament to the fact that not everyone can sing!! (But, God gave me a voice to sing his praises, so I do, and I apologize to anyone sitting around me.) God has given me various other gifts that I use to minister to others. No person has every gift, that’s why we are part of a community. We each contribute what we can to form a vibrant faith community, to make a cohesive team at work, to have a loving family.

So, what is your gift? Are you a good mother, father, sister, brother, etc.? Are you a good accountant, social worker, lawyer, factory worker? Do you have musical talents, artistic talents, a gift for public speaking? There are many facets of our lives in which we have been gifted. Brother Sofield told of one parish that listed the gifts of each parishioner in a book, and some of those gifts would surprise you: the gift of having lost a child, the gift of being a 15-year-old unwed mother, the gift of being blind. It’s how you recognize and use these gifts that allows you to grow in your ministry. The person who lost a child and the one who was an unwed mother were able to build support groups for others in similar situations. How and where has God called you to use your gifts?

Don’t let the word ministry scare you—some people are ministering in their church, but most people are ministering in their everyday lives. If you are using your accounting skills or nursing skills or musical talent to the best of your ability, you are having a significant impact on those with whom you come in contact. Your ministry may be in the home, workplace, a social club, or wherever you are using and growing your gifts.

This week’s challenge: Tell someone (a family member, friend, co-worker, etc.) of a gift you see in them that they might not be aware of, and give them a specific instance of when you experienced them using that gift. We need to help and support one another to discern and develop the wonderful gifts God has given to us!

Lori A. Flanagan, Business Manager

Does someone you love need to be held in prayer?

Contact the Holy Cross Prayer Chain Network!

The Holy Cross Parish Prayer Chain accepts requests for prayers from and for all who wish to be remembered in prayer, in need, and in thanksgiving. Please make use of this powerful resource by calling the parish office at 468.0595 with your prayer request. Your request will be passed along the prayer chain, and you can rest in the comfort of knowing that your community is holding you in prayer.

We truly believe that "more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of!"

EC-4 students comment on the first day of school at HCCS

EC-4 teacher Mrs. Michelle Jacques passed along some valuable feedback that she received from her new students about the first day of school.

Maryssa and William have already discovered what children throughout history have claimed is best about school:
"I like eating lunch" -- Maryssa
"Um...hmmm...recess." -- William

Taking his cue from Cookie Monster, Koltin reports: "Me love the trains."

Mason agreed with Koltin, his favorite part of the day was "playing with trains."

Bailey and Carlene will likely be fast friends. Their favorite part of the day was:
"Playing dress up." -- Bailey
"Playing dresses." -- Carlene

And Jackson summed up what everyone was thinking: "It's fun!"

Mrs. Jacques reports that in September the Early Childhood four class will be learning about school, family, friends and apples. Stay Tuned...

Holy Cross Catholic School offers preschool classes for three- and four-year olds. The Early Childhood Four Classes are taught by Mrs. Michelle Jacques, and the Early Childhood Three Class is taught by Mrs. Sandy Giesler. It's not too late to enroll your budding student! For more information about our program, please click here.

About Holy Cross Catholic School

Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Road, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community.

Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 140 years and has an enrollment of 189 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: www.holycrossfamily.org/.

Join us for Family Movie Night!

Please join us for the annual Family Movie Night this Friday, September 12th. The 8th graders will be serving soda and popcorn as a fundraiser for their class trip. Popcorn and soda will begin to be served at approximately 6:30. The movie will start at 7:00.

This year’s movie is The Waterhorse-Legend of the Deep.

(Feedblitz readers will need to go directly to the blogspot to view the accompanying video.)



This is a great opportunity to reconnect with each other after the summer break.

This year’s movie will be played indoors due to the recent construction of the new classrooms. Unfortunately, the ground is not quite ready for us to hold the movie outdoors. Feel free to bring your blankets, pillows, sleeping bags or chairs.

This is a free event sponsored by FAST and is open to all Holy Cross families. We hope to see you all there!

About FAST
FAST (Families and School Together) is a committee run by parents that integrates the goals of home and school: to develop programs which provide for the spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth of each child. All parents/guardians, interested grandparents, and parishioners are cordially invited to attend the meetings and activities. For more information, contact the school office at 468.0625.

About Holy Cross Catholic School
Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Road, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community.

Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 140 years and has an enrollment of 189 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: www.holycrossfamily.org/.

USCCB Provides Resources for Discussing Faithful Citizenship

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops launched a website this past year called Faithful Citizenship. The site is a guide and resource for Catholic participation in political life as we approach the November elections. Faithful Citizenship does not endorse a specific candidate or party.

The site includes a series of articles and podcasts by USCCB experts that are meant to provide food for thought on current issues. Experts discuss everything from Immigration to Voting by Conscience to the Environment (and much more.)

To check it out for yourself, please go to: www.faithfulcitizenship.org/.

Called to Witness: Chis VandenHouten

Name: Chris VandenHouten

Volunteer position: Faith Formation teacher

What grade do you teach? Sixth grade

How many years have you taught in a Faith Formation Program? Five

What grades have you taught? Third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades

What do you enjoy about sharing your faith in our Holy Cross Faith Formation Program? I like talking with the children and listening to their ideas about God. Teaching has made me more knowledgeable about the Catholic faith, and the students are so eager to learn.

What do you do in your free time? My free time is spent following and carting my children around to their activities. I enjoy reading, taking walks, my spin class at the Y, spending time with my family, and at our cottage.

HCCS Addition Project/Construction Photo Album

To view all Holy Cross Photo albums, please go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/holycrossparishfamily

Book review: Take Evans into voting booth with you

By Sister Jean Peerenboom, OSF

Vote Catholic? Beyond the Political Din by Bernard F. Evans (Liturgical Press, $9.95)

Make no mistake about it – religion and politics do mix. Bernard F. Evans proves it in Vote Catholic? Beyond the Political Din.

In a fair and balanced manner, he objectively and rationally discusses how Catholic voters can exercise their moral responsibility “to nurture, develop and then use these gifts to address whatever topic or issue is important to us.” He does it in a way that shows us we can discuss politics from a faith-based perspective without becoming belligerent and abusive to our listeners.
His chapters include “Connecting Faith and Justice,” “Promoting the Common Good,” “Opting for the Poor,” “Protecting Human Life and Dignity,” and “Promoting a Pro-Life Agenda.”

Evans looks at being called to different issues, voting for the Common Good, prioritizing issues, staying informed and discussing “hot-button” issues.

Each chapter includes superb discussion points. For example, the Pro-life Agenda chapter has these points:
• “To be pro-life means to resist any attacks against human life and to defend every person’s right to whatever is needed to live that life with dignity.”
• “A pro-life agenda in politics, especially in voting, must not be restricted to any one single issue.”
• “Voting is not the only way – and sometimes not the most effective way – to address pro-life issues.”
• “A danger in prioritizing issues during an election campaign is that of focusing on only one or two issues.”
• “Each of us should contribute to the common good by following our passions and using the gifts received from God to work on the issues to which we feel drawn.”

Evans makes good points – and more importantly – good sense in this little 98-page booklet.

He concludes with:
“Jesus called his followers to love one another and to show that love through practical acts of mercy and charity – feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, and giving drink to the thirsty. But love as Jesus commanded means more than responding to our neighbor’s immediate needs. It also means striving to change whatever causes that neighbor to depend on our charity – it means working for justice in our society and in our world. One way to do this is by choosing leaders who are committed to such change.”

Amen!

Next: Mary in Her Own Words: The Mother of God in Scripture by Father Gary Caster

Sister Jean Peerenboom is the former religion/books editor from the Green Bay Press Gazette. Sister Jean is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross. She writes a monthly book review for the Holy Cross Family Blogspot.

To read all of Sister Jean Peerenboom's book reviews, click here.

What's happening in Faith Formation?

Calling all Faith Formation Catechists
Required in-service for all Catechists this coming Wednesday, Sept. 10 from 6:00 - 8:00pm in the school library. See you there!

Registrations are past due!
Registration forms for the upcoming year were mailed out and should be in your homes. If for some reason you have not received yours, and you would like to enroll your children, please call Marti in the Faith Formation Office at 468-6554.

Please get your registration forms in immediately as classes start next week!

Faith Formation start-up dates
PRE-SCHOOL: 3, 4, & 5 yr. olds
Sunday, Sept. 14: 10:00am in the school.
(On just this first day of class we will begin with a
Parent Meeting at 9:15am in Room 126)
GRADES 1 - 10:
Wednesday, Sept. 17: Parent Night - 6:00 - 7:30pm, in church

Wrapping paper needed!
We are in need of lot's of different types and occasions of wrapping paper. We are going to be pre-wrapping many of the cookbooks when they are available for sale in mid-November. We hope that this will make it more convenient for your rampant gift-giving for all those occasions coming up! (hint hint!) From Christmas to Birthday to just plain wrapping paper, we would REALLY appreciate what ever you could donate to us.

Please bundle your rolls together, mark it "Faith Formation" and bring them to our upcoming Parent Night on Sept. 17. Thank you so much for your generosity!

Mass Times/Intentions this Week

Monday, September 8 NO MASS
6:00 PM Rosary

Tuesday, September 9
NO MASS

Wednesday, September 10
NO MASS

Thursday, September 11
NO MASS

Friday, September 12
NO MASS

Saturday, September 13
4:00 PM Deceased Members of the
Vandenack & Herman Families

Sunday, September 14
8:00 AM Leo & Marion Salmon
10:00 AM Holy Cross Parish Family

September 6/7 From the Pastor's Desk...

Dear Parishioners,

I recently attended a very wonderful seminar entitled Faith Alive Collaborative Ministry sponsored by the Diocese (our Bishop’s Appeal $$ at work). I’m not sure what I expected, but it certainly was not the diminutive but powerful Brother Loughlan Sofield, a world-renowned speaker and published writer on collaboration. I learned so much and was so invigorated by this seminar, that I can’t wait to share his message with you.

Collaboration needs to occur for any group of people to get along and work together for the good of the group—whether that group is a family, a workplace, a church, a school, a church and school, several churches, various ministries within a parish, etc. —groups are endless. The goal of collaboration is to further the ministry of Jesus.

A major obstacle to collaboration is within ourselves, and one of the primary obstacles is burnout, which is the result of unrealistic expectations of ourselves. Br. Sofield told of four stages of burnout: Stage 1 is over-involvement in ministry—when someone is afraid that if they leave, the work won’t get done. If you feel you are in this stage, remember that it is important to live a balanced life. Stage 2 of burnout is exhaustion and questioning—the person in this stage no longer ―reflects joy in their ministry. Stage 3 is withdrawal and disappointment, in which you see physical and emotional withdrawal of the person. Stage 4 is ―terminal cynicism where you experience free floating hostility. This individual has low self-esteem and the lower the self-esteem, the higher the hostility.

What can you do if you experience this person in your life (or if this person is you)? First, remember that Jesus is our ultimate role model. Show this person that you care. Are you as gentle, loving, and compassionate to yourself as you are to others? Be like Jesus—Jesus said no when necessary and set limits! Jesus got angry, was compassionate, inclusive, and didn’t avoid conflict. But he also did nothing alone, he gathered disciples who shared his vision and he taught and passed on that vision. Those disciples were sent out before they were fully prepared, but then Jesus listened to their concerns and reflected on their needs and supported them with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Brother Sofield asked each of us to spend some time reflecting on who in our workplace most reflects Jesus today. Then he challenged us to tell that person—and why. I extend the same challenge to you. I think you will be amazed at the reaction you get.

I have set a personal goal this year of reviving the Ladies’ Altar Society and forming a Men’s Club at Holy Cross Parish. I was called upon by my pastor to be the president of the Ladies Guild at my parish about 20 years ago when my children were 2, 3 and 4 years old. I thought he was crazy and that I didn’t have the skills to be a leader. But, it ended up being a truly wonderful experience—I met so many wonderful people and had so much fun, that I served a 2-year term before turning it over to the Vice President. And you know what? When everyone works well together (collaborates), the job doesn’t fall to any one person, so everyone can enjoy their role. If you feel that God is calling you to a special ministry within our parish, please let me know. Now, I know my phone won’t be ringing off the hook, but if you think you know someone who might not recognize their gifts but would be perfect for one of our parish ministries, give me a call and let me know!!

Remember, you don’t have less because you use your gifts, you have more!
Lori A. Flanagan, Business Manager

HCCS Student Begins the School Year with a Generous Act of Kindness

A Holy Cross Catholic School student recently donated a large sum of money, found and unclaimed, from an amusement park.

Principal Robin Jo Jensen said: "This little girl could've taken that money and spent it on something for herself, but instead asked her parents if she could give the money to HCCS. She handed me the money and said 'this is for my school!'"

The student is eagerly waiting for the teachers' wish lists to come out so she can decide how to distribute the money.

"I am so proud to know that we are really reaching these children, far beyond academics," commented Mrs. Jensen. "We are truly instilling Catholic morals and values, and forming future adults who will be good and charitable citizens in our world."

Have you witnessed or been the beneficiary of a generous act of kindness by someone at Holy Cross? Send an e-mail with KINDNESS in the subject line, along with the details to holycrossfamily@yahoo.com, and we'll post it to the blogspot!

Compass Editor Documents Bishop David Ricken's Installation with Youtube Video

(Feedblitz readers will need to go directly to the blogspot to view the video.)

This audio slideshow of Bishop David Ricken's Installation Mass was put together by Compass Editor Sam Lucero. Bishop Ricken is the 12th Bishop of the Green Bay Diocese. The video is also posted on The Compass web site.

Sam Lucero has a background in and passion for religious photojournalism. He has reformatted many of his photos and put them into video format. Other videos include: "Life of Cistercian Nuns," which boasts over 26,000 views; and "Sights and Sounds of the Dominican Republic," with over 3500 views. He currently has 18 videos posted to his site. To see more of Sam Lucero's work, please go to: http://www.youtube.com/user/sammlucero.

With Sympathy on Behalf of the Holy Cross Parish Family

Sister Mary John (Grace) Moureau, OSF, 86, was born on May 20, 1922 in New Franken to the late Joseph and Mamie (Van Egeren) Moureau. Sister Mary John entered the Community of the Sisters of St. Francis on the Holy Cross, Bay Settlement, in September 1940. She was received into the Order in August 1941 and celebrated her diamond jubilee in 2001.

Sister Mary John cared for children with physical disabilities at the Chapel in Robinsonville, worked in health care at the McCormick Memorial Home for 20 years, served her Sisters as a homemaker at St. Jude, Green Bay; Holy Cross, Mishicot and St. Mary, Bear Creek. She returned to the Motherhouse in 1972, where she worked in food service and had charge of the laundry. She resided at Parkview Manor at the time of her death.

Sister Mary John is survived by her brother Richard Moureau; nine sisters, Bernice (Robert) Jacobs; Marilyn (Milton) Craanen; Jean (Donald) Smits; Rita Pirlot, Rosemary (Constant) Vanness, Joyce (Carol) Berg, Doris (Clarence) Ducat, Loretta (Dale) Vanderkin, Judy (Darrell) Lardinois, brother-in-law, Richard Bielinski, sister-in-law, Rita Moureau, nieces, nephews and by the members and Associates of her Community, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Shirley; her brother, Walter and her brothers-in-law, Stanley Boteski and Orlin Pirlot.

Sister will be remembered for her love of community, her generosity, her love of playing bingo and her skill at making candles for Eucharistic celebrations and for gifts for Sisters and friends.

Friends may call at St. Francis Convent, 3110 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, on Friday, September 5, 2008 at 4:00 pm for the reception of the body and visitation. The Vigil Service will be at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at Holy Cross Church, 3009 Bay Settlement Road from 9:00 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. with Reverend Richard Getchel officiating.

Burial will be in the convent cemetery.

Sunday’s immigration pilgrimage to celebrate diversity

GREEN BAY, Wis. (Sept. 3, 2008) – Since its founding, the United States has been the land of opportunity to all regardless of race, religion or income. To celebrate the transformative power of diversity, four religious organizations will host an immigration pilgrimage at noon Sunday, Sept. 7, in Green Bay. All are invited to attend.

Called “A Journey of Hope Pilgrimage: Justice for Immigrants and Refugees,” the 2.5-mile walk will begin at St. Philip Church, 312 Victoria St. Sister Mary Ann Spanjers, a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity and chairperson of the event, said this is an opportunity to walk, pray, be educated and united with those who are immigrants today and with those immigrants who have gone before us.

The Notre Dame High School Jazz Band and the St. Philip’s Latino Music Group will get participants in a festive mood as they arrive. The event will begin at 12:30 p.m. with a short welcome, songs, and a blessing of the participants before their pilgrimage around 12:50 p.m. As they walk, participants will carry banners and join in music and prayer.

Around 1:50 p.m., the walk will stop for 45 minutes at St. Mary of the Angels Church, 645 S. Irwin Ave. Music and speakers will expand on the day’s theme. As a part of the break, pilgrims will enjoy the New Generation Polka Band, participate in a multi-language decade of the rosary (inside the church), and listen to immigrants’ stories as well as immigrant issues from representatives from the diocese.

Bagpiper Steve Walsh will join the pilgrims around 2:50 p.m. as they make their way to their last stop, St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, 140 S. Monroe Ave. When they arrive around 3:45 p.m., a mariachi band will welcome them. Auxiliary Bishop Robert Morneau will celebrate a 4 p.m. bilingual Mass there. He will dedicate some time to present the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding the importance of welcoming refugees and immigrants. All priests have been invited to concelebrate.

As a sign of solidarity, all walk participants are asked to wear something white. A special invitation has been extended to the 160 parishes in the Diocese who have been asked to send at least four members of their parish, school or programs. The representatives are encouraged to carry a symbol, such as a banner or sign, of their parish.

This event is free but participants must sign a release form prior to or upon arrival at the event. Copies of the form are available at www.fscc-calledtobe.org/living/index.php/upcoming-events/ or at the registration table.

The Pilgrimage is being sponsored by the Diocese of Green Bay, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, the Norbertines of St. Norbert Abbey, and the Justice and Peace Committee of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross. Additional support is being given by the Franciscan Friars of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province.

Related links:

Immigration Pilgrimage flyer

Immigration liability/permission flyer

School deals with student's deportation to Mexico, The Compass, May 9, 2008

Detainee deaths are disgraceful, The Compass, June 20, 2008

Priest shares insights on illegal immigration, The Compass, August 1, 2008

2008 Holy Cross Soccer Schedule and Game Locations Now Available

The Holy Cross Thunderbolts kick off the soccer season this Thursday at 5:15 PM when the 5/6 grade soccer team takes on St. Matthew at Resurrection.

About Holy Cross Athletics
The mission of Holy Cross Athletics is to provide the opportunity for our children to learn new skills, be part of a team, to have fun, and to make new friends in competition against themselves and other schools in our community.

The Holy Cross Athletic Program offers soccer, basketball and track to boys and girls in grades five through eight. All children of registered parishioners are welcome to play on Holy Cross athletic teams.

For more information, contact athletics@holycrossfamily.org.

A Prayer for Children Going to School

Dear God...
Bless all children this day, O God.

Instruct Them
Give them inquiring minds and discerning hearts.

Strengthen Them
Give them courage to persevere in all they undertake.

Delight Them
Give them the gift of joy and wonder in all things.

Befriend Them
Give them laughter and love to share with all.

Guard Them
Give them protection and safety as they move out of our embrace.

Love Them
And give them sure and certain knowledge of your unfailing love.

Amen.

Adapted from "Prayers of Our Hearts," by Vienna Cobb Anderson.
www.beliefnet.com/gallery/BacktoSchoolPrayer.html