Category: Parish News

---

Stations of the Cross will take place on Friday afternoons during Lent
beginning Friday, March 7th at 4:30 p.m.

We are filled with joy and gratitude to announce that Mass will be celebrated once again in our beautiful Church beginning Friday, February 28th! Through God’s grace, the necessary repairs have been completed, and we are blessed to have our Church ready to serve us during this sacred Lenten season.

We humbly remind you that this project was a repair effort, guided by the Diocese and the insurance company, and not a renovation. As you enter, you may notice a few changes, such as a missing pew, some pews with fabric that may have been worn or stained, and the ceiling has been painted. These imperfections are a testament to the hard work and dedication that have gone into making our space functional and safe for worship.

We ask for your understanding and patience as we continue to care for and cherish this house of God. Below, you’ll find answers to some questions you may have about these updates:

• Why was the wood in the ceiling painted?
  We have always cherished the beautiful wood in the ceiling of our Church. However, when the tornado struck, debris infiltrated the Church, causing significant damage to sections of the ceiling. Unfortunately, the damaged wood could not be repaired or color-matched due to the unique patina that had formed over many years of service. Additionally, water intrusion left stains and watermarks in other areas. After much consideration, painting the wood became the only viable solution to restore the ceiling.
• Why is there a pew missing and others in disrepair?
  The pews in our Church have been cleaned and repaired to the best of our ability. However, the tornado caused flying debris that damaged several pews. While we searched for a matching replacement for the pew that was destroyed, we were unable to find an exact match. Despite this, the team working on the repairs has made every effort to restore the remaining pews as much as possible.
• Where is the skylight?
  Due to the damage caused by the tornado, the skylight was removed as part of the necessary repairs. We understand that the skylight was a beloved feature of our Church, and it will be replaced in the near future.
• Will the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament be reopened?
  We are happy to announce that the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament will reopen immediately after the 8:00 a.m. Mass and will remain open according to its regular schedule, which you can find on our website. We invite you to come and spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament!

We are truly grateful for your patience and support throughout this repair process. May we continue to come together in prayer and gratitude as we move forward in our journey of faith.

Bishop Barbarito has called upon all the faithful to pray for the health and well-being of Pope Francis. Let us join together in prayer, seeking God’s grace and healing for our Holy Father.

The USCCB has provided the following prayer:

O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,

look favorably on your servant Francis,

whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;

Grant, we pray, that by word and example

he may be of service to those over whom he presides

so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,

he may come to everlasting life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the

unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

---

As many of you heard during the announcements at Mass, the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament is temporarily closed due to essential roof repairs. These repairs are necessary as a result of tornado damage, and the closure is being made with your safety in mind.

We understand this may be an inconvenience, but we are confident that through this process, our Church will be restored and strengthened. We will continue to provide updates on the progress of the repairs and will notify you when the Chapel is able to reopen.

Thank you for your patience, your continued prayers, and your unwavering support as we navigate this challenging time together. May God bless and strengthen us all as a community of faith.

---

It is with profound sorrow and reverence that we announce the passing of our beloved Fr. Danny Murphy. Fr. Danny was called to eternal rest in the late afternoon of December 12, 2024. We are deeply grateful for the many years of faithful service he gave to Holy Cross Catholic Church, and his loss will be deeply felt by all who knew him.

In keeping with Fr. Danny’s wishes, his funeral Mass will be celebrated in his native New York. We will gather here at Holy Cross for a Memorial Mass in his honor once his funeral has been held. The date of the Memorial Mass will be announced in due course.

Fr. Danny’s full obituary and New York Service dates can be found by clicking this link

Let us hold Fr. Danny in our prayers, entrusting him to the mercy and peace of our loving God. May his soul rest in the eternal light of Christ.