Sunday, Sept. 13 – Sunday before Exaltation of the Cross
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, Sept. 14 – Exaltation of the Cross
7:30 AM Matins
7:30 PM Divine Liturgy
Saturday, Sept. 19
6:30 PM Vespers
Sunday, Sept. 20 – Sunday after Exaltation of the Cross
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Please remember the following people in your prayers: Estella Biedenbender, Ken Bosak, Julie Carlin, Fletes Family: Alicia, Frankie, Layla, Lupita & Veronica, Victoria Flores, Larry Goodwin, Holly Garlow, Michelle Grana, Virginia Harrington, Jeanne Hart, Michael Hefferon, Rob Hooper, Chris Johnson, Patricia Kurczak, Irene Lehman, Elizabeth & John Mallas, Dylan Mancia, Toni Martin, Marg Mauro, Juan Gabriel Martinez, Pedro Medina, Mina family: Mila, Diana, Rev. John & Mike, Shannon O’Neill, Tanya Petach, Casandra Porch, Nicholas, Rodriguez Diane Romano, Paul Saucedo, Kathleen Savko, Robert Stamer, Leanne Steuer, Mary Washko, Dina & Matthew Wiggins, Carmen Zambrano, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Fr. Chris Zugger and all those who serve in the Armed Forces
Collection: $3,236.00; Candles: $26.00; Holydays: $50.00; Online: $360.00; Church Improvements: $170.00; Disaster Relief: $1,000.00
Total: $4,842.00 / Attendance 51
The American bishops of the Catholic Church have asked parishes to take up an optional collection to assist those suffering because of the wildfires, Hurricane Laura, and other recent disasters. If you are able to willing to donate, please identify the donation (check or online through “donorbox”) as going to “Disaster Relief”. The donations will support Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Relief Services. Thank you for your generosity! You will find the official request posted on the bulletin board by the small hall entrance.
(The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is September 14th)
We see images of the Cross of Christ so frequently, that for many of us it has lost the power behind its meaning. For those who loved Christ, or anyone who was executed on a cross, this image was incredibly traumatic; it immediately brought back memories of the worst moment in their life. Why then, do we “exalt” it? Why does the priest raise it up for all to see just before the faithful do a prostration and venerate it?
The reason reveals that we have two major options when it comes to dealing with our own past and future traumas. Without embracing the Kerygma (the proclamation of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ) “moving on” from trauma generally means not letting that negative past experience debilitate this present day. The event or experience is still seen as negative and unfortunate, but its effect has been dulled.
If we do embrace the Kerygma, and let it build our faith and union with God, past traumas can not only be healed, but revealed as moments of evil that have been trampled by Christ, and used by Him to improve the life, and death, of those who embrace it.
So the exaltation and veneration of the cross of Christ is a “thank you” for Jesus’s utter transformation of sin and death into charity and Life, and a ritual of hope for that same action to be imposed on our own traumas. So whenever we see the image of the cross in our homes, around our neck, held by a preacher, or surrounded by flowers on the tetrapod, our prayerful response should be both a gracious “thank you” for Christ’s trampling of death and granting of Life, and a hope-filled “please” that He will help me realize the He will do the same “trampling” and “granting” to my current anxieties.
Saturday, September 12 –
