Renovation and Seismic Project UPDATE
Your Pledged Commitment Makes a Difference
As part of our efforts with the Renovation and Seismic upgrade campaign, we’re pleased to share that our volunteers are beginning to connect with our school community for their campaign support.
In our early November update, we shared information about how we intend to raise $500,000 and the cost-effective way of giving through making a pledge. The campaign is hoping to attract donors who will commit to a 5-year pledge period, which allows donors to make a larger contribution spread over a number of years, making it more manageable than a one-time donation. Furthermore, all gifts to this campaign are tax-deductible, and a charitable receipt will be issued.
Donors who pledge a gift over several years will be invited (and encouraged) to complete a pledge form. This form will document your intent to give and the time period over which you plan to do so. Understanding your pledge cycles will help us with our cash flow planning and budgeting efforts as we continue moving forward. Additionally, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver has agreed to loan us the remaining funds once signed pledge forms are in place (versus a verbal commitment to give). Should you be asked to complete a pledge form, we kindly request that you do so.
Thank you once again for supporting this important campaign!
What is Share Christmas?
Share Christmas is a program designed to help the less fortunate at Christmastime through food donations. How is it done? Food products are printed on cards, which are hung on a Christmas tree in the church vestibule on the 1st Sunday of Advent. Each card on the tree would request a food product be purchased in quantity form for approximately $25 worth. For example, on the Christmas tree, one card would list Chicken Noodle Soup, another card would list Jam, and so on. If Chicken Noodle Soup was chosen, the parishioner would take the card and purchase $25 worth of that item. At the store, Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup, 284 mL, is $1.49/can. Purchasing 17 cans would be enough, as it works out to about $25.
Share Christmas Begins This Weekend
Share Christmas begins this weekend, and it is the only weekend (Nov 30 – Dec 1) our Christmas tree will be on display in the church vestibule. On the tree, parishioners will find cards requesting food donations. For parishioners working with a tight budget who would like to participate, they still can- they can take a card and share it with another parishioner(s). Since we are using the honor system this year, there is no need to register your card. However, a Share Christmas Information Table will be present in the church vestibule for parishioners who may have any inquiries. Next weekend (Dec 7-8) is Receiving Day where food donations along with Share Christmas tree cards are dropped off in our school gym. After that, all donations will be delivered to a convent in the Downtown Eastside on December 8 (next Sunday.) The Sisters will distribute your food donations to the families and individuals in need for Christmas.
Share Christmas – Volunteers Needed Next Sunday
We are looking for volunteers to help us load and off-load our delivery truck next Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 pm. Volunteers must have good backs. Also, among the volunteers present, we will be looking for drivers who can carpool to and from the convent in the Downtown Eastside. The work will take about 2.5 hrs to complete. If you are interested, please bring a pair of gloves, wear comfortable shoes, and dress for the weather. For more information, please phone/text Dillon Fong (604 561-6918).
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HOMEMADE LASAGNA
The Knights of Columbus will be in the lobby of the Church after all weekend Masses taking orders for homemade lasagna. You can support our Knights of Columbus and buy a delicious lasagna to serve at your next special occasion dinner or at a family dinner when you don’t have time to cook. The cost is $60.00 for a 9×13 pan. Delivery will be on the weekend of January 4& 5, 2025 after all Masses.
You can pay by cash, cheque or card. You can also order by phoning the parish office (604-299-3814 ext 2) or call Mike Malsegna (604-329-0207).
ALL LADIES ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE (CWL)!
It is not too late to consider joining our CWL or to renew your membership! New members are always welcome! If you or your friend or family member want to join or know more about the CWL, please talk to one of our members (chances are you know someone who is a CWL member) or look at our CWL bulletin board outside the Adoration Chapel/Crying Room. There are also brochures in our brochure rack. You can also go to our National website https://www.cwl.ca/why-become-a-member/
Our CWL membership fee is $45.00. You can pay by cash or cheque. Please put your payment in the collection basket with all your contact info in a separate envelope marked CWL. You can also phone the parish office and pay by credit card.
2025 wall calendars
Your 2025 wall calendars from Kearney Funeral Services and Bell & Burnaby Funeral Chapel are available for pickup in the Church lobby.
2025 SUNDay Missals, Children’s Missals and little books
The 2025 Sunday Missals for Adults and for Young Catholics and the Little Books for Advent and Christmas are available for sale in the back of the church. If you are a Sunday Mass reader, you should consider buying a Sunday Missal now as, when they are sold out, we cannot get any more. The Sunday Missals are $5.00 each, the Children and Youth Missals are $8.00 each and the Little Books are $3.00 each.
CHRISTMAS CARDS AND 2025 CALENDARS FOR THE PRISON MINISTRY
We are collecting unused Christmas cards, all occasion cards (i.e. Happy Birthday, Get Well Soon, etc.) and 2025 calendars for the Prison Ministry. Calendars can be wall, desk or appointment calendars without coils and should have a modest theme. Please put the cards and calendars in the boxes in the lobby of the Church. (We will be collecting these items until early January 2025.)
PURDY’S CHOCOLATES FOR CHRISTMAS (FUNDRAISER)
This weekend is the last weekend for ordering your Purdy’s chocolates as the Deadline to place an order is this Monday December 2nd.You can do some shopping from the comfort of your home, and you can support our Holy Cross Catholic Women’s League’s (CWL) Christmas fundraiser at the same time by buying Purdy’s chocolates for stocking stuffers or Christmas gifts.
To place an order, click on the following link to “Join a Campaign”:
Holy Cross CWL Christmas 2024 Fundraising Link: https://fundraising.purdys.com/1536029-118406
If have trouble accessing the site when clicking on the link, please visit: www.fundraising.purdys.com and select “Join a Campaign”. You will be asked to provide your email address and our Customer Number (63039).
If you can’t order online, or have any questions, please call or email the Parish office (parish.hcb@rcav.org) or email Marisa (marisademare@gmail.com). Thank you!
If you don’t want chocolates, you can still support our CWL with a monetary donation.
Orders will be available for pick up after all December 15 Sunday Masses.
Second Collection: Youth Ministry Sunday
This weekend’s second collection supports the work of the Ministries and Outreach Office in providing formation, training, and support for youth ministries across the Archdiocese.
ADVENT PENITENTIAL SERVICE AT HOLY CROSS
Please join us on Wednesday December 11th at 7:00 pm in the Church for our Advent Penitential Service. There will be several priests available to hear your confessions. If possible, please plan your Advent Confession for this night.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ANNUAL CHARITY APPEAL
Knights of Columbus Annual Charity Appeal is now live, draw date is December 14th. Tickets can be purchased online from the following link: https://kofcdraw.net/C05423
First prize is a Ford Escape Hybrid and there are a number of cash and early bird prizes. A portion of the ticket sales come back directly to our Council to support the various charities and ministries in our community.
ALPHA – STARTING JANUARY 2025
Do you have big questions about the meaning of life? Do you want to learn more about what it means to follow Jesus? Do you want to grow in your faith? If so, we invite you to join Alpha at Holy Cross – a set of weekly evening gatherings that will explore these questions.
Each gathering consists of a dinner followed by a short video and small group discussion. Alpha 2025 begins on Friday, January 17th at 6:30pm at the parish and is free of charge. We’re welcoming all men and women to come join us, with a special invitation for parents to participate. Alpha is open to all faith traditions as well as to individuals with no religious affiliation.
Alpha has changed countless lives. To get a taste of what Alpha is about, watch this short video here on how Alpha transformed a parish in Montreal.
To join Alpha 2025 at Holy Cross, sign up here. We hope to see you on January 17th!
The B.C. Catholic Print Edition DURING THE MAIL STRIKE
Due to a mail service disruption, the print edition of the BC Catholic paper is temporarily paused. It will resume printing as soon as the postal service returns to normal. Stay informed and inspired with The B.C. Catholic digital edition, now available for free at digital.bccatholic.ca.
2025 SAVE THE DATES
Holy Cross Super Bowl Party
Sunday February 9,2025 – 2:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Holy Cross Annual Golf Tournament
Friday May 9, 2025 – 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
MASS INTENTIONS for Monday December 2, 2024, to Sunday December 8, 2024 (Requested by)
Mon. Dec 2 8:15 am ++Deceased Members of Chech Family (Giuseppina G.)
Tues. Dec 3 8:15 am ++++++Cosimo & Carmela Peronance; Rosalba Gasparre;
Nicola & Caterina Tassone and Elisabeta Arcadi
Wed. Dec 4 8:15 am Parishioners
Thurs. Dec 5 8:15 am +Carmela Luongo (Franca Z.)
Spl. Int. May and Don Chan (Bozena)
Spl. Int. Autom Tagsa (Diva)
Thurs. Dec 5 9:15 am School Mass – Parishioners
Fri. Dec 6 8:15 am +Tony De Santis (Family)
Fri. Dec 6 7:30 pm +Marlene Vis (Lanny and Danny)
+Zarela Delgado de Brain (Diva)
Spl. Int. Father Maciej (Regina)
Spl. Int. May and Michelle (Juliet)
Spl. Int. for Healing for Alejo Mariano Junior (Angelina Mariano)
Sat. Dec 7. 9:00 am ++Souls in Purgatory
Sat. Dec 7 5:00 pm +Carlo Sorace (Sorace Family)
+Loreto Nullar (Art and Connie Madayag)
+Doreen Foubister
++Pius and Maria Cheung (Family)
+Frank Camazzola (Wife and Family)
Spl. Int. Connie and Cathy Madayag (Art and Connie Madayag)
Spl. Int. Paola Dattilo (Parishioner)
Sun. Dec 8 8:00 am +Tony De Santis (Family)
++John and Emilia Mauro (Family)
+++Guglielmo and Margarit and Fortunata Valvona (Ellie)
+Wo On Cheng (May & Don Chan)
Spl. Int. Livia and Marc and Baby (May and Don)
Sun. Dec 8 10:00am +Henry Chung (Rosary Group)
+Joe Rubino (Lena and Family)
+Frank Folino (Ada and Family)
++Lucia and Annibale Tinaburri (Ada and Family)
+Tony De Santis (Giovanni and Nadia De Santis)
++Marie and Serge Rousseau (Nicole and Mike)
++Anna and Janos Pek (Nicole and Mike)
++Nadine and Gerard Banquet (Nicole and Mike)
+Chris Van Heiningen (Barbara V.H.)
+Mike De Mare (Ada)
+Antonia Caro (Family)
Sun. Dec 8 12:00 Noon +Glen Marsland (Diva)
+John Hong (Family)
+Franco Conte (Anna Matera)
+Luigi Dattilo (Parishioner)
+Mike De Mare (Ryan’s Rainbow Staff and Volunteers)
+Tony Magistrale (Family)
+Carlo Sorace (Sorace Family)
+Carmela Luongo (Family)
+Joe Fuoco (Macri Family)
Sun. Dec 8 5:00 pm +++Antonio, Maria and John Porco (Anna Auld and Family)
++Nicola and Maria Demare (Marisa and Nick)
+Hyacinth Yang (Krys and Robert Bondi)
+Mike De Mare (Vesna Kanjer)
Spl. Int. Milagros Tejares (Family)