NEW MUSIC HYMNALS
Thank you very much for a successful pledge campaign to fundraise for our new music hymnals. With your generous support, we are happy to announce that we reached our goal in the last 2 weeks!
We are hoping to prep the hymnals and have them out in the pews for the new liturgical year, on the first Sunday of Advent, November 30th, 2025.
ALL SOULS ENVELOPES
The Catholic Church dedicates the entire month of November to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. This season begins with the Hallowtide Triduum, which consists of All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day. During November we pray for the souls of those who have died, especially those whom we have known and loved. Remembering them, praying for them, and giving thanks for them pleases God, who makes use of our prayers to help purify those souls in Purgatory that He loves.
The Roman Catholic celebration is associated with the doctrine that the souls of the faithful, who at death have not been cleansed from temporal punishment, due to light sins and from attachment to mortal sins, cannot immediately enter heaven. Therefore, they must be purified of “lesser faults,” and the temporal effects of sin.
The Catholic Church calls this purification “purgatory”. The universal Christian teaching on Purgatory requires belief in two realities:
1) That there will be a purification of believers prior to entering heaven and
2) That the prayers and Masses of the faithful in some way benefit those in this state of purification.
We, as Catholics, believe that these souls may be helped by our prayers and by the sacrifice of the Mass.
During the month of November, we have a long-standing tradition of accepting Masses by All Souls Envelopes:
1. Each envelope is a request for one Mass. Please take these from the entrance of the church or make your own envelope that is clearly marked “All Souls”.
2. Write the names of your deceased on the front and, along with your donation, put it in the Sunday collection basket (during the entire month of November), or bring it to our parish office OR send it to us via mail.
3. Each of these envelopes will be used as one Mass intention, celebrated by Fr. Yarek or myself, or perhaps another priest. PLEASE NOTE: we will not be able to let you know the date on which your Mass will be observed.
I encourage you to continue this beautiful practice that will help in setting our hearts and minds in the strong belief of Christ’s resurrection. This is our spiritual gift, not only for our deceased, but also for all the forgotten souls. May they rest in peace!
Please remember that we can assist all the departed by way of almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance on their behalf.
Cwl religious articles on sale this weekend
Our Holy Cross CWL has religious articles for sale in the lobby after the 5:00 pm Mass on Saturday November 1 and after the 8:00am, 10:00am & 12:00pm Masses on Sunday November 2. We accept personal cheque or cash for payment.
STANDARD TIME THIS WEEKEND
A reminder to put your clocks back 1 hour on Saturday night as Standard time starts at 2:00 am Sunday November 2.
SECOND COLLECTION – PETER’S PENCE
This weekend’s second collection supports the concerns of the Holy Father for the many different needs of the Universal Church and for the relief of those most in need.
HOLY CROSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHISKEY AND WINE TASTING
Tickets are on sale now for our ‘Whiskey & Wine Tasting’ event on Saturday, November 8th. This is an opportunity for parents and friends of Holy Cross School to gather together for some whiskey and wine tasting, fabulous food, drinks and live music, prizes, dancing and live auction. Tickets are available at the school office. We hope to see you there.
HOLY CROSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BLESSING
Join us Friday, November 14, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. for a special blessing ceremony to celebrate the completion of the school seismic upgrade and renovation project. Official ribbon cutting and light refreshments to follow. Please RSVP by or before November 7th if you plan to attend. Email: office@hcschool.ca or call 604-299-3530.
HOLY CROSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN 2026 APPLICATIONS
Holy Cross Elementary School will be accepting applications for prospective Kindergarten students (born in 2021) and who will be 5 years old in 2026. If you are interested in having your child attend Holy Cross Elementary, please complete the application form which can be found on the school website (www.holycrosselementary.ca) and bring the following to the school office: child’s birth certificate, child’s baptismal certificate (if baptized Catholic), completed application form, recent family photo and a $25.00 application fee (payable by cash or cheque) between November 3 and November 28, 2025. In-person interviews for families who have been shortlisted (based on our admissions policy) will be held on January 9, 2026.
PURDY’S CHOCOLATES FOR CHRISTMAS (CWL FUNDRAISER)
We know that Christmas is 2 months away and you probably don’t want to think about buying chocolates yet (other than Halloween candy)! But if you do want to get started on your shopping, you can support our Holy Cross Catholic Women’s League’s (CWL) Christmas fundraiser by buying Purdy’s chocolates for your Christmas stockings, or as Christmas gifts. The CWL supports our parish with their fundraising, so any support is greatly appreciated.
To place an order, click on the following link to “Join a Campaign”:
Holy Cross CWL Christmas 2025 Fundraising Link https://fundraising.purdys.com/2162555-130232
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 don’t want chocolates, you can still support our CWL with a monetary donation.
Deadline to place an order is Monday December 1st and orders will be available for pick up after all Sunday Masses on December 14.
If you can’t order online, or have any questions, please call or email the Parish office (parish.hcb@rcav.org) or email Krys Bondi at krys.bondi@gmail.com. Thank you!
SHARE CHRISTMAS 2025 – BOXES NEEDED
Share Christmas will commence on the 1st Sunday of Advent (Nov 29-30). We will be requesting food products like we did last year. In the meantime, we are asking parishioners to collect boxes that will help us transport your food to the Sisters in the Downtown Eastside. If you happen to shop at AAA, Red Apple, Save-On, Safeway, or Superstore, please ask the staff if they can donate one empty box (apple box preferred). If you are shopping at Costco, please ask the staff if you can take One empty tray (cucumbers, plum, kiwi, or tomato trays preferred). If you collect one box, as a parish community working together, we will be able to collect enough boxes. Please place your empty box on the table (Share Christmas Boxes) at the back of the church. Your effort is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ANNUAL CHARITY APPEAL
Knights of Columbus Annual Charity Appeal is now live, draw date is December 13th. Tickets can be purchased online from the following link: https://kofccharity.ca/?olc=C05423
First prize is a Ford Maverick Pickup 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.
KEARNEY FUNERAL MEMORIAL MASS
Please join the Kearney Funeral Services team in honouring your loved one and all those that have passed away this last year, at this special Mass that will be celebrated at
Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 555 Slocan St., Vancouver, BC, Mon. Nov 10, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
Please RSVP by e-mailing us at burnaby@kearneyfs.com or call 604 299-6889 (Monday through Friday (9:00 am – 5:00 pm) as we will be offering refreshments in the Parish Hall.
WORLD YOUTH DAY 2027 in SEOUL KOREA
Have you heard of World Youth Day (WYD)? Saint Pope John Paul II began this call to all youth ages 18-35 to gather globally and Seoul, Korea is the next host from August 3-8, 2027. We are reaching out to see if we have interest from individuals and families at our parish to attend this event. Even if you are undecided or may simply want to know more about it first, we encourage you to get in touch. Our volunteers plan to hold periodic meetings over the next two years to share information and prepare for the experience. Email us at wyd2027hc@gmail.com to get in touch.
VOCATION LIVE-IN WEEKEND NOV 15/16
There will be a Vocation Live-In on the weekend of November 15 – 16 at the Seminary of Christ the King in Mission, BC. Anyone wishing to enter the Seminary in the next couple of years is welcome. For more information phone 604-826-8975 or email rector.minors@sck.ca.
MASS INTENTIONS for Monday November 3, 2025, to Sunday November 9, 2025 (Requested by)
Mon. Nov 3 8:15 am
+Carmela and Salvatore Laurita (Family)
Tues. Nov 4 8:15 am
+Robert Veltri (Roseanne)
Spl. Int. Elizabeth Han (Han Family)
Thurs. Nov 6 8:15 am
+Carmine Rasquinha (Family)
Fri. Nov 7 8:15 am
Fri. Nov 7 7:30 pm
++Stephen and Frances Morris (Diva)
++Quirico and Honorata Migrino (Diva)
+Catalina Migrino (Diva)
Spl. Int. May and Michelle (Juliet)
Spl. Int. Justin, Joel and Jerome (Nita)
Spl. Int. for Healing for Alejo Mariano Junior (Angelina)
Spl. Int. Sean & Royoko Morris (Diva)
Spl. Int. for Alpha for Youth participants and Volunteers
Spl. Int. Catherine, Angela, Monica and Joachim Chen (Agnes)
Sat. Nov 8 9:00 am
+Agostino Velenosi (Family)
Sat. Nov 8 5:00 pm
++Francesco and Assunta Crescenzo (Stella Esposito)
++Carmine and Emilia Esposito (Stella Esposito)
++Santolo Esposito and Bernardina Liguori (Stella Esposito)
Sun. Nov 9 8:00 am
++Emilia and Carmine Bevacqua (Maria Bevacqua)
+Tony De Santis (Family)
+Norberto De Castro (Family)
+Raymond Gregory MacDonald (Ivania and Tony Gazzola)
+Melba Cotuno (Andrea and Peter)
Sun. Nov 9 10:00am
++John and Rosalind Fernandez (Family)
+Rina Tinaburri (Giuseppina)
+Evelyn Vasey (Giuseppina)
+Mike Fronzo (Marta and Frank Carbone)
+Marcelo Caro (Caro Family)
++Deceased Family and Friends of the Pek and Rousseau Families (Family)
+Leonardo D’Alfonso (Daughter Angelina and Family)
Sun. Nov 9 12:00 Noon
++++Lewis and Rosemary Glavina and John and Teresa Stimson (Kim Dao)
++Monique and Stephen Cogan (Richard Cogan)
Sun. Nov 9 5:00 pm
++Souls in Purgatory