Parish Bulletin

RENOVATION AND SEISMIC PROJECT UPDATE

Our First Major Gift

 We are thrilled to share that we’ve received our first major gift of $100,000 from a generous family.

Securing our first signed gift agreement is a powerful show of faith from our school community and highlights the importance of the project we’re working on. It’s a wonderful early sign of success, and we are deeply grateful for this support.

Should you wish to give or would like to have a conversation about how you can give, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Dino Alberti, Chair of the Holy Cross Fundraising Committee at dinohc@telus.net.

Tax receipts for gifts made between now and December 31, 2024 will be issued accordingly.

Thank you for your continued support!

SHARE CHRISTMAS – RECEIVING THIS WEEKEND
Share Christmas Receiving Day is this weekend only.  If you took a card from the Share Christmas tree last weekend, please return your card along with your food donation to the school gym before or after Saturday evening Mass or Sunday Mass during the times below:
DEC 7 (SAT) 4:45 pm – 6:00 pm
DEC 8 (SUN) 9:00 am – 1:30 pm
If you need help in carrying your donation from your car, please ask one of the volunteers by the gym door.  All food donations received will be delivered to the Sisters in the Downtown Eastside this Sunday, December 8.  Once again, thank you for your participation in our Share Christmas Program.  Your generous contribution will be distributed by the Sisters to the families and individuals in need at Christmastime.

SHARE CHRISTMAS-VOLUNTEERS NEEDED THIS SUNDAY
We are looking for volunteers to help us load and off-load our delivery truck this Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 pm (gym).  Volunteers with good backs is a requirement and they can come for either loading or off-loading or both.  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).

ADVENT PENITENTIAL SERVICE AT HOLY CROSS

Please join us this 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. 

CWL ADVENT BAKE SALE SAT DEC 9 AND SUN DEC 10

Our CWL is having a Bake Sale in the Gym after the Saturday 5:00 pm and Sunday 8:00 am, 10:00 am and 12:00 Noon Masses.  Please drop by after Mass and check out their homemade baking when you drop off your Share Christmas food donation.

NO COFFEE SUNDAY THIS WEEKEND

Due to the unavailability of the school gym, and because December is such a busy month for everyone, we will NOT have Coffee Sunday this coming Sunday, December 8th.  Thank you for your support of Coffee Sunday and we look forward to serving you in January (Sunday January 12).

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HOMEMADE LASAGNA

The Knights of Columbus will be in the lobby of the Church after Sunday 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 or $25.00 for a smaller size. Delivery will be on the weekend of January 4& 5, 2025 after all Masses.

You can pay by cash or card. You can also order by phoning the parish office (604-299-3814 ext 2) or call Mike Malsegna (604-329-0207). 

CWL MEMBERSHIP

Thank you to all CWL members who have paid their 2024 membership dues.  It is not too late to join the CWL and/or renew your $45.00 membership – you can drop it off at the Parish Office or leave it in the collection basket at the front of the Church when you come for Mass.  (Please make sure that you label your envelope CWL and if you are paying cash, put your name, address, phone number and email address on the front of the envelope.)

(You can also call the Parish office to pay for your membership with your credit card information).

2025 WALL CALENDARS

Your 2025 wall calendars from Kearney Funeral Services and Bell & Burnaby Funeral Chapel are available for pickup in the Church lobby. 

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.)

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ANNUAL CHARITY APPEAL

There is still time to buy your Knights of Columbus ticket for the Annual Charity appeal as the big 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 BC 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.     8:15 am            +Emilia Diaz Clemente (Family)

Tues.    8:15 am            +Mark Baldonero (Family)

                                    +Anel Rojas (Jasmin)

Wed.    8:15 am            +Flora Calori (Family)

                                    +Hernando Gamez (Family)

Thurs.   8:15 am            +Frank Corea (Mary De Fazio)

Fri.       8:15 am            +John Morris (Diva)

                                    Spl. Int. in Honour of St. Lucia (Franca Z.)

Fri.       7:30 pm            +Mauricio Olalo (Diva)

                                    +Julie Tio (Family)

                                    ++Juan and Edita Migrino (Diva)

                                    +Inge (Regina)

                                    +Maureen Morris (Diva)

                                    +Maria Ceraldi (Family)

                                    Spl. Int. James Morris (Diva)

                                    Spl. Int. for Blessings Received

                                    Spl. Int. Perla (Family)

                                    Spl. Int. for Healing for Alejo Mariano Junior (Angelina Mariano)

Sat.      9:00 am            +Paolo Catania (Family)

Sat.      5:00 pm            +Eva Ceolin (Family)

                                    ++Roma Waignein and Michael Gomes

                                    +Olga Racanelli (Dave and Dorothy)

                                    +Giuseppe Bolognese (Family)

                                    +Arsenia Caranto (Loida de Leon)

                                    Spl. Int. Paola Dattilo (Parishioner)

Sun.     8:00 am            +Eva Ceolin (Family)

                                    +Tony De Santis (Family)

                                    +Yolanda Palermo (Sartori Family)

                                    +Nives Burlo (Katy Bevacqua)

                                    Spl. Int. Livia and Marc and Baby (Kit)

Sun.     10:00am            +Eva Ceolin (Family)

                                    ++Silvano Marchiori and Lucio Zucchetto (Family)

                                    +Olga Racanelli (Phil and Diana Racanelli and Family)

                                    ++Davor Crnica and Marko Baras (Mirjana Crnica and Family)

                                    Spl. Int. Samantha Trang (Han Family)

                                    Spl. Int. Ida Gazzola (Holy Cross CWL)

                                    Spl. Int. Lynn Lok (Kit)

Sun.     12:00 Noon       +Paul Thow (Family)

                                    +Maria Chua (Family)

                                    ++Marcelino and Valentina Santos (Family)

                                    +Luigi Dattilo (Parishoner)

                                    +Mike De Mare (Dave and Dorothy)

                                    +Loretto Malsegna (Family)

                                    +Tony Magistrale (Family)

                                    +Mena Perrotta (Barichello Family)

+Giuseppe Capozzi (Family)

Sun.     5:00 pm            +Sante Campeotte

                                    +Fulvio Bondi (Robert and Krys)

                                    ++Deceased Members of Loverra Family (Family)