Parish Bulletin

COFFEE SUNDAY THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday November 9^th will be our monthly Coffee Sunday after all morning Masses (8am, 10am, 12pm).  Please come and get to know your fellow parishioners while enjoying free coffee and treats donated by Hill’s Bakery, Valley Bakery, and Cob’s Bread in Kensington.  Thanks to our parishioners who are also baking some treats for us.  We look forward to seeing you!

CWL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE THIS WEEKEND AFTER ALL MASSES

Our Holy Cross Catholic Women’s League (CWL) is having their 2025/2026 membership drive after every Mass this weekend (November 8 and 9). 

New members are always welcome to join our Council. Your support of our Council by joining us as a new member or by renewing your existing membership is very much appreciated. If you want to know more about the CWL, please talk to one of our members or visit our CWL table in the lobby of the Church this weekend. You can also visit our CWL national website https://www.cwl.ca/why-become-a-member/

For 2025-2026, the membership fee is $45.00. You can pay by cash, cheque or credit or debit card.

If you cannot attend Mass this weekend, please drop off your payment at the Parish Office or put it in the collection basket (make sure to label your envelope “CWL, and, if you pay by cash, include your name with the cash.) You can also phone the Parish office (604-299-3814) to pay by credit card.

OFFICE IS CLOSED TUESDAY NOVEMBER 11

The Parish office is closed on Tuesday November 11th for the Remembrance Day statutory holiday and morning Mass on Tuesday will be at 9:00 am.

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 our Holy Cross priests, or perhaps another priest.  PLEASE NOTE:  we will not be able to let you know the date on which your Mass will be offered.

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.

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 tonight, November 7, 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 Kindergarten students who will be 5 years old in 2026 (born in 2021). 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, baptismal certificate (if baptized Catholic), completed application form, recent family photo and a $25.00 application fee (payable by cash or cheque) from November 3 to November 28, 2025. In-person interviews for families selected (based on our admissions policy) will be held on January 9, 2026. 

PURDY’S CHOCOLATES FOR CHRISTMAS (CWL FUNDRAISER)

Christmas is coming and if you want to get started on your shopping, you can support our 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 1^st 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 BOXES – LAST WEEKEND

This is our last weekend for collecting boxes for our parish program. If you happen to shop at AAA, 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). Please place your empty box in the inside entrance at the back of the church. This is our last weekend for collecting boxes. 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.

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 10, 2025, to Sunday November 16, 2025 (Requested by)

Mon. Nov 10   8:15 am          

+++++Maureen, Wallace, John and Helen Morris and James Harrington (Diva)

Spl Int. Rosary Group (Angie)

Tues. Nov 11 9:00 am          

Spl. Int. Melwyn and Teresa

Wed. Nov 12   8:15 am          

+Adriano Van Essen (Family)

Thurs. Nov 13 8:15 am          

++Deceased Members of Nicoletti, Guttadauro and Chech Families (Giuseppina)

Thurs. Nov 13 9:15 am                      

School Mass – Parishioners

Fri. Nov 14 8:15 am   

+Florence Fung Luen Leung (Family)

Spl. Int. Jane Cikes (Maria Viveiros)

Fri. Nov 14 7:30 pm               

+Fernand Lee

+Tarcisio Boffo (Diva)

++Michael and Helen Hu (Maria Hu)

+Maria Lau (Maria Hu)

+Marcelo San Juan (Maria Hu)

++Deceased Members of Calendino Family (Family)                     

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

Spl Int. Rio Morris (Diva)

Spl. Int. Alpha for Youth Participants and Volunteers

Spl. Int. Catherine, Angela, Monica and Joachim Chen (Agnes)

Sat. Nov 15     9:00 am

+Paolo Catania (Family)

Spl. Int. in Honour of St. Pancratius, Patron Saint of Workers (Cynthia Avelino-Gomez)

Sat. Nov 15     5:00 pm          

+Mike De Mare (Family)

++Dina and Lino Natola (Giuseppina)

+Carlos Espinoza (Giuseppina)

+Giuseppe Bolognese (Family)

+Tarcisio Boffo (Dorothy & Dave)

Spl. Int. Carmine and Makiko

Sun. Nov 15    8:00 am

+Maria Chua

+Paul Thow

+Tony De Santis (Family)

+Josef Mikulksi (Krys Bondi)

+Ugo Bellini (Andrea & Peter)

++Deceased Members Tognon Family (Family)

++Deceased Members of Sulentic & Generalic Families

Sun. Nov 15    10:00am         

+Tony De Santis (Marta and Frank Carbone)

+Doris Lemoine (Jackie Pavich)

+Giovanni Rosselli

+Olga Racanelli (Diana & Phil Racanelli)

+Tarcisio Boffo (Macri Family)

++John and Rosalind Fernandez (Family)

++Deceased Members of Familia Bagnolese Society

++Deceased Members of Le Family (Family)

Spl. Int. Priscilla Trang (Psalm)

Sun. Nov 15    12:00 Noon    

+Nicolina Porciello (Carmine and Makiko)

Sun. Nov 15    5:00 pm          

+Ada De Vuono (Anna, Peter, Tina, Maria, Jodi and Angela)

+Maria Puleo (Niece)

Spl, Int. Marisa Demare and Nick Gentile