MASS SCHEDULE:
If you have scheduled a Mass intention in the upcoming weeks, a Mass will be privately offered for your intention on the day in which it was scheduled.
RECONCILIATION:
By appointment only
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
If you are a REGISTERED Holy Cross parishioner and are under dire financial stress due to the pandemic, please let me know since an Emergency Response Fund has been set up to help those in need.
NOTE FROM FR. RYAN SCHMIT
While the internet is filled with memes which bring some levity to the dire situation we find ourselves in, there is no escaping the fact that the cancellation of public Mass is devastating. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith. While praying the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, reading the Bible, and making Spiritual Communions are all very good things to do; intrinsically, they do not equal the merits of physically being present at Mass and receiving Communion.
Nevertheless, there is a greater value to Spiritual Communion than most people realize. Additionally, there is no limit to the number of Spiritual Communions we can make in a day as Jesus always desires to be with us. St. Catherine of Siena, a mystic, testified to the value of Spiritual Communion as a result of a conversation she had with Jesus. Jesus appeared to her holding two chalices and told her, “In this golden chalice I put your Sacramental Communions. In this silver chalice I put your Spiritual Communions. Both chalices are quite pleasing to me.”
How does one make a Spiritual Communion? Simply by desiring it. One formal example is the following prayer: “O Jesus, I turn toward the holy Tabernacle where you live hidden for love of me. I love you, O my God. Although I cannot receive you in Holy Communion, nevertheless, come and visit me with your grace. Come spiritually into my heart. Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like unto your own.”
Regarding the intercession of the saints, there are many saints who lived through plagues and epidemics. However, I call your attention to a 15 year old martyr by the name of St. Corona who just happens to be a patron saint against plagues and epidemics. Her feast day is May 14. St. Corona, pray for us!
If you would like to watch the Mass on your TV or computer, I recommend watching EWTN at 8am and at noon:
https://www.ewtn.com/tv/watch-live/united-states
Or, you may listen to the Mass on your radio by tuning in to St. Gabriel Radio (AM 820) at 12:05 p.m.
CORONAVIRUS ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Joint Letter from the Bishops of Ohio:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
After serious consideration of the grave health risk involved in public gatherings and in order to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, the bishops of Ohio have decided, effective immediately, to suspend temporarily all publicly celebrated Masses/liturgies, at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter. The bishops of Ohio dispense the Catholic faithful who reside in their respective dioceses and all other Catholics currently in Ohio from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass through Easter Sunday.
This decision is not taken lightly and, as your bishops, causes us great sadness. However, after consultation with the governor and health officials we are convinced that this is the most prudent and necessary action.
Science has proven that participation in public gatherings significantly increases the risk of contagion. This poses a serious danger to those especially most vulnerable.
As Catholics, in every Sunday Mass we celebrate the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord. The Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. In this moment, we are experiencing in a unique way the passion of our Lord as this pandemic prevents us from gathering for the Sunday Eucharist. In this very difficult time, we encourage the faithful to turn to the Church’s treasury of prayer. Sunday remains a holy day, and we encourage the faithful to pray using the rich resources of our faith, including praying as a family or individually the rosary, divine mercy chaplet, the Liturgy of the Hours, stations of the cross, etc. We also urge you to participate in prayer by way of radio broadcast or televised or live-streamed Mass and make a spiritual communion.
Please join us in praying for all who are suffering from illness or disease of any kind, for all health care workers, and for an easing of the anxiety and tension caused by this situation. Relying on the Motherly care of Our Lady, we unite our sufferings to those of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our healing and our hope.
Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr
Chairman
Catholic Conference of Ohio
Archbishop of Cincinnati
Most Rev. Joseph R. Binzer
Auxiliary Bishop
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Most Rev. Robert J. Brennan
Bishop of Columbus
Most Rev. Jeffrey M. Monforton
Bishop of Steubenville
Most Rev. George V. Murry, S.J.
Bishop of Youngstown
Rev. Donald P. Oleksiak
Diocesan Administrator of Cleveland
Most Rev. Daniel E. Thomas
Bishop of Toledo
