The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is an ancient rite in the church restored at the Second Vatical Council. It is an important program in the church primarily for those who desire to become members of the Catholic Church–those who are unbaptized and baptized non-Catholics. Here at Holy Cross this program is also open to anyone who desires a “refresher” class in the Catholic faith. The RCIA program, led by a team of lay catechists, runs from September through Easter. For more information contact Nancy Donahue at (508) 230-9088.
Our Faith Formation program teaches the children of our parish about their Catholic faith. This year due to COVID, all Faith Formation classes are being done "at home" with support from volunteer lead catechist for each grade who make a video for families to access at their convenience. We are encouraging all of our families to watch Mass on Sunday and do their lessons as a family.
We are always in need of volunteers, and would welcome any adult who wishes to assist us during this unusual time. Special thanks to our lead catechist for Grades 1 - 5 this year - Amanda Nastasia (Grade 1) Andrea McFaul (Grade 3), Jilliane Morales (Grade 3), Donald Sierra (Grade 4) and Leah Peper (Grade 5) for taking on a new way of delivering faith formation to ensure it contines during this unusual time. If you would like to help, please contact Margaret Dwyer Hogan, the Director of Faith Formation, at 508-238-2235 or at mdhogan@holycrosseaston.org.
Preparation for the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation at Holy Cross is designed to guide and assist our youth with the lifetime decision to live a good moral life and to follow Jesus Christ in the Catholic tradition through regular participation in liturgy and reception of the Eucharist, prayer, and service to others. The Confirmation Preparation program at Holy Cross begins in Grade 9 and continues in Grade 10 and beyond. Once a candidate has shown active participation in all aspects of the program for two years, the candidate will then enroll in catechesis for the rite and rituals of the sacrament. The sacrament will be conferred at a time to be determined by the Bishop's office due to COVID (it is normally in the Spring of the candidate’s second year of Confirmation preparation). For detailed information please contact Margaret Dwyer Hogan the Director of Faith Formation at 508-238-2235 or email her at mdhogan@holycrosseaston.org.
Bible Study meets in the Parish Center on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. and on Friday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Both groups cover the same material: a specific book of the Bible or a Bible theme. It is an opportunity to grow in the knowledge of Scripture and out Catholic faith. For more information, contact Fran Long at (508) 238-2255.
This group of parishioners meets in the parish library on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month from 7:00-8:30 p.m. to discuss spiritual books, either current or classics. The discussions are lively, and participants find them both enjoyable and beneficial to their spiritual lives. For more information contact Virginia Polanski at 781-341-0878 or Deacon Gary Donahue 508-238-2235.
Cursillo is an active three-day learning experience in basic Christianity featuring practical insights into an everyday life of faith and service. The weekend, held at Holy Cross Retreat House in Easton, is a back-to-basics approach to our relationship with God that deepens and rounds out what we may already know about our faith through prayer, reflection, group activities and fellowship. It is enjoyed by active and less active Christians alike.
For more information contact Maryann Farrell at Fallrivercursillo@gmail.com or Diane Cheevers at Dmcheevers@verizon.net.
Two groups, for men and women who have lived Cursillo and are interested in growing in their faith through friendship and prayer, gather to support each other as we seek to live our everyday lives with Christ. We share our thoughts on how piety, study or Christian action have affected our lives, or a moment we felt especially close to Christ. The men’s group meets on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m., and the women’s group on the first and third Fridays at 7:00 p.m.
For more information contact Diane Cheevers at 508-577-4548 / Dmcheevers@verizon.net or Marty Reynolds at 617-388-1935 / mreynolds155@gmail.com. DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS, PLEASE REACH OUT FOR UP TO DATE MEETING DETAILS.
All volunteers at Holy Cross must participate in (only) one CORI training and an annual background check. You can contact Lindsay Franzoni at (508) 238-2235 for more information.
Holy Cross is committed to praying for and promoting vocations to priesthood and religious life, sacramental married life and supporting single people. Please continue to keep our entire parish family in your prayers as well as we all listen to the ways that God is calling us to cultivate and use God’s grace in our lives! Join fellow parishioners in taking about and planning activities promoting God’s call. For more information, please contact Father Brad at (508) 238-2235.
Serving at the Altar of the Lord is an important parish ministry for our younger parishioners beginning in 3rdgrade. Altar servers assist the priests and deacons in holding the Roman Missal while offering prayers, receiving the community’s gifts to God, serving at the Altar and other various tasks needed during liturgies, our communal times of prayer. If you are a parishioner and interested in serving, please contact Fr. Brad either at 508-238-2235.
The liturgical ministries at Holy Cross Parish (or at any Catholic church) are the following: the Lector who proclaims the Word of God at our Sunday liturgy; the lay Communion Minister who assists with the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass and brings Communion to the sick and shut-ins in the parish; Ministers of Hospitality (Ushers) who greet people at Sunday Mass, take up the collection and help seat people at Mass; and Altar Servers who assist the priest at Mass. For more information contact Father Brad at (508) 238-2235.
The parish Music Ministry has over 50 parishioners involved in the four choirs that provide music at parish liturgies. The children’s choir, grades 2-6, sings weekly at the 8:30 a.m. mass. The adult choir sings weekly at the 10:00 a.m. mass. Our youth choir sings weekly at the 5:30 p.m. Sunday youth mass. In addition, our Resurrection Choir provides music at parish funeral masses (Mass of Christian Burial). Cantors provide music of a more traditional style at the Saturday 4:00 p.m. mass. Each choir has its unique repertoire and style to enhance that mass. The music is carefully selected to fit the needs of our singers and instrumentalists. It is both a rewarding and fun ministry. Rehearsal time is easy to fit busy schedules. For more information contact Chris Iannitelli at (508) 654-4721.
Each Sunday during the 8:30 a.m. mass the children are escorted to the church hall to hear the Word of God at their own level. Adult volunteers, who serve as catechists, make a commitment of approximately six times per year for about 15-20 minutes. This is a wonderful opportunity to share the faith with our young children, and probably one of the most rewarding programs that we offer. Jesus is certainly visible in the faces of our young children. For more information contact Amy Goffredo.
Each couple preparing to be married at Holy Cross Parish meets with a parish wedding coordinator to plan the processional and recessional of the ceremony. The wedding coordinator, along with the presider, runs the wedding rehearsal, and is present at the wedding to assist the wedding party. For more information contact Diane Cheevers at (508) 577-4548.
Our “God’s Squads” at Holy Cross are composed of men, women, teens and families who generously give their time for the maintenance of our worship space. We are divided into several teams that rotate cleaning the church with one team cleaning each week. Some of our duties include vacuuming, sweeping, polishing and dusting. The fruit of our labor is a clean and beautiful worship space for all to enjoy. Come and see if this ministry is for you. for more information contact Donna Cunha at (508) 238-1339.
This group of dedicated parishioners decorates the church for the various liturgical seasons and major feast days, such as Advent-Christmas and Lent-Easter. For more information contact Anne Iannitelli at (508) 580-0726.
Children in grades K through 5 are invited to spend one week in mid-August learning about their faith and scripture through fun activities, including stories, song, dance, crafts and drama. Daily themes reinforce the general theme of each summer’s vacation bible week. For more information, contact Margaret Dwyer Hogan at 508-238-2235.
Pack 193, sponsored by Holy Cross Parish, is part of the Boy Scouts of America. It is a family program designed for boys who are in the first grade through fifth grade. Parents, leaders, and organizations work together to achieve the 10 purposes of Cub Scouting: Character Development, Spiritual Growth, Good Citizenship, Sportsmanship and Fitness, Family Understanding, Respectful Relationships, Personal Achievement, Friendly Service, Fun and Adventure and Preparation for Boy Scouts. For more information contact Gene Dhooge.
The parish offers a monthly Friday movie night during the school year for children of the parish and the community. Adult and teen volunteers assist with refreshments and coordination of the evening, and the occasional “Parents Night Out” when child sitting is provided For more information contact Deb Goveia at (508) 238-0768.
The Finance Commission reviews on a monthly basis the financial stability of the parish. It assists the pastor in formulating the yearly budget, and guides him in major parish financial decisions. The commission seeks to educate and motivate parishioners in the practice of stewardship of time, talent and treasure for the spiritual and temporal well being of the parish community. For more information contact Craig Binney at (508) 238-1795.
This major parish fundraiser, held in June, includes prizes for closest to pin and longest drive, and cash prizes for the top three finishers, as well as a gift bag, concluding with dinner. For more information contact Rob Tarallo at (508) 238-4653.
The Parish Fall Festival offers families an opportunity to enjoy good entertainment, food, games, rides, crafts, raffles, and other fun activities while also supporting the parish in this family-oriented fundraiser. For more information contact Kevin Dixon at (508) 952-2066.
The Holly Fair, on the first Sunday of December, is another major fundraiser that is also a wonderful social activity of the parish. It offers “Breakfast with Santa” along with Christmas gifts that can be purchased, a large variety of raffle items, and homemade candy and pastry treats. For more information, please contact Claire Smith at (508) 238-1899.
The Social Action Commission coordinates all the parish outreach programs into the Easton and the Greater-Easton communities. The parish supports on a regular basis Birthright, Louison Shelter, MainSpring House, My Brother’s Keeper, Family and Community Resources, and Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center, as well as the annual Giving Tree collection. This committee sponsors various activities throughout the year that allow the community to support each of these ministries. For more information contact Claire Smith at (508) 238-1899.
On the first Sunday of each month parishioners are invited to donate items, listed in the previous Sunday bulletin, in support of the ministries which Holy Cross Parish Supports: Birthright of Taunton, Louison Shelter, MainSpring House, My Brother’s Keeper, Family and Community Resources, and Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center. Every weekend of the first Sunday of the month, food and supplies are brought to each mass for distribution to the above charities. Special efforts are made on behalf of these and other charities when the need arises. For more information contact AmyGoffredo at closetoshore@gmail.com.
Inspired by Gospel values, the St. Vincent de Paul Society leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering. The Holy Cross Parish St. Vincent de Paul Society serves the needs of the Easton community. Vincentians are united in an international society of charity by their spirit of poverty, humility and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings and adherence to a basic Rule. Vincentians witness God’s love by embracing all works of charity and justice.
The Respect Life Committee is committed to supporting our Holy Cross Mission by focusing our efforts specifically on the celebration of God’s gift of life. Our goal is to inspire through prayer, education and charity the respect for all human life from conception to natural death. The Committee sponsors activities that allow the community to unite in order to support and honor Life as a gift that should be cherished and protected. For more information, contact Claire Pacchielat at (508) 395-9746 or clairepacchielat@gmail.com.
Abundant Hope Newsletter December 2020
Holy Cross Church Parishioners serve dinner on the third Saturday of each month at MainSpring House Shelter in Brockton. A sign-up board is placed in the church vestibule two weekends before each meal for specific needs. For more information or questions, please contact Cathy Downes at (508) 742-5957 or Tricia Murphy at (508) 813-1880.
The Louison Family Center is a facility that provides shelter to 24 families. Louison houses anywhere from 24 moms and dads and upwards of 35 kids at any given time. Holy Cross provides a monthly meal to the families at Louison. We also participate in the meal, often holding babies, playing with kids or just eating with the families. Holy Cross has provided this ministry for over 18 years. For more information contact Robin Durgin-King at (508) 824-3747.
The parish helps children living at Louison Shelter to celebrate their birthdays with bags that contain supplies for a festive birthday celebration. The parish periodically asks parishioners to donate balloons, candles, birthday decorations, birthday cards, cake fixings, birthday gift bags, and other items. If interested in donating toward or assisting with putting together these birthday bags, contact Christine Sierra at (508) 238-1696- or cm.sierra@yahoo.com.
During the Advent Season our Giving Tree collects Christmas gifts for a number of needy families in the area referred to us by various local agencies or known to be in need by the pastoral team. The Giving Tree also collects donations for our sister parish, Lord of Hope, in Canto Grade, Lima, Peru. If you wish to asset with preparing the gifts to be picked up the agencies and families, please contact Patti Saganey at (508) 238-4306.
When Crisis Strikes, We’re Here to Help
When you or someone you know experiences a crisis due to acute illness, accident, injury or other tragedy, the Neighbor Brigade networks of community volunteers can provide temporary, free assistance with home-delivered meals, rides for medical appointments, errands, simple household chores and pet care. Information cards can be found in the church vestibule. Visit www.neighborbrigade.org to seek assistance. With a number of parishioners volunteering in the Neighbor Brigade, Holy Cross Parish wishes to be a supportive partner in this important community outreach. For more information concerning becoming part of the brigade, contact Diane Tremblay at 617-285-4573.
The Health Ministry and Parish Nurse Program of Holy Cross Church is founded on the principle that we bear witness to Jesus’ healing love, as proclaimed in the Gospel. We seek to extend that love to all in our faith community and beyond, as we strive to minister to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs through assessment, advocacy, referral, and education. Parish nurses, also called Faith Community Nurses, are licensed professional nurses (R.N.) who incorporate spiritual assessment and care into their practice as agents of the Health Ministry of Holy Cross Parish. Programs include monthly blood pressure screenings; masses with anointing of the sick; home, hospital and nursing home visits; CPR classes; the Prayer Shawl Ministry; health education and information.
An outreach of the parish Health Ministry, the Holy Cross Parish Prayer Shawl Ministry strives to reach out to the people of the parish and the wider community, bringing the mystical reality of God into people’s lives using shawls as an outward sign. It is a ministry of prayer, community spirit and sharing. For more information contact Pat Brophy at (508) 238-2194.
The Church Family Life Commission coordinates various family-oriented social activities for the enjoyment of the parish community, fostering community building among parishioners and strengthening intergenerational bonds within the families of our parish community. For more information contact Kerry Pires or Kathleen Nardi.
Welcoming returning, inactive and questioning Catholics – If you are a Catholic who has been away from the Church, or are questioning your faith, know that Holy Cross Parish has been thinking about you. We invite you to be an active part of us again. LANDINGS is an eight-week program that offers “a safe place to land”, a place for listening and for being heard, a place for asking questions and for reconnecting with the faith as an adult. During the eight-week LANDINGS program, a small group of active Catholics, some of them “returnees” themselves, meets with a small group of inactive or returning Catholics to share and explore their faith together. For more information contact Harold Smith at 508-238-1899.
The Holy Cross Intercessory Prayer Group meets on the last Wednesday of every month in the Brother Andre Chapel after the 9 a.m. mass. Prayers of intercession are offered for all of the petitions in the Parish Prayer Box. If you wish to place a name or intention in the Prayer Box or wish to be involved in this ministry, contact Fran Long at (508) 238-2255.
We Do Care helps young widows and widowers deal with their loss, supporting the individual and the family. Grief support groups, social meet ups, and events are planned throughout the year. For more information visit facebook.com/wedocaregriefandloss, or contact Julie Enos at 774-274-8317.
The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic family, fraternal and service organization with 1.75 million members throughout the world. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, their communities, families and young people. Instituted on June 27, 1897, Easton Council 238 covers the parishes of Immaculate Conception and Holy Cross in Easton. For information visit www.eastonkofc.org or contact Rich Hustins.
The Daughters of Isabella were founded as an auxiliary to the Knights of Columbus for the purpose of uniting all Catholic women in a sisterhood. Members encourage each other’s total development and foster growth of every aspect of life – spiritual, social and charitable – adding up to a more fulfilling life. The Easton Daughters of Isabella 564 meet the second Wednesday of each month at either Immaculate Conception or Holy Cross Parish for a combined business meeting and social gathering. For more information contact Stephanie Coose at 508-944-2235.