Dear Friends,
This weekend opens a rather busy week. Sunday initiates Catholic Schools Week across the country. We are very proud of our Holy Cross Regional Catholic School, its administration, faculty and staff! We are very fortunate to have so many talented, faithful and dedicated professionals helping our young disciples to become all that God has created them to be.
At the weekend Masses, a student from the school will briefly address our parish family. The school is hosting an Open House for everyone on Sunday from 10 AM to 12 Noon. If you have not visited the school or if it’s been awhile since you have, be sure to make it a point to do so now or by appointment. Holy Cross is accepting registration for September 2023.
The cost of a Catholic Education can seem daunting. Our School Board continues doing a remarkable job in managing the finances and needs of the school. They have made Tuition Assistance a real priority to help those desiring a Catholic school education. They work tirelessly to promote a Pennsylvania state sponsored program called EITC ~ Educational Improvement Tax Credit. Anyone who pays $1,000 or more in PA state taxes can qualify to have part of their tax dollars earmarked for Holy Cross to help with tuition assistance. It is a win-win opportunity and we have people who can help to explain and walk you through the process.
This present school year, some 104 students received $476,522 in tuition assistance. That is quite a number. Each year, members of our School Board work with folks to ensure that this high level of tuition assistance can continue. It’s not automatic. Will you become part of the team to ensure Catholic Education for those who desire it? It really is a win-win. For more information contact Susan Mollahan, at school. We are most grateful to those folks who donate this way, earmarking their tax dollars to help our school families.
Next Sunday, February 5 at 5 PM, we invite you and your families to our Choir Concert in Church. Entitled O Sacrum Convivium, O Sacred Banquet, it is an opportunity to reflect through the beauty of sacred music and to witness to our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the Most Blessed Sacrament. We look forward to our parish family gathering for this special event and celebration.
Also, next weekend, is the kick-off weekend for the 2023 Catholic Charities Appeal ~ Giving Hope to All. I am grateful to Jim Bozzini for his willingness to coordinate the appeal this year for our parish family. I also want to give thanks to Jeff Mehallick for his many years of extraordinary service in coordinating our parish efforts for the appeal.
Look next weekend in my column for more information about this truly essential Appeal. Your generous response to this Appeal is a direct involvement in the charitable help given to countless numbers of our brothers and sisters in need right here in our local region. The money collected goes directly into a separate 501c3 fund and is used only for the Catholic Charities Appeal beneficiaries. May we be generous in helping those in need out of gratitude to God for all his blessings to us.
God bless you, God love you,
Monsignor McCulken
