Outreach
Welcome!
"I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." -- Matthew 25: 35-36, 40
Holy Cross has a long and rich tradition of caring for people when they are in need. Our Outreach Ministry seeks to attend to a wide variety of needs and situations. In personal ways, we try to bring God's love to all, especially those undergoing any type of difficulty. We particularly try to reach out to those who might feel forgotten, outcast or alienated.
To participate in any of these ministries, please call Holy Cross at 423-4182, and indicate whether you would like to offer or receive support or information regarding any of these Outreach ministries.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:
Pax Christi to Meet July 2: Pax Christi, our Catholic peace and social justice group, invites you to our next meeting on Wednesday, July 2, at 7 p.m. in room 108. Representatives from other parishes will join us as we work together to make peace real and cynicism vanish. Thank you to all who stopped by our table or took home information from NRCAT (National Religious Campaign Against Torture). Our mission is prayer, study, action…so learning about issues and thoughtfully discussing them with your family and friends is an important step on our journey. We will be sponsoring opportunities for interfaith prayer and dialogue in the coming months. Come and be inspired. We will also meet August 13, September 10, and October 1. If you need transportation in order to come to the meeting, call 427-1644. Let’s not leave anybody behind!
Visits to the Sick
Following the ancient tradition of the Church, our extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist to the homebound bring the presence and joy of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament to those who are unable to come to Mass. They visit homes, hospitals and centers of assistance and recuperation, sharing the Word of God from Mass and carrying the eucharistic presence of Christ. A simple communion service brings the care of God and our community to those who then see the Holy Spirit working in our lives.
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Ministry to the Women's Jail and Juvenile Hall
Trained and generous volunteers visit on a regular basis with women at the county jail and with youth at the Juvenile Hall. They bring God's presence and care in celebrations of the Word and of the Eucharist. They also offer prayerful support and materials for spiritual guidance and education. They are a light in times of darkness, and direction back to a family of support and prayer.
- Women Inmates at Water Street Jail
This outreach ministry invites volunteers to visit the women on Sunday evening and offer them weekly Liturgy of the Word and Communion.
- Juvenile Hall
This outreach ministry invites volunteers to visit juveniles once a month on Sunday evenings and offer Liturgy of the Word and Communion.
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GLBT (Catholic Gay and Lesbian Ministry)
For more than a decade, Holy Cross has ministered to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Catholics. With the support of our bishop, we encourage people who often have felt alienated from the Church to look at ways to participate. We have monthly evenings of prayer, discussion and support, as well as guest speakers and activities. We celebrate that our name, Catholic, means "universal": All are welcome.
This ministry meets once a month on Monday evenings offering Catholic lesbian and gay members a welcoming environment in which to meet as a community. |
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Pax Christi
Issues of peace and justice are discussed and acted upon in Pax Christi, which is Latin for "The Peace of Christ". Our chapter is part of the national Catholic group of the same name. Educational evenings inform members and parishioners, as well as many people from the larger Santa Cruz community who participate, too. Prayer services gather people together in hope and for justice. Action is taken in vigils, marches and other community services.
This ministry, based on the concept of prayer, study and action, offers Catholics throughout the county an opportunity to meet monthly on Wednesday evenings focusing on topics of justice and peace. |
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