Bronx’s Holy Cross Planning Reverent Gatherings to Commemorate Namesake Feast

Bronx's Holy Cross Planning Reverent Gatherings to Commemorate Namesake Feast By: Armando Machado “It was St. Philip Neri who first devised this way of praying to our Eucharistic Lord for 40 consecutive hours,” said Holy Cross Church Pastor Fr. John Higgins Holy Cross Church in the Soundview area of the Bronx is planning reverent gatherings to commemorate its namesake: the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, beginning September 14. “The saving symbol of salvation is the Holy Cross, under which our parish is blessed to boast as its patronal symbol. We look forward to celebrating our Patronal Feast of the Holy Cross,” Fr. John Higgins, pastor of the parish, told The Good Newsroom. Fr. Higgins said the celebration timeline will be: 40 Hours of devotion, Thursday, September 17, 4 p.m. through Saturday, September 19, at 8 a.m.; Fervorino for children (Spiritual talk pep talk), Saturday, September 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and a religious education solemn Mass and procession, Sunday, September 20, 12:30 p.m. Dedicating one hour “We’re having sign-ups for our annual 40-hour devotion. It was St. Philip Neri who first devised this way of praying to our Eucharistic Lord for 40 consecutive hours. We ask [participating] parishioners to dedicate one,” the pastor said. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, also called the Church of the Resurrection, was dedicated on September 13, 335, and the cross discovered by Empress Helena on September 14, 320, was venerated the following day in a solemn ceremony. In 614, Persian King Chosroes II waged war on the Romans and, after conquering Jerusalem, confiscated many treasures, including the Cross of Jesus, according to Vatican News. Byzantine Emperor Heraclius then sought peace, but his overture was rejected; he went to war and prevailed near Nineveh, securing the return of the Cross to Jerusalem. The feast does not exalt the cruelty of the Cross, but rather the love God showed humanity by accepting death on it, according to Vatican News. Other gatherings at Holy Cross The Spanish-language Cursillo Movement of the Archdiocese of New York will host “Encuentro Conyugal,” an overnight marriage retreat for couples who are married in the Church. The retreat is set for September 26-27 in the Holy Cross Church Retreat House. For couples married civilly or in non-marriage unions, the parish’s marriage ministry, Amor Agape, is organizing a group wedding Mass called Community Wedding: Cana at Holy Cross. Couples interested in marrying in the Church at no cost are invited to contact the rectory, according to the church bulletin. The community wedding will be held Saturday, November 7, at 7 p.m., during the evening Spanish Mass. The marriage ministry organized a similar group wedding in October 2023, drawing 14 couples.