We join together in prayer for our Second Grade and Eighth Grade students as they prepare to receive the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation next weekend.  May all the angels and saints join in our celebration as they drawer closer to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit through the gifts of His Church.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Jennifer Melcher's mom who entered eternal life unexpectedly last week.  A beloved mother and grandmother, may she rest in peace and may faith, hope and love abide always with her loving family. 

We pray for the repose of the soul of Monsignor Robert Hoffman, a dedicated and beloved priest of over 50 years for the Diocese of Rockford and Jesus Christ, who entered eternal life on March 23, 2013.  May he rest in God's eternal peace, a priest forever.  "I have competed well; I  have finished the race; I have kept the faith.  From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance." 2 Tim 4:7-8

We pray in thanksgiving for Pope Francis on his installation as Holy Father of our universal Catholic Church.  May his leadership and prayerful service through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit encourage us all to bring Christ to the world with love.

May God bless in a special way His children who may have been drawn away from their Faith but feel a renewed interest through the world's focus on the Papal election.  With eyes on the Blessed Sacrament, may hearts be open to Our Lord's invitation to seek and find Him.

We pray for all those preparing to receive the Sacraments this Easter Season, for those in the RCIA program and loved ones who have brought them closer to Christ and His Church, and for the witness they will bring forward.

We pray with great joy and thanksgiving for the birth of Benjamin Ryan Donley, son of LIndsey and Steve and the younger brother of our student Nate.  May Benjamin and this family's life be filled with God's radiant love and every blessing.

We pray for Monsignor Deutsch and Father Romke as they prepare to serve the Bishop and Diocese of Rockford as Vicar for Clergy and Vocations and Vocations Director.  We thank God for the blessings they have brought to all of our lives through Holy Cross Church and School.  We pray for Monsignor Brodeski as we welcome him as our new Pastor of Holy Cross Parish and for Father Draper who together will continue Christ's work with their loving hearts and lives of service to Our Lord's family.

God bless our Second Grade students and their families as they receive their First Reconciliation this Saturday. We thank God for Mrs. DeBlock, Mrs. McCarthy, Mrs. Pat Roatch of our parish Religious Education office and our priests for preparing them to receive Christ's merciful love.

We pray with thanksgiving for the lives of our beloved grandparents.  In particular, we thank God for the grandfather of the Middendorf family and grandmothers of the Connolly and Remaili families who recently went home to Our Lord.  May they rest in Christ's eternal Peace and may the love that we have been given be forever shared.

Thank you, God, for the safe arrival of Philip Daniel Haviland, born September 24th at 10:15PM to Jen and Pat Haviland, parents of our students Andrew, Christopher and Samuel.  Philip will enjoy playing and growing with his other younger brother and sister at home as well.  God bless the Haviland family!

We welcome with joy Evelyn Joanne Clinard, baby sister of our students Ben and Madeline and their younger brother.  Evelyn Joanne is named after her two grandmothers and was born on Sunday, September 16th.  Congratulations, Heidi and Jacob and family!

We pray in thanksgiving for the life of Doc O'Connell, husband and father of our devoted staff members Angel and Kailin, who passed away in the evening on Sunday, August 26th.  May his joyful Spirit be welcomed in Heaven as we celebrate here on earth his abiding faith, hope and love for the Lord. 

Please pray for the Holy Cross Staff Retreat August 12-14, that the Holy Spirit will pour His Gifts of Love and Grace upon all those called to serve Our Lord through the parish and upon all our parish family.

May VBS 2012, Inspired by the Spirit, be blessed with an outpouring of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity.  Veni Sancte Spiritus!

Please join us in thanksgiving for the birth of Violet Estelle Muetze, the beautiful new daughter born to James and Brandi Muetze on May 16th.  We thank you, God, for her gift of life and for all the joy and love that Violet and all of your children bring to this world!

Please pray for the husband of one of our staff members who is receiving medical care.  Thank you, God, for the skill of your surgeons and for your love present in our priests and all those who pray with and for us in our times of need.

Please pray for Jim Barry, Mike Puttin's father-in-law, who was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor.  He is a WWII veteran who prays the Rosary every day.  God bless Mr. Barry and his doctors, his family and all those facing serious medical concerns.

We thank God for the safe and healthy arrival of Jennifer Marie Van Domelen over our Easter vacation!  Joseph's beautiful baby sister and mom are doing well, praise the Lord! 

Please pray for those families affected by job loss, financial difficulties or other hardships related to employment.  May Saint Joseph the Worker encourage and strengthen us all so that we may have the opportunity to use our gifts to glorify God while providing for the needs of those around us.

Praise God for the arrival of Lucas Robert Sutarik, born on Friday, March 9th at 10:51am to our Full Day Kindergarten teacher Becky and her husband Scott Sutarik!  Lucas weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces at birth, a 20 1/2 inches long gift from Heaven!  Our school famiy wishes Lucas and his mom and dad a lifetime full of Love and God's blessings!

We give you thanks, Lord, for the birth of Olivia Patricia Deutsch on Friday, February 10th.  May God bless Olivia, her parents, Theresa and Matt, her big sister Gianna and extended family with lives overflowing with your Joy and Love!

Thank you, Lord, for the healthy arrival of Joseph Raymond Zielinski on Sunday, January 29th!  We wish you a long, joyful life filled with God's abundant blessings! 

We pray for our 2nd Grade students and their families as they prepare to receive for the first time the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.  We pray also for our 8th grade students, their sponsors and families as they prepare for Confirmation.  May Almighty God open their hearts to receive His unfathomable love and Grace through these Sacraments.

We pray for the repose of the soul of the mother of Chris Bashaw, our parish secretary, and the brother-in-law of our principal, Tricia Weis.  May all our beloved dead live in Christ's eternal Peace through the promise of His Resurrection.

We thank God for the safe arrival of the Farrabee family's new son, born on December 14th, his big brother John's fifth birthday!  May God continue to bless your family with His abundant Love!

We pray for Wisdom for the doctors at Mayo Clinic and locally who have been helping diagnosis and prescribe treatment for the sibling of one of our students.  May this young woman and her family continue to feel Christ's strength and the help of our prayers as they follow the path toward regaining her full health. 

Thank you, God, for the safe arrival of Bennett Michael Bourgin, born on October 10th.  May his life and family be forever blessed.

We thank God for successful surgery for one of our school moms, mother to four children and dear wife, daughter, sister and friend to many.  May she recovery quickly and continue to witness to Our Lord's infinite care for us all.

As our Second Grade and Eighth students prepare to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation this year along with our parish Religious Education students, we pray for them and their families, that God's Grace may fill in preparation their hearts and homes. 

Please join us in praying for one of our students who was injured while on vacation and is now being treated for an infection.  May his progress in recovery continue under the care of wise doctors and his family feel our support as the school year begins. 

We are grateful for an awesome Staff Retreat 2011 and the blessing of coming together for Mass, talks and sharing to prepare for an outstanding new year for our parish and school ministries.

Thank you, God, for our priests and the beautiful Vacation Bible School they have led here at Holy Cross this summer.  We thank you for Mary, our Blessed Mother, who leads us all to her Son, Jesus, and teaches us all to say with her, Fiat, mihi!

We pray in thanksgiving for the well-being one of our youngest Holy Cross family members who is recovering well after a fall. 

We pray for our eighth grade graduates and their families with gratitude for all the gifts, joy, energy and blessings they have brought to Holy Cross.  May their future endeavors give glory to God and fulfill His holy and loving Will for their lives.

We pray in great thanksgiving to the Divine Physician for emerging signs of the miraculous recovery of the dear uncle of one of our youngest students.  After weeks of devoted prayer and care from his family and doctors, he is mystifying the medical professionals as he awakens from injuries suffered in a near-fatal accident.  Thank you, God.

Our Lord has recently called to Eternal Life several beloved grandparents within our school community.  Please keep their loving families in your prayers as they adjust to the loss of these cherished souls, entrusting them now to God's almighty embrace.

Let us pray for our Second Grade children in both our school and parish Religious Education program and their families as they prepare to receive their First Holy Communion on Saturday, May 7th.

We rejoice with our Eighth Graders and their families as they look toward Sunday, May 8th and their reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Please pray with our parents for our students with special health concerns, that they may soon regain full health, be free of pain and be able to attend classes on a regular basis both now and into the future.  

As our Lenten observations culminate in a reverent Holy Week, may all our hearts be open to Christ and His Sacrifice, responding with Love to His prayer from the Cross.

Please pray with us for all those attending the Holy Cross Parish Light of the World Retreat April 9th-11th.  Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your Love.

We pray with joy and thanksgiving for the safe arrival of Mary Kate O'Connor, beautiful daughter of Katie and Matt O'Connor and precious sister of Luke and Ronan. 

Our friends at Saint Peter Church in Geneva ask us to pray as they celebrate their 100th year in Geneva.  Please remember all the centennial celebrations and keep safe those parishioners who are leaving for Rome on March 14th.   

We pray for eternal rest for Michelle West's grandfather who went home to Our Lord on Monday, February 28th at the age of 93.   May God grant peace to his soul and to all those who love him. 

We pray for our second grade students and their families as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time this Saturday, February 5th.  May their hearts open now and always to Jesus' Mercy and great Love for them.

We pray for the repose of the soul of Lisa Baier's father-in-law who passed away early Friday morning, January 28th.  As he is laid to rest in God's Almighty care may his devoted wife, Cecilia, and family find peace and joy in his memory and the love they have shared.

We pray for Dolores, the grandmother of Cindy Bernstein, who went Home to Our Lord late Wednesday night, January 26th.  May her daughter and grandaughter be consoled through our prayers and the memory of her loving life.

We pray for the repose of the soul of Bobbie VonLunen's mother-in-law, Mary VonLunen, who entered Eternal Life on Thursday, December 30th.  May she rest in the Holy Family's tender embrace and her family feel Christ's Peace as they entrust her beautiful soul to God. 

We pray for the repose of the soul of Michelle Hunt's aunt, Barbara, who passed away as we celebrated All Saints and All Souls Days.  May Our Lord grant her His eternal Peace and may she live in His Light forever.

Several of our Holy Cross families have experienced the recent loss of a relative or close friend.  May all our prayers bring comfort to their loved ones and the companionship of the Communion of Saints as Our Lord welcomes these beloved souls home.

With joy we thank God for the safe arrival of Lucas Joseph and Liam James Scarpino on Friday, October 22nd!  At just five weeks premature, we are grateful for the help of the NICU staff as these precious sons of Joe and Kelly Scarpino continue to develop their teamperature, breathing and eating skills.  God bless the Scarpino family always! 

In thanksgiving that Our Lord and Blessed Mother spared us from any more serious damage early in the morning on October 14th after a sprinkler head malfunction.  We pray with gratitude for the men and women of the Batavia Fire Department and Buck Cleaning Services who worked so hard and cheerfully along with our Holy Cross staff to quickly re-open our beautiful school.

For the repose of the soul of Lisa Baier's 91-year old grandmother, LaVerne Scroggins, who went home to Our Lord on Wednesday, October 6th.  God rest her soul in the Peace of eternal Life.

For our student and friend, Caroline Barrett, that God hears and answers our prayers that she stay strong and free from infection as her medical treatments for neuroblastoma reach an important stage.  In thanksgiving for all the loving care and comfort offered to the Barrett family.

For the repose of the soul of Steven Walgenbach's grandfather, Marion Feliksik, who went home to Our Lord on Sunday morning, September 19th.  May his family be comforted as he now rests in Christ's Eternal Peace.

For the repose of the soul of Gael Hanauer's mom, Ann Elizabeth Brennan, who passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, September 12th at 3:30AM.  May she rest eternally in Christ's loving embrace. 

In thanksgiving for the safe arrival of Gabriella Marie Haviland, born at 3:10PM on Wednesday, September 8th, Our Lady's birthday.

For our priests, in thanksgiving for the way they bring Christ's Life to us through the Sacraments and their ministry. 

For all of the intentions of the Holy Cross Parish Family.

For Simone Romanos and her family, Jeanne Ferrario and her family and all those parents and extended family being treated for serious illness.  For healing and God's mercy and loving companionship through all our challenges.

For peace in our world, the safety of our military men and women around the world and for their families and for the continued recovery of PFC Dave Walgenbach.

That the Holy Cross Parish Staff Retreat bears fruit in all our lives throughout this new year.