Users and Greeters Needed

We are in need of volunteers for our usher ministry (men or women) for all our Masses but especially for the Saturday evening 4:15PM Mass. In addition, our greeter ministry is in need of more greeters, especially at the Sunday 9:45AM Mass. Prayerfully consider getting involved in one of these ministries. To volunteer contact the parish office at 630-879-4750 or email: staff@holycross-batavia.org

Wedding Ministry

The Wedding Ministry is in need of volunteers. Interested? Contact Jill Miller at: jilliana76@hotmail.com

Windmill Senior

Volunteers are need for this ministry. Windmill Seniors meets once a month, usually the 4th Friday of the month for lunch and fellowship. Anyone interested in helping with this ministry, please contact Tammy at: schieslt@yahoo.com

Holy Cross Meal Ministry

The purpose of the Meal Outreach Ministry is to serve the parish by providing meals to families in crisis, such as a serious illness, injury or grieving. We also bring meals to families who are welcoming a new child into their home. Meals provide a way to say we care and we support you through this difficult time or as a way to celebrate the gift of new life. If you, or someone you know, would benefit from this service, or if you are interested in becoming part of this ministry, please contact Kathleen Dietz.

Enriching Lives Ministry

A Special Family and Child
Need Our Help Again

A few years ago a young mother contacted our ministry about the special needs of her baby. She and her husband were very desperate and scared just having this baby with such a serious illness. The positive responses from our parishioners flowed to help their family in many ways (e.g., goods, assistance in their home, friendship, love, money, etc.) The baby is no longer a baby but a spunky “tot.” We (Gina Highland, etc.) visit the family from time to time. Their situation is again severe. The needs are still there and their financial situation is again serious as they cope with the many needs of their child. We’re requesting that we once again pull together as an 'extended family' for them. Besides money, the following is a list of goods, etc. they can use:

• Chocolate flavored Pediasure (comes in 6 pack of bottles)
• Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Wash
• Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
• Paper Towels
• Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (4lb. box or larger - they have to add this to his baths)
• Swiffer Wet Mopping Cloths

Gift Cards to the following stores where a lot of the tot’s food and supplies are purchased:

Add to this list tons of prayers!

This family is having serious financial difficulties. Please help this family. Monetary donations and gift cards can be dropped off at the parish office. (Please make checks payable to Holy Cross Church, and write ELM in the memo.) All other donations may be dropped in the ELM box in the church basement at the bottom of the stairs.

Call or e-mail if you need assistance, know of someone who needs help, or would like more information about volunteering.  Phone: 630 879-4750 x-321
E-Mail: email

[more details...]

St. Michael Ministry of  Compassionate Care

A thought to ponder ~ Relax and rejoice...for the hand on the tiller is firm! ~ Father M. Raymond, O.C.S.O.

These past two Sundays have brought us God's amazing gifts of love and wonder! Easter Sunday and Divine Mercy Sunday are the most powerful liturgies of our Church year.  He has opened wide His heart for us in profoundly beautiful ways as He has filled our hearts, minds and souls with His forgiveness and joy! May we go forth and  continue what He has set on fire in our hearts...to let go of all of our past hurts and resentments! He has blessed us with a 'new beginning' of refreshment through our inner peace and Joy! Share His goodness with everyone you meet! Let others see Him reflected in you as you travel in His Light this week and beyond!

Our Lord has also graciously blessed us with the resurrection of the new Spring with all of its beauty bursting forth around us after the long cold, gray winter! Relax and rejoice...and marvel at each of His gifts that you find before you every day! Be filled with Joy! Share your Joy with others and it will be returned to you in Joy-filled ways!

Relax and rejoice! We are so blessed! Praise God for His abounding love!

PLEASE NOTE: The next meeting of the St. Michael Ministry of Compassionate Care will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 7:00PM in the St. Therese Room.

DEDICATED SUFFERING GROUP: The Dedicated Suffering Group would like to thank parishioner Patty D'Arcy for speaking to us about her prison ministry. We were all very touched at the stories she shared with us about the prisoners that she has visited, comforted and prayed with. She fully lives out Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of Matthew 25:36: "when I was in prison, you visited me". Please consider joining us for the last meeting of this season on Saturday, May 4th right after the 8:30AM morning Mass. All are welcome!

The Funeral Liturgy Team is willing to meet with any parishioners who would like to pre-plan their Funeral Liturgy.  This is a great gift of love for yourself and for your family. We will gladly meet with you at your convenience, just call to arrange an appointment with Mary Ann Sestak at 630-879-8525 or Bob Pogwizd at 630-262-3395.

Seasons of Hope

Support Group for the Bereaved

Any person who is mourning the loss of a loved one is invited to attend Seasons of Hope, a Christ-centered support  group, and encouraged to bring a guest.

Seasons of Hope meets on Tuesday, May 7th at 1:00PM-3:00PM
St. Patrick Church - Crane Rd Church - Prefunction Room
6N487 Crane Road - St. Charles, IL
Sign-in will be from Noon - 12:55PM
Bring a Bible
For more info contact Victoria Naughton,
Parish Nurse 630-338-8027

Knights of Columbus Raffle

Funds raised will contribute towards Knights of Columbus Charities, School Scholarships, Seminarians and Pro-Life activities.

Added Bonus: receive a $5.00 food voucher for Swedish Days 2013

See website for Official Rules and Regulations

Saint Martha
Hospitality Ministry

Who are we and what do we do? This new ministry will be in charge of hospitality for the parish funeral luncheons, parish priest luncheons and other parish events that require hospitality. We are looking for women/men to chair this event, bake/cook, serve, set up and clean up. Registration forms are in the narthex under the Resurrection Jesus statue and on the parish website.

St. Martha served Our Lord - She wasn’t in the spotlight, she didn’t receive spectacular miracles. She simply served Jesus.

Volunteer Signup Form

Mom’s Pray and Play
Rosary Group

Ladies and Little Ones join us for friendship and faith at the next Pray and Play Rosary group. Meet other Catholic Moms and Tots of the Fox Valley as we connect in prayer and fun at our weekly morning gatherings from 9:00AM-11:00AM. The day and the place do vary.

Please contact Vanessa Mahoney 303-847-2147 or vlmahoney@yahoo.com for more information on the weekly meetings.

Do You Want to Grow Spiritually?

Members of St. Vincent de Paul (or "Vincentians") are men and women who strive to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to individuals in need. We are young and old. Our members come in every shade of skin color. Some of us are wealthy, some are financially poor, but all of us are blessed with an awareness that our blessings (time, talent or treasure) are to be shared with our brothers and sisters in need. We know that we are not alone. We are part of an international society of friends united by a spirit of poverty, humility, and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings, and adherence to a basic Rule.

Do you want to grow in holiness? If you are in need or feel called to volunteer in any capacity to serve those in need, please phone the Holy Cross St. Vincent DePaul Help Line at 630-879-4750 (ext. 307) any time of day or night. Members observe the utmost confidentiality in the provision of material and any other type of support.

Who Needs to Take
Protecting God's Children?

Any person 18 years and older who comes in contact with children in any of the programs we offer here at Holy Cross. That includes, RE teachers, parent volunteers, chaperones, nursery help, classroom helpers, scout leaders... again, anyone who comes in contact with children.

Want an easy way to take this class
in the comfort of your home?

It’s now available online through the VIRITUS website!

• Go to: www.dioceseofrockford.org
• On the left side of the page click on: Protecting God’s Children
• Click on: VIRITUS training schedules (www.ceorockford.org)
• Click on: Protecting God's Children Classes
• Click on: Online Instructions
• Follow prompts.

Natural Family Planning (NFP)

Trust: God has a plan for your marriage Concerned about the possibility of having another) child right now? Natural Family Planning (NFP) includes methods of avoiding, postponing, or achieveing pregnancy all in accordance with God's plan for your sexuality and marriage. NFP methods are 99% effective in avoiding pregnancu. Learn more at:
rockforddiocese.org/nfp or by calling 815-399-4300 x38

Déjà Vu Thrift and
Consignment Shop

St. Vincent de Paul's Thrift & Consignment Shop is in great need of gently used or new winter clothes, especially for babies, children, teens and women. Of special need are coats, hats, scarves, gloves, boots and snow pants. Another need is for bedding and linens. We ask that donations be dropped off at the DeJa Vu shop located at 427 South 4th Street in Geneva between the hours of 10:00AM - 4:00PM if possible. If not, they can be left on the front porch anytime. Tax receipts are available upon request. Pick-ups can be arranged by calling the shop at 630-232-6621. Also, check out our Furniture Warehouse & Showroom located at 911 Sullivan Rd., Aurora (in the Belmont Machinery Co. Bldg) which is open for business on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00AM - 1:00PM. Come see a great selection of gently-used bedroom, dining room and living room furniture along with tables, chairs, lamps, pictures & more!

If you can help us or want more information, contact Bernie Schlameuss at 630-841-1070 or email

Holy Cross
Re-employment Ministry

• Looking for a new job?
• Need a resume that will get you hired?

The reemployment ministry is here to help.
Join us Thursday evenings at 7:00PM in the CECC Library! We are also on linked-in-find jobs, share resumes and ideas!

Please contact Ken Meeker  at 630-430-9879 or email at:email for more information!

[more details...]

What is Hesed House?

Hesed House is our local PADS Homeless Shelter located in Aurora, IL and run by charitable donations and volunteers.

Holy Cross Parish volunteers the first Friday of each Month.

We are looking for two Hesed House volunteers to work an overnight shift.

• The commitment is every other month on the first Friday night beginning in July.
• Please email Jennifer Mott-Mueller email if you're interested. Thank you, and God bless!

Attention All Hesed House
Cooks and Volunteers

This ministry is in desperate need of more cooks and shift volunteers. Please consider helping out this wonderful ministry. Hesed House is feeding 200 people dinner each evening, with 100 sack lunches and 130 breakfasts being served each day. Cooks are asked to donate a certain item to complement our set menu each first Friday of the month. Recipes are supplied. Some months you may be asked to simply purchase items such as sandwich bags, cold medicine or laundry soap, other months you may be asked to bake desserts or make a main dish. For more details, call Jennifer Mott-Mueller at 630-879-8266.

Attention:
Ministry Formation Graduates

Catechetical Leader Certification Program (CLCP) The CLCP fosters the development and training of prospective catechetical leaders to serve in parish faith formation programs as Directors of Religious Education (DRE) and Directors of Youth Ministry (DYM). The program involves 7 Saturday sessions running from September through April. Questions? Go to the Adult Faith Formation page: www.ceorockford.org or call Jane Sartino at 815-399-4300 x389 or email Jane.

Mass of Hope and Encouragement
For those touched by the cross of infertility

Saturday May 18th, 10:00AM

OSF Medical Center Chapel, 5666 E. State St., Rockford, IL 61108 Whether you have been personally touched by the cross of infertility or know and love someone who has, this Mass is an occasion to come together to pray for hope and healing. There will also be an opportunity to share in fellowship and receive valuable resources on ways the Church can help. There will be signs helping direct people at the main entrance of the medical center, if you need more detailed directions or information please contact the Respect Life-NFP Office at 815-399-4300 x381 or mitchstriedl@rockforddiocese.org

Aurora Deanery
Serra Club Meetings

Serra Club begins each meeting with a Rosary for vocations at 11:40AM in the Presence Mercy Medical Center chapel (1325 N. Highland Ave., Aurora) followed by Noon Mass, lunch and the speaker’s presentation. No charge! All are welcome! For more info., call Mike McKee at 630-896-6834 or email: MMckee5@aol.com 20,000 Serrans throughout the world are dedicated to fostering and promoting vocations to the Catholic priesthood and religious life through activities and prayer.

Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry

With the continuing economic difficulties, the client roster at the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry increases weekly and the pantry serves more than 400 hundred families every month. Did you know our parish supplies monthly volunteers to help at the all-volunteer run Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry? Please consider joining us for an occasional morning or afternoon shift. Volunteers are most needed on Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings. If sharing your time is not possible, please consider sharing your resources; nonperishable and monetary donations are appreciated! Questions, or to volunteer, please contact Christina at via email or (630) 482-2395 for more info.