Today's story of the wedding feast at Cana is, among other things, a call to life. God promises us a new life overflowing with joy and blessings. When Jesus changes the water into wine he was announcing that the kingdom of God had come. What kind of person would change 120 gallons of water into 120 gallons of the best wine around?   Anyone that would do such a thing would have to be a person who knew how to enjoy life and the wonderful gifts that are part of our human existence.

Our Catholic faith has always been one to rejoice in the gifts of creation. The Sistine Chape in the Vatican is graced with some of the most beautiful pieces of art in the world. Countless pieces of music have been written over the ages to help us in the celebration of the Liturgy.  Some of the most beautiful buildings in the world are Catholic churches. As Catholics we have not been shy about enjoying good food and wine. By taking pleasure in God's creation we are taking pleasure in the Creator--God. Our enjoyment of creation is our way of saying thank you to God. 

When we pay attention to God's creation, we are doing what God wants--enjoying the gift. This is our way of saying thank you to the Giver of all that is. When we take the time to watch the sun set, walk in the woods or stroll by the water, feel the warm air on our faces, sit by candlelight listening to music or one of a thousand other things--when we do this, we are saying thank you to the One who is constantly pouring forth beauty into our world.

Jan 6,7, 2001
Sunday Envelopes -- $2,878.25
Loose -- $388.68
SE Parish Building Fund -- $172.00
Solemnity of Mary/New Years -- $122.00
Food Bank -- $12.00
Initial Offering -- $234.00

ENVELOPES - for 2001 are available for pick up in the Gerein Centre. If you have registered at Resurection Parish but continue to attend Mass at Holy Cross and would like Holy Cross envelopes, please contact the office.

CWL NEWS

Execuritve Meeting will be held on Jan. 15, .7:30 p.m. at Loretta Jelinski's home: 613 Douglas Park Cres.

Holy Cross CWL Genereal Meeting will be held Feb. 6, Mass 7:00 p.m. followed by the meeting. We will be hosting a shower for Birthright and are now  collecting for our hampers. Boxes are provided at both entrances.  All parishioners are invited to participate.
SPECIFIC ITEMS NEEDED FOR HAMPERS ARE: Baby food, receiving blankets, diapers, and clothes (mostly new.born, new and used will be greatly accepted.) THANK YOU. Please plan to attend.

HOLY CROSS SUPPER & SURPRISE AUCTION - Mark your calendars for the annual Dinner & Surprise Auction at St. Andrew's Hall, Sat., Feb. 3. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. following Mass with the Auction at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available from Joyce: 789-1983 -- $8 for adults, $4 for children 12 & under; children under 3 - free.
This is a  very entertaining evening with a progressive auction. Bring lots of change!  Welcome any and all 
donations of auction items, new or nearly new. Just drop them off at the Parish Office.

ANNIVERSARY DINNER - On Feb. 10. Pastoral Council will be hosting an Anniversary Diner for couples celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th, or 60th Wedding Anniversary in 2001. If you or someone you know is celebrating one of these special anniversaries this year, please contact the office by Jan. 22 so the names can be included in the guest list.

• ALPHA is a time of fellowship, learning, discussion and laughter.
• ALPHA is a program that reviews the basic and common teachings of Christianity among Christian Churches. The important questions of life considered are:

 
• Holy Cross Parish had joined hundreds of Christian churches throughout the world in offering this exciting outreach program.
• .Our ALPHA program will run for 12 Monday evenings from January 22 to  April 9th from .6 - 9 p.m. A partial weekend retreat is included March 9 - 10.

• .Weekly gatherings begin with a delicious dinner, followed by a large group learning time and ends with small group discussion and interaction. The teaching is done by video presentations by a brilliant, knowledgeable and funny speaker named Nicky Gumbel.
• Please consider this program for you - a gift

to yourself, for your own spititual and social
nourishment through the Lenten season, right up to Holy Week.
• .Everyone is invited --- the mature Christian,

the non-Christian, the curious, young and old.
• Registrations are now being accepted. Call

Rita: 761-9123 or Nancy: 761-1960 or visit
our web site at 
www.oocities.org/holy-cross/
• Program costs are a registration fee of $8.00, freewill offerings for the suppers (suggested $5 each) and approximately $20 for the retreat.

TO MEMBERS OF HOLY CROSS PARISH:

You don't know me, but I know you. You are the
people who have caused me tears each Christmas for the past few years and will again this year; let me explain.

I am a 36 year old single male who is a father of a precious little boy. My son is everything to me, and most days the only reason I get out of bed and keep going.

I can see my boy whenever I want as his mother and I are still very friendly. I don't have custody because I am trying to get a company going to get off of social assistance. You see, I survive on an extravagant sum of $150/month and out of that I have to allow for food, clothes, some money for transportation (bus or my parents) and a few dollars aside for myself and my son to go for "coffee" and sometimes a trip to Value Village for a toy or a book.

As you can imagine, it is very hard to plan for presents from myselft and you know who (Santa). Each year due to your generosity I can get him a toy and an educational gift and he gets his presents from a whole group of Santas, the special people of Holy Cross Parish.

So this is just to let you know how much your generosity is appreciated. Please do not think that your caring is overlooked. Each Christmas Eve  I take a few moments for myself to sit quietly and offer thanks that people still care for a faceless, nameless person.

This person offers you a very sincere thank you and a very heartfelt Merry Christmas. 

Sincerely,
Hamper Recipient

Dear friends,

.... We are ever so grateful for your continuous help; without people like you our home could not exist.

We have at times, this year, passed the 300 mark. Although we have fewer abandoned babies, we have a never ending influx of abandoned mothers, with two, three or four children. When these mothers have at least some kind of home, receiving, them is quite easy but when they come straight off the street with no place to go it is hard to know what to do.

In two cases we built a mud hut on the farm. For three other cases we managed to use houses built in Habitat for Humanity, that were not in use. But, in using these houses came the obligation of 
bringing up to date the $10 a month payment. Some houses were owing a whole year's payment. Thanks to your help we managed the pay ments and the abandoned women are living in these houses.

Putting an extra plate of food on the table is relatively easy; what is difficult, is getting the children into school and bringing the family back to health. Many come completely dehydrated, and their stomachs filled with parasites. It is a long, slow process to bring them back to health.

. . . . . Thanks for being so good to us all through 2000, and may 2001 bring you many blessings. 

Lovingly,
Sr. Rosa Del Corpio
Sr. Loretta Bonokoski

MEETING OF YOUNG ADULT GROUP
Fri., Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m., Holy Child Parish.

LITTLE FLOWER MEN'S CLUB BREAKFAST - Sun., Jan. 21, from 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the church auditorium. Adults $4, children 12 and under $2. No smoking permitted.

WORLD RELIGION DAY - JAN. 21 -Though conflict may contimue in other parts of the world, in Regina, on Jan. 21, you may join with concerned others in a prayerful celebration of World Religion Day. The Regina Multi-Faith Forum invites all interested persons to join in prayers for Unity-Peace-Harmony The celebration begins at 2 p.m. at Beth Jacob Synagogue (475 McTavish Street).
Reception to follow. For more information call Krishan: 789-6759

ST. ANGELA'S ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE
St. Angela's is a residential high school for girls in Prelate, SK. An Open HOuse will be held on Feb. 10 and Feb. 11, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. each day.
There will be a slide-tape presentation, tours conducted by students, and an opportunity to meet teachers, deans & housemothers. The Academy is now accepting registrations for the 2001-2002 school year. If you are interested in attending, please call 673-2200, or inquiries may be made by e-mail: st.angela.acad10@sk.sympatico.ca

RESURECTION MASS TIMES - 
Effective Jan 13-14: Sat 5:00 p.m.; Sun 9 & 11 a.m.

7:00 p.m.

Upper Gerein Centre