News & Notes
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
Any morning weekday Masses & activities will follow Baltimore City Public School schedule (i.e. two hours late or closed will mean no morning Mass nor Communion Service that day).
Any afternoon or evening weekday Masses will go on as scheduled unless announced otherwise - via our CCSB Weekly Bulletins email list. Sign up below if you don't receive our Friday emails, as we'll use this list to share any changes. Any daily evening Mass cancelations will also be posted to our social media.
Afternoon or evening activities will be at the discretion of the parish staff and/or ministry leader. Please contact them and/or check your email before leaving your home.
If Baltimore City Schools are open late, the parish office will also open late. If Baltimore City Public Schools are closed, the parish office will be closed.
As always, please exercise great caution and safety when venturing out in inclement weather. Safety is a priority!
We pray for our RCIA Candidates and Catechumens! This year, CCSB will welcome seven people into the Church at the Easter Vigil. Please take a moment to say an Our Father or a Hail Mary for them, their sponsors, and our RCIA volunteers!
ANNUAL REPORT
We give thanks as we reflect on all that God has done in this community in the past year. Our parish’s Annual Report of stewardship was mailed to all registered parishioners last week and copies are also available in the Churches. The report not only details the financial generosity of our community, but also reflects upon the treasures of time and talent shared in service of God and our neighbors. I am continually amazed by the kindness shown by so many in our parish, and I offer my sincere thanks to each of you for helping us to grow and thrive.
NEW COLUMBARIA GARDEN AT HOLY CROSS CEMETERY
Holy Cross Cemetery is pleased to announce the opening of the new Columbaria Garden, located off Priest Circle, a peaceful place for a memorial service and to visit loved ones. The garden is shaded by an evergreen tree canopy, accessed by a beautiful paved walkway, and features three columbaria constructed of solid granite. Each niche can hold two urns and can be adorned with a bronze memorial inscribed with names and dates. For early sales and prime locations, please call 410-566-7770, and our colleagues at New Cathedral Cemetery will be happy to assist you.
As you may know, the Maryland Attorney General’s Report on the reality and response to sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore has been released. I imagine this will impact each of us in different ways, reopening old wounds, filling us with anger and frustration, or leaving us confused and feeling lost. However this impacts you, know that you are not alone.
Our Church has experienced and committed truly horrific crimes, even here at home in our own parish’s schools, churches, and rectories. There is a burden of dark pain that many in our community shoulder. Hopefully this report will help us to know the weight of that burden so that we can step in and help survivors of abuse to carry it on towards healing and justice. Jesus and Simon carried the cross of Calvary together, in imitation of them we carry this cross together here and now.
News like this has a way of triggering trauma and old hurts. Please do not suffer alone. Please do not feel as though any one of us needs to carry our cross alone. We have a number of mental health professionals in our parish community and in our neighborhood.
I believe and have experienced that Saint John’s words are true: “The Light shines in the darkness.” I pray that this report will be a part of that Light, leading us all to healing and justice.
In Christ Our Hope, Fr. Josh
Synod Conversations - results
The results from our own Synod Conversations which occurred around South Baltimore this past December and the results of the Synod Conversations compiled by the Archdiocese of Baltimore are now available. You are encouraged to spend some time with these two reports. They are an important resource to help us remain committed and to increase our efforts of coming to know, love, and serve God more fully.
read the reports and learn more
REMINDER: WHAT IS YOUR ROLE?
VOLUNTEER
This past weekend as we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus we, like those first Apostles, were called to get to work. Jesus has entrusted his mission to us. How will you respond? What role will you take?
Below you will see a series of volunteer opportunities in our community and to add to the adventure that we share. The more people that sign up, the more fun we all will have and the fuller our vision of Church becomes. Lack of experience is not an obstacle; we will train you for any ministry or role to which you feel called. Know too that no one of us is called to do everything. We encourage you to take this list to prayer and then let us know where you feel most called to help in our shared mission.
SPIRITUAL MINISTRIES
Prayer Team: Pray weekly for the names and families listed on our parish prayer list. We will also send intentions to this group as prayer needs arise within our community.
Visiting the Sick: Visit and bring Communion to those who cannot make it to church on the weekend. This could involve either home or hospital visits.
LITURGICAL MINISTRIES
Environmental Ministers: Purchase and water plants for one of the churches. Fr. Josh will coordinate with you so that we can do our best together decorating for the various seasons and celebrations of the year.
Sacristans: Arrive a half hour before mass to set up before mass and ensure that everything is in place. Also help clean up after mass.
Greeters: Welcome people as they arrive at church and ensure that all feel at home.
Ushers: Assist with any needs that arise as people arrive, take the count for Mass attendance, take up the collection, and assist with cleanup after Mass.
Lectors: Read either the Old Testament or New Testament readings for weekend masses.
Eucharistic Ministers: Come to the altar during the Sign of Peace and then help to distribute Communion to the community.
Music Ministers: Sing or play an instrument with either the Praise Group or the Good Counsel Choir.
Van Drivers: Drive senior members of our community to Mass.
Altar Servers: Assist during Mass.
Helping Hands: Support with hands-on tasks as needed.
FAITH FORMATION MINISTRIES
Catechists: Teach a section of our young religious education classes on Monday evenings.
Vacation Bible School: Help with our week-long adventure this summer.
RCIA Team Member: Walk with Richard and our RCIA group as they enter more fully into the life of the Church.
Baptism Sponsor: Walk with a young family as they prepare to have their child baptized.
PreCana Sponsor Couple: Walk with a couple as they prepare for their marriage.
Children's Liturgy of the Word: Lead our youngest Mass attendees in an activity during Mass.
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
Our church community recognizes that mental health is equally as important as physical health and strongly encourages anyone who is suffering to seek treatment from a professional healthcare provider. When we are in an optimal state of mental health and spiritual well-being, we can best share the humanity of Jesus in our community and beyond. Recently, CCSB parishioner Colleen Gaume facilitated a panel discussion on mental health with professionals in the mental healthcare field. The panel was a great opportunity to discuss what we can do as people of faith to foster a community where mental health is normalized and accepted as a part of everyday life. We also discussed steps we can take to eradicate mental health stigmas and support friends and loved ones who suffer from a mental illness.
USEFUL TAKEAWAYS AND RESOURCES
EMAIL LISTS
We're expanding our email lists! Interested in joining any of these? Click the link below to join (either type in your info or hit the green join button, depending on which screen appears), or email Beth Mayr (beth.mayr@archbalt.org) and she will add you.
Weekly E-bulletins (new!)
Young Adults (20s and 30s)
Service and Justice (new!)
Music Ministry (interest in listening/attending)
Volunteer for the 5pm Praise Ensemble or the 11am Good Counsel Choir
Youth Group (middle/high school)
Religious Ed (registration now available here)
Grief Support Group (new!)
Experiencing the death of a family member, close friend, or co-worker can often be difficult and for some people it may help to talk with others who are dealing with grief. CCSB will begin a monthly Grief Support Gathering on Wednesday, November 10 at 7pm in the dining room of Good Counsel Rectory. We will gather on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Bring a snack to share if you would like. For our first gathering, you are invited to share something about the person you have lost or just listen if you are more comfortable doing that. If you want to indicate that you are coming or if you have any questions, contact S. Angela at 443-838-4451.
COMMUNITY GARDEN
Our Community Garden was quite successful this summer thanks entirely to the guidance (and garden watering/maintenance) of our master gardeners, Jan and Alyssa! Thank you to all who volunteered on Saturdays to help weed, mow the lawn, plant Mary's garden, etc.! It is wonderful to see our community contribute to and bond over shared projects such as this one!
From this summer crop, we had some successful produce runs with tomatoes, peppers, kale, cucumbers, herbs and also learned which ones to NOT plant next year. All of the harvest this year was given to Father Josh and the seminarians staying with us this summer for them to enjoy! Next summer, we will focus on fewer crops planted in greater abundance to get a higher yield than more diverse crops. This will allow us to produce a substantial enough yield to donate to local food banks. See the progression of the garden over the summer. We are now going to turn over the garden to plant our winter crops, including lettuce, kale, and onions.
If you’re interested in supporting this effort and seeing the work of the garden continue, please consider a donation – any amount, even $5-10, will make a difference. You may donate via Venmo @CCSB9, online with, or via check payable to CCSB mailed to 110 E. West St., Baltimore MD 21230. Please be sure to put Garden in the memo.
HOLY CROSS STAINED GLASS HISTORY
Holy Cross church, built in 1858, has seen its share of repairs, paint color schemes, roof replacements, and new boilers. As we began planning for the completion of the plaster and tin repair and painting of the nave (the section with the pews) we were advised that the stained glass windows were in poor condition and contributing to several leaks. One by one, we are addressing them; you can see the difference between the refurbished, cleaned window and an old one to the right!
We would like to show off some of our progress, as well as provide some history and background on the figures in the windows. Long-time parishioner Mark Hannon and his son Jeremy researched the windows and took some amazing pictures. Thank you Mark and Jeremy!
IGNATIAN VOLUNTEER CORPS
YEARLONG COMMITMENT TO SERVICE & SPIRITUALITY
CCSB parishioners, 55 years of age or better, are encouraged to consider a yearlong commitment to service and spirituality with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps. There is no shortage of need in the Baltimore metro region and all skills, lovingly offered, can be matched to the great work of one of IVC’s over 30 non-profit partner agencies! IVC volunteers serve 1 or 2 days/week and gather monthly for prayer in the Ignatian Tradition. Contact Nora Collins at ncollins@ivcusa.org for more information.
PROJECT RACHEL BALTIMORE
Project Rachel Baltimore serves all women and men hurting emotionally and spiritually after involvement with abortion. This ministry helps heal wounded relationships with self, child and God, extending God’s compassion, unconditional love, and forgiveness. Project Rachel offers hope and peace. One day retreats are offered in a confidential location in Baltimore on: June 26, August 28, October 30. Call 410-625-8491 | text: 410-299-9345 | email: projectrachel@archbalt.org
IN JOYFUL HOPE - END OF LIFE CARE
Learn about Church teaching, hospice and palliative care, what an advance health care directive is and how to use it, and how to have these conversations with loved ones. Additional resources:
Maryland Catholic Declaration for Health Care Decision Making | en español (the Advance Health Care Directive from the Maryland bishops)
The Conversation Project - Have You Had The (how to start the conversation with loved ones)
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (how to interview/choose a hospice)
Parish Toolkit (bulletin/Flocknote announcements, Mass intercessions, social media posts)
For these and more resources, please visit: www.mdcatholic.org/endoflife
Flocknote: Parish Communication System
Sign up to receive important communications and updates from our parish! Simply text CCSB to 84576 from your cell phone. Flocknote is a church communication management tool built exclusively to address essential communication processes of church organizations and ministries. Learn more about Flocknote.
CHURCH HALLS AVAILABLE FOR USE
Are you hosting friends and relatives after a baptism or funeral? The Halls at Holy Cross and Good Counsel are available for parishioner use following the celebration of a sacrament (first communion receptions too!). Contact the office for more details.
Parish VAN DRIVERS
The parish has a group of van drivers who pick up parishioners throughout the area each Saturday for the 4 pm mass at St. Mary, and Sunday for the 9:00 am mass at Holy Cross. Parishioners are asked to call the parish office on Thursdays if they want a ride for the weekend. If you are interested in being a Van Driver, please contact the parish office.
PARISH VAN
Would you like a ride to mass? The parish van picks up parishioners each Saturday (4 pm mass at St. Mary) and Sunday (9:00 am mass at Holy Cross). Parishioners who would like to be picked up are asked to call the parish office by Thursday, 3:00 pm.
HOLY CROSS CEMETERY
Holy Cross Cemetery, owned by the Catholic Community of South Baltimore, has been serving the community since 1890. This 60-acre property in South Baltimore offers traditional burials, cremations, and family mausoleums. Call for sales and service 410-789-5400 (phone answered by the Archdiocesan-owned New Cathedral Cemetery).
MASS CARDS are available in the office or at Sunday mass for $10 or $15. Upon the death of a friend, it is common practice to send a Mass Card to the family. The card contains the deceased’s name and gives a place where you can write a personal note. It is also a nice way to remember an anniversary of a family member or of a friend who has lost a loved one. There are also cards available for those who are sick or in the hospital, letting them know you are praying for them.
VOTIVE CANDLES are used to signify our prayers to God or petitions to a saint to pray with us and for us to God. They can also be lit in memory or for someone’s healing. Please use the envelopes and donation box near the votive rack to help defray the cost of the candles.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Have you ever wanted to experience being lifted onto the shoulders of the Good Shepherd, held in the hand of the Seeker, or embraced by our Father? Consider celebrating the sacrament of forgiveness. We have recently extended our times for Confession.
LOW GLUTEN HOSTS
CCSB has a supply of low gluten altar breads. Though made from wheat starch and water, the hosts have a gluten content of .001%. This percentage meets the criteria for the Church that the host must be bread. If you need to receive the low gluten host, contact Fr. Josh for procedures.
SACRAMENTAL BOOKS OF THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF SOUTH BALTIMORE
The office sent nearly 110 sacramental registers to the archives of the Archdiocese at St. Mary’s Seminary. As you can imagine, our three churches, each over 150 years old, baptizing babies, marrying couples, and burying the dead, as well as keeping track of first communions and confirmations, there were countless sacramental moments. In order to preserve the history, the Archdiocese is digitizing all the records. Most of the books will return, but those whose last entry is over one hundred years old will remain in the Archives. Since the books are not on the premises for several months, in the event you need a baptismal record or any record for proof to receive another sacrament or for a governmental reason, please give the parish about three weeks’ notice. The Archive can retrieve the record but it may take time if that particular book is being digitized and/or out at the bindery for further preservation.
CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY: BURYING THE DEAD
HOLY INNOCENTS MINISTRY: This Archdiocese of Baltimore program offers services and support for families who have lost children to miscarriage. For details, call 410-547-3142 or visit the website.
BURYING THE ASHES OF THOSE CREMATED: Do you have the ashes of a cremated family member at home and are in need of an economical way to lay them to perpetual rest? The Archdiocese is initiating the Ministry of the 14th Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb to bury the ashes in sacred ground. The cost of the burial is $300 per deceased. For details, contact the Office of Cemetery Management at 410-547-5375 or email cemetery@archbalt.org.
Sacrament of the Sick is available each Sunday for anyone anticipating a hospital visit, surgery or the like. Contact the church office the week beforehand or ask the priest celebrant as you arrive at mass to be anointed.