Our Lady of the Crossroads | Catholic Community of John Paul II | Holy Saints of Christ Catholic Community
Emmaus Catholic Community| Holy Innocents Catholic Community | Holy Apostles Catholic Community
Our Lady of the Crossroads Catholic Community
Feast Date: The date the parish is decreed.
Rationale:
Mary met many crossroads in her own life:
-she met with fear and trepidation as the Angel Gabriel announced to her that she would be the Mother of the Savior.
-she felt anxiety and humility as she visited her cousin Elizabeth.
-she felt shame when she had to face her parents and Joseph, fearing a misunder- standing of how she was with child.
-she was troubled as she heard Simeon announce that a sword would pierce her heart.
-she felt helpless as she walked the way of the widow after Joseph died.
-she experienced crushing pain that only a mother can feel as she sees her son beaten and ultimately killed.
-she felt the loneliness and a broken heart as she lived the longs days that followed Jesus’ death.
Though we, the Diocese of Camden and each merging parish, are experiencing a sadness in crossing roads, we, too, will be strengthened by the God of Love who gave Mary the strength and courage that she needed during the crossroads of her life. We will have a New Beginning.
The Catholic Community of John Paul II
Feast Date: October 16
Rationale:
John Paul being known as the Pilgrim Pope, desired to walk down the roads of the world, bringing the message of salvation to all people.
We, on this journey, are also called to be Pilgrim People, brining to our neighborhoods the message of salvation through our mercy, loving kindness and hope. We, too, are asked to leave the security of our homeland.
Holy Saints of Christ Catholic Community
Feast Date: November 1st
Rationale: In order to join the company of the saints in heaven, we must follow in Jesus’ footsteps and conform ourselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. We must dedi-cate ourselves with all our being to the glory of God and service to our neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God in our new parish will grow into an abundant har-vest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints gone before us. We all have this "universal call to holiness."
In addition, we would like to offer these names which were a 1-vote difference with our top three names, Emmaus Catholic Community, Holy Innocents and Holy Apostles:
Emmaus Catholic Community
Feast Date: We were thinking of a Sunday during Easter, but the Emmaus Gospel is only used in Cycles A & B and not C. Therefore, we suggest the feast date be on the Wednesday of the Octave of Easter since the Emmaus Gospel is the Gospel for Years I and II.
Rationale:
Traveling this road together to the Kingdom, seeing through our dashed hopes, disap-pointments, preoccupations and concerns, we can discover Jesus in the Word and recognize Him in the breaking of the Bread, as did the disciples of Emmaus. As well as recognizing Jesus in each other.
Holy Innocents Catholic Community
Feast Date: December 28
Rationale:
The infants, known in the Church as the Holy Innocents, have been claimed as the first Christian martyrs. Traditional accounts number them at more than ten thousand, though more conservative estimates put their number in the low dozens.
Whatever the number, we the people of Holy Maternity and Sacred Heart Church share a common bond, the care, concern, and respect for all life.
Holy Apostles Catholic Community
Feast Date: Parish celebration on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles in the Upper Room
Rationale:
Jesus Christ chose the twelve Apostles. He chooses us too for a sacred calling. His mystical body, His Church, which consists of all members of the human race are part of His Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. That implies that all men and women through divine providence receive the means and cause of their callings and vocations. All are called by God to be holy by the Holy One.