Many who attend the Thanksgiving Mass year after year say it's their "favorite liturgy" - perhaps because it's a more participative mass than usual, with people invited to bring gifts of food and alms to the altar and to receive a blessing there. Parishioners are also encouraged to bring items from their Thanksgiving tables for blessing - pies, bread, or even a vegetable dish. The bilingual service has drawn Spanish-speaking families to the celebration as well. It seems in so many ways, for so many people, a true and vivid expression of gratitude for the gifts God has given to all of us.
The liturgy opens with a story told in song and dance of people coming from four directions to Santa Cruz, "the city of the cross on the hill." It is a tribute to all those who came before us - the indigenous people who have always lived here and the immigrants who braved ocean, land, and many hardships to find their way to Santa Cruz.
As you scroll through the scrapbook of photos below, you might recognize someone you know or even yourself! This first video will remind you of the "prelude" to our Mass and its honoring of the four directions. The video at the end is a gift of music from the Contemporary Choir which will fill your hearts with gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving, Holy Cross Family!
Gathered in gratitude.
Before Mass begins, movement ministers pose for a photo. Here they are in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Our choirs bring God's love to life in their music.(Be sure to watch the video at the end!)
Patricia Shubeck has been a mainstay of many of our liturgical celebrations, bringing grace and beauty to whatever she does. Here she presents the Gospel to Deacon Hugo in 2013.
It's been fun to watch the young people grow through the years, learning to express their faith through movement, music and Word. Some of them have gone on to direct music in other parishes, a tribute to Sr. Barbara's teaching and inspiration. If you look carefully, you can see the children at different ages in these photos.
The first two photos below illustrate what a psalm looks like with movement. The others demonstrate how we are invited to bless ourselves with incense - or burning sage - as a symbol of cleansing and healing, our prayers rising to God. "Bless me, Lord, and purify me."
Families are invited to offer the gifts of bread and wine.
The many blessings of our Pastors through the years - Fr. Mark Stetz in 2006, Fr. Joe Occhiuto in 2011, Fr. Martin Cain in 2017. And our retired pastor, Fr. Mike Marini, at the altar with Deacon Joe DePage and the Eucharistic Ministers in 2019.
Food for the Thanksgiving table, blest and admired.
The celebrants and ministers prepare to process out into the world, grateful for the bounty offered for the poor in the year 2014.
Adding to the abundance. Thank you, Henry!
Sisters. Friends. Families. The years change, but the community is one and growing, ever closer to you, O Lord, with thanks for the blessings of our rich liturgical life at Holy Cross.
Your Thanksgiving gift: from last year's celebration, the beauty of music.
What a beautiful compilation of my very favorite liturgy. I, for one, will miss being there this year . . . and hope to be back with the whole Holy Cross Family next year at this time. Thank you for including the videos, especially Victoria's beautiful voice.