Dear Friend of Holy Cross Abbey: In this blessed season of Advent, the Church’s prayer life helps us to keep our balance against the many secular pressures of this time and not to lose sight on the coming of our Lord at Christmas. All we have to do to keep our inner balance these days […]

Readings: Isaiah 61:1-2; 10-11; I Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8; 19-28 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! Because of these first words of today’s Mass every year, today is called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word for “rejoice”. We have come more than half way through Advent and we are starting to get […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Abbot Robert Barnes presiding and preaching.

After over fourteen years as chaplain to our nuns in California, Fr. Maurice Flood has returned to Holy Cross Abbey. Maurice was at our Lady of Redwoods Abbey, in Whitethorn California, during a crucial transition from its Belgian foundresses to becoming a thoroughly American community. Two sisters from Belgian, now U.S. citizens, are still with the community as […]

It wasn’t much of a joke–or perhaps guys never outgrow sick jokes and a sophomoric sense of humor–but every year we’d gear up for the inevitable phone call to the Information Center asking, “What time is the Midnight Mass?” Clearly, the only time Midnight Mass could take place was midnight; but, of course, that wasn’t […]

Readings: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; II Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8 When I hear today’s Gospel, I recall the majesty of the opening of Handel’s Messiah. The religious imagery of Handel’s era was positive and uplifting, full of light and hope girded with optimism. But hope and optimism are two very different things, hope engaging realities while […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. Joseph presiding and preaching. This Solemnity is the patronal feast of the United States. Because it falls in the Advent Season, the Second Vespers of the Second Sunday of Advent displaces the First Vespers of the Solemnity. Monday is a non-work day at the Abbey […]

There are many opening available at the Retreat House for the Week 15 to 19 December. All are single-occupancy spaces with a private bath. All retreats are non-directed though a priest is available for spiritual direction or confession. There are also openings for the “short week” 22 to 24 December (the Retreat House is closed […]

The community Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fr. James presiding and preaching. It is the first Sunday of the month and Eucharistic Adoration will begin at 4:00 PM. All are welcome.

Eight spaces in the Retreat House opened up unexpectedly for this weekend, Friday 3:00 PM through Sunday noon, 5-7 December. What a wonderful way to begin Advent with a weekend retreat! Because the opportunity has arisen so suddenly, no deposit is required should you care to make a reservation. Act now and don’t lose this […]