Parish celebrates its first Holy Mass

LEXINGTON, SC, 21 October 2012 (ACNS) - The faithful gathered today as the Holy Cross Mission of Lexington, South Carolina, celebrated its first mass. The Celebrant was the Rector of the mission, the Very Rev. Dr. Anthony Giunta, TOR Mar., who also serves as the Minister General of the Franciscan Third Order Regular of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The mission parish is part of the Archdiocese of the Southeast of the Anglican Rite Roman Catholic Church and works to provide the saving graces of the sacraments of Christ's Holy Church to all people who seek Christ. Fr. Giunta and the Holy Cross Mission also provide Christian counseling services to those in need.

Fr. Giunta celebrates the Holy Mass.



Blessing of the Animals

LEXINGTON, SC 4 October 2012 (ACNS) - Holy Cross Mission participated in the “Blessings of the Animals” at Columbia Police Department in Columbia, SC. The Columbia police Department came together on Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 6pm to have the complete K-9 Unit blessed on the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. Fr. Anthony, is a member of the Chaplain Corp at Columbia Police Department. The Asst. Chief Wisner was pleased to have Fr. Anthony come and provide a valuable service to the Officers of the department.

Letter to American Voters

Sub Tuum.

 

Dear Brethren in Christ in the United States,

 

The upcoming Presidential election is perhaps the most important one in American history. If not, then it is at least one of the most critical. Christians must remember their faith and their sacred duty under that faith when they cast their vote in November. The separation of Church and State can never mean that the Church must remain silent on issues of faith and morals at the heart of government policy. Faithful citizens must not check their religion at the door to the voting booth. Your faith must be your guiding light and your moral compass as you cast your vote.

 

Your vote gives you tremendous power. You have the ability to help preserve life, the family, and freedom. This is a tremendous power, and it comes with tremendous responsibility. At stake in the November Presidential election are many fundamental rights Americans have long taken for granted. These rights are granted by God. America’s soldiers have long fought and died to preserve them against the tyrants of the world. Now you have the power with your vote to take a stand against tyranny and for the preservation of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Your voice can be heard, and you can speak for those who cannot yet speak for themselves.

 

Much has been said, discussed, and debated, particularly over the past year, regarding health care in America. This is one of the most important and contentious issues surrounding the upcoming election. The Presidential Administration says that their health care program, known better as “Obamacare,”is needed in order to provide many people health insurance who currently do not have health care. Those who oppose this for whatever reason are often vilified and accused of not caring about the poor.

 

From a Christian perspective, all life is sacred from the moment of conception to the moment of death. All life must be treated with respect and dignity. Health care must likewise respect life, treating all persons with respect and dignity. No one ought to be turned away due to an inability to pay.

The fact is that the poor people of America have plenty of venues for receiving the health care that they need. Catholic hospitals, for example, provide health care to all in need, regardless of ability to pay. And, Catholic and religious-based hospitals are far from the only examples of health care facilities that provide services to those without insurance and without ability to pay. There is hardly a place in America that does not have some sort of charitable health care to ensure that the destitute, the indigent, those whose employers do not provide insurance, and those who are simply having trouble making ends meet can have their health care needs met. 

 

Why, then, is national health care, which provides abortions and abortifacient birth control, being touted as necessary in order to provide health care for all Americans? Christian hospitals, as well as even state-run hospitals have long been providing necessary health care to people, regardless of ability to pay. That abortions and abortifacient birth control are being labeled as “women’s health care” is further troubling and displays a lack of respect for the sanctity of life. Certainly there is a need for health care reform in American. Yet, the policies underlying Obamacare are so contrary to Christian doctrine and principles that no Christian may support them. 

 

The issues at hand in the November Presidential election are grave. The Christian Faithful cannot simply stand aside due to distaste for the political process and not take part. Christians have the opportunity to take a stand for life and for freedom, and therefore we have a duty to do so. You must vote according to your conscience in November, and you must allow your conscience to be guided by the Holy Spirit. This is your sacred duty. 

 

In the peace of Christ,

+Rutherford Card. Johnson

Bishop of Saint Stephen

Patriarch of the Anglican Rite Roman Catholic Church

Parish receives first class relic

HARDIN, Ill. 11 September 2012 (ACNS) - The Church of Saint Concordia received a first class relic of the bones of Saint Camilla Battista Varano, an Italian Saint canonized in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. She lived from 1458 until 1524 and was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI in 1843.

 

Saint Camilla entered the monastery in Urbino at the age of 23 as a Poor Clare, professing in 1483. She had a vision of Saint Clare of Assisi that lasted for fifteen days. She was elected the abbess of her monastery in 1500, and again in 1507, 1513, and 1515. In 1505, Julius II sent her to found a monastery in Farmo. She died of the plague at the age of 66 in the year 1524. Her extensive writings emphasized following the poor and crucified Christ and are considered quite significant among Poor clare literature.

 

 

 

 

Amy Bishop Pleads Guilty to Killing Colleagues at Faculty Meeting

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. 11 September 2012 (ACNS) - A former professor at the University of Alabama at Huntsville plead guilty on Tuesday to a capital murder charge in connection with the 2010 shooting deaths of three colleagues at hte university. The incident took place during a faculty meeting in the biology department. The former professor, Amy Bishop, age 47, plead guilty to one count of capital murder and three counts of attempted murder in the shootings, which also wounded three faculty members. Prosecutors had been seeking the death penalty in the case. It is not clear at present whether they will seek a lesser penalty as part of the plea deal. Bishop had earlier plead not guilty by reason of insanity. Her sentencing will occur after a hearing on September 24.

GMC TV Premieres ‘Touched by an Angel’ in September as Part of ‘Calling All Angels’ Programming Stunt

 LOS ANGELES, CA – September 11, 2012 – GMC TV, America’s favorite channel for uplifting family entertainment, will premiere the beloved hit series “Touched by an Angel” as part of a “Calling All Angels” programming stunt in September.

“Touched by an Angel” will premiere on GMC TV with a marathon on Saturday, Sept. 15 from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. and Sunday, Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. The series will then air in its regular time slot, weekdays at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. All times are EST.

“Touched by an Angel” premiered in 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons. The series stars Roma Downey as an angel named Monica, and Della Reese as her supervisor Tess. Throughout the series, Monica is tasked with bringing guidance and messages from God to various people who are at a crossroads in their lives. From the third season on, they are frequently joined by Andrew (John Dye), the angel of death (who first appeared as a recurring character in season two). In the later seasons they are joined by Valerie Bertinelli, another rookie angel. Many guest stars appeared in the series.

GMC’s “Calling all Angels” stunt also will include the popular series “7^th Heaven” on weekdays at noon, 5 and 6 p.m. and Tuesdays from 9 to11 p.m., along with a marathon on Sunday, Sept. 9, from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m.

About GMC TV

GMC TV (www.watchGMCtv.com) is America’s favorite television channel for uplifting music and family entertainment. The Parents Television Council™ has twice awarded its Entertainment Seal of Approval™ to GMC for being “an authentic family-friendly cable network.” GMC TV is the only television network brand to be so honored. GMC has been the fastest growing entertainment network in television in the key demographics of W18-49 and W25-54. GMC can be seen in more than 55 million homes on various cable systems around the country, as well as DISH Network on channel 188, DIRECTV on channel 338 and Verizon FiOS on channel 224. Follow GMC TV on Facebook and Twitter at http://facebook.com/gmctv and http://twitter.com/gmctv.

Mass of Thanksgiving Celebrated in Peoria for the Venerable Fulton Sheen

PEORIA 9 September 2012 (ACNS) - A mass of thanksgiving was celebrated in Peoria, Illinois, to celebrate the declaration of Archbishop Fulton Sheen as "the Venerable" by the Holy Father earlier this year. The mass was celebrated by the Most Rev. Daniel Jenky, Bishop of Peoria, the home diocese of the Venerable Fulton Sheen. From this point, Sheen may be beatified, declaring him a "Blessed." After that, it is possible that he will be canonized as a Saint by the Holy Father in Rome. For more information about this event, read this article. For more about Fulton Sheen, visit this website.