Bronx's Holy Cross Planning Reverent Gatherings to Commemorate Namesake Feast
By: Armando Machado
“It was St. Philip Neri who first devised this way of praying to our Eucharistic Lord for 40 consecutive hours,” said Holy Cross Church Pastor Fr. John Higgins
Holy Cross Church in the Soundview area of the Bronx is planning reverent gatherings to commemorate its namesake: the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, beginning September 14.
“The saving symbol of salvation is the Holy Cross, under which our parish is blessed to boast as its patronal symbol. We look forward to celebrating our Patronal Feast of the Holy Cross,” Fr. John Higgins, pastor of the parish, told The Good Newsroom.
Fr. Higgins said the celebration timeline will be: 40 Hours of devotion, Thursday, September 17, 4 p.m. through Saturday, September 19, at 8 a.m.; Fervorino for children (Spiritual talk pep talk), Saturday, September 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and a religious education solemn Mass and procession, Sunday, September 20, 12:30 p.m.
Dedicating one hour
“We’re having sign-ups for our annual 40-hour devotion. It was St. Philip Neri who first devised this way of praying to our Eucharistic Lord for 40 consecutive hours. We ask [participating] parishioners to dedicate one,” the pastor said.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, also called the Church of the Resurrection, was dedicated on September 13, 335, and the cross discovered by Empress Helena on September 14, 320, was venerated the following day in a solemn ceremony. In 614, Persian King Chosroes II waged war on the Romans and, after conquering Jerusalem, confiscated many treasures, including the Cross of Jesus, according to Vatican News.
Byzantine Emperor Heraclius then sought peace, but his overture was rejected; he went to war and prevailed near Nineveh, securing the return of the Cross to Jerusalem. The feast does not exalt the cruelty of the Cross, but rather the love God showed humanity by accepting death on it, according to Vatican News.
Other gatherings at Holy Cross
The Spanish-language Cursillo Movement of the Archdiocese of New York will host “Encuentro Conyugal,” an overnight marriage retreat for couples who are married in the Church. The retreat is set for September 26-27 in the Holy Cross Church Retreat House.
For couples married civilly or in non-marriage unions, the parish’s marriage ministry, Amor Agape, is organizing a group wedding Mass called Community Wedding: Cana at Holy Cross. Couples interested in marrying in the Church at no cost are invited to contact the rectory, according to the church bulletin. The community wedding will be held Saturday, November 7, at 7 p.m., during the evening Spanish Mass. The marriage ministry organized a similar group wedding in October 2023, drawing 14 couples.
Facts Only
* Holy Cross Church in the Soundview area of the Bronx is planning gatherings for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, starting September 14.
* The celebration includes 40 hours of devotion from Thursday, September 17, at 4 p.m. through Saturday, September 19, at 8 a.m.
* A spiritual talk for children, "Fervorino," is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* A religious education solemn Mass and procession is scheduled for Sunday, September 20, at 12:30 p.m.
* Parishioners are asked to dedicate one hour for the annual 40-hour devotion, based on St. Philip Neri's method.
* The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was dedicated in 335, and the cross was discovered by Empress Helena in 320.
* Persian King Chosroes II reportedly confiscated the Cross of Jesus after conquering Jerusalem in 614.
* The feast emphasizes the love God showed humanity by accepting death on the Cross, not the cruelty of it.
* A Spanish-language Cursillo Movement event, "Encuentro Conyugal," is scheduled for September 26-27 at the Holy Cross Church Retreat House.
* A community wedding Mass will be held for couples interested in marrying in the Church on Saturday, November 7, at 7 p.m.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The structure of the commemoration weaves together historical religious narrative with contemporary parish activities, demonstrating how deeply rooted traditions are adapted to serve current community needs. The emphasis shifts between theological reflection (the meaning of the Cross) and tangible communal acts (devotions and marriage ceremonies). The juxtaposition of the 40-hour devotion, which grounds itself in a specific spiritual methodology, alongside practical events like marriage retreats suggests a dynamic process where abstract faith is materialized through lived experience. A critical point for analysis is how historical accounts are deployed—referencing military conflict and imperial decree regarding the Cross's movement—to frame the present meaning of salvation as an act of acceptance rather than mere suffering. This layering implies that religious observance functions not just as remembrance but as a framework for negotiating communal relationships and personal commitments. The implication here is that the sacred object serves as a pivot point for understanding shared human responses to mortality, conflict, and commitment across different historical epochs.
Bridge Questions: How does the church structure these temporal events—devotion, education, and marriage rites—to guide parishioners’ engagement with the core theological concept? What are the unspoken assumptions embedded in equating devotion with the acceptance of historical conflict surrounding the Cross? What role does the organized communal ritual play in reinforcing or challenging individual spiritual autonomy within the parish context?
Sentinel — Human
This piece reads like local news reporting blended with devotional information, supported by verifiable historical references integrated into the narrative flow.