Sunday 01st August 2021 : 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

COVID SECURITY GUIDELINES : Following the recent changes(Monday 19 July) in the regulations from the Government, the parish has issued updated guidelines for continued safe and covid-secure worship in the church.The latest document is Covid-19 Route Map - Step 4

Dear Parishioner,

I hope you are enjoying the rainy weather we are experiencing this summer. As we are beginning to feel ‘back to normal’ in our parish, I would gently caution you to be sensitive towards the vulnerable and the elderly. Please sanitise your hands as you enter and exit the church, and do not forget to wear a facemask and keep to the distancing guidelines at the 6.30pm Mass. ‘The Lord gave them bread from heaven’ is the Responsorial Psalm this weekend. The same story is given in the first reading. The people journeying towards the Promised Land were given the divine food from heaven to protect them dying in the desert. As the people of God, this mission to take care of the hungry and thirsty is given to us today [Matthew 25:40]. I encourage you to support the Pope’s appeal to help the people of Lebanon who struggle to buy their food and medicine. May God bless your generosity. Fr Antony

• Mass for Saint Oscar Romero: On Saturday 14th August at 12 noon, St George's Cathedral will host a Mass in celebration of the 104th Birthday of St Oscar Romero, in collaboration with the Romero Trust. Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, will be the Principal Celebrant. All are welcome to attend in person
  

• Please note that the Mass times have been reviewed : See below (Mass Times and Intentions)

All the Masses will be live-streamed: https://holy-cross-stream.click2stream.com

• Holy Mass from Saturday 24th July [if the restrictions are relaxed]: Fr Antony and one other Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharistic will be distributing the Holy Sacrament at all weekend Masses. After receiving the Holy Communion, you can return to your seats to receive the final blessings. Please follow the guidance of the Welcome Ministers as you leave. You may remain in the church for your personal prayers for a short time, up to 5 minutes when a bell will be rung, as the church will need to be sanitised

• Eucharistic Ministers: Please note that from 19th July Fr Antony will be assisted by one other Eucharistic Minister when distributing Holy Communion. A rota will be issued to the Eucharistic Ministers who have recently submitted their details and renewed the commitment to their Ministry last month. If you do not appear on the rota and would like to, then please contact the Parish office. Many thanks.

• Children’s Liturgy: Please keep an eye on the newsletter for further updates. As yet, we are not going to resume the Children’s Liturgy until it is safer to do so. If anyone has any suggestions, or would like to join the group of catechists, please can you contact Fr Antony.

• Until the End of the Pandemic:

1. Please always keep 1m distance between families/people/bubbles inside and outside the church. Please note: Keeping 1m distance is your responsibility and the Welcome Ministers are there to support you.
2. Please wear a face mask at all times, unless you are exempt.
3. Please ensure you sanitise your hands as you enter and leave the church.
4. 9pm for Night Prayer [every day except Saturday]: In this Pandemic, let us pray together as God’s family and receive His blessings before going to sleep.

   Please invite your family also to join prayer. Meeting ID: 7578777461; Passcode: 20212021.

• The Holy Mass is offered everyday  via Livestream

• : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTBK92cTt8hZCEZ4mruXZNQ

• Our Newsletter is available by visiting our Newsletter webpage with updates on how and when to register for the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation and RCIA

Please take a copy of the Newsletter home with you - please do not leave it in the church. Thank you.

• Diamond Club Magazine is available here