Sunday 05th Sept 2021 : 23rd 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,

As the Summer came to a close [in fact we had only an extended Spring!!!], and the schools started their new academic year, we have a feeling of normality from the Pandemic returned everywhere. However, please remember that the virus is still active in our Borough. It is our responsibility to care the elderly and the needy by keeping the norms of this time. As far as possible, unless you are exempt, wear face mask and keep social distance. It is compulsory to wear face mask on Saturday 6.30pm Mass. May I request all those who have got concerns for their health and social distancing, to come to the Saturday evening or weekday Masses please. A few of our parishioners are in need of our prayers, including Joe Babtiste and all those names found in the sick list. Please keep them in your prayers. If anyone is admitted to hospital, please let the nurse of the ward know that he/she needs to see a Catholic priest and they will have to contact a priest immediately. I was taking care of Margaret Woodward spiritually and she passed away recently. Her funeral Mass will be on the 16 September at 12 noon. Please keep her in your prayers. We have a number of historical documents of our parish. if you have got an expertise in this field and are happy to help us, please contact me. Last weekend, we prayed for our children who were going to begin their school year. This week also we are going to pray for them. Please do not forget to bring your children to Church. The following parishioners have come forward to be members of the Holy Cross Formation Team:- Ossie & Margaret Folkes, Neville & Sonia Fernandes, Nick & Rachael Wibberley, Mary Collins, Simon George, Mitchelle Mbaeri, Carolina Gonzalez and Pat Barber. They will primarily provide, plan and organise training programmes, retreats, seminars… for different parish groups, (i.e., Children, Young People, Readers, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Catechists, Welcome Ministers, etc.). Our motto for the Formation Team is “…Until Christ is formed in us.” [Gal 4:19]. If anyone else is interested in joining this team, please contact me. This year, we are going to celebrate our parish feast on Sunday 12 September at 7pm. It will be a blessed time for us to come together as Holy Cross family and to pray for one another. During the pandemic, our Church Care Team and Welcome Ministers helped our parish in keeping our church a clean, hygienic and safe place to worship. We are going to present each one with a certificate signed by the Archbishop in recognition of their good works. I list their names in this newsletter, please can you check this as I don’t want to miss anyone out. Furthermore, you may remember that we were awarded by the Mayor of Lewisham for our good works during the Pandemic. May I ask you give me a few names [we need ten names] who did essential services to our parishioners and the community during the Pandemic so that they can be recognised with the Mayoral Awards. The first reading of this weekend gives us the vision of a perfect world. But in this world, we find wars, violence, hatred, poverty, discriminations, sickness, selfishness... We ask our God the grace that we be God’s missionaries of His love and peace in this world, primarily in our families and communities. Fr Antony

• 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

• Parish Surgery: Meet with Fr Antony without an appointment every Tuesday after the 9:15am Mass, and every Friday at 5:00pm
  

• School Street Scheme operating on Culverley Road: Please note that the School Street Scheme which restricts anyone entering the enforcement area operates during the Lewisham Schools Term Times only – not during the holidays. To check the School Term Dates please go to the Website: https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/parking/schoolstreets/schools-streets-programmestreets-outside-schools
  

• Until the End of the Pandemic:

1. Please ensure you sanitise your hands as you enter and leave the church.
2. 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.

For those children who made their First Holy Communion in 2020, you are invited to attend Mass on Saturday 11th September at 10:00am.

For those children who made their First Holy Communion in 2021, you are invited to attend Mass on Saturday 18th September at 10:00am.

After each Mass, the Candidates and their families are invited to a celebration party in Hartley Hall. If you can wear your special outfits, please do. Otherwise please dress smartly.

• The Holy Mass is offered everyday  via Livestream

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

• Thank You: Our sincere Thanks to the following people who, since the church opened last July, have volunteered their services in helping ensure our church is clean and sanitised and a safe place for everyone to worship.

• 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

• Catechises, Formation and Evangelization Teams in Holy Cross: anyone who would like to join these teams, please contact Fr Antony.

• Holy Cross Feast: we shall have a special Feast Day Mass on Sunday 12 September 2021 at 7:00pm to celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It will be a special day for us to thank God for every blessing we cherish in our parish. Please make a note of this special day in your diary.

• Holy Cross Manna Mission: we are planning to begin the Soup And Bread Kitchen in our parish after the 11.30am Mass from October – as long as we receive sufficient assistance from our parishioners. Please come forward to support the poor and needy. You can either let Fr Antony know you would like to support this Mission, or email the Parish Office with your contact details.
  

• Altar Servers Training: There will be a training session for altar servers on Saturday 25th September at 10am in the church. All who wish to serve at the Holy Mass, please request an application form from Fr Antony. Many thanks to Nick and Rachael Wibberley who are happy to lead the altar servers. Can you help?

• If you are an electrician and happy to help us in our parish, please contact Fr Antony.