Sunday 20th June 2021 : 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

COVID SECURITY GUIDELINES – UPDATE FROM THE DIOCESE: Following the recent changes in the regulations from the Government, the Diocese has issued updated guidelines for continued safe and covid-secure worship in the church.

Dear friends in Christ,

The Gospel of today’s Holy Mass invites us not to be frightened, but to be calm in our difficult moments. When the disciples were facing a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat, they were terrified. But Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be calm!’ And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? He asks us the same question; why are we frightened? May we cherish the peace of Christ even in our trials and tribulations and may we be strengthened by the Lord to face the challenges of life and sail forward. 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

• 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.

1. First Holy Communion: There will be two Masses for the children to receive their First Holy Communion - Saturday, July 17th and Saturday July 24th, both at 10.00 a.m. Please keep the children in your prayers. First Holy Communion Celebration for Both the 2020 And 2021 Children: In September this year, we will have the final sessions and celebration for the children who received this Sacrament in both 2020 and 2021. The dates for each session will be given nearer the time. All the children will be presented with their certificates at that time.
2. Confirmation: The next session will take place on the 26th June at 5pm in Hartley Hall. The catechises will be given by Ossie and Margaret Folkes.
   

• According to the guidelines of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales [Vade Mecum for Holy Week 2021], we follow the following at Holy Cross.

This year, the Celebrations for Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum will be in the presence of Christ’s faithful. This differs from the situation faced last year when acts of public worship were suspended because of the covid-19 pandemic.

Please remember that we follow...

1. The wearing of face coverings in church by the faithful (unless the person has a valid exemption from this regulation)
2. Social distancing of people within the church building
3. Frequent hand cleansing with sanitiser
4. Good ventilation of the church building to refresh the air quality within
5. Cleaning of the church building after each act of public worship
6. The timely dispersing of the faithful after the acts of worship avoiding congregating in car parks or on the streets outside the church.

• 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

• Vivienne Monique: Our parishioner and one of our First Holy Communion children, won the title Pure UK Junior Miss England. She will compete in Ohio USA and represent England. Congratulations dear Vivienne and all the best for your success in Ohio

• SPUC: Please meet your MP to lobby against DIY abortion and assisted suicide SPUC is holding a Mass lobby of MPs on Friday 16 July or Saturday 17 July 2021. We are asking pro-life supporters up and down the country to organise a meeting with their MP, at the MP’s constituency office, on one of these dates. The DIY abortion policy is still in place, and there is a renewed threat of assisted suicide being legalised. Please ask your MP to lobby the Health Secretary to end DIY abortion. Please ask your MP to vote against assisted suicide. SPUC has produced dedicated briefings to help you lobby your MP. Please go to www.spuc.org.uk/MassLobby2021 Thank you.

• Second Collection: This weekend, 19/20 June, there will be a Second Collection for Day for Life. This is the day in the Church’s life dedicated to celebrating the sacredness of life. The proceeds from the Day for Life collection provide core funding for the Anscombe Bioethics Centre and to assist other life related activities supported by the Church, usually by means of grants made to support Catholic charities working in the particular field determined by the theme of the year.

• Peter Pence: Next weekend, 26/27 June, the Second Collection will be for Peter Pence. By reason of the bond of unity and charity, the bishops of the Church, with their people, join together to produce those means which the Holy Father and the Apostolic See need to exercise works of mercy and charity and its service of the Universal Church. The faithful’s offerings to the Holy Father are destined to church needs, humanitarian initiatives and social promotion projects, as well as to the support of the Holy See. The Pope, being pastor of the whole Church, is attentive to the material needs of poor dioceses, religious institutes and faithful in grave difficulties: the poor, children, the elderly, those marginalised and the victims of war and natural disasters. Concrete aid is thus made available to bishops or dioceses in need, to Catholic education, assistance, to refugees and immigrants, etc. Catechist Meeting: How has the pandemic affected your ministry? What are your plans for the coming year? The Diocese has a new Agency and team. We would like to get to know you. Come and find out how we can work together to create a missionary diocese. Thursday 8th July 7:30pm-9:30pm. Calling parish catechists - will your parish be represented? Zoom link on registration - www.aec.rcaos.org.uk/catechesis-events to register.