Newsletter for Week starting on the 09 December 2018 :2nd Sunday of Advent

Published by AFAN in News · 7 December 2018

HOLY CROSS CHURCH

8^th/9^th December

208 Sangley Road

Catford, London, SE6 2JS

Tel: 020 8698 3672

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.holycross-catford.org.uk

Part of RC Archdiocese of Southwark

Registered charity number: 1173050

Parish Priest: Fr Antony Megalan

[email protected]

MASS TIMES

Monday-Thursday: 9.15am

Friday 8pm

Saturday: 6.30pm Vigil Mass

Sunday: 10.00am & 11.30am

Reconciliation: Saturday 6pm

HARTLEY HALL

PARISH COMMUNITY CENTRE

Culverley Road, SE6 2LD

Tel: 020 8698 3672

Email: [email protected]

PARISH ADMINISTRATOR:

Mrs Mary Baldwin

Tel: 020 8698 3672

Email: [email protected]

HOLY CROSS SCHOOL

Headteacher: Miss Mary Collins

Tel: 020 8698 2675 Fax: 020 8697 7137

Email : [email protected]

Website : www.holycross.lewisham.sch.uk

St Vincent De Paul Number 07835188411

Safeguarding Line 07598524024

Special Ministers of Holy Communion

This weekend 2^nd Sunday (8^th/9^th Dec )

6.30pm Myra Hannon, Prema Louth,

1) UCM, 2) UCM, P) UCM

10am Joe Baptiste, Caroline Cleary, Ossie Folkes, Cyril Mbaeri, Ray Williams.

1) Kimberley Kong, 2) Ashley Lench P) Christina S

11.30 Jerome, Adeji, Mary Lewis, Vincent Okonji, John Walsh, Rosa Candita Simpkins.

1) Elsa Pascal, 2) Frank Afful, P) Mitchelle Mbaeri

Next weekend 3^rd Sunday (15^th/16^th Dec )

6.30pm Pat Healy, Bridgette Laing , Chris Joyce

1) Jenushan Justin 2) Reuben Gabriel P) Maureen Gabriel

10am Gwen Williams, Marian Perez, Francisca Dunbar, Elena Travers, Marco Munoz.

1^st Gillian Yip, 2^nd Christina Ukah, P Bina Augustin

11.30am Tina Ibe, Bernadette Jeyachandra, Phil Loughnane, Paul Njoku, Vacant

1) Ronald Jeyachandra, 2^ndMerlyn Clark, P Brian Trevathas.

FINANCE £820.04 plus standing orders £503.

Total £1323.04 Archbishop’s Admin Fund £84.92

Many Thanks

Sat 6.30 Fr John Mulligan RIP UCM

Sun 2^nd Sunday of Advent

10.00 People of the Parish

11.30 Denis Burke RIP

Mon 9.15 Theresa Green RIP

9.40 Rosary

Tue 9.15 Thierry Gnankumar RIP

9.40 Rosary

Wed 8.50 Rosary

9.15 Deceased members of the Parish (F)

9.40 Divine Mercy

Thur St Lucy

9.15 Shanthini-Thanksgiving

9.40 Rosary

Fri St John of the Cross

9.15 Cecilia RIP

Followed by Exposition

of the Blessed Sacrament

Sat 6.30 Hugh Loughnane RIP

Sun 3^rd Sunday of Advent

10.00 Joseph Monaghan RIP

11.30 Cecilia Minapo-Londeley RIP

GRENADA MASS

Please note, the 6.30pm Mass this weekend is our Grenada Mass for the feast of The Immaculate Conception.

Join us afterwards in Hartley Hall for some light refreshment!

Christmas Mass times

Family Mass - 5pm

Mass of the vigil of Nativity - 7pm

Christmas carols - 11 pm

Midnight Mass - 12 midnight

Christmas day Masses - 10am and 11.30 am

For the Family Mass, kindly dress your children up like shepherds or any other characters of the crib please. They will be gathered in front of the altar during homily.

New Year [2019] thanksgiving service and Mass

At the end of the year 2018, we are going to spend an hour of adoration of the blessed sacrament in our parish to thank and praise for all God’s blessing. Holy Mass will begin at midnight to welcome the new year in a prayerful atmosphere. All welcome.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: In our parish, every week we have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Confession from 6pm before the evening Mass on Saturdays.

Also, in this Advent we will have special liturgy to prepare for Confessions; and priests from other parishes will be available for hearing Confessions

on 21^st December at 7pm.

Bible verse to remember: My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best [St Paul in Philippians 1].

YOUTH COFFEE MORNING

This Sunday (9^th Dec) after 10am Mass.

Join us in the hall for refreshments galore and a Christmas raffle. All funds raised will support the needy in our local community.

Special Fridays during Advent: In this season of Advent, we shall celebrate Mass at 9.15am followed by the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Adoration and Benediction. Each week there will be special themes for reflection:

14^th December: John the Baptist

21^st December: The Virgin Mary

After Advent, the Friday Mass will return to 8pm

DIARY DATES

16^th December - Decorating the tree in the church 3pm

Friday 21^st December –Penitential Service 7pm

Saturday 22^nd December 7.15pm Youth SVP Dinner

Sunday 23^rd December Carol Concert 4pm followed by seasonal refreshments in Hartley Hall

Sunday 27^th January 5pm Memorial Mass for Fr John Mulligan

BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE REQUEST

If you require a copy of your child’s baptismal certificate the office requires one week’s notice.

Please take a copy of the ‘Baptismal certificate request form’, these can be found at the back of the church or on the website.

Please deliver the completed form to the parish office.

UTOPIANS CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Songs from musicals and Christmas songs on Thursday 13^th Dec at 7.30pm with mulled wine and mince pies. Cost £5 in aid of the TTT and Diamond club.

THANK YOU

…to all who supported the Diamond Club Mini Christmas Fayre. £830 was raised and will be used on the New Year celebration for the housebound.

The Education Commission is looking to appoint an enthusiastic and highly motivated person to the post of Chaplaincy Adviser. (2 days per week). Annual Salary: £35000 - £40000 (pro rata). Kindly ask Fr Antony for more details.

Advent Reflections

The Southwark Spirituality Commission and Stewardship Team are offering short daily Advent Reflections, which will be delivered to your inbox. Click: http://www.southwarkdsc.org.uk/
God’s overarching plan is unclear to us. But when we see evidence of God working through others, doesn’t it give us reason to hope that Christ is alive among us? Does the witness of others help our own prayer lives? Does it inspire us to be partners with others in promoting the Gospel? Food for thought in this second week of Advent.

Ecumenical Pilgrimage

The parishioners of Holy Cross, St Lawrence and St Andrew are making a pilgrimage to Walsingham on the 29^th of May [Wednesday]. This is a new initiative and only 17 pilgrims are accepted from each parish. Kindly give your names to Fr Antony. First come first served!

We need to prepare our hearts and lives for Jesus our Savior to be reborn in us during this Christmas time. We have to fill in the “valleys” of our souls, formed from our shallow prayer life and a minimalist way of living our Faith. We have to straighten out whatever crooked paths we’ve been walking… If we have been involved in some dishonest practices at work or at home, we are called to straighten them out and make restitution. If we have been harbouring grudges or hatred, or failing to be reconciled with others, now is the time to clear away all the debris. As individuals, we might have to overcome deep-seated resentment, persistent fault-finding, unwillingness to forgive, dishonesty in our dealings with others, or a bullying attitude. And we all have to level the “mountains” of our pride and egocentrism by practicing the true humility of rendering humble service to others.

Home Visit by Fr Antony

If you would like Fr Antony to visit your home and bless your family then please complete a form which can be found in the Grotto Corner. Please note that the preferred date and time may not be available sometimes because of the number of requests he has been receiving.

Reflection Second Sunday of Advent In today’s second reading, Saint Paul prays with joy and confidence for his friends in the Christian community at Philippi. He is encouraged that the community has partnered with him to proclaim the Gospel. He sees Christ’s active presence and plan of salvation at work in the community.