Newsletter for Week starting on the 4th August 2019 :18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Published by AFAN in News · 3 August 2019

HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH

208 Sangley Road, Catford, London SE6 2JS

Fr Antony Megalan Sellam [Parish Priest] – 02086983672

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Website: www.holycross-catford.org.uk

3^rd/4^th August 2019 [18^th Sunday in Ordinary Time]

Parish Contacts

Parish Office: Lisa O’Hara [available from September]

Josepha Flahive [02086983672]

Hartley Hall [Angela Allen]

Culverley Road, SE6 2LD

Email: [email protected]

Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate

Holy Cross Bookshop [02034418240]

4 Brownhill Road, Catford

www.holycrossbooks.co.uk

Holy Cross School [020 8698 2675]

Executive Headteacher: Miss Mary Collins

Head of School: Miss Giovanna Finaldi

www.holycross.lewisham.sch.uk

St Vincent De Paul 07835 188411

Safeguarding Line 07598 524024

Third Thursday Time TTT

Email [email protected]

Finance: Loose £690.66 SO: £503.00

Newsletter matters to be sent to [email protected] by Wednesday.

Holy Cross Parish Feast Day: We celebrate our Parish Feast day, the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross on Saturday 14^th September at the 6.30pm Mass. All parishioners are invited to celebrate our Feast Day and join us afterwards in the School Hall for a shared celebration. Families and individuals new to our parish are especially welcome. Please put your name on the appropriate list at the back of the church if you are able to help, and what items of food/drink you would like to bring on that day.

Parish Feast Day Choir: We will be practising the music to celebrate the occasion on 22nd and 29th August, and 12th September at 7.30pm, in the church. Please come and join us.

The Holiday Season: Many people will be going away on holiday. If you are a reader or Lay Minister of Communion, please remember to plan ahead and arrange a substitute for your absence. Many thanks.

Family Fun Days – for Families Once schools break up the summer holidays can be a very long and isolating period for families. To help families, Holy Cross and St Andrews are running 4 Family Fun Days 11am – 3pm, during the holidays on 6^th +13^th August at St Andrews Church Hall, Sandhurst Road, Catford SE6 1XD, A coach trip to the seaside on 22^nd August and a Day out in a local Park on 29^th August. All events are free, lunch and drinks will be provided. Children need to be accompanied by an adult aged 18 and over. If you are interested in any or all events, please email [email protected] or come along to the first session on 6^th August at 11am to register.

Family Fun Days – for Parishioners

We are particularly relying on your help and support by:

§ Volunteering to be a helper at one of the events, for the day

or part of the day.

§ Donating: refreshments e.g. squash, juices, biscuits,

crisps, fruit, pre-wrapped individual items.

§ Offering to run an activity on 6^th or 13^th, e.g. art/craft,

pampering (for parents), bingo, disco.

§ Providing funds to support the venture.

Bring me Sunshine holiday activities for over 60s at St Andrews church Hall,Sandhurst /Torridon Rd.7,8,9, 14,15 and 16 August 11-3 hosted by Holy Cross. Come along for delicious food, entertainment and fellowship. Contact Lesley Allen on 07729785843 if you need to know more or email [email protected]. Please note all volunteers are needed to be there at 9am to help set up.

Please remember Jonathan, our altar server, and keep him and his family in your prayers. Efforts are continuing to resolve the situation and return him safely to the UK.

Pope’s Intention for August: Families, Schools of Human Growth - That families, through their life of prayer and love, become ever more clearly schools of true human growth.

Sacrament of Confirmation: If you are starting Year 9 in September and feel it is time to take the next step in your life of faith, we will be starting our journey towards the Sacrament of Confirmation in October. Please write a letter with your full contact details including email to Fr Antony (by 25th September) explaining why you want to receive this important Sacrament of the Holy Spirit. Our first meeting (with parents) will be on Friday 27th September at 6:30pm and we will spend until Christmas getting involved in the Parish service projects. Bishop Pat will come to confirm those who have completed the course on Tuesday 19th May 2020 at 7:30pm.

First Holy Communion 2020: Application forms for preparation for First Reconciliation and Holy Communion are now available at the back of the church, or on the parish website. Closing date 9th September 2019

JOIN RCIA

RCIA Programme (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), starts again on 29th September at 7.30pm in Hartley Hall: Are you interested in finding out more about our Faith and joining the Catholic Church please come and see if this is for you. If you are a parishioner, be brave, invite friends, family members and acquaintances to take the opportunity to look at their lives and maybe find some answers to the big questions. Be extra brave come with them to support them. Come and see!
A very warm welcome is extended to those who have been away from the Church and feel they might like to begin the journey back to the practice of their faith. If you are interested please speak to Fr Antony, look at the parish website to find out more about the RCIA and download the application form or contact [email protected]

Parent and Toddler Group is in need of two volunteers to assist from September. The group meets on Mondays (9 – 11.30am) and Wednesdays (9 – 11.30am) term time only. This is a very well established group that not only benefits Holy Cross but also the wider community. Eileen would love to keep this great group open but sadly without the assistance of volunteers the group will have to close. Those interested, please kindly contact Fr Antony.

Legion of Mary: The Legion of Mary from Lewisham will be holding its meeting on Fridays at 6:30pm in Holland room, Hartley Hall. All parishioners who wish to become members of the Legion of Mary are warmly invited to join.

Requiem Mass: Please pray for Catherine Ndeley whose funeral Mass will be on Friday 23 August at 12.30pm. We also pray for this family at this difficult time.

Whatsapp for the University Students from Holy Cross Parish

Our parish priest asked me to create a group which will be eligible for all young people within this parish who are attending university this year and current university students of this parish . This will be a social chat group where you will be comforted, reassured and gained a deeper understanding that you are not alone in any challenging situation - Marie-Catherine Kodjo. Kindly contact 07578777461 or 079207 485934 to include your name.

We wish you a blessed and a joyful August.