Sunday 01 May 2022 : Third Sunday of Easter
HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH
208 Sangley Road, Catford, London SE6 2JS
Fr Antony Megalan Sellam [Parish Priest] – 02086983672
Website: www.holycross-catford.org.uk
Parish Contacts
Parish Office is Open
(Tuesday and Thursday)
10am - 3pm
020 8698 3672
Josepha Flahive
Lisa O’Hara
Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate
Holy Cross Bookshop, 020 3441 8240
Holy Cross School
[020 8698 2675]
Miss Mary Collins
www.holycross.lewisham.sch.uk
Repository:
CLOSED
St Vincent De Paul [SVP] 07835 188411
Safeguarding Line 07598 524024
Pat Barber and Kate Cleevely - [email protected]
Third Thursday Time TTT
Email: [email protected]
Hartley Hall [Tony Early]
Culverley Road, SE6 2LD
Email:[email protected]
Sunday 01 May 2022 : Third Sunday of Easter
You can find the Readings from here
Today we hear a wonderful passage from John’s Gospel. The time is dawn, sunlight just breaking over the mountains. The setting is the Lake of Geneserath, sparkling below the mountains of Galilee where Jesus had fed the 5000 having multiplied five loaves and two fishes. Bread and fish appear here again that morning.
Jesus is by the shore, standing, grilling fish over a charcoal fire, along with bread. Peter and his seven companions have experienced catching nothing without Jesus’ presence. “I am going fishing” said Peter, earlier, “We will go with you,” replied the seven. There is no mention of Jesus. When Jesus became present to them on the beach, an enormous catch was made. In Jesus’ absence, no fish; With Jesus’ presence, fish.
Breakfast with Jesus grilling over a charcoal fire must have been awkward for the apostles. Also, maybe, Jesus looked somewhat different. Remember, he was mistaken as the gardener by Mary and as a stranger by two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
After breakfast, Jesus speaks to Peter, who has been haunted since his denial of Jesus. He does not ask Peter for an apology, a pledge of allegiance, or a testimony of faith. He already knows Peter’s sorrow and repentance. Jesus simply asks, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Love is Jesus’ only question. Although it is often ignored, we humans have a spiritual core. John had recognised him with the eyes of love while they were still offshore in the boat.
Jesus calls Peter and each of us to this spiritual centre where we may have an elevated form of consciousness. It takes long-term, continual effort to sustain this consciousness. Why? Because our egos like to be in charge and crowd out our spiritual consciousness. Remember, Peter who, at first, would not let Jesus wash his feet. Remember Peter when he denied he knew Jesus because his own safety was in jeopardy. That was his ego taking precedence over being conscious of what Jesus expected.
It is probable that Jesus saw that Peter had a large ego but also knew that if Peter could supress his ego and replace it with a clear love of Jesus in his heart, he would be an outstanding leader. He would be able to feed Jesus’ lambs and feed his sheep. When Jesus saw that Peter acknowledged him, he could and did say for the second time: “Follow me.”
We are faced with the same question. Will we love and allow Jesus the Christ to transform our heart from being ruled by our ego to ‘live in Jesus’ That is the major question of Eastertide.
Fr Antony
Please take a copy of the Newsletter home with you - please do not leave it in the church. Thank you.
- Money Matters (Loose Collections)
St George’s Cathedral: £169
Anonymous Donation for Ghana Project: £600
Thank you all for your kindness and generosity.
- First Holy Communion, Confirmation and RCIA for next year. Applications for are available from this week. Please collect them from Fr Antony
OUR PARISH RESPONSE TO COVID 19 PANDEMIC - Updates
COVID SECURITY GUIDELINES : Following the recent changes(Friday 10 dec) 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 Guidances for Churches December 2021
- 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
- With respect to the current situation with the omicron variant it is important to ensure the following points are followed in our churches:
That people displaying any symptoms of covid-19 should stay at home and not travel to church or participate in person.
- That hand sanitiser is used by everyone attending the Church.
- That there is good ventilation and air throughput in the building; in this case, because of climatic conditions, please do wrap up warmly when coming to the church as we may need to leave doors open.
- That people who are engaged in a form of pastoral ministry which involves ministry to the housebound, sick, and vulnerable, should take regular lateral flow tests to ensure they are safe to do so. These are free from the NHS.
- The Holy Mass is offered everyday via Livestream
- Diamond Club Magazine is available here
