Sunday 29th May 2022 : Seventh 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 29th May 2022 : Seventh Sunday of Easter
You can find the Readings from here
THE STONING OF STEPHEN: Stephen was a man who was respected and had a very good reputation. He was one of the Seven appointed by the apostles as a servant. We are told that he was full of God’s grace and power and he performed miraculous signs. It is also shown that Stephen was a dynamic and wise speaker. He went to the synagogue to teach about Christ.
The Jews at the Synagogue spread lies that Stephen was blaspheming against Moses, God and the temple. When the High Priest asked Stephen if the charges were true Stephen went on to show his devotion to God by telling the story of how God worked through his people to bring Jesus to the world even though throughout Israel’s history they kept rejecting those God sent to them to lead and rescue them.
To put someone to death they required the approval of the Roman Procurator. In most cases though, the Roman procurator bent to the demands of the Sanhedrin. It is interesting to note that the Stoning of Stephen was most likely illegal, as there is no indication of the Sanhedrin seeking the confirmation of the Roman procurator. By comparison the crucifixion of Christ went through all the “proper” routes of justice and was a legal (although unjust) crucifixion.
After the Stoning of Stephen followers of Christ began to leave Jerusalem to escape further persecution. The good news about Jesus began to spread because, wherever they went, they told others about Christ. Stephen was a faithful follower of Christ whose only crime was obedience to the Lord. He is referred to as the first Christian martyr.
Fr Antony
Please take a copy of the Newsletter home with you - please do not leave it in the church. Thank you.
- Many Thanks Dear Bishop Pat: Bishop Patrick Lynch was ordained by Archbishop Kevin McDonald on 14 February 2006 for the South East of London. Recently he retired from his active ministry due to health reason. As a Bishop, he looked after his priests and people very well. He visited our parish several times and supported us in various ways. He is a friend to many of our parishioners. He is due to visit us for the solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 24th and celebrate at the 7:00 pm Mass. To thank him for his prayers and support, there will be a second collection for Bishop Pat at the Masses on the previous weekend, which is the 18th and 19th June (Corpus Christi), which will then be presented to him on 24th June.
- School Signing In: If you have children of school age who require a parish priest reference for their school application, please note that from Saturday 21st May you will need to complete the signing in sheets that will be available at the school side entrance only, every week after
- Mass. Repository (church shop): We are planning to open the church shop after all weekend Masses, and are looking for a responsible person from each Mass to run it. If you are interested and are able to help please contact Fr Antony.
- Children and Baby Liturgy: We would really like to reinstate the Children’s and Baby Liturgies during the 9am Mass. If you would like to join the catechist team, please contact Fr Antony.
- Application Forms – 2022/23: The application forms for First Holy Communion, Confirmation and RCIA for next year, will be available from Monday 23rd May. Please collect the forms you require from Fr Antony after any of the weekday Masses. The deadline to submit your application form will be 23rd July. All programmes are due to start in September 2022.
- Films :Hartley Hall it has been suggested that we could hold ‘Film Nights’. Suggestions for suitable timings, films that could be shown and anything else please contact 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 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.
- The Holy Mass is offered everyday via Livestream
- Diamond Club Magazine is available here
