Newsletter for Week starting on Sunday 12th January 2020 : Baptism of the Lord

Holy Cross Church Catford
Holy Cross Church Catford
Holy Cross Church Catford
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Newsletter for Week starting on Sunday 12th January 2020 : Baptism of the Lord

HOLY CROSS CHURCH CATFORD
Published by AFAN in News · 10 January 2020


HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH
208 Sangley Road, Catford, London SE6 2JS
Fr Antony Megalan Sellam [Parish Priest] – 02086983672
Website: www.holycross-catford.org.uk

11thJan / 12th Jan 2020 [Baptism of the Lord]

Parish Contacts
Parish Office -  Open Wed & Fri [10am -3pm]
Josepha Flahive  [secretary]
Lisa O’Hara  [volunteer]
020 8698 3672

Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate
Holy Cross  Bookshop, 020 3441 8240
Holy Cross School
[020  8698 2675]
Miss Mary Collins & Miss Giovanna Finaldi
www.holycross.lewisham.sch.uk

Repository:
To buy gifts and  cards, the church shop is open after all weekend Masses.
St Vincent De Paul [SVP]    07835 188411
Safeguarding  Line 07598 524024
Third Thursday Time TTT
Hartley Hall [Angela Allen]
Culverley Road, SE6  2LD

Finance:  £749.21; SO £503 Poor Fund:£543.60 Crib Offering:£331.62
   
Newsletter matters to be sent to [email protected] by Wednesday.

                        Water. Water is the primary symbol of baptism. John the Baptist used water (Mt 3:11; Mk 1:8a; Jn 1:33; 3:23), as did Jesus (Jn 3:22). Jesus is living water (Jn 4:10), and when Jesus died, the water that flowed from his pierced side serves as a wellspring of his life and grace (Jn 19:34). The usual method is infusion, for water to be poured over the head. Baptism can also be done by partial or full immersion. Water is a symbol of divine life, grace, new birth, growth, power, deliverance, cleansing and the covenant.
Oil. Oil is also a symbol of baptism, and two kinds are used. The Oil of the Catechumens is used after the prayer of exorcism and applied to the chest. It represents salvation as well as the strength and power that come from Christ our saviour. After the water has been poured, Sacred Chrism is used to anoint the crown of the head, and it represents salvation, participation in the priesthood of Christ, membership in the body of Christ and a share in eternal life.
Baptismal garment. The baptismal garment is either worn from the beginning of the ritual or given after pouring or immersion. It is an outward sign of the person’s Christian dignity. It also signifies that the person has become a new creation and has been clothed with Christ.
Candle. The baptismal candle is lit from the Easter Candle. The candle represents the risen Jesus, who is the light of the world (Jn 8:12). Jesus is the light that guides every baptized person. It also represents the flame of faith, which is to be kept burning brightly.
                       
          
   
The next Baptism Preparation Course is on Saturday 25th Jan    and 1st Feb at 10am in Hartley Hall. If you have sent in your    application, please attend this course. You can only book your child’s    baptism once you have attented the course.
   
We thank all catechists who help parents    prepare for their children’s baptism in our parish.

   
           Pope’s Message for World Day of the Sick: Christ’s words of solidarity, comfort and hope, is for the very many simple people, the poor, the sick, sinners, those who are marginalized by the burden of the law and the oppressive social system...  The mercy and comforting presence of Jesus embraces people in their entirety, each person in his or her health condition, discarding no one, but rather inviting everyone to share in His life and to experience His tender love…The Church desires to become more and more the “inn” of the Good Samaritan who is Christ (cf. Lk 10:34), that is, a home where you can encounter His grace, which finds expression in closeness, acceptance and relief.”
Many thanks to all, especially Lesley Allen, who have organised a prayer service and get together for the sick and housebound in our parish yesterday [11th January 2020].

SVP COFFEE MORNING AFTER 10am MASS, SUNDAY 12TH JAN
The St Vincent de Paul Society is hoping to raise funds for all those local families and people in need who may be referred to SVP for help in the coming  year.  We would love to see you if you can come  to Hartley Hall and support us after Mass on Sunday 12th January.  Please join us for tea, coffee, company, delicious cakes and raffle prizes!  

Food/Household Item Bank
We all need a hand sometimes, and it is hoped that the Parish will soon start a service for Parishioners to either donate or collect food and household items. Collection/donation could be from Church porches before and after 6.30 Mass and before 10am Mass, and then Hartley Hall after 10am and before 11.30 Mass, during the coffee morning. Since there is no storage space, remaining items would be distributed to local people in need or other organisations after the end of the coffee morning. Youth SVP have agreed to pilot this on the second Sundays of the month, and plan to start in February. If more people get involved the scheme could run on other Sundays too. Please send any suggestions, questions and offers of help to Amy at [email protected].
Prayer of the Faithful this month:
Alberto Domingo [12/01/2020], Anne Mellis [19/01/2020], Marie Bernard [26/01/2020].

Next Altar Servers’ Meeting will be on the 1st February 2020 [Saturday] at 4.30pm.

Safeguarding Is Everyone’s Business. Thank you for supporting the work of the safeguarding team during 2019. Later this year there will be changes to how applications are processed. A new system is being introduced by the Diocese. It is imperative that everyone who undertakes any duties within the Parish that involves either young people or vulnerable adults must be in possession of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate authorised by the Diocese BEFORE undertaking duties. If you have any queries in this regard look at the policy document on the parish website (www.holycross-catford.org.uk/safeguarding.html) or speak to the lead person of your organisation or Fr Antony.
Please also be aware that adults should not enter the sacristy before or after Mass unless specifically asked to do so by Fr Antony. Pat Barber – Parish Safeguarding Lead
Two Fundraising Volunteers are needed for the Archdocese of Southwark. Interested? Kindly contact the parish office for more details.
Headteacher needed: The governors of St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary School in Mortlake, London SW14 8HE are looking to recruit a Headteacher to take up post in September 2020.  For more information, please see the school website - https://www.st-marymagdalens.richmond.sch.uk/ or contact Evelyn Fernandes at [email protected] for an application pack.
Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: As we celebrate the Year of the Word of God, it is meaningful to make a pilgrimage to the Land where our Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed his Good News to humanity. We will Visit Mount Tabor, Cana, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Jordan River, Jericho, Bethlehem, Mount of Olives, Mount Sion, Calvary [Way of the Cross], western wall of the Temple of Jerusalem, Ein Karem, Masada and Dead Sea and so on. Cost from £1,191. Kindly see the Notice Board/Parish Website for more details. Last date to apply is 31st January. Kindly pick up an  application form from the parish office.
Pray for the sick: Let us pray for the sick including Pat Doyle, Gloria Israel, Mariam Philomin, Rose Calver, Charlie Hyam, Joan Loughnane, Agatha Lewis, Myra Hannon, Elizabeth Goba, Florence Nosgobie, Gala Lobo and Ann Whitington.
   

Confirmation Candidates please note Session 1, “I call you by name”, will take place this Friday at 6.30pm in Hartley Hall.




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