Newsletter for Week starting on Sunday 22nd December 2019 : 04th Sunday of Advent
HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH
208 Sangley Road, Catford, London SE6 2JS
Fr Antony Megalan Sellam [Parish Priest] – 02086983672
Website: www.holycross-catford.org.uk
21stDec / 22nd Dec 2019 [04th Sunday of Advent]
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
Email: [email protected]
Hartley Hall [Angela Allen]
Culverley Road, SE6 2LD
Email: [email protected]
Finance: £630.30; SO £503
Lord God, our minds and hearts are filled with hope. We long to hear the voice
which tells us of the coming of the Christ Child. Remove the things that hinder
us from receiving Christ with joy and give us the strength to grow in love.
Amen.
Christmas Eve 5pm Family Mass: 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 the homily.
Christmas
Mass Times
[Tues]5pm
– Family Mass
7pm – Vigil Mass
11.15pm – Carols
12 midnight –
Festive Mass
Christmas Day
10am and 11.30am
Admirabile
Signum (The
Importance of the Nativity):
Many Catholics consider the presence of a crib scene as essential to
celebrating the seasons of Advent and Christmas in their home. Pope Francis has recently written an
Apostolic Letter: Admirabile Signum, on the meaning and importance of the
nativity scene, which continues to inpsire and amaze people of all ages. Kindly
use the link below to read the document on line. http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20191201_admirabile-signum.html
Crib
Offerings: The
crib offerings this year go to Mini Vinnies [Children SVP].
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.
Please note: The collections at all the Christmas
Masses will be your gift to Fr Antony. Thank you.
Pray for the sick: Let
us pray for the sick including Pat Doyle, Gloria Israel, Mariam Philomin, Rose
Calver, Charlie Hyam, Anthony
Sullivan, Agatha Lewis, Myra Hannon, Elizabeth Goba, Florence Nosgobie, Gala
Lobo and Ann
Whitington.
Altar Servers: Christmas
and New Year Masses: Please sign up for ONE Christmas Mass on the sheet
in the sacristy and arrive at least ten minutes before the Mass to pray and
give thanks for God's greatest gift. Please sign up for ONE New Year Mass on the sheet
in the sacristy and arrive ten minutes before the celebration of God's
love. How will YOU be a good friend of Jesus in 2020? Thank you!
Readers and Extraordinary
Ministers - Christmas Rota: Please volunteer to cover one of the slots on the
Christmas Rota. Go to the Welcome desk at the back of the church and offer to
fill one of the slots. Thank you. If you
would like to do a reading at one of the Christmas services, please make sure
you provide an email address so that we can send you the reading. You will be expected to attend a practice
session (details will be in your email).
Children’s Mass Books: Parents are asked to encourage their young
children to follow the Mass using the new Children’s Mass Books. Please return the books to the back of the
church before you leave.
NEW YEAR
MASS IN HOLY CROSS
Adoration and
Benediction from 11pm
New Year Mass
begins at midnight
Holy Mass in
Tamil - 7.30am
New Year Mass
– 10am
Have a safe journey: If you are making a journey to your
native land to celebrate Christmas, please be assured of our prayers for you
and your family. Though we will miss you here in these days, we wish you a
blessed and joyful time with your family members and friends. Kindly remember
Psalm 91:11 when you travel: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your
ways…”. Have a safe journey and we wish you a Happy
Christmas.
Welcome
Corner: the
welcoming ministers after weekend Masses help you to find the following: Parish
registration Form, Baptism Application Form, Baptism Certificate Request Form,
Altar Server’s Application Form, New Reader’s Application Form, Standing Order
Form, Gift Aid Form, New Volunteer’s Form, SVP Referral Form, Third Thursday
Time Application Form and so on. You may also find the Holy Mass request Form
there. Kindly use it.
Many thanks to the Filipino Community for
decorating our Parish Christmas Tree.
Many thanks to Tony and
Marian Early for setting up the Christmas Crib.
Tony Early has
also built a lovely bookcase for the Parish Mass books. Thanks.
There is a three course “Bring me sunshine” event for older people on the 28th December at Brownhill Road Baptist Church, 11am-3pm and a New Year luncheon celebration and service on the 11th January, 11.30am-3.30pm in the school hall for our older parishioners and housebound members of the parish. For more info call 07729 785843.
The
Soup Kitchen at 1
Bromley Road, Catford is offering
warmth, food and company on Christmas Day.
Please see the poster in the porch.
Lewisham Foodbank opening times are also displayed.
Our
sincere thanks
to everyone who has contributed to ensuring our church is open and
welcoming. Throughout the year there are
many groups of people who work together in and out of the church throughout the
community, spreading God’s message in their kindness and generosity. I wish you all a wonderful, fun-filled and
peaceful
Christmas and New Year.
