Ministries

Bereavement Care Team
Sometime during our lives we experience the death of a loved one. If you have been bereaved and would like someone to visit you, please contact the Parish Office and you will be put in touch with a member of the Bereavement Care Team.

Children’s Liturgy
A Children’s Liturgy takes place during both the Sunday 9am & 11am Masses, during the school term-time only. It is for children from school reception age up to the children who are preparing for their First Holy Communion. During their liturgy the children hear their own version of the Sunday Gospel and then take part in a number of different activities.

Flowers
We are very blessed to have some ladies in the parish who are most skilled in preparing beautiful displays Holy Cross Church.

Church Cleaning
The Church is cleaned every week, usually on Thursdays after 9.30am Mass. Extra help is always appreciated.

Coffee Mornings
Coffee mornings take place every Sunday in the Presbytery after the 9am Mass in Holy Cross Church , during school term-time only. There is a coffee morning rota.

Eucharistic Ministers
There are, at present, over 60 Eucharistic Ministers in the parish. Because five Eucharistic Ministers assist Fr. Philip at each Sunday Mass, and one at each weekday Mass, there is a monthly rota for all three Sunday Masses and a 2-week rota for all weekday Masses. Some of the Eucharistic Ministers lead a regular Eucharistic Service on a Monday morning, and at other times during the week when Fr. Philip is away from the parish. A number of Eucharistic Ministers also regularly take Holy Communion to the sick and housebound of the parish.

Guild of St. Stephen Altar Servers
There are, at present, around 70 young people (male & female) on the parish register of altar servers. Young people can start serving once they have received their First Holy Communion and completed a parish-based training course. All the altar servers wear a red cassock and a white cotta.

Liturgy Group
Representatives of the different liturgical ministries from the Church help to form this group. The Liturgy Group usually meets during Lent and Advent, and on other occasions when the need arises.

Music Groups
We have 3 music groups in the parish. Two of them are folk groups. One of these groups plays at the Saturday 5.30pm Mass every other week. The other group plays at the same Mass on the Saturdays in between. Musicians and singers of all standards are always welcome to join one (or all!) of these three music groups.

Organ
The third group is a small choir, accompanied by the organ, who sing every week at the Sunday 9am Mass in Holy Cross Church. We have an organist who plays regularly at the Sunday 9am Mass in Holy Cross Church . She is also available to play at weddings and funerals. This same group, when they are not playing at the 5.30pm Mass, plays at the Sunday 11am Mass in Holy Cross Church.

Readers
There are reading rotas for all three Sunday Masses. Readers must be of secondary school age and above.

Repository
The Church Shop in Holy Cross Church is usually open every Saturday evening befoe and after Mass and Sunday morning but is also available, upon request, after any morning weekday Masses.
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For more information contact the Parish Office on + 44 (0) 1708 853130