Church of the Holy Cross 450 Clementi Ave One Singapore 129955 www.holycross.org.sg OUR MISSION: We strive to deepen our faith by knowing the Word of God, living it in love and service, thereby being witnesses of Christ. 22nd Feb 2015 1st reading: Genesis 9:8-15 2nd reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Gospel: Mark 1:12-15 Stations of the Cross will be held every Friday in Lent at 7.30pm followed by Eucharistic Celebration at 8pm. * NO 6.15pm mass * Eucharistic Adoration * Sun 22 Feb - Wed 1 Apr * The Adoration and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be held in the Cenacle on Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pm and Sundays 1.30-4.30pm. Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him in adoration. All parishioners are encouraged to spend time in adoration. So come and be with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for an hour each week for our Parish Lenten activity during this season of Lent. “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?” (Matthew 26:40) THE MEANING OF OUR BAPTISM Lent is the time of year that we devote to scrutinizing our lives in the light of our baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus. Today’s readings are a nice shorthand catechism of what our baptized lives mean. As Noah passed through the waters of the flood to a covenant with God, so did we enter into a covenant, a promised relationship with God through our baptism. The psalm reminds us that if we truly keep the covenant, the way of life God expects us to follow will not be a burden, but a source of love and truth. Peter’s letter gives one explanation of what our baptism means: it is an appeal that we make to God for a clear conscience. How do we obtain this clear conscience? The words that Jesus proclaims immediately following his temptation show us the way: “Repent and believe in the gospel.” It might be a good spiritual exercise to keep these readings before us throughout the entire season of Lent, a means to help us return to a life lived in our baptismal promises. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. 67771173 Fr. Peter Zhang Si Qian 6776 1330 Fr. Jovita Ho 6777 2523 Secretariat 6777 5858 Fax 6773 5676 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] February 18 - April 2 1st Sunday of Lent Fr. Richards Ambrose * Infant Baptism: Sun 1 Mar 2015 * MASS SCHEDULE Weekdays: Lauds - 6.15am, Mass - 6.30am Vespers - 6pm, Mass - 6.15pm Saturday: Lauds - 6.15am, Mass - 6.30am Novena - 4.15pm Sunset Mass - 5pm Mandarin - 6.30pm Sunday: 7.30am, 9.30am, 11.15am & 5pm Tagalog (Every 3rd Sun) - 3.30pm Public Holiday: Mass @ 8am followed by potluck breakfast. No Lauds before Mass. P.A.R.I.S.H Holy Hour: Every 1st Friday at 8pm Prayer Room Opening Hours: Mon to Fri: 7am - 9.45pm Sat & Sun: 7am - 6.15pm Public Holidays: 7am - 9.30am Sacrament of Reconciliation: 15 minutes before sunset mass on Sat and all masses on Sundays. Compulsory preparatory session for both parents Infant Baptism: and godparents will be held on Sun 22 Feb at 1st Sunday of: 12.30pm in St Michael Room @ level 1. Jan, Mar, May, July, Sep & Nov. * Please be punctual * 15 Days 13 Nights Pilgrimage to the Jewels of SPAIN, PORTUGAL & LOURDES (11 Jun to 25 Jun 2015) Fr. Jovita will be leading a pilgrimage on the said dates. The closing date for application and payment is * 30 Apr 2015 * For further information, please approach him for details. Parish Faith Formation 2015 * GOSPEL OF MARK * Speaker: Fr. Eugene Vaz Duration: 12 Mondays - 9 Feb to 27 Apr 2015 Dates: Feb 9,16,23 * Mar 2,9,16,23,30 * Apr 6,13,20,27 Time: 8pm Venue: Church Auditorium at Level 4 * * Penitential Service: Tue 24 Mar at 8pm * * Please be punctual and do stay for the whole duration of the service as there will be a final blessing for all penitents. 6.15pm mass as usual on that day. Services at other West District Churches: Mon 23 Mar - St. Francis of Assisi Wed 25 Mar - Blessed Sacrament Thu 26 Mar - St. Mary of the Angels Fri 27 Mar - St. Ignatius Funeral Arrangements: Please check with the Secretariat and Priests for the availability of the Church before making arrangements for funeral mass, cremation or burial. Wedding: Please check with the Secretariat, at least six months before for availability of dates. Parish Counseling Service This is available every Wednesday evening. Please call our Parish Secretariat @ 67775858 during office hours (9am to 1pm) for an appointment. Holy Cross Charismatic Prayer Group * 7.45pm in St Michael room @ level 1 * th 24 Feb “Have you found salvation?” All are welcome to praise and thank the LORD with us! Early Childhood Education Scholarship Invitation is open to all ‘O’ level students who have been accepted full-time Early Childhood Diploma studies in the polytechnics for the academic year 2015. Application is now open for the Scholarship. Kindly visit: http://accs.sg/scholarship2015/ to find out more. Introduction to Billings Ovulation Method (BOM) of Natural Family Planning 2015 The classes will be conducted on the following Sundays at 11am at Church of the Holy Cross. 8 Mar, 7 Jun, 6 Sep & 15 Nov 2015 The couple will learn how to use BOM to gain knowledge of their fertility and to achieve or postpone pregnancy during their marital life, in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic church. BOM has a high success rate of both achieving and avoiding pregnancy during regular or irregular cycles when applied correctly. The BOM method can reveal underlying fertility issues, and is also applicable during breastfeeding and perimenopause. All engaged and married couples, and medical professionals are welcome. Please contact Bernadette Woo ([email protected]) to register. * Classes will only commence if there are sufficient registrants * The 53rd Beginning Experience Programme CHOICE Weekends A live-in weekend for the permanently separated, divorced and widowed (for both males and females). It takes that 1 weekend that will inspire you for the rest of your life. Come away for a Choice Weekend - it is by the choices we make that we define what our life is all about. Date: 20-22 Mar 2015 (Fri through Sun) For further information please contact: Joseph 9661-8089 Jean 9828-5162 } to SMS or Mary 9755-4310 } call after 3pm BE brochures are available outside the parish office at level 2 (lift lobby). Date: 27-29 Mar 2015 (Fri evening to Sun evening) Venue: CHOICE Retreat House, 47 Jurong West Street 42, Singapore 649368 Enquiries: Hillary 97900537, Jacqueline 94242606 Register & Info: www.choice.org.sg/registration.htm This Lunar New Year, give your Loved Ones a Special Gift of a Marriage Encounter Weekend ME Couple after their weekend: "Why didn't we go for ME 20 years ago? It would have made our last 20 years of marriage so much more beautiful! WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER (ME) invites married couples to sign up for a special weekend with your spouse this Lunar New Year. Invest in this most beautiful and enriching experience which builds couple intimacy and a closer relationship with each other. Limited spaces still available for coming Mar 6-8 weekend. To register, please call 9670 5390 or go to our website at www.MEsingapore.org. * Coming Weekends: 6-8 Mar, 1-3 May and 5-7 Jun 2015 * Marriage Preparation Course Q2: 26 Apr to 31 May 2015 Q3: 19 Jul to 30 Aug 2015 Q4: 4 Oct to 8 Nov 2015 Come journey with your partner in the Marriage Preparation Course (MPC) where you will learn the cornerstones of a happy marriage, how to live a Christian marriage, discuss challenges that couples face and along the way the way discover even more about each other. * Forms are available at the Parish Office or through www.catholic.org.sg/MPC * Applications should be made at least six months in advance. For enquiries, please email to [email protected] or contact: Terence & Lynette @ 98571829 (Registration Couple), Peter & Rita @ 93673411 (General Enquiries)