Welcome to our
church and our Mass. Our church is shared between St Andrew’s
Church of England congregation and the Holy Cross Roman Catholic
congregation. Although our weekly services are separate both
communities try hard to keep a strong spirit of Christian
unity alive in the way we work out our Sharing Agreement.
At major Christian celebrations, like Christmas and Easter,
we come together for special acts of worship and social gatherings,
we have joint parish retreats, pilgrimages, discussion groups
and prayer meetings in Lent and before Advent and many other
informal activities throughout the year.
Most important to us is our spirit of friendship and joint
Christian endeavour which we try to keep up in everything
we do.
Our Sunday Mass is at 11am (after the Anglican
service), and we have weekday Masses normally on Tuesdays
and Thursdays at 9.30 am in the chancel (i.e. in the choir
area beyond the rood screen). Confessions can be heard by
request in the same area.
Who are we?
Our Holy Cross community is by no means only from Much Hadham,
and though it is quite small we come from a wide surrounding
area, and a wide variety of religious backgrounds too! If
you are worshipping with us we automatically regard you as
a full member of our community and therefore eligible for
anything you wish to take part in, whether you are formally
a Roman Catholic or not. If you feel unable to receive Holy
Communion or simply don’t want to, you are very welcome
to come up during the communion to receive a Blessing, our
children and many others do.
Parish Mass Books and Celebration Hymnals
are given out at the beginning of Mass together with our weekly
newsletter which gives Mass details. Our Mass is fairly informal
in style as most of us know one another pretty well.
Children
Children are welcome, and during the first hymn they normally
process off for the Children’s Church organised and
led by our parents in the Upper Vestry. They come back after
the Creed and the Bidding prayers. The children also gather
round the altar table for the Our Father and carry the peace
round to everybody in the church.
Access for all
If you are disabled we can provide
a wheelchair and a ramp by request. Otherwise, must apologise
for the inconveniences of our old medieval church, and assure
you that you will receive immediate help from anybody and
everybody if you simply ask, including of course, having Holy
Communion brought to you.
We celebrate with wine after Mass approximately
once a month in the church (usually the second Sunday of the
month or a major feastday). On all other Sundays we serve
coffee and soft drinks. You are most welcome to join us and
meet everybody. Please don’t be shy in introducing yourself.
Please say hello to Father Bob Styles, the
Jesuit priest who looks after the parish, if you have the
time.
He will be delighted to meet you, though you may have to keep
reminding him of your name.
He lives at the Priest House in Malting Lane, nearly a mile
from the church, and his telephone number is 01279 842 354,
email: bstylessj@aol.com
Details for Baptisms, Confirmations, First
Communions, Weddings, Sick calls or Funerals can be supplied
by Father Bob.
All latest news and information can be found on our website.
Please feel free to join us whenever you
like and as often as you find convenient. |
