Dear friends,
The Church’s calendar moves us swiftly from the transcendence of the Trinity to the visceral immanence of the Body and Blood of Christ, as we prepare to celebrate this Sunday the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. From a mystery which emphasises how far beyond us is the Lord, soon however we arrive at another mystery, which stresses his Real Presence among us, under the forms of bread and wine. As we honour the gift of the Eucharist this Sunday, so our Mass will conclude with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, and Benediction. And after such beautiful Masses for Pentecost and Trinity Sunday, do make sure again to join us, to experience the wonder of Corpus Christi!
Before then, however, we have our joint parish outing to Aylesford on Saturday (from where, in fact, I have just returned, having participated this week in Bishop Jonathan’s ordination retreat with this year’s nine candidates): the coach will leave St Mary’s at 8.30am sharp – which means that those coming to The Friars should arrive at church by 8.15am at the latest. Please remember also to bring a packed lunch, or money to spend in the tea room (and the gift shop!) We will return to St Mary’s around 5.15pm – in time for the 6pm Vigil Mass, which will take place as usual: however, there will be no other services in church on Saturday, either in the morning or in the afternoon.
After Mass on Sunday, there will be a short planning meeting for our parish barbecue, which takes place on Saturday, 16 August (and for which a poster is attached, to spread the word!) Tickets are available from Johnette (£12.50/£5), or from Fr Richard if you wish to use contactless payment: tickets may also be purchased via this link: simply enter the total amount and, once payment has been made, let Fr Richard or Johnette know, so that your paper tickets can be issued. Please be prepared to bring to the barbecue a side, salad or dessert to share – and please now bring to church any raffle prize contributions!
Please speak to Fr Richard if you would like a free ticket to the “Refugee Tales: an Evening of Many Voices” event which we will be hosting in church on Friday, 11 July.
And if you would like to support our nine young people attending this summer’s Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage, either speak to Fr Richard about sponsorship (suggested donation: £50 each), or otherwise kindly provide a Tesco gift card, with which we can purchase breakfast supplies. Thank you very much for your generosity! (The Shrine at Walsingham also runs its own “godparents” scheme – see here for details.)
Next week on Tuesday, 24 June (the Solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist), the Priest-in-Charge of St Alphage, Burnt Oak, Fr Luke Demetri, has very kindly offered to cover the 6.30pm Mass at St Mary’s, in my absence at a school governors’ meeting: please turn out to support him.
And kindly remember in your prayers today the Holy Father Pope Leo, who celebrates today his forty-third anniversary of priestly ordination: ad multos annos!
Grant your Church, O Lord, the gifts of unity and peace, whose signs are to be seen in mystery, in the offering of bread and wine,
Fr Richard