Dear friends,
(Fr Richard remains on annual leave, until Friday 24 April.)
Greetings from Florence, cradle of the Renaissance and home to Michelangelo’s David!
The patriarch David speaks through this Sunday’s first reading at Mass, in which St Peter reminds his hearers of the long history of hope which God has given to his people – hope of life with the Lord forever, a hope then realised definitively in Jesus Christ.
In my absence, I am very grateful to Fr Mike for offering Mass and pastoral care, and to the churchwardens for keeping the ship steady: tomorrow (Friday 17) we will welcome our friend Fr Jason Rendell to say the 9.30am Mass; and then, this weekend, Fr Joseph Barnes will return to the parish, to celebrate the 6pm Vigil Mass on Saturday, and the 10.30am Parish Mass on Sunday – do please make our cover clergy welcome, and offer them your prayerful and practical support.
The contribution each one of us can make to the life of our parish is very much the overarching theme of this week’s mailing: in particular, please now sign up in church to assist with our church Open Day on Saturday, 9 May – the purpose of which is for visitors to hear our story; appreciate our beautiful building; see what goes on behind our doors, and then visit us again! There is a list in church outlining the many and various ways in which you can volunteer your help – in addition to which we would be grateful for any (good-quality) secondhand books, as well as offers of homemade cakes! Speak to Johnette, to find out more.
We are likewise drawing closer to the parish’s Annual Meetings (after Mass on Sunday, 10 April) – in advance of which we need members of the congregation to stand for election to our Parochial Church Council (PCC) and to the Harrow Deanery Synod, as well as volunteers to serve in specific roles, such as churchwarden, PCC Secretary or Treasurer, and/or Electoral Roll Officer. A set of very helpful role descriptions is available now in church, along with the nomination papers for these positions. Those new to St Mary’s who would like their names included on the parish’s Electoral Roll should complete and return a form (to Cynthia) before 24 April.
And please bring back to church your Additional Curates Society Lent Appeal collection boxes to be counted, before Sunday 26 April.
Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn within us when you speak to us,
Fr Richard