Dear friends,
We stand on the threshold of the most important week in the Christian year, and I encourage all members of our parish family to participate fully in this coming Holy Week. On (Palm) Sunday, our 10.30am Parish Mass will begin with a palm procession from the Hall: gather here in good time to start at 10.30.
As Pope Benedict XVI remarked in 2009, ‘Holy Week… gives us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the central events of the Redemption, to relive the Paschal Mystery, the great Mystery of faith… May divine grace [therefore] open our hearts to an understanding of the invaluable gift of salvation, obtained for us by Christ’s sacrifice.’
There will be an additional Mass on Monday next week at 6pm: at this Mass, and then again on Tuesday (6.30pm) and Wednesday (9.30am), our pastoral assistant Ryan Davey will preach: please attend these Masses, to support him.
Tuesday’s Chrism Mass is a beautiful occasion to witness the renewal of priestly promises, and the consecration of the holy oils for the coming year, by Bishop Jonathan: if you wish to travel together to St Andrew, Holborn from St Mary’s, please sign up in church – we will leave after Morning Prayer, at 9.15am.
We require volunteers for various tasks during Holy Week (see the list in church): in particular, please let me know if you can help set up and serve refreshments in the Hall on Good Friday, after the Walk of Witness(which sets off from All Saints Church at 9am). Please also note that we will be setting up the Hall for the Easter Vigil party after the Liturgy on Good Friday.
Please speak to Pat Edwards to confirm your contribution to the bring-and-share party after the Easter Vigil, on Saturday, 19 April.
Looking ahead, there are now sign-up sheets in church to take part in the next Youth Group outing (to FlipOut (Watford), on Saturday, 24 May); to join the Walsingham National Pilgrimage on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May (for which we hope there will be volunteers to drive others, in their cars), and to visit the beautiful surroundings of The Friars, Aylesford – a Carmelite house in the Kent countryside – by coach on Saturday, 21 June (see the attached poster). Our young people can also now register their interest to take part in the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage this summer, 4-8 August, for which generous financial subsidies are available.
A reminder, too, of our May Devotion, on Saturday, 3 May – departing from All Saints, Kenton at 2.30pm. Those who cannot walk with us in the procession are welcome to gather at St Mary’s from 3pm, to welcome the arrival of the image of Our Lady, and after our devotions to share in a sparkling afternoon tea. Volunteers are requested to decorate the image with flowers after the 9.30am Mass on Friday, 2 May – as well as to set up the Hall that evening. The Hall will be open 1-2pm on Saturday 3 for you to drop off your donations of cakes, biscuits and baked goods for tea – and we would be grateful for a few volunteers to serve and supervise at the party.
Please also find attached an invitation from Harrow InterFaith to an interfaith walk on Thursday, 1 May.
Thank you in advance for your help and support during Holy Week – and thank you for having already delivered 3,000 Easter invitations to our neighbours, and generously contributing £380 towards the cost of our Easter lilies!
This week’s incense is Purbeck Rose.
May Christ, who accepted the cup of sacrifice in obedience to the Father’s will, keep you steadfast as you walk with him the way of his Cross,
Fr Richard