Dear friends,
What a joyous May Devotion we enjoyed together last weekend! Thank you so much to all whose care and contributions made for so happy an occasion – and for the uncomplaining hard work of so many. As Bishop Joseph Tran Van Toan, of the Diocese of Long Xuyen in Vietnam, has written recently, Mary’s month of May is an ideal moment for us to offer “blossoms of hope” through our affectionate devotion to Mary, who leads us to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Let us, like her, come close to our incarnate Lord and Saviour, who offers himself to us, day by day, and Sunday by Sunday, in Holy Communion.
This Sunday affords us a special moment for thanksgiving and commitment, as – after Mass – we gather briefly in the Hall for our parish’s Annual Meetings: please stay to these two short meetings, in which we reflect on the life of our parish over the past year. They are also the occasions when we elect our churchwardens, and the members of our Parochial Church Council (PCC): nomination forms are at the back of church. We are deeply grateful to all willing to offer themselves in these positions. (PCC members will then meeting separately, after the conclusion of the other meetings.)
This Sunday is the deadline to sign up for the next Youth Group outing (to FlipOut (Watford)), the afternoon of Saturday, 24 May; and to indicate your interest in travelling to the Walsingham National Pilgrimage on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May. (Please note that we hope, as usual, also to organise a coach for the Walsingham Pilgrimage for Healing and Renewal, in August.)
As the world waits for news from Rome of the election of a new Pope, it is fitting that we will, this weekend, celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, a traditional day of prayer for priestly vocations. Please return any outstanding ACS Lent Appeal donations boxes this Sunday, to be counted: the work of the ACS is to pay and pray for priests in poor and populous parishes. (Our pastoral assistant Ryan Davey will also have an important announcement to make on Sunday…)
In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, the Lord Jesus identifies himself as the Good Shepherd, and so as the model for all ministry, lay and ordained: like him, we are to communicate the mercy of God to others, by strengthening human relationships, and standing in solidarity with all.
Included with this mailing is an invitation from Bishop Jonathan to join him for Mass at St Andrew, Holborn on the Eve of the Feast of the Ascension (28 May); and details of the St Luke’s Hospice Community Open Day on 13 June, for which registration is encouraged.
May God, who, through the childbearing of the Blessed Virgin Mary, willed in His great kindness to redeem the human race, be pleased to enrich you with His blessing,
Fr Richard