Dear friends,
This coming Sunday is the secular celebration of Fathers’ Day – but it is also therefore an opportune moment to pray for our priests (our spiritual fathers)! We will gather as God’s family at the 6pm Vigil Mass on Saturday, and the 10.30am Parish Mass on Sunday, this weekend – and afterwards share a slice of Fathers’ Day cake! All welcome.
Our young people and their families may be interested in this link to free or low-cost activities and services in Harrow, as also to the Young Harrow Foundations’ Holiday, Activities and Food Programme for young people in receipt of free school meals.
The London Diocesan Synod is a representative body of clergy and laypeople which meets together with the senior clergy of the diocese to discuss matters of concern within London, and to make provision for those things that require some form of action or statement. If you would like to make your voice heard in this valuable role, please speak to me: the diocese is particularly keen to increase the diversity of ages and ethnicities represented on the Synod.
Please note that I will be on annual leave 16-24 June, during which period Fr Mike and the churchwardens should be your first port of call for matters pastoral or concerning the parish; please consult the pew sheet for changes to the Mass schedule.
Attached to this mailing is a trio of invitations from St Silas, Kentish Town; a flier for the forthcoming Summer Fair at Kenton Methodist Church, and notice of two patronal celebrations for St Alban the protomartyr – as well as a second poster for our own parish barbecue, on Saturday 6 July (tickets on sale this Sunday).
St Alban lived in the early third century in what is now the city of St Albans, and one day gave shelter to a Christian priest fleeing persecution. The example of this priest, Amphibalus, inspired Alban to swap places with him and to be arrested in his stead, and to proclaim his new faith in Christ and so suffer martyrdom. He is honoured as Britain’s first saint – our protomartyr.
Advance notice that, on Saturday 22 June Fr David Green (the Vicar of our sister parish of St Anselm, Hatch End) has very kindly offered to celebrate the 6pm Vigil Mass in my absence – please support him by your presence; and also that, on Sunday 23 June, Harrow StreetPastors will make a presentation during the 10.30am Mass: we will then be collecting for their work during the month of July.
‘It is good to give thanks to the Lord, / to make music to your name, O Most High‘,
Fr Richard