Dear friends,

I started to draft this week’s mailing on the train back from Belmont Abbey in Herefordshire, where I have spent the past three nights on retreat. In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus instructs his disciples that they must ‘come away to some lonely place all by yourselves, and rest for a while‘: indeed, Our Lord himself regularly sought spiritual solitude, to refresh his relationship with the Father. It is important for all of us to make time in the day, in the week and in the year to give back to prayer its proper priority: spending time at a physical remove from one’s usual surroundings – such as in a monastery like Belmont – can be helpful for this, as also can be joining in the regular round of prayer offered by a religious community, such as the Benedictines of Belmont. Many monasteries, including Belmont Abbey, broadcast some or all of their daily services – just as we do at St Mary’s: perhaps you could incorporate a virtual retreat into your day, by tuning in to us or to them?

However, the disciples’ peace and quiet in our Gospel reading is not to be for long: ‘from every town [many people] hurried to the place on foot, and reached it before themSo as [Jesus] stepped ashore, he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them…’ My retreat reading has included a book called To Heal a Fractured World: The Ethics of Responsibility, by the late, great Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: in this work, Sacks acknowledges the distinction – but not the separation – between holiness (our attempts to draw closer to God) and goodness (our attempts to draw closer to one another, in love). Often, indeed, it can be through our loving attention to our neighbour in need that we experience the fullest spiritual development, and – as frustrating as it may be – we should not resent the potential interruption to our prayers posed by the unexpected demands of charity, but see these instead as carving out a place in our hearts to welcome the divine presence also.

We return this week coming to the usual weekly timetable in church – but please note that this week, on Thursday 18, Morning Prayer will begin at the slightly earlier time of 9.30am; and, on Saturday, 20 July there will be no 9.30am Mass. Instead, all are invited to the Willesden Pilgrimage at St Mary, Willesden – which will begin (not as recent pew sheet have proposed, at 2.30pm, but) with Mass at 11am. This will be followed by a buffet lunch, and the Liturgy of Sprinkling (and Benediction) at 2.30pm.

We look forward to welcoming you to Mass at St Mary’s this weekend, either on Saturday at 6pm, or on Sunday at 10.30am. After Mass on Sunday, Olga Clifford and members of her family kindly invite you to join them in the Hall, for refreshments in celebration of Olga’s forthcoming ninetieth birthday: many congratulations, and God’s blessings!

There are now also in church votive candles to fit the stands before the images of the Curé d’Ars, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the Curé chapel, to the north of the nave: please make full, prayerful use of the many shrines in our beautiful building, and please place any donations into the baskets at Mass, or into the box at the door.

On Sunday, 1 September (and hopefully also at the Vigil Mass on Saturday, 31 August) our new pastoral assistant, Ryan Davey, will begin his year’s placement with us: I would like to provide him with some household essentials as he re-establishes himself in his accommodation – please therefore see the list in church for suggestions as to what you might contribute. There will also be a bring-and-share lunch in the Hall after Mass on Sunday, 1 September: please see Pat to contribute a dish.

The ALMA (London Diocese link with Angola and Mozambique) Eucharist will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral this coming Sunday afternoon, 21 July, at 5.30pm: please RSVP to almacoordinator@london.anglican.org if you would also like to attend afternoon tea beforehand, from 3.30pm, at the church of St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe.

Our friends at St Andrew, Kingsbury have made available ten seats on their coach to Bournemouth, for an outing to the seaside on Saturday, 17 August (departing St Andrew’s 8am). Please see Cynthia for a ticket (£25/£15 under-18s).

And advance notice that we shall once again be welcoming the Willan Singers to St Mary’s, for a Missa Cantata on Thursday, 29 August at 6pm – followed by light refreshments. The choir will sing Ireland’s setting of the Communion Service, in C.

Finally, a reminder – please – to sign up ASAP for the forthcoming Walsingham Pilgrimage for Healing and Renewal, on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 August (and to pay the coach fare of £20pp (£5 for under-18s).

May goodness and kindness follow you all the days of your life, that you might dwell in the house of the Lord for ever,

Fr Richard