Dear friends,
This coming Saturday, 23 May, we will celebrate our May Devotion (jointly, with All Saints’, and with brass and drums!), in the presence of Jonathan our bishop, the Bishop of Fulham. The weather forecast looks bright, warm and dry! After the service, there will be a world foods sparkling afternoon tea party, in the Hall. Please continue to share an invitation to this important event with family, friends and neighbours (and please see the attached flier). The Hall will be open 1-2pm, for you to drop off your kind donations of food for the party; the Devotion itself will begin at 2.30pm, at All Saints’ Church (531, Kenton Road HA3 0UL – i.e. not at St Mary’s). Those not walking in the procession are, however, welcome to gather at St Mary’s, from 3pm; and there will be a special collection (cash and contactless), on the day, for Mary’s Meals. Donations may also be made online, using this link. Our pastoral assistant 2024-2025, Mr Ryan Davey, will also be making a welcome return to St Mary’s for our May Devotion. Please speak to me to sponsor one of the musicians.
In advance of the Devotion, your assistance is requested, please, tomorrow (Friday) (i) after the 9.30am Mass, to arrange the flowers around Our Lady; and (ii) from 6pm, to help set up the Hall. Thank you in advance, for all your help.
Also this weekend, we will celebrate the conclusion of Eastertide, on the Feast of Pentecost: please wear something red to Mass!
Pope St John Paul II explained that, at Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, ‘[the] Holy Spirit radically transformed the Apostles, who, out of fear, had locked themselves into the Upper Room – making them fervent heralds of the Gospel. Down through the ages, the Spirit continues to support the Church in her evangelizing [sic] mission, raising up in every age courageous witnesses to the Faith.’
Please let me know this weekend if you wish to attend the Summer Festival celebrations at Edgware Abbey, on Saturday, 13 June – to mark the 160th anniversary of the foundation of the Benedictine Community of St Mary-at-the-Cross, as well as Rev’d Mother’s own golden jubilee of monastic profession.
Our friend Fr Bernard Dagnall (who hopes also to be with us for the May Devotion), extends an open invitation to those who would like to attend the burial of the ashes of the late Jenny Dagnall, on Wednesday next week, 27 May, at 1.30pm at St Alphage, Burnt Oak: may Jenny rest in peace.
Please note that on Saturday, 30 May there will be no public Evening Prayer or Confessions: the 6pm Vigil Mass will be celebrated by the Vicar of St Alphage, Burnt Oak, Fr Luke Demetri – please attend this Mass, to acknowledge Father’s generous support for our parish in this way.
Please also find attached invitations to forthcoming celebrations at – St Dunstan-in-the-West, and St Andrew, Holborn (jointly, for the Eve of Corpus Christi); St Silas, Kentish Town (for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, and the parish’s Patronal Festival), and Our Most Holy Redeemer, Clerkenwell (likewise in respect of theirPatronal festivities).
(Please note also that, at the time of writing, the ‘bus stop closest to the church (outside the Hall, for ‘buses towards Kingsbury) remains closed, on account of the rolling roadworks along the Kenton Road.)
May the wondrous flame, that appeared above the disciples, powerfully cleanse your hearts from every evil, and pervade them with its purifying light,
Fr Richard