Dear friends,
(Fr Richard remains on annual leave, until Tuesday, 30 September: please refer to the pew sheet for changes to the regular Mass times in his absence; and please contact Fr Mike, in case of pastoral need during this period.)
The signs of God’s eternal Kingdom are nevertheless visible in this world of time – and it is incumbent upon usto play our part in signalling the coming of this Kingdom, by our concern and compassion for our neighbour in need. Both our first reading at Mass this Sunday, and the set Gospel reading, warn against closing our eyes and ears and hearts and hands against our hungry brother or sister – and we remember that, in feeding them, we are also honouring Christ.
Please therefore be generous a week on Sunday, when we celebrate our yearly Harvest Festival: there are posters and fliers in church detailing those pantry items, toiletries and household essentials which can be put to most effective use by the Harrow Food Bank. Your support is also requested for our Macmillan Coffee Morning the day before, Saturday 4 October: enjoy hot coffee, delicious homemade cakes and joyous fellowship, while raising vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Care.
Thank you to all whose help and hard work made last weekend’s Patronal celebrations such a happy time; and thank you likewise to all who took part in the “parish conversation” a week previous – the PCC will be considering the points raised during that discussion, and feeding back to the wider congregation in due course.
Tomorrow (Friday), we raise a glass with Fr Mike – who celebrates his fifth anniversary of ordination to the priesthood: ad multos annos, Father! Then, on Sunday, we will have the pleasure of the company of our friend Fr Bernard Dagnall, who is travelling from Oxford to cover the 10.30am Mass. Please be there to welcome him and Jenny, and to thank them for their steadfast friendship towards our parish.
This weekend will be the final opportunity to donate towards September’s appeal in aid of Caritas Bakhita House: please use the basket at the back of church, and a Gift Aid envelope.
Please sign up in church for our parish outing on Sunday, 12 October: we will depart from Harrow-on-the-Hill Station at 3.15pm, and take in afternoon tea (approx. £6.50pp) at St Martin-in-the-Fields’ Café in the Crypt, before joining in Choral Evensong at 5pm. We will return to Harrow-on-the-Hill around 6.30pm.
The next Youth Group outing will be to the Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs exhibition, on Saturday, 25 October. Places are limited: please sign up in church, and collect and return an application form, as well as £10pp to secure a place (this cost includes lunch, at McDonalds).
And, looking ahead, we are very pleased that Fr Matthew Cashmore (assistant priest at St Mary’s 2019-2020) will return to join us for All Saints, 1-2 November.
Please also find attached invitations to the Patronal Festival celebrations at St Gabriel, Pimlico and St Luke, Uxbridge Road.
My soul, give praise to the Lord,
Fr Richard