FR DAVID WRITES
I had a lovely visit to St Dominic's Sixth Form College in Harrow this week. I visited their principal and their chaplain, and celebrated Mass with a handful of students, which was recorded for the wider college community. It has been great to see so many schools, colleges, teachers and pupils return to what they do best, and do it so safely. I can hardly believe it is half-term already! Well done and thank you to all who have worked so hard to enable our schools to operate so successfully. These days, running schools (like parishes, deaneries and dioceses!) is an exhausting enterprise for everyone involved. I hope that everyone involved is able to get some respite in the coming days and come back slightly more refreshed. Have a safe and happy half-term break!
TRACK & TRACE: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR QR every time you come to Mass.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
HANDS - use the hand sanitiser on the way in and out of church (no exceptions)
FACE - always wear the face covering unless exempt
SPACE - maintain social distancing inside and outside church
TEST & TRACE - please sign in using the QR code or email address
PRAYERS - Before Sunday Masses, please. After Mass, please leave so we can clean
TIME - Please be on time for Mass and seated properly for the start
THE FORTY MARTYRS OF ENGLAND & WALES - 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Today, 25th October, is the feast of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales and is also the fiftieth anniversary of their canonisation. The forty martyrs include secular and regular priests, religious, and lay men and women from different areas of the country and backgrounds. Each one gave their witness to the Gospel and the Catholic faith in the face of great suffering, and ultimately, in their dying. Most of them were hanged at Tyburn, near Oxford Street. They were canonised by Pope Paul VI at St Peter's Basilica, Rome, on 25th October 1970, with the participation of many British pilgrims who travelled for the great event.
ALL SAINTS - ALL SOULS - NOVEMBER
Next Sunday is the solemnity of All Saints, the feast of the Church in heaven. Monday 2nd November is All Souls' Day which is the commemoration of all the faithful departed. Masses on All Souls’ Day will be at 12 noon and 6pm. The 6pm Mass will be more solemn, but we will not be able to celebrate the evening Mass as we normally would with candles etc. Both Masses will be offered as Requiem Masses for the faithful departed. November is the month of the Holy Souls. During this month we offer Masses and prayers for all the Holy Souls. Parishioners are invited to write the names of their own deceased loved ones to be included in our book of remembrance. Please take a sheet and an envelope from the back of the church, and return it to the presbytery either through the letter box or leave it in the collection basket after Mass.
RCIA CANDIDATES
Thank you to those who have expressed an interest to be in our new course for adults to be baptised, confirmed or received into the Church (known as RCIA). We are planning to begin in the next half term. Initially, the meetings will be by Zoom. We will be in touch after the half-term holidays. If anyone else would like to be included, please speak to one of the priests or contact the parish office on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2021
Given the current situation and other complications that are arising at the present time, Fr David has reluctantly decided that the start of the new First Holy Communion programme should be delayed until January 2021. Families involved should receive an email or call from the parish in due course. Thank you to those who have sent back the forms - we will keep these on file and you won't be asked to re-register for January. Those who still have forms to be returned are asked to send them back as soon as possible. It is still our hope that next year's First Holy Communion Masses will be celebrated in May.
OUR LADY OF LOURDES PRIMARY SCHOOL
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School currently has vacancies for new pupils, due to families relocating. Please contact the school office for more information - 020 8361 0767 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
VOLUNTEERS
We are looking to recruit more volunteers to help with stewarding the Masses, and cleaning the benches afterwards. It is very important that we are able to carry out these jobs, as without them we can not open the church under Government and Diocesan guidelines. If you can spare an hour or so a week, or would like to know more, please email or ring the Parish Office for more details.
FAIR TRADE STALL
If you would like to buy any Fair Trade items please email Michael McGowan on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
BAPTISMS
If you would like your child baptised in the new year please complete a form (in the church porch) and return it through the Presbytery letter box. Please return before Monday 9th November. You will receive a call from our catechist about the arrangements. Please note carefully that the law currently says only six people can attend baptisms.