Our team of 3 Catechists are busy instructing 18 children in preparation for their first Holy Communion this May. This year, rather than have a dedicated Mass, the children will receive the Sacrament for the first time during the 11am Masses, some on 16 May and the remainder on 23 May. In this way, the whole parish is more involved and fully supportive on this important day in each of these children’s lives.
Similarly, it is Fr. Terry’s intention that the Sacrament of Baptism in future will be celebrated during the Parish Mass. This will emphasise that a Baptism is not purely a private occasion for family and friends but the reception of the child into the Christian community.
For a number of years, Fr. Jan has been a well loved face around our parish, helping both Fr. Des and Fr. Terry, and also looking after the whole parish. In recent months he has been based at St Saviour’s, Abbots Langley, but next week he will exchange parishes with Fr John Vallomprayil SDS to become Parish Priest at St Michael’s, Pollards Hill, in Mitcham, SW London. We all wish him well and sincerely hope to welcome him again here in Chipperfield from time to time.
St George’s Day is to be celebrated by an event new to our Parish – snail racing! Perhaps this new sport is creeping across England; just slow to arrive here. The accompanying supper of sausage and mash, however, sounds very English.