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The food bank is the SVP activity that is most visible to the parish, so I thought we would let you know about some of the people who visit:

Deirdre, not her real name, is a lovely lady in her 40s who is unable to work due to chronic health issues. She had visited the food bank a couple of times. On a recent visit, she came asking for food she does not need to cook. Inquiring further, we found that she had been unable to pay her electric or gas bill. The SVP was able to top up her utilities and provide her food. She also met with a benefits adviser at the food bank, who helped sort out her benefits.

The B-Attitudes would like to thank everyone who supported the Jubilee cake sale – those who baked, those who helped make the tea, and especially those who purchased the cakes. It was a huge success, with over £600 raised. The money will be used to support events at Brackenbridge House, a care home in Ruislip, and Olympic House, a homeless shelter in Hillingdon.

A date for your diary: On Saturday, July 9, we will hold a family quiz night in the church hall. More details to follow in the coming weeks.

Your parish SVP has a few events going on over the coming days to highlight: Gifted, the SVP shop, will be open this weekend after every mass with a selection of cards and gifts. Our bereavement group is gathering on Wednesday, after the 10am Mass, in the church hall. And, next weekend, the B-Attitude Group will host a cake sale to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, raising funds for their initiatives including activities at Brackenbridge House Care Home and a Hillingdon Homeless shelter.

Gifted, the SVP shop, will be opening next weekend, a bit early this month to make way for a cake sale to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee the following weekend. There are a few feasts days in June: The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, St Anthony and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We will have items to mark these, as well as the usual gifts and cards.

As always, if you come across anyone who needs help or a visit from an SVP member, please do not hesitate to contact your SVP team and we will do our best to help.

The SVP received some great news this week: Visitors are now welcome again at Brackenbridge Care Home! Before the pandemic, the SVP and B-Attitudes visited Brackenbridge on a weekly basis, building some great relationships with the residents. During the pandemic, we have kept in touch by sending weekly DVDs of mass as well as sending Christmas gifts for all residents and staff. We will resume our visits soon.

There is a little bit of sadness in that only two of the residents we visited remain at the home, the rest having passed away. Covid hit them hard.