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The SVP has many initiatives that we run at the moment, many of which we have been unable to run effectively due to the pandemic. However, the food bank is one area where we have grown and the number of families we are now serving has increased exponentially.

There are two sides to the food bank at St Gregory’s: On one side, the SVP are a distribution centre for Hillingdon Foodbank, a separate charity based in Uxbridge. Families come and collect a limited number of pre-packed bags of food that are delivered to us each week. On the other side, there is St Gregory’s food bank, supplied by parish and community donations. When a person does not qualify for a Hillingdon Foodbank parcel then we use these to assist those who are struggling to make ends meet and buy food for their families.

As you know the SVP shop, GIFTED, opened this weekend. Your support was amazing and I would like to thank all of the parishioners for their continued support of the SVP. When we open in June we will make sure we have a lot of items for First Holy Communions as many of our little parishioners take this step on their religious journey.

As we all start to see some of our restrictions lifting gradually, the SVP is looking forward to getting back to some kind of normal. This would enable us to restart some of our activities. To do this it would be wonderful to get some new volunteers. If you could see yourself getting involved in any of the SVP activities please come and chat to one of the SVP members and we will tell you all about it.

This is my first week as our SVP president. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul O’Regan for everything he has done over the past five years and I hope I can continue in his footsteps and grow the SVP on the great foundations he has built. Paul, as the vice president, will be there to guide me if I go off course.

This weekend our SVP shop, GIFTED, will be open at the back of the church, or if the weather is good we may even venture outside. We have a variety of religious items, including statues, candles, greeting cards and rosary beads, to name but a few. If there is something specific you are looking for, or if you have any suggestions, please let us know and we will try our best to find it for you.

This weekend marks some major birthdays for the SVP! Tomorrow is the birthday of St Vincent de Paul, born in France on April 24, 1581. Today, however, is the birthday of Blessed Frederic Ozanam – he was born 232 years later, in Italy, on April 23, 1813.

In 1833, when the Holy Spirit moved Blessed Frederic to address the issues of hunger, poverty, homelessness and illness around the Sorbonne University in Paris, he assembled a group of friends together to help him answer the call. He named this group after St Vincent de Paul, who is the patron saint of charity.

We had our final monthly meeting of the current SVP five-year term on Monday evening and so, from April 26th, our new president, Tracy Tierney, takes over the reins! In accordance with the SVP’s governance principles, Tracy has appointed a new leadership team for the coming term. This team consists of Vice-President Paul O’Regan, Secretary Leanne Menezes and Treasurer Linda Donoghue.

The team of six that embarked in April 2016 has now been transformed in to an amazing team of 17 members. Where will the Holy Spirit lead us to by 2026?! Please accept our thanks for all your support over the last five years and please pray for the whole SVP Team as we embark on the next stage of our journey.