Letter to all Parishioners
Parish update November 29th 2024.
Sacramental News
First Communion
Please contact the priest of the parish that you are temporary attending, as we here at St Patrick’s will not have a First Communion course this year. Stonebridge parish, which is hosting us while we are closed, has just started their First Communion programme. If you wish to have your child on their programme please contact Fr. Tony the parish priest or their parish Administrator Violet, directly at stonebridge@rcdow.org.uk or phone 020 8965 3313.
Confirmation
Again, please contact the parish that you are temporary attending while St Patrick’s is closed.
Baptism
Please contact St Patrick’s Administrator, Georgette, at neaden@rcdow.org.uk or 020 8451 0367 (best to email if possible as they are daily monitored Mon to Friday and will be responded to quicker than by phone), to arrange a date and time. All baptisms take place on a Saturday. Until the church re-opens these will take place in Stonebridge Church.
Marriage
Please contact the parish Administrator at St. Patrick’s office: neasden@rcdow.org.uk in the first instance. Check the Marriage section on the parish website: parish@rcdow.org.uk/neasden for more details as to what may be required of you in preparation for your marriage.
Communion of the Sick
If you, or a member of your family is ill, unable to get to church, and would like someone to bring you Holy Communion please contact the parish office: neasden@rcdow.org.uk or phone, 02084519367. If you have to go into hospital please make sure you ask a member of the hospital staff for the Catholic Chaplain to visit you. All hospitals have a Catholic Chaplain. Fr Agustin is the full time Chaplin for Northwich Park, St Marks and Central Middlesex hospitals. His phone number is 02089675730.
Pastoral and Social Outreach News.
English Classes
These are now up and running again. They are been hosted by ‘St Raphael’s Voice’ our partnership charity in their building at 158 Pitfield Way, NW10 0PW, on the estate, next to the Sufra Food Bank. Saturdays during term time: 10am to 12 Noon. Our grateful thanks to Asif Zamir for warmly welcoming us while the church is being restored.
Craft Classes, Knitting Circle, Pottery etc.
These will resume as soon as funding comes through from the Lottery, hopefully around Christmas or early in the New Year, 2025. They may possibly take place at ‘St Raphael’s Voice’ centre on the estate, as restoration of the church will now take much longer that we hoped for. See the restoration time line report below.
Basketball: Matches and Training.
These are no longer taking place at Newman Catholic College but now at Crest Academy, Crest road Neasden, NW2 7SN, on Saturday evenings.We now have an amateur team named St Patrick’s, that plays for fun and also competes in local tournaments. Recent medals and cups won are on display in the parish office! For more information and times, contact Harold 07535135920
Unfortunately, our weekly toddlers club, Daniels Den; parish Christmas Bazaar, baptism parties, funeral receptions; marriage receptions; children’s birthday parties etc. are unable to take place until the hall and church are restored.
Restoration of Church and Hall News
Last Tuesday we had our parish Finance Committee Meeting and among the usual parish business, or should say since the fire on the 11th of July last, unusual parish business, we discussed the ‘Fire Reinstatement Project’ sent to Fr Patrick from the Diocesan Property Services who are responsible for the restoration of the church. The following is an excerpt from that report.
The Structural Engineers have visited the fire and smoke damaged parts of the Church buildings. This includes the Church, Hall, Sacristy, kitchen, toilets, Narthex, corridors/lobbies, office etc. Their report confirms that the property has suffered extensive damage caused by fire, smoke and water exposure, leading to significant structural and aesthetic defects across the various elements, such as the roof structure, including the joist, hips, purlins, glu-laminated timber beam and coverings. These all exhibit severe charring and damage, compromising their integrity and functionality, together with external elements such as the flat felt roof covering/structure fascia’s, soffits and windows. As such the roof structure, coverings complete, to the Church building will have to be removed and replaced. The Engineers go onto confirm that the overall restoration of the building will require careful attention to both Structural and aesthetic aspects ensuring that all damaged components are adequately replaced or repaired.
They make clear, at this stage of the restoration of the church and hall, that it is difficult to confirm an exact programme because the full extent of all the structural, mechanical and electrical works are still being reviewed and assessed. However, they have given a ‘Draft’ programme. This is subject to change.
Design Stage completion…………………… December 24
Tender Stage……………………………………… December 24/January 25
Approvals (Insurance, Diocese) ………… Early February 25
Contractor Instruction…… February 25
Work Starts on Site……… March 25.
Completion………….. September 25
In earlier posts on the website we had thought that we may be re-opening around Christmas, or at the latest, Easter next year, 2025. The above time line now tells us it will be at the very earliest, September 2025. The main reason for this is the decision to replace the whole roof of the church, which initially the structural engineers had thought could be repaired. Although disappointed that we not able to get our lovely church and hall back up and running by Easter, it is good that we will have a new and structurally safe roof, and not have to attend to problems that may pop up in later years if the roof was just repaired. And the good news is that the Insurance will cover the costs!
Meanwhile lets us look forward in Faith Hope and Love, and to the day when we will celebrate Eucharist again in our newly re-furbished church.
Georgette Del Rosario.
Parish Administrator.
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SEPTEMBER 2024 UPDATE. LETTER FOR PARISHIONERS
Dear Parishioner, I do hope this finds you well and of good heart.
If you have an email address, this letter covers much of what I said in my recent email to you. So, apologies for repeating much of it here in this letter.
The purpose of this letter (snail mail!) is to try and reach out to all who are on our parish register especially you who may be without email addresses.
Many of you will now know of the serious fire in the church and hall on 11th July last. (Go to https://parish.rcdow.org.uk/neasden for details and photos of the damage done, plus a little reflection from me). The church is now closed for the foreseeable future. What follows is an update as to where we are, now that six weeks have past.
The Insurance Company had accepted liability and work began yesterday securing the site and deep cleaning the church lobby/porch, and the hall entrance where the toilets are. Once cleaned, these areas will be temporary boarded up, giving entrance and exit to the hall and church for all contractors and workers only, from the side door of the church only. The area of the car park outside the church side door will cordoned off for contractor’s vehicle’s and materials. The rest of the car park will still be in use by the Nursery (not affected by the fire and remaining open), and Phoenix Arch school. I’m told the noise of the work may be loud at times, so will impact on Georgette, our parish Administrator, the Nursery and myself (I will continue to live in the flat which was not damaged). This will be monitored as the work progresses. If you need to come to the office or see me, please email first to set up and appointment. neaden@rcdow.org.uk . The parish phone/landline had been affected somewhat, (the nursery has lost their phone line and internet connections). So, emails are the best way to contact the parish.
As to the cause of the fire. The police are still investigating and following CCTV, and verbal evidence to fine out who started the fire. They believe it was
started deliberately, probably by someone mentally unwell. They will keep me and the Diocese informed when they get more information.
I had thought initially that we would be back in our lovely restored church by Christmas. It will now probably be about a year as the structural engineers say that the church roof may need to be replaced. The website will keep you up to date on this as we go along. In the email, some of you received, I mentioned that the Insurance would not cover our loss of income. Good News! They will cover the loss. They may not cover the full amount of ‘contents lost’ i.e.,
chalices, vestments, stations of the Cross, etc as our policy amount is limited when it comes to ‘contents lost’. More on this as we move along.
Hopefully you are celebrating Mass in surrounding churches. Stonebridge Church is officially hosting us. If you give your Offering by envelope, drop it into the collection, and that church will get it back to St Patricks. If you give by cash, contact Georgette by email and she will help you.
St Raphael’s Voice, our partner charity on the estate have kindly offered us space for our parish activities, English lessons, Crafting, Knitting Classes etc. The resumption of these will depend on our Lottery Grant application. We are still waiting to hear from them. Sacramental programmes; First Communion, Confirmation, etc, will probably join in with Stonebridge parish programmes. I have yet to discuss this with Fr Tony and will let all know how we move forward on these. Information will be posted on the website.
Many of you have not got access to email and the parish website. Perhaps a member of the family who has can help you to keep in touch with want is happening as we move along. I will hopefully get another letter to you in the not too distance future.
The fire has displaced us from using our lovely church. Please commit to returning here to our family of Faith at St Patricks. God willing, I will be here serving you as your priest when we re-open.
Let prayer for each other and to Mother Mary and St Patrick. And always keep in mind that God’s Holy Spirit is with us as we begin this new chapter of our Journey of Faith. God Bless us one and all.
Fr Patrick.
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JULY UPDATE AFTER THE FIRE
In the aftermath of the fire in our lovely intimate church on Thursday 11th July past, Fr. Patrick offers a short reflection below. Before that, a few practical notices and information.
- The church will remain closed because of the severe damage done to the sacristy, church and hall. (see photos at the end of these pages). How long it will remain close it is impossible to say, but it will be until after Christmas. This website will keep you up to date with information as we progress.
- On Sunday 28th July at 12 noon, Bishop John will celebrate a special Mass marking our loss and grief, and asking the Holy Spirit to help us discern the blessings that will flow from this disaster, at Five Precious Wounds Stonebridge for all our parishioners and anyone who wishes to join us. Do please make the effort to be at this mass.
- Fr. Tony Thomas of Stonebridge parish has warmly welcomed us to celebrate with them while we are closed. Their Mass times are Sat 6pm, Sunday 10am and 12noon. Fr Patrick will celebrate as often as he can, probably at the 12noon Mass.
- Other parishes have opened our doors to us:
St Mary and St Andrew, Dollis Hill. Mass: Saturday 7pm, Sunday 9am and 11am.
English Martyrs, Wembley: Mass: Saturday 6pm, Sunday 9am, 11am.
St Joseph, Wembley: Mass: Saturday 6.30pm, Sunday 9am, 10.45am, 12.30pm, 7pm.
- All Sacramental, Catechetical, and Social Programmes are now cancelled but do please keep and eye on the website for ongoing information.
- If you give your Sunday Offering by envelope, please continue to give them in the parish you choose to go to Mass. That parish will make sure they get your offering back to St Patrick’s Church. (see the end of these web pages for other way to contribute to the church).
- Fr. Patrick will continue to live in the parish flat, which was not damaged by the fire. The parish office will be opened, on at off, at different times. So, it is best not to come to the office without an appointment. Email the office; neasden@rcdow.org.uk. or phone 020 8451 0367. I will respond quickly and efficiently to your request and, if need be, set up a date and time to come to the office.
- Lastly, the police and fire service are still investigating the cause of the fire. They have not reached a definitive decision. Meanwhile we ask all not to speculate on social media as to the cause of the fire. This website will announce the cause of the fire as soon as the parish gets it.
Fr Patrick’s reflection on the fire.
Of all the pictures of the fire, shown below, the one with the burnt-out sacristy prompted a good friend to text me on Saturday past with, ‘Gosh you really are sitting on a pile of ashes. Later that day I thought of Job. Job who bewails his fate, sitting with his three friends for seven days and seven nights in the ashes (Job 2:7-13). Loss of sons, daughters, farm, and animals has driven him to question God’s goodness. Suffering and faith is his lot. The book continues with an account of a good and righteous man who faithfully responds to difficult trials. Job’s experience, invites me/us to ponder difficult questions about the cause of suffering, the frailty of human existence, and the reasons to trust God, even when life seems unfair. (Job’s wife insists that he curse God, he ignores her. I haven’t a wife to ignore, and no inclination to curse anyone!). Eventually, at the end of the story Job comes to see, amid his grief and loss, God’s blessings in his life.
Bad and good things are part of the rhythm of life. For me I am called to discern what God is revealing to me to in all that I experience the ups and the downs, the good and the bad, the joys and sorrows and even my sin. St Ignatius of Loyola reminds me that ‘God is in the facts’
Our church has ‘suffered’ a serious fire. Now, that’s a fact. So where is God?
Many us are sad and grieving. Now, that’s a fact. So where is God?
A tentative answer might begin with the Plaque marking a thanksgiving to Fr John Murphy, first parish priest of St Patrick’s.
‘Like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house’ 1 Peter 2:5.
Buildings are important, they help root us in a culture, a history. They help root us in a sense of place. They give us definite space to live, learn, play, heal, pray etc. Houses, Schools, Hospitals Museums, Churches, Mosques etc. shape and form, they scaffold the soul’s and spirit’s activities (as a keen gardener, although not a building, I would like to include gardens!). Each, in their distinctiveness, do what they need to do. They root us but they also move us through and beyond. Our loss of church which help root us in Faith Hope and Love also moves us through and beyond.
So, for the moment, as the bricks, windows, wood and materials are renewed during these coming months, I hope to share with you, how we, God willing, will be continually built into ‘spiritual house’. Keep an eye on this space!
Fr. Patrick.
Ps. A grateful thanks to Bp. John, Fr Stephen, Fr Tony, and Fr Michael. Harold and Georgette our part time caretaker and parish Administrator. Louise Mc Mahon of Diocesan Health and Safety, Clive Horscroft of Property Services. The Fire service and police who responded with speed and skilled professionalism. Asif, from the charity, St Raphael’s Voice, on the Estate. Members of Sufra, who we support through their food bank. Members of the local Mosque and Hindu Temple who rang and visited and Mohamoud and Emma, from Little Aisha Nursery, who on the night of the fire stood with me as we watch the ‘fireworks’ go off and the douching down with gallons of water!
To all in our parish who wept, laughed, joked and prayed with me over the past weekend. Thank you for that precious gift. God Bless us All.
- As mentioned above, if you wish to donate to the church, please go to our web page, Donate, and follow the instructions. If by cheque please make it out to ‘St Patricks Church Neasden’. Many in our parish give cash. If you wish to so, please contact the parish office, neasden@rcdow.org.uk. Fr. Patrick will help you to donate safely.
Georgette Del Rosario
Parish Administrator.
