June is the Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Comings and Goings
Parishioners will know that this time of year often sees the coming and going of clergy. Many parishes do not have assistant priests, but we are blessed in having one, and sometimes even two.
Firstly, at the beginning of September we will bid farewell to Fr Axcel Soriano. He has been with us for two years, following his first appointment in North Harrow. The Archbishop has appointed him Parish Priest of Bishop’s Stortford. We congratulate Fr Axcel and pray for him as he prepares to move to Hertfordshire. I also take this opportunity to thank him for his work here and for his friendly and approachable presence. There will be further opportunities to thank him and wish him well over the coming weeks.
Fr Axcel will return for his Farewell Mass on Sunday 27 September at 12 noon. This will be followed by a social gathering in the Parish Centre.
With the departure of Fr Axcel there will be a need for new clergy and so we will be welcoming two assistant priests.
Fr Mark Odion MSP will join us on Monday 22 June. He has a wealth of experience and will soon be celebrating the Silver Jubilee of his ordination to the Priesthood. We look forward to meeting Fr Mark and getting to know him.
In September, Fr Bogdan Velyanyk will also be joining us. He is a priest of the Archdiocese of Toulouse, but he is familiar with London. I remember him well from my time working at Westminster Cathedral when he was one of the external confessors.
“To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often” wrote St John Henry Newman. This is worth our reflection as we prepare for these changes in the parish. It is also a time to give thanks for the blessings of our life together, and for the way in which the Lord sends labourers into his harvest. Let us pray for Fr Axcel, for his new parish, for the new priests coming to Enfield and for the mission of this parish.
With all good wishes,
