We are soon to be joined by a new Assistant Priest who will also act as Chaplain at St Mary’s School.

She is The Reverend Donna McDowell, who will be Licensed by the Bishop of Kensington on 1st July and her first Sunday with us will be Sunday 7th July. We are hoping to have a "Bring and Share" lunch on 7th July to welcome Donna, for you to have a chance to meet her and speak with her. Details of how you can contribute to this will be given nearer the time.

I am sure you would all like to know a little more about Donna, so here are a few facts to be getting on with!

Donna comes to us from serving her Curacy at St Paul's Marylebone, a community-focused church in the liberal catholic tradition on the Lisson Green estate, with an emphasis on social outreach. As part of her Curacy she spent time working in Christ Church Bentinck Primary School and the Church Army's Marylebone Project (a housing and support hub for women in crisis). Prior to Ordination she spent 7 years as Head of Schools & Family Learning at St Paul's Cathedral, before which she taught Religious Studies and Philosophy in Croydon for 7 years.

Donna grew up on a rural council estate in Northern Ireland and lived in Japan and Canada for 10 years before coming to London 18 years ago to make her home. I know that she is thrilled to explore a different part of London and to get to know the people of the parish and St Mary's school. She says: “I am impressed at how St Mary's seeks to encourage faith through prayer and discipleship, and how much emphasis it places upon the nurturing of the spirituality of children and young people, and I am excited to participate in all of that. I am really looking forward to meeting you all, and to ministering alongside you as we share the Gospel together.”

Please keep Donna in your prayers as she makes the transition from Marylebone/St Paul's to Twickenham/St. Mary’s.

Father Jeff