Farewell UPDATE 20th July

UPDATE – 20th JULY

PARISH PICNIC TO SAY FAREWELL:  Next Sunday 27^th July 11.45am Mass will be celebrated by Canon Liam and Fr. Simon Peter together.  This will be Fr. Simon Peter’s final day here.  Although Canon Liam will return in August, we wanted to have a farewell bash for the two of them together since we want to have the opportunity to get together and say thank you to them both.  So, after the Mass we are inviting everybody to come with their own picnic and come to the priest house and garden.   Please may we ask that what you bring to our Parish Picnic, any leftovers you can take back with you, not left in the house or garden.   Drinks of squash and wine will be provided.  During the week, Fr. Simon Peter will be setting off to Uganda for his holiday and beginning his appointment in Kidbrooke when he returns in September.  Canon Liam will be setting off for a short holiday and returning mid August.  It is likely that his final Sunday here will be 24^th August, before the new Parish Priest, Canon John Diver arrives. 

FAREWELL GIFT:  You will see there are envelopes labelled ‘Canon Liam  Fr Simon Peter’ in the Church porch .  If you wish to give an offering as a farewell gift to our priests then please take one home and, if you can, drop them straight through the priest house door.  Please do not give then to the priests. 

UPDATE – 6th JULY

The priests have been constantly asked ‘when are you moving?’.  Things are not straight forward when two priests are leaving at the same time and two new priests arrive and we are still unsure who the new assistant will be.  The new Parish Priest, Canon John Diver, has to arrange arrival of the new Parish Priest who is replacing him and so on.  It can be a long and complicated process with quite a long chain. 

So here is the latest as far as we know…..Sunday 27^th July shall definitely be Fr. Simon Peter’s last day here at St. Francis before he goes on holiday and starts his new appointment as Parish Priest in Kidbrooke in September.  Canon Liam will be away for a week but will return during the month of August until he takes up his new appointment as Parish Priest in Wimbledon Park.  Canon Liam will not be here come September. He is still not sure when his final Sunday here is.

Canon Liam and Fr. Simon Peter wish to have their farewell and thank you together, so they shall celebrate Mass together on Sunday 27^th July at 11.45am and invite everybody to a gathering in their home and garden.  Please bring your own picnic and food – we ask that anything you bring you must take home with you.     That’s the latest.!!!

UPDATED 27TH JUNE

We will be saying thank you and farewell to Fr. Simon Peter on Sunday 27^th July as he takes a break before his new appointment as Parish Priest of St. John Fisher, Kidbrooke.

Canon Liam will be here a little longer during the month of August (things are a bit uncertain at the moment).  From next week, envelopes will be available at the back of the Church if you wish to give towards a collection as a farewell gift for Canon Liam and Fr. Simon Peter.  Please return the envelopes through the letterbox of the priest house at the end of the driveway next to the Church.

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20th June

As was recently announced , we say thank you, farewell and God bless to Canon Liam and Fr Simon Peter. 

Canon Liam has been appointed Parish Priest of Wimbledon Park and Fr Simon Peter has been appointed Parish Priest of Kidbrooke.

We look forward to welcoming Canon John Diver as the new Parish Priest of St. Francis.  We will let you know when the new assistant priest has been appointed. 

The moves will officially happen in September, however Fr Simon Peter and Canon Liam will be going on holiday during August. We are hoping to have a supply priest for the month of August.

Therefore, Fr Simon Peter and Canon Liam will celebrate their final Mass together at 11.45am on Sunday 27^th July. Keep an eye out for final details nearer the time.