It was a profound moment of faith and mission for the community of High Barnet to celebrate the feast of Our Lady Consolata. This marks the first time the feast has been celebrated since the Consolata Missionaries officially established their presence in High Barnet in January 2025.
By Godfrey Msumange *
The event was a significant opportunity to raise awareness about Our Lady Consolata in Barnet. The feast was preceded by a novena, held twice daily to give everyone a chance to participate. The celebration of each day of the novena included a sharing session about Our Lady Consolata with contributions from various missionaries and friends, including former students of the Consolata Missionaries in London.
The celebration began with a procession starting in the courtyard of the United Reformed Church, where children scattered flower petals as the statue of the Madonna passed by. In addition to parishioners, several groups of friends attended, including Kenyans and Tanzanians living in London, as well as families of former Consolata students. During the offertory at Mass, children from St. Catherine’s School presented drawings of Our Lady Consolata.
In his homily, the parish priest invited the community to invoke the Mother Consolata, who is never indifferent to our human condition. She is always there to accompany us, to embrace and protect us with maternal affection. It is important to allow ourselves to be consoled by her, so that we, in turn, can console the world. London itself, he said, is now a mission land. Who will go? We, the baptized. As baptized people, we are called to evangelize. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, the priest reminded the congregation that evangelization also happens through attraction—by living our life of faith with passion.
After the Mass, the celebration continued with food sharing and games with the children and families -simple moments that are important opportunities to strengthen community bonds.
* Father Godfrey Msumange, IMC, Parish of Mary Immaculate and St. Gregory the Great, Barnet, London.
