Sermon by Deacon Richard Cole | August 16th 2026 On the Feast of St Mary the Virgin, Deacon Richard Cole reflects on Mary not simply as a figure of obedience, but as a strong, courageous and even subversive voice of faith. At the heart of the sermon is Mary’s Magnificat: “My soul magnifies the Lord.” In her song, Mary draws our attention away from herself and toward a God who lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry with good things, and challenges the proud and powerful. Drawing