Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION & SAINT JOSEPH
23 ST JOHN’S STREET, HERTFORD SG14 1RX
https://parish.rcdow.org.uk/hertford Email: hertford@rcdow.org.uk Tel: 01992 582109
Parish Priest: Monsignor Séamus O’Boyle
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – 13th / 14th January 2024
Prayers & Readings for this Sunday’s Mass can be found on p. 127 in the Parish Mass Book.
Please note that there is a Loop system in the Church.
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View from the Presbytery
Hardly seems possible that we are already two weeks into 2024. Time quite literally seems to fly. In Church we are back to ‘Ordinary Time’ after Advent and Christmas, but only for a few weeks. It will soon be Lent. Bet that news has cheered you up!
Those of you with children in Secondary School – particularly in Years 10 and above – will be sharing the stress of the youngsters as they sit mock exams or are trying to complete their course work. Lots of loving patience and prayers needed!
You may not know that I have an added responsibility in the Diocese besides being your Parish Priest – I am the ‘Episcopal Vicar for Safeguarding’ which means I have oversight of the Diocesan Safeguarding Service on behalf of the Cardinal. We are currently being audited by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) for England and Wales. Take a look at their website: catholicsafeguarding.org.uk to see what their work entails. Each of the Dioceses has to undergo an audit – Westminster has added challenges due to the geographical size and complexity of the Diocese and the fact that we are in the Capital City. The Safeguarding Service team and the Trustees of the Diocese had to do a lot of preparation of documents in the lead up to Christmas so that the auditors could begin their work this past week. They will not complete the audit until 26th January. As you can imagine, this has been tiring and stressful for the team. I would ask you, please, to say a prayer for them during the audit – and indeed for the important work they do in trying to ensure that all our young people and adults at risk are kept safe.
Don’t forget that Fr Terry will be here in two weeks – on Sunday 28th January – to celebrate his delayed Fortieth Ordination Anniversary and Farewell to the Parish. I know that he is looking forward to being here and seeing you all again. Have a good week.
Fr Séamus
MISSIO RED BOXES: Would all parishioners in possession of red Missio boxes please return them as soon as possible to the sacristy?
Once all boxes have been handed in and contributions counted, the empty boxes will be placed with names attached on the table in the cloister to be picked up and used for the 2024 process. Thank you. Peter Mahoney
IF YOU GO IN TO HOSPITAL: If someone is sick in hospital, please let us know here at the Presbytery, and/or ask the staff on the ward, so that your loved one can be visited whilst in hospital, and receive Holy Communion and any other Sacraments from the Chaplain.
At the Lister & QE2 hospitals, the Chaplain is: John O’Neill 01438 314333
ROSARY GROUP: Come and join us in thechurch hall on Tuesday evenings at 7pm for recital of the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
PRAYERS ASKED PLEASE –
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Elizabeth Barnes, Ursula Partner, Jan Kracinski, Stephen Carey, Norene Hristov, Paul Cox, Malcolm Gilbert, Enzo Andrean, Miriam Matthews, Ruth Featherstone, Stephen Judd, Mary Ward, John Sweeney, Pam Gates, Juliet Davis, Phyllis Read, Jo Black, Robbie Robinson, Fr Terry, Angela White, Manuel Lopez, Lyn Carroll, Linda Abeysundera.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY: John Derek Everett, Deacon Anthony Clark, Fr. Stuart Gullan-Steel. May they rest in peace and rise in glory
POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER INTENTION FOR JANUARY
FOR THE GIFT OF DIVERSITY IN THE CHURCH
Let us pray that the Spirit help us recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions in the heart of the Catholic Church.
MASS INTENTIONS:
Saturday 13th January 2024
6.00pm: People of the Parish
Sunday 14th January II Ordinary Time
8.30am: George Robert Emmett RIP
10.30am: Tom & Annie Parsons RIP
Monday 15th January
10.00am: Patrick & Michael
Connolly RIP
Tuesday 16th January
12.15: Peter Matthews RIP
Wednesday 17th January
10.00am: Thomas & Johanna
Coleman RIP
Thursday 18th January
CHURCH CLOSED
Friday 19th January
12.15pm: Simon Pearson (Anniv.)
6.00pm: People of the Parish
Confessions
Saturday: 5.15-5.45pm