ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 53 No: 37
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION & SAINT JOSEPH
23 ST JOHN’S STREET, HERTFORD SG14 1RX
Email: hertford@rcdow.org.uk
Parish Priest: Canon Terence Phipps Tel: 01992 582109
DATE: 10 October 2021 TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
The page numbers for the prayers for this Sunday’s Mass are at the front of The Parish Mass Book. Please note that there is a Loop system in the Church.
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THE VIEW FROM THE PRESBYTERY
First of all, I need to announce that there will be no 10.00am Mass here on Monday morning this week. I have been given an unexpected appointment with the consultant neurologist about my Parkinson’s Disease and since I haven’t seen him for over eighteen months I really must attend. I am sorry for any inconvenience, but I hope you will understand. I also need to point out that Mass on Tuesday of this week will be at 10.00 and not 12.15 because of a deanery meeting which I have to attend. Apologies again for any inconvenience.
Last weekend, there was a retiring collection for the work of Cafod. This has still not been counted yet, since there are usually people who were not present for the main collection but who wish to contribute. There are envelopes on the chest at the back of the church for people to use. Please fill in the Gift Aid details if you are a UK taxpayer and I shall give the total raised next week. The work done round the world by Cafod is a great way for all of us to be involved in helping many thousands of people in poverty and distress, and in putting into practice our Church’s commitment to those in need.
A Pastoral Letter was read at all Masses last weekend and this dealt with the initiative the Holy Father has called for in connection with a Synod in Rome in 2023. This Synod will be an exercise in listening to each other and exchanging ideas about the future of the Church after the awful couple of years we have had. I need someone to volunteer to be a Parish Rep for this initiative. In particular, this person would need to attend the launch of the process at 6pm on Saturday 16 October at Westminster Cathedral and to undertake some training along with myself, details of which I can supply. Then we shall need to have three parish meetings before Christmas and materials for these meetings will be provided by the diocesan Agency for Evangelisation. May I suggest a date for the first of these meetings? Before lockdown we were having meetings on Wednesday mornings at 11.00am after Mass and coffee. There were often quite a number of people at these Wednesday Word discussions. Could we perhaps meet again at 11am on Wednesday 20 October? Your contribution would be much valued. Clearly, we can’t have all of these synod meetings on Wednesday mornings, since that would prevent any contribution from people at work, so I shall suggest other dates next week.
The Mass Count will happen again this week and next. Last weekend we were 199 at Mass, so we are still considerably less than 50% of our ‘normal’ numbers. The last couple of years have been devastating for many of us. Let’s try to return to Mass in the church as soon as we feel comfortable. As always: keep safe; keep smiling; keep going! Wear masks in church and keep your hands clean.
God Bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION OCTOBER
Missionary Disciples- We pray that every baptized person may be engaged in evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavor of the Gospel.
IF YOU GO IN TO HOSPITAL: Catholics in hospital are unlikely to receive an automatic visit from the Catholic Chaplain. 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
FIRST COMMUNION 2021/22
If you would like your child/ren to prepare for First Communion, please write to Fr Terry or Mrs Walker stating their name, address, date of birth, place of baptism and the school they attend. All candidates must be in year 3 or
above. Classes will start on Tuesday 9th November from 4-5pm in the church hall.
THE LOBSTER POT LUNCH: Friday 15 October at 12.45pm in the church hall. Lunches cost £15 for a three course meal, glass of wine, coffee and chocolates. Menus to follow in the cloister. If you would like to come along please sign the board on the table in the cloister
RED MISSIO BOXES: If you have a box, please can you kindly return it to church. Thank you.
CHRISTMAS STALLS: During November we will be selling Advent Calendars, diaries and many other Christmas items. The stall will be held after the weekend Masses.
Friday 12 November from 7pm there will be a BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION in the church hall for FR TERRY. If you would like to come along and bring a plate of something, please sign the board on the table in the cloister.
ADVENT LUNCH on Tuesday 30 November, in the church hall after the 12.05 Mass. If you would like to come along please sign the board on the table in the cloister.
ROSARY GROUP: Come and join us in the church on Tuesday evenings at 7pm for recital of the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
MOTHER & TODDLER GROUP on Fridays at 9.30-11.00am. All are welcome.
DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A CATHOLIC? ARE YOU AN ADULT CATHOLIC WHO WISHES TO BE CONFIRMED? ARE YOU A CATHOLIC WHO WISHES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FAITH?
Here at St Joseph’s we run classes that meet on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm in the Presbytery. If you are interested please take a form (on the chest at the back of the church). Please put your completed form through the letter box of the Presbytery.
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday: St John Henry Newman
6.00pm: Mr VC Mathew (RIP)
Sunday: 28th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
8.30am: Jan Kracinski (Ints)
10.30am: George Robert Emmett (RIP)
6.00pm: Natividad Ferma (RIP)
Monday:
NO MASS
Tuesday:
12.15pm: Callum Yule (RIP)
Wednesday: St Edward the Confessor
10.00am: Rosemary Hope (RIP)
Friday: St Teresa of Jesus
12.15pm: Bill Morgan (RIP)
Saturday:
6.00pm: Kilgallon Family (Ints)
Confessions: 10-10.30am & 5-5.40pm
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 5pm and Benediction at 5.45pm
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Tony Queally, Peggy Stevens