ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 53 No: 27
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: 11 July 2021
FIFTEENTH 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
Many thanks for your contributions to the retiring collection last weekend for Peter’s Pence. If there are any more contributions to be given, please hand them in to me and I shall give the final total next week.
This weekend we celebrate Sea Sunday, which is a time when we remember in our prayers the work of seafarers around the world. The pandemic has been a difficult time for all those in maritime work and the lock down last year meant that the normal Sea Sunday prayers and collection for Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) did not take place; consequently, the charity, which does a great deal of good work with seafarers (many of whom are Catholic), has had a rather lean year. Do please give what you can to the collection. There are still some Gift Aid envelopes on the chest at the back of the church. Please use one if you wish. Many thanks for all your generosity.
For the last couple of weeks, I have mentioned the need for some volunteers in a few areas of parish life. We need people to be School Governors, money counters and flower arrangers. I have had responses from two people (one governor and one counter) but I hope that more people might be able to offer themselves for these jobs. Being a school governor takes a fair bit of time, but the work is interesting and fulfilling. Money counting involves only a few weekends a year if we get the number we need; and the flower arranging is also not something that takes up much time over all. Do let me know if you can help. We also need a few more people to clean the church.
May I just repeat the details that I gave last week about the Sacrament of Confirmation? I have been given a date by Bishop Paul McAleenan, who will come to administer the sacrament to our candidates at 7pm on Friday 15 October 2021. In order to prepare for this there will be a final meeting of the group on Friday 8 October in the large hall from 6.15 to 7.30. I hope I am giving people enough time to sort out their schedules for this very important event. Further information will be sent out to the candidates as soon as we can, but do spread the word about the date so that everyone can be informed. It has been a long time since the group had their last session, but I hope that the dates we have been given will be convenient for everyone involved.
The diocesan IT department has upgraded parish websites, so things look a little different, especially in the events section which is used for booking places at Mass. You now need to click on the Mass you want to book for in what looks like a diary or calendar, and this should bring you to a page where you can click on “Book a place”. Let’s hope that this will not be necessary for too much longer, but we must wait for official announcements about the lifting of restrictions and not jump the gun.
As always: keep safe; keep smiling; keep going!
God Bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION JULY
Social Friendship
We pray that, in social, economic and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and passionate architects of dialogue and friendship.
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.
ONLINE DONATIONS TO OUR CHURCH:
Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee Hertford as the account name.
Account number: 21263242
Sort code: 40-05-20
If you would like to use STANDING ORDER to donate your weekly/monthly offering, the forms are available on the website to download.
IF YOU WRITE A CHEQUE TO THE PARISH please can you make payable to WRCDT Hertford. Thank you.
IF YOU ARE A GIFT AIDER AND YOU STOP PAYING TAX OR CHANGE ADDRESS
you must let the parish office know.
Thank you.
THE LOBSTER POT LUNCH
IS CANCELLED due to there not being enough people. Let’s try again in September.
BABY CLOTHES: We are in urgent need of baby clothes from birth to 3 years, boys and girls. Please bring them to Sue Walker at the church hall Monday – Friday 8am – 12 noon. Thank you.
YOUR CHURCH IS IN NEED OF MORE PEOPLE TO HELP KEEP IT CLEAN. If you are able to help, please contact Sheila Queally on 01992 586436
FOOD BANK
We are in desperate need of food for the foodbank. Items can be dropped off at the church hall with Mrs. Sue Walker any weekday morning.
COLLECTION: Many thanks for your contributions last weekend: £293.50
DIOCESAN JOB VACANCIES: at https://jobs.rcdow.org.uk/
MASS INTENTIONS
6.00pm: People of the Parish
Sunday: FIFTHTEETH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
10.30am: George Robert Emmett (RIP)
6.00pm: Desmond Johnson (Ints)
Monday:
10.00am: Fr John Baptist Kisembo (Ints)
Tuesday:
10.00am: Nora Hilditch (Ints)
Wednesday:
10.00am: Jacqui O’Callaghan (RIP)
Thursday:
CHURCH CLOSED
Friday:
10.00am: Sr Christina Nunn (RIP)
Saturday:
10.00am: People of the Parish
6.00pm: Ann Egan (RIP)
Prayers Are Asked for Those who are ill: