ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 53 No: 31
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: 15/22/29 August 2021 THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, 21st and 22nd SUNDAYS OF THE YEAR
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
This weekend we celebrate the great feast of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady into Heaven and we rejoice at her triumph and follow her in glory. Since I am away on holiday from Monday 16 August, we also have to make this newsletter a three week one, so we also include the 21st and 22nd Sundays in Ordinary Time.
It is always a bit strange at this time of the year. Most groups have stopped meeting for the holidays; people are away; and schools have stopped working, except for the annual distribution of public exam results. These results are very important, since they are used for the allocation of sixth form and higher education places, and we need to pray for the young people at this stressful time. Their schooling has been heavily disrupted by the Covid pandemic and they deserve credit for their hard work in difficult circumstances. We pray that the Lord will help them to react well to their results.
As I have mentioned a couple of times before, Fr Michael Doyle will be arriving on Sunday afternoon to be in residence while I am away. We shall continue our current practice of Mass at 10am on weekdays (except Thursdays) and 10am and 6pm on Saturdays and 10.30am and 6pm on Sundays. Confessions will be by appointment. Please continue to wear masks in the church, unless you are exempt, and keep following the one-way system for Holy Communion. Please sanitise your hands as usual.
From Saturday 4 September onwards, there will be just one Mass at 6pm with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 5pm. From Sunday 5 September Masses will be at 8.30am, 10.30am and 6pm. Weekday Masses will be at 10am on Monday and Wednesday and 12.15 on Tuesday and Friday. After much thought and prayer, I have decided to cancel the 7.30 Mass on Thursdays, unless it is a Holyday of Obligation. I hope that this will not inconvenience people too much, but it does help me to have a proper day off when I am able to get one. I hope that we can gradually restore Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers and Choir. We just have to be careful and not rush things too much. Please also look out for the red pouches for the collection. We need a number of people to volunteer to take the collection during the Offertory. And as more people return to Sunday practice I would hope to restore the Offertory Procession when the Gifts are brought to the altar for consecration.
We shall try again to arrange a Lobster Pot Lunch on Friday 17 September. We need a minimum of 20 people to make this worthwhile for the caterers, so please sign the list in the cloister if you are interested in coming. The price is £15.00.
As always: keep safe; keep smiling; keep going! Happy holidays – I shall miss you all!
God Bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION AUGUST
The Church
Let us pray for the Church, that she may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and strength to reform herself in the light 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.
OUR PARISH SECRETARY, Trish, will also be on annual leave for the next two weeks. However, if there is something of great importance that will not wait until her return, you can contact her via the parish email which she will look at daily.
JIM FERGUSON has recently passed away. His funeral will take place on 3 September at 12.15pm. May he rest in eternal peace.
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.
MOTHER & TODDLER GROUP will restart on Friday 17 September at 9.30-11.00am. All are welcome.
MASS INTENTIONS
6.00pm: People of the Parish
Sunday: THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
10.30am: Kevin & Dorothy Mullen (RIP)
6.00pm: Paul Rutland-Barsby (RIP)
Monday:
10.00am: Ida Wdowycia (RIP)
Tuesday:
10.00am: Terri Coulson (Ints)
Wednesday:
10.00am: Robert McChesney Snr (RIP)
Thursday: CHURCH CLOSED
Friday:
10.00am: Olga D’Angelo (RIP)
Saturday:
10.00am: Flo, Frank & John Murray (RIP)
6.00pm: Rita Holden (RIP)
Sunday: 21st SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
10.30am: Kathleen & Dominic Hayden (RIP)
6.00pm: People of the Parish
Monday:
10.00amNora Hilditch (RIP)
Tuesday:
10.00am: Kevin & Dorothy Mullen (RIP)
Wednesday:
10.00am: Margaret Barnard (RIP)
Thursday: CHURCH CLOSED
Friday:
10.00am:
Saturday:
10.00am
6.00pm:
Sunday: 22nd SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
10.30am:
6.00pm:
Monday:
10.00am:
Tuesday:
10.00am:
Wednesday:
10.00am:
Friday:
10.00am: Deacon Tim Marsh (RIP Anni)
12.15pm: Jim Ferguson Funeral
Saturday:
10.00am
6.00pm: Thanksgiving – Goddard Family
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Irene Hilditch, Norah Hilditch,
Paul Rutland-Barsby, Jim Ferguson
The funeral of Irene and Norah Hilditch will take place on Monday 13 September at 12 noon at Woollensbrook Crematorium. This will be preceded by Mass for the repose of their souls at 10am in the church. The crematorium ceremony will be live streamed. Details to follow.
Rufus Atticus Stephen
Emma Eliza Iris McClintock