ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 53 No: 19
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
Parish Priest: Canon Terence Phipps Tel: 01992 582109
DATE: 16 May 2021
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
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
Having celebrated the Solemnity of the Ascension on Thursday, we are now in that period of prayer before Pentecost. These nine days, which mirror the prayer of the apostles and Our Blessed Lady in the Upper Room in Jerusalem are the first novena in the church, and something we should take seriously. As I mentioned last week, there will be prayers offered at each Mass during the novena and copies of the prayers can be found on the chest at the back of the church. If you take a sheet, then please take it with you and don’t put it back in the pile. This is a further precaution that is required by the official Covid 19 regulations. There are also copies of an email giving details of other resources for the novena that you might wish to find online. These emails are on the table in the cloister. Let us pray fervently for the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we may be enabled to say “Thy Kingdom come!”
We have our next relaxation of the virus regulations on Monday and we can look forward to inviting people indoors and going into cafes, pubs and restaurants, which will be quite a moment. We have all heard on the news, though, that there are still places where people are getting infected, so we are not completely in the clear yet. We still need to be careful, but at least we can have a real hope that things are improving and will continue to improve.
People are beginning to think about arranging baptisms again now that we are able to do them. Until 21 June they must be kept to thirty guests and masks should still be worn and distancing maintained. There will be quite a back log, so I hope people will understand that they may have to wait a bit longer than they normally would to get a date. One other point needs to be mentioned: people quite reasonably turn to friends and family when they are choosing godparents, but it is important to remember that godparents need to be baptised. They don’t all have to be Roman Catholics, but at least one must be a Catholic and should be practising. It is embarrassing to choose someone as a godparent and then to find out that they are not really eligible for the role, since technically people are not Christian if they are not baptised, however wonderful they are in the way they live their life. I try and mention this problem as early as I can in the process, but there are still some difficulties which it is best to avoid. Anyway, we are now open for business in the baptism department and I look forward to meeting people to arrange these important ceremonies, which have been pretty well impossible to arrange during the pandemic.
Next weekend we celebrate Pentecost and I hope we can soon arrange a Mass for the sacrament of Confirmation. It has all been very difficult. Anyway, let us count the many blessings we have, and keep safe; keep smiling; keep going.
God Bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION MAY
The World of Finance
Let us pray that those in charge of finance will work with governments to regulate the financial sphere and protect citizens from its dangers.
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.
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.
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. Don’t forget that foodbanks also accept essential non-food items such as toiletries and hygiene products, helping people in crisis to maintain dignity.
DURING MAY, A DECADE OF THE ROSARY WILL BE PRAYED BEFORE AFTER WEEKDAY MASS
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASS
on Tuesdays at 4pm in the church hall. If you haven’t already, please can you bring £8 per child to cover the cost of their book. Thank you.
NEW OFFERTORY ENVELOPE BOXES
These are ready for collection. Please come to the Presbytery to collect your boxes.
MASS INTENTIONS: Please let us know if you would like to request a Mass intention. Mass can be offered for the deceased, the intentions of the sick, for special intentions, and for thanksgiving. Contact Fr Terry or Trish – we have lots of spaces over the next few weeks.
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MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday: Easter Feria
6.00pm: Bernadette Rowbottom (RIP)
Sunday: Seventh Sunday of Easter
10.30am: People of the Parish
6.00pm: Madeline Genovese (Ints)
Monday: Easter Feria
10.00am: Kevin & Dorothy Mullen (RIP)
Tuesday: Easter Feria
10.00am: Wright Family (Ints)
Wednesday: Easter Feria
10.00am: Peace in Middle East
Thursday: Easter Feria
CHURCH CLOSED
Friday: Easter Feria
10.00am: Peter & Margaret Hogg
60th Wedding Anniversary
Saturday: Easter Feria
10.00am: Peace in Middle East
6.00pm: Bernadette Rowbottom (RIP)
RECENTLY DECEASED:
George Sandell, Michael Parsons
May they rest in eternal peace.