ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 54 No: 22
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: 19 June 2022 CORPUS CHRISTI
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 Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This is a Feast of the Eucharist and its origins go back to the Middle Ages and the Church’s attempt to confirm the faith of many people, who had a faltering belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. I suspect that the same situation still obtains today; we all sometimes wonder about the transformation of the host into the Body and Blood of Christ. However, it is one of the great glories of Catholic Christianity that we can truly accept the real and enduring presence in the Blessed Sacrament and this weekend there will be an opportunity to be with the Lord exposed in the monstrance on Saturday from 4.00pm until 5.40pm and on Sunday from 2.30 until 5.00pm. Perhaps you will be able to be there.
I am delighted to be able to say that the First Holy Communion Masses went very well last weekend. The children looked wonderful and did all their jobs with great care and courage. They certainly were a great credit to their families and their schools. I hope they all enjoyed the day and will come regularly to Mass in the future. I would also like to thank very sincerely Mrs Walker and Mrs Pearson who were the main catechists, along with Mr Walker and Mrs Queally. The parish owes them a great debt of gratitude. They have done a great job.
On Tuesday of this coming week we shall celebrate a Memorial Requiem Mass for Shelagh Stacey, who died on 21 May 2020. We were not able to give her a proper funeral at the time because of Covid restrictions, so the Mass will be on Tuesday instead. There will be music at the Mass and it will last a little longer than a usual Tuesday celebration, but people are warmly invited to come and pray for a woman who did a great deal for this parish, for St Joseph’s School and for the school of St Joseph’s in the Park. The Stacey family also invite those who come to the Mass to join them in the Hall for refreshments afterwards.
We are beginning to get news of the World Youth Day, which will take place in 2023. There is a first notice on the reverse side of this newsletter and there will be a group representing the Diocese of Westminster, which people can join. We should have further details very shortly, but I just wanted to alert you to this event.
I think it is probably time to say that people are not obliged to wear masks in church. Anyone who wishes to continue wearing them is more than welcome to do so, but – most importantly – anyone who thinks they have the virus (or any other communicable disease) should not come to church and stay at home. I hope that is fair. Keep smiling!
God bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION FOR JUNE
Families
We pray for Christian families around the world; may they embody and experience unconditional love and advance in holiness in their daily lives
A MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA: From the Beatles to Beethoven. At the Hertford United Reformed Church Cowbridge, Hertford,
SG14 1PG onSaturday 25 June 2022 from 3-5pm. The concert is free but donations for Save the Children can be made after the concert.
Refreshments will be served at half time.
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.
THE LOBSTER POT LUNCH: Friday 15 July at 12.45pm in the church hall. Lunches cost £15 for a three-course meal, glass of wine, coffee and chocolates. Please call Sue on 07711 584 517.
WILL YOU TAKE THE FIRST STEP? CAFOD’s Gap year programme, Step into the Gap is a great opportunity for Young Adults aged between 18-30 to immerse themselves in interactive experiences, develop leadership skills while exploring their faith, and meeting new people. Take the first step and find out more information and how to apply for September 2022 go to cafod.org.uk/gapyear
RECENTLY BAPTISED
Brodie John Callaghan
Valentine Welsh
URGENT APPEAL FOR CHILDREN’S CLOTHES: From baby to teenage years.
Please leave with Mrs Walker in the church hall, Mon-Fri 8am-12noon.
SAVE THE DATE: 16-17th July 2022. Marriage Encounter are hosting a non-residential marriage enrichment weekend. This is a wonderful opportunity for couples to spend time reflecting on, refreshing and rejoicing in their wonderful vocation. For details go to:
WORLD YOUTH DAY 2023 – LOOKING TO LISBON: World Youth Day 2023 will take place in Lisbon in the beginning of August 2023. Diocese of Westminster Youth Ministry with support from Cardinal’s Appeal is offering a limited number of places on this pilgrimage with a 50% discount to young people between the ages of 16-25. Any 16-year olds who apply will need to be finishing year 12 by the start of World Youth Day pilgrimage. These young people will commit to a series of preparatory sessions from September 2022, to prepare them to assist in support roles during the pilgrimage, such as by acting as small group leaders, and also offer formation to them which will be helpful in living their faith post-World Youth Day. More details can be found at https://dowym.com/programmes/world-youth-day-leadership-training/ or by contacting Westminster Youth Ministry at youth@rcdow.org.uk. Please apply by 31 July 2022.
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday:
6.00pm: Kajetan Migdal (RIP)
Sunday: CORPUS CHRISTI
8.30am: People of the Parish
10.30am: Laurie Symonds (Ints)
6.00pm: Brenda Barker (Ints)
Monday: St Alban
10.00am: Private Intention
Tuesday: St Aloysius Gonzaga
12.15pm: Mass for the Shelagh Family
Wednesday: SS John Fisher & Thomas More
10.00am: Timothy Twomey (RIP)
Thursday: CHURCH CLOSED
Friday: The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
12.15pm: Sisters of Ware Carmel
Saturday:
6.00pm: Vincent McGee (RIP)
Confessions: 10-10.30am & 5.00-5.30pm
Exposition of the blessed sacrament 5-5.40pm
Recently Deceased
Kajetan Migdal