ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 53 No: 11
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: 21 March 2021
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
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
We completed the Novena of Prayer to St Joseph and celebrated his feast, along with that of St Patrick, last week. It was a pity that we couldn’t have our usual reception for these great saints, but – like many things – we must put that off until next year. This week we also have a major feast (The Annunciation) but since that falls on Thursday, there will not be a congregation for that Mass.
You would normally expect the statues and crosses in the church to be veiled in purple for these last two weeks of Lent, but because of logistical difficulties this has not been possible this year – another thing to put on next year’s list! However, we shall begin Holy Week next weekend and we shall have a small choir and a group of servers for the main ceremonies. As I mentioned last week, the ceremonies will not be quite so full this year, because of Covid restrictions, but Palm Sunday next week should be pretty similar to its usual format. Palms will be blessed at all four masses (Saturday 10 and 6; Sunday 10.30 and 6) and will be distributed at the end of Mass by stewards or servers. The congregation will not be able to read the crowd parts this year, so that will be done by one of the three readers or by members of the choir at 10.30 Mass. There will not be a Mass in church on Tuesday, 30 March, since I have to go to the Cathedral for the Chrism Mass. People are encouraged to watch the live stream from the Cathedral or come to a Communion Service here in church.
Maundy Thursday’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be at 7.30pm. We are not permitted to have the washing of the feet, nor the procession to the altar of repose, nor the watching until midnight, but if you wish to watch and pray with the Blessed Sacrament the whole diocese is encouraged to make a virtual visit to https://corpuschristimaidenlane.org.uk/live/ and this will be from 8pm until midnight.
On Good Friday there will be the Liturgy of the Passion at 3.00pm and Stations of the Cross at 6.30.
On Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil will begin at 8.00pm and will be a bit different from usual. We shall not have the fire outside; the Paschal Candle will be blessed on the sanctuary and the congregation will not have candles, but otherwise it should be very recognizable. On Easter Sunday there will be Masses at 8.30, 10.30 and 6pm and we shall go back to Masses at 10am on weekdays from Easter Monday. You will notice that there is no mention of Confession here. This is because of Covid restrictions also, but people are very welcome to make an appointment for confession and it can be done (with masks) either in the garden or at a properly distanced place in the house or church.
This Tuesday, 23 March, is the first anniversary of the first national lockdown. Let’s make it a Day of Prayer and Reflection and you can read a statement from the bishops, copies of which are in the cloister. We SHALL celebrate Holy Week as best we can!
God Bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION MARCH:
Sacrament of Reconciliation
We pray that we may experience the sacrament of reconciliation with renewed depth, to taste the infinite mercy of God.
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.
CARDINAL’S LENTEN APPEAL 2021 Cardinal Nichols thanks you for your generous support for the Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal, especially throughout the unprecedented events of 2020. Your donations help fund initiatives in parishes, schools and charities in three mission areas which are more critical than ever. Marriage and Family Life: Youth and Evangelisation: Caritas Westminster: putting our faith into action by serving those in need. Education Service: supporting our schools.
Please take a donation envelope. You can use the QR code to make your donation online. Thank you for your generosity.
LENT PRAYERS: Please see the parish website for the prayer sheet for each Sunday in Lent – kindly created by Fr. Philip Miller. There are also some hard copies in the cloister.
NEW OFFERTORY ENVELOPE BOXES
These will be ready for collection from next weekend. Please come to the Presbytery to collect your boxes.
MAKE NATIONAL DAY OF REFLECTION ON PANDEMIC “A DAY OF PRAYER”
The President and Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales have urged the faithful to make the National Day of Reflection on COVID-19 a day of prayer as well as a day of reflection.
Tuesday 23 March, the anniversary of the first national lockdown, will be marked with a minute’s silence at midday. At 8pm, people are encouraged to create a ‘beacon of remembrance’ on their doorsteps by beaming phones, candles and torches into the night sky. Prominent buildings and landmarks will also be lit up across the UK.
Cardinal Nichols and Archbishop McMahon stress that prayer is an essential part of this reflection and remembrance.
EASTER CARDS AND GIFTS are on sale in the Repository.
TO OUR CATHOLIC UNIVERSE AND CATHOLIC TIMES READERS IN THE PARISH: delivered direct to your home every week, POST FREE. Please go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com or call them on 0161 820 5722 and they will arrange for you.
SPECIAL OFFER 3 MONTHS: £25.00
SPECIAL OFFER 12 Months: £99.00
DIGITAL COPY 12 Months: £55.00
OR DIGITAL COPY/AND HARD COPY
£115.00 (EASTER SPECIAL OFFER)
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday:
6.00pm:
Sunday: Fifth Sunday of Lent
10.30am: People of the Parish
6.00pm: Malcolm Kemble (RIP)
Monday:
10.00am:
Tuesday:
10.00am: Susan Wolfe-Flanagan (RIP)
Wednesday:
10.00am: Special Intention
Thursday: The Annunciation of the Lord
7.30am:
Friday:
10.00am: Celia Rochford (RIP Anni)
Saturday:
10.00am:
6.00pm: People of the Parish
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Paulo Messore, Florence Murray, Moya Robinson, John Steel
May they rest in eternal peace.