ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 53 No: 42
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: 21 November 2021
SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING
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
The total raised so far for the Sick and Retired Priests’ Fund is £1316.19 and I have still a few additions to make to that. Thank you so much for your usual generous response to the call of charity. A number of our sick and elderly priests will surely benefit from what you have given.
On a personal note, I would like to thank you for the great generosity you showed me for my birthday last week. There were a big number of cards and presents and the party last Friday was a wonderful occasion. There were over sixty people present and the age range was impressively broad from young children to senior adults. The food that people brought was delicious and abundant and there was plenty to wash it down. People clearly enjoyed the evening and a number of people remarked that it was good to feel normal again after the constraints of the pandemic. Of course, we have not reached the end of that yet, but the party showed us that there was some light at the end of the tunnel, so it brought hope to a good number of people. Thank you so much!
Our meeting in preparation for the Synod of 2023 went well on Wednesday evening. There were seven of us altogether and some interesting ideas were discussed. I am hoping that we shall be able to send in a parish response to the Holy Father’s initiative, so watch this space for information about an online survey and a paper exercise for those who prefer it that way.
I haven’t yet managed to sort out all the Christmas services, so I shall have to get down to it in the coming days. Next Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent, so there is some urgency about sorting out a detailed timetable for Christmas and New Year, along with writing all my Christmas cards. It always seems to get done in the end, but I think that this year will be a bit tight. Let us pray for the strength to celebrate the great festival as best we can.
The Solemnity of Christ the King, which we celebrate this weekend marks the last Sunday of the liturgical year and gets us ready for the season of Advent and prepares to think about the power of God and the second coming of Christ at the end of time. In the Gospel Jesus tells Pilate that he really is a king, but that his kingdom is not like the kingdoms of the earth. We need to be part of that kingdom and participate in its aims and objects, which are to bring peace and fulfillment to all people. It’s quite a task, but we can start small. The kindness and generosity of the people of this parish over the past months have been an impressive demonstration of that kingdom.
Can I once again encourage you all to wear masks in church if you are not exempt and to think very hard before refusing to be vaccinated? All of us need to be safe.
God Bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION NOVEMBER
People Who Suffer from Depression
We pray that people who suffer from depression or burn-out will find support and a light that opens them up to life
IF YOU GO IN TO HOSPITAL: 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.
MOTHER & TODDLER GROUP on Fridays at 9.30-11.00am. All are welcome.
THE LOBSTER POT CHRISTMAS LUNCH: Friday 17 December at 12.45pm in the church hall. Lunches cost £20 for a three course meal, glass of wine, coffee, crackers and Christmas music. Please call Sue on 07711 584 517.
THE SVP are distributing 11,500 VINNIE PACKS containing cold weather essentials to the homeless this winter. Please could you consider sponsoring packs at a suggested donation of £3.70 per pack? Donations can be sent to Vinnie Packs, PO Box 72264, London SW1P 9EZ with cheques made out to SVP or by bank transfer to Nat West sort code 60-60-04, account no. 4608 8237. Thank you so much for your support.
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.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PHOTOGRAPHS
You can order your photographs from the book at the back of the church; they come in two sizes.
CHRISTMAS STALLS: During November we will be selling Advent Calendars, diaries and many other Christmas items. The stall will be held after the weekend Masses.
ADVENT LUNCH on Tuesday 30 November, in the church hall after the 12.15 Mass. If you would like to come along please sign the board on the table in the cloister.
THE GIFT OF THE SUNDAY EUCHARIST
The Sunday Eucharist is a gift; as God’s holy people we are called to praise and thank God in the most sublime way possible. When the Church speaks of the Sunday obligation, it reminds us that attending Mass is a personal response to the selfless offering of Christ’s love.
At this time, we recognise that for some people there may be certain factors which hinder attendance at Sunday Mass. The pandemic is clearly not over. The risk of infection is still present. For some, there is legitimate fear in gathering together. As your bishops, we recognise that these prevailing circumstances suggest that not everyone is yet in the position to fulfil the absolute duty to attend freely Sunday Mass.
RECENTLY BAPTISED:
Ileana Lorena Cuffaro
Sienna Louise Maniscalco
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday:
6.00pm: Maurice & Nessan Leahy (RIP)
Sunday: OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, King of the Universe
8.30am: People of the Parish
10.30am: Tony Queally (RIP)
6.00pm: Holy Souls
Monday:
10.00am:Holy Souls
Tuesday: St Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr
12.15pm: Patrick Cusack
Wednesday: St Andrew Dũng-Lạc, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
10.00am: Linda Radford (RIP)
Friday:
12.15pm: Minnie Lee (RIP)
Saturday:
6.00pm: Holy Souls
Confessions: 10-10.30am & 5-5.40pm
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 5pm and Benediction at 5.45pm
Peggy Stevens, Mary Shevlane