ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 54 No: 18
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: 22 May 2022 SIXTH 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
For a number of reasons, I am writing this early on Thursday morning, and there is quite a day in prospect. The Health and Safety inspection is scheduled for 12.30 (STOP PRESS: The H&S Inspector was called away so we will have to postpone until further notice) and then 32 young people from our parish will be confirmed this evening. There are many things to get ready for this ceremony, but it should go well. The candidates have prepared seriously for the sacrament and I ask you all to remember them in your prayers. It is not easy to make a religious commitment nowadays – it can often be mocked – but we pray that this group will do what they can to keep the Lord in their lives and to make him known through their actions.
We continued the retiring collection for the Priest Training Fund last week and the total collected was £943.15. Thank you very much for your generosity. I shall keep the collection open for another week to see whether any other contributions come in, but that was a very important contribution to the life of the Church and the activity of the diocese. It is not cheap to train people over a six year period, and it is important that the facilities and the teaching are up to scratch, so thanks to everyone who contributed.
Tomorrow, Friday, there is an interview panel for a possible Deputy Head for St Joseph’s School. Once again, I ask your prayers that the school may continue its great work and make its special contribution to the life of our parish. And pray too for the interviewers that their choice may prove to be the right one.
Next week, we have a Parish Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday evening and there is much to discuss. We have upgraded our CCTV system, since there have been a few incidents recently (including a fox looking through my sitting room window late in the evening!) and we must also consider how to proceed with a new front door for the presbytery. We have applied for – and received – planning permission, but there are a number of matters outstanding and we must hope they can be resolved soon.
Next Thursday is the Feast of the Ascension, so there will be three Masses: two in the church (at 7.30am and 8.00pm) and one in the school at 10.00am. Parishioners would be welcome to attend the Mass in the school and this will be the first time for two years that we have been able to have the parish join the school for worship. Perhaps we shall see you there.
There are still some prayer cards at the back of the church with a prayer for the Queen as she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee next weekend. Our 10.30 Mass on Sunday will be for her intentions and we shall have a special prayer at all the weekend Masses
As always, keep smiling, keep safe and keep going. And, for now, keep wearing the masks and using the sanitisers.
God bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION FOR MAY
Faith-Filled Young People
We pray for all young people, called to live life to the fullest; may they see in Mary’s life the way to listen, the depth of discernment, the courage that faith generates, and the dedication to service.
VOLUNTEER DBS CHECKS:
Thank you so much to all those people who emailed in their volunteer posts and their email addresses. The position on DBS rechecks has recently been clarified by the Diocese: those people who undertake important roles (e.g. readers, cleaners, the flower arranging team) yet without any direct responsibility or contact with vulnerable adults, young people or children are not required to have a DBS check.
If you are unsure as to whether you need to complete a DBS check please get in touch with Liz or Daniel via email: hertfordsg3@safeguardrcdow.org.uk or hertfordsg1@safeguardrcdow.org.uk
PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES:
If you no longer use your envelopes please do let the office know. Maybe you might consider changing your offering to standing order, if so please contact the office.
If your box is not there please do let the office know and it will be reallocated to you.
RECENTLY BAPTISED:
Conor Patrick McGrath
URGENT APPEAL FOR CHILDREN’S CLOTHES:
From baby to teenage years.
Please leave with Mrs Walker in the church hall, Mon-Fri 8am-12noon.
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 17 June 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.
COMMUNITY EVENT IN HERTFORD
A community event is to take place in Hertford later this month, to allow people to meet officers from their local Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT).
The family friendly event will take place in Hartham Common, between 11am and 1pm on Monday 30 May.
Officers from the SNT will be in attendance, alongside colleagues from the Gangs and Schools Team and the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Dog Unit.
Members of the Volunteer Police Cadets will be on hand to give information about how you can join your local group and a selection of police vehicles will also be on display, including specialist quad bikes. Sergeant Nathan Howson, from the Hertford SNT, said: “This community event will allow people to meet with local officers, to discuss any issues or concerns they feel we should be focusing our efforts on.
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday:
6.00pm: Julian Brotherton (Ints)
Sunday: SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
8.30am: Matthew Brotherton (Ints)
10.30am: George Robert Emmett (RIP)
6.00pm: James Zsibrita (RIP)
Monday:
10.00am: People of the Parish
Tuesday:
12.15pm: Kevin & Dorothy Mullen (RIP)
Wednesday: St Bede
10.00am: Caroline Cheney (Ints)
Thursday: The Ascension of the Lord
7.30am: Josie Kiely (RIP Anni)
10.00am: Mass at St Joseph’s School
8.00pm: Vetti Vettivelli (RIP)
Friday: St Augustine of Canterbury
12.15pm: Peace in Ukraine
Saturday:
6.00pm: Linda Radford (RIP)
Confessions: 10-10.30am & 5.00-5.30pm
Exposition of the blessed sacrament 5-5.40pm
Recently Deceased
Valerie Ailes, Winnie Kudish, James Zsibrita,