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 Tel: 01992 582109
Parish Priest: Monsignor Séamus O’Boyle
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – 27th / 28th January 2024
Prayers & Readings for this Sunday’s Mass can be found on p. 132 in the Parish Mass Book.
Please note that there is a Loop system in the Church.
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View from the Presbytery
We welcome Canon Terry back to the Parish this weekend for the delayed celebration of his Fortieth Anniversary of Ordination and Farewell to Hertford. He will be saying the 10.30 Mass and then there will be a grand reception in the Hall and equally grand marquee! Please do come along and partake of the food and drink provided. We wish Canon Terry ‘ad multos, plurimosque annos’ for his retirement, as well as thanking him (& God!) for his years of ministry here.
The CSSA (Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency) have now completed the audit of our Diocesan Safeguarding Service – it has taken them three weeks to meet with Diocesan officials from the Cardinal down and scrutinise the mountains of documents provided for them. Their preliminary findings will be shared with the Diocese on Monday and then the full report will follow in a couple of weeks. It will also be published on the CSSA website. Thank you for your prayers during this quite stressful time. As I said, it has been like an OFSTED inspection on steroids!
Please don’t forget that we will be having the requested special collection for the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem at the Masses next weekend to help with their outreach to the many people suffering as a result of the conflict in the Holy Land. If you should wish to use the contactless payment machine to make your donation, it can be found just outside the door of the church at the entry to the cloister. All donations made via the machine next weekend will go towards this collection. Many thanks.
Fr Séamus
MISSIO RED BOXES: Thanks to all who returned their boxes for counting. The empty boxes (with names attached) can now be picked up from the bench at the back of the church and used for the 2024 process. Peter Mahoney
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.
At the Lister & QE2 hospitals, the Chaplain is: John O’Neill 01438 314333
ROSARY GROUP: Come and join us in thechurch hall on Tuesday evenings at 7pm for recital of the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
PRAYERS ASKED PLEASE –
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Elizabeth Barnes, Ursula Partner, Jan Kracinski, Stephen Carey, Paul Cox, Malcolm Gilbert, Enzo Andrean, Miriam Matthews, Ruth Featherstone, Stephen Judd, Mary Ward, John Sweeney, Pam Gates, Juliet Davis, Phyllis Read, Jo Black, Robbie Robinson, Fr Terry, Angela White, Manuel Lopez, Lyn Carroll, Linda Abeysundera.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY: Norene Hristov – may she rest in peace and rise in glory. Her Funeral Mass will be here at 12.30pm on Tuesday 6th February.
POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER INTENTION FOR FEBRUARY
For the Terminally Ill
The Holy Father encourages prayers “so that terminally ill patients and their families always receive necessary medical and human care and support.”
MASS INTENTIONS:
Saturday 27th January
6.00pm: Brian & Kathleen
Parkhouse RIP & George McKenna RIP
Sunday 28th January IV Ordinary Time
8.30am: People of the Parish
10.30am: Tony Hutchings (Anniv.)
Monday 29th January
10.00am: Ellam Family (Ints.)
Tuesday 30th January
12.15pm: Norene Hristov RIP
Wednesday 31st January
Thursday 1st February
CHURCH CLOSED
Friday 2nd February
Presentation of the Lord
12.15pm: Private Intention
6.00pm People of the Parish
Confessions
Saturday: 5.15-5.45pm