ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 53 No: 13
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: 4 April 2021
EASTER SUNDAY
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
Rise heart, the Lord is risen! It’s been a funny old Lent, but we have made it. The Lord is truly risen – Alleluia! Christos Anesti – Alleluia! Surrexit Dominus vere – Alleluia! In whatever language you might wish to use, the Lord is risen indeed and everything is made new. Our baptism is the instrument of our renewal, for at baptism we died with Christ and rose with him to new life. In short, we encompassed the whole Paschal Mystery and that is why the renewal of our baptismal promises is so important at Easter Sunday Mass. Renew those promises today with great joy for they are the great gift of Easter.
It has been good to be able to have at least a part of the Holy Week ceremonies this year. We have not had the normal number of people in the congregation, and we have had to cut down many of the important elements of the liturgy, but we have managed to get to this moment today and we can rejoice and be glad. There are many people who have worked very hard to make sure that this week ran smoothly. Our stewards have done a great job helping the congregation find a place to sit and also cleaning and sanitizing the church so that it stayed safe. The choir, organists and altar servers have striven to make the liturgy as good as it could be and many people have told me just how pleased they were to see the altar servers and hear the choir. We shall get back to proper congregational singing, alongside the choir, as soon as we can. Then we must thank those who have decorated the church with flowers and polished brass – how lovely it looks! We thank the readers and money counters and those who organise the rotas that are often so complicated; we thank Trish Newland, our parish secretary, who does a huge amount of work, and has coordinated the booking of places at Mass during the lockdowns. And we thank also Mrs Walker, who has overseen a huge number of charitable initiatives to help those who needed food or furniture, clothes or school uniform; and we thank Mr Walker, who keeps our garden looking so lovely and does 101 small jobs around our premises which keep things functioning.
From Easter Monday we shall have weekday Mass at 10.00am (except on Thursday, when the church is closed) and weekend Masses at 10 and 6 on Saturday and 10.30 and 6 on Sunday. I think we may have to wait for a bit before we can return to our customary timetable and leave the church open during the day, but we shall comply with the speed of opening up which is given to us by the government. All I am sure of is that I want to have a haircut and this will be possible from 12 April! I hate having it as long as it is.
We have lived through a remarkable time in the life of the church and the country. We can’t give up our vigilance yet, but things are moving in a positive direction. Let us celebrate with joy the great fact that the Lord is risen indeed – Alleluia!
God Bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION APRIL:
Fundamental Rights
We pray for those who risk their lives while fighting for fundamental rights under dictatorships, authoritarian regimes and even in democracies in crisis.
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.
CATHOLIC ETHOS ADVOCATE
The Trustees of St Elizabeth’s, Much Hadham are creating a new post to further, celebrate and promote the distinctive Catholic identity and ethos of the Centre. St Elizabeth’s is a long-established charity, (which has a school for 5-19-year olds; a College for 18-25-year olds and a Registered Children’s Home and Care Home with Nursing for Adults), providing education, care and medical support for up to 200 people of all ages with learning disabilities and other complex medical needs. To apply and to find out more information about St Elizabeth’s, please visit our website: www.stelizabeths.org.uk or email recruitment@stelizabeths.org.uk
NEW OFFERTORY ENVELOPE BOXES
These are ready for collection from this weekend. Please come to the Presbytery to collect your boxes.
FOOD BANK
We are in desperate need of food for the foodbank. Items can be dropped off at the church hall with Mrs. Sue Walker any weekday morning. Don’t forget that foodbanks also accept essential non-food items such as toiletries and hygiene products, helping people in crisis to maintain dignity.
CAFOD WORKSHOP ONLINE EVENT Saturday 10 April 11am to 12.30. 2021 is a critical year as world leaders decide how the world rebuilds from the pandemic. As Catholics we have an important role to play in calling for the world’s poorest communities to be included. Join us to find out how to meet your MP as a parish group. Sat 10 April, 11am to 12.30; book at cafod.org.uk/mpmeeting
MASS INTENTIONS
Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil
6.00pm: People of the Parish
Sunday: Easter Sunday
8.30am: Jaeger Family (Ints)
10.30am: People of the Parish
6.00pm: Yvonne Coyle (RIP)
Easter Monday:
10.00am: Special Intention
Tuesday of Easter Octave:
10.00am: Annabelle Dixon (RIP)
Wednesday of Easter Octave:
10.00am: Hilary Williams (RIP)
Thursday of Easter Octave:
7.30am: Private Intention
Friday of Easter Octave:
10.00am: Thanksgiving
Saturday of Easter Octave:
10.00am: Private Intention
6.00pm: Thora Martin (RIP)
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Paulo Messore, Florence Murray, Moya Robinson, John Steel, Yvonne Coyle
May they rest in eternal peace.