ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 53 No: 44
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: 5 December 2021
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
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.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE VIEW FROM THE PRESBYTERY
The second Sunday of Advent always introduces us to that special Advent figure: Saint John the Baptist. He is a strange, but powerful, figure, and his cry rings out over the Advent season: Prepare a way for the Lord! He must have seemed a strange and peculiar person to those who heard him in the flesh, but somehow he captured their imagination and brought them to repentance. Baptism was used at the time as a ceremony for the conversion of Gentiles to Judaism, but John managed to get Jewish people to receive it as they were brought to repentance. They prepared a way for the Lord in their own lives, and we should use this season as a time of preparation too. Of course, we all have much to do to prepare for the Christmas festival, but we need also a bit of time to repent of what is wrong in our own lives and to be ready for his coming with hearts made pure. Let’s hope we can find the time.
One thing that needs to be done in preparation for Christmas is the erection of the crib. I have checked the diaries and have come up with the date of Monday 13 December at 7pm. A small team has already been assembled, but a few more volunteers would be a great help. If you can make it, please let me know. Thank you.
I mentioned last week that the classes for Confirmation would start in January. I have now put some forms on the chest at the back of the church and would ask people to fill them in and either give them to me or post them through the presbytery door. Candidates should be in Year 9 or above at school and the classes will take place on Monday evenings from 6.15 until 7.30 at the latest. The first class will be on Monday 17 January and candidates will receive a full timetable for the course at that meeting. Many thanks for your cooperation.
Our preparation for the Synod of 2023 continues and I have placed some forms with questions that people can fill in anonymously on the chest at the back of the church. Do please take one and spend a few minutes filling it in. This will help us to get a snapshot of people’s opinions and hopes for the future. Details of the online survey will be in next week’s newsletter.
This coming Wednesday is 8 December, Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Lady and one of the patronal feasts of the parish. Mass will be at 10am and afterwards there will be a reception in the Hall to celebrate. Do come along if you can.
Now that the government is telling us to wear masks in shops and public transport, please wear them also in church. We need to do all we can to help everyone through this critical period.
As always, keep smiling, keep safe and keep going!
God Bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION DECEMBER
CATECHISTS
Let us pray for the catechists, summoned to announce the Word of God: may they be its witnesses, with courage and creativity and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
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.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PHOTOGRAPHS
You can order your photographs from the book at the back of the church; they come in two sizes.
CHRISTMAS ITEMS are now on sale in the repository.
ORDER A GORGEOUS FRESH CHRISTMAS TREE: Friends of St Joseph are offering you the chance to pre order your Christmas tree. We are, once again, teaming up with Festive Trees, in Watton at Stone. Please take a form from the back of the church.
WESTMINSTER YEAR BOOKS are now available in the repository, priced at £4.50. They are full of information and are a useful addition to your book shelves.
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.
WESTMINSTER’S CATHEDRAL ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION, a wonderful evening of music and readings for all the family in the magnificent Mother Church of the Diocese, is taking place this year on Wednesday 15th December and Thursday 16th December at 7:30pm. Doors will open at 6:30pm, with organ music being played from 7pm. ickets are now available at Ticketmaster:
https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/westminster-cathedral-tickets-london/venue/254582
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday:
6.00pm: Kevin & Dorothy Mullen (RIP)
Sunday: Second Sunday of Advent
8.30am: Margaret Hogg (RIP)
10.30am: Michael Madigan (RIP)
6.00pm: People of the Parish
Monday:
10.00am: Alf Rossi (RIP Anni)
Tuesday: St Ambrose, Bishop & Doctor
12.15pm: Keith Pollard (RIP Anni)
Wednesday: The Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Patron of the Diocese & Parish
10.00am: Mary Garvey (Ints)
Friday:
12.15pm: Baby Lucas Helliar (Ints)
Saturday:
6.00pm: Private Intention
Confessions: 10-10.30am & 5-5.40pm
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 5pm and Benediction at 5.45pm
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Margaret Hogg, Sheila Cunningham