ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 53 No: 32
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 September 2021 TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
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
I am writing this on Thursday afternoon after returning from my holiday just after 8.ooam this morning. How marvellous it is to be back and to know that there is so much to catch up with over the next few days, which are going to be pretty busy! Emails, voice mails and letters in abundance await my return each time I go away, but there is satisfaction in knowing that I had a great time and that there is a great deal that still needs attention in our busy little parish.
Fr Michael Doyle tells me that he enjoyed his stay in Hertford very much indeed. He was grateful for people’s kindness and said that in principle he would be very pleased to come to supply in Hertford in the future – perhaps even next year. It is always good to give you a break from my voice and thoughts. A different perspective is often helpful and holiday time is a good time to experience this.
From this weekend we shall revert to our old timetable from before lockdown. There will be just one Mass on Saturdays at 6pm with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 5pm and benediction at 5.45. For the moment we shall not use the confessional, but I will be in the church from 10-10.30 and from 5.00-5.40 and we can have confession in the sacristy. From this Sunday, 5 September, Masses will be at 8.30am, 10.30am and 6pm. Weekday Masses will be at 10am on Monday and Wednesday and 12.15 on Tuesday and Friday. After much thought and prayer, I have decided to cancel the 7.30 Mass on Thursdays, unless it is a Holyday of Obligation. I hope that this will not inconvenience people too much, but it does help me to have a proper day off when I am able to get one. I hope that we can gradually restore Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers and Choir. We just have to be careful and not rush things too much. Please also look out for the red pouches for the collection. We need a number of people to volunteer to take the collection during the Offertory. And as more people return to Sunday practice I would hope to restore the Offertory Procession when the Gifts are brought to the altar for consecration.
We shall try again to arrange a Lobster Pot Lunch on Friday 17 September. We need a minimum of 20 people to make this worthwhile for the caterers, so please sign the list in the cloister if you are interested in coming. The price is £15.00.
We remembered and prayed for Deacon Tim Marsh on Friday, which was the eighth anniversary of his death. I have to admit that I was surprised to realise that we have been without him for eight years. What a lot he did for this parish (and for his family) and how I miss his help, support and encouragement! May he rest in eternal peace and receive the reward of his labours.
Remember to use masks in the church and sanitise your hands. And keep to the one-way system for communion.
As always: keep safe; keep smiling; keep going! It’s good to be back.
God Bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION SEPTEMBER
September An Environmentally Sustainable Lifestyle We pray that we all will make courageous choices for a simple and environmentally sustainable lifestyle, rejoicing in our young people who are resolutely committed to this.
IF YOU GO IN TO HOSPITAL: Catholics in hospital are unlikely to receive an automatic visit from the Catholic Chaplain. 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
FIRST COMMUNION 2021/22
If you would like your child/ren to prepare for First Communion, please write to Fr Terry or Mrs Walker stating their name, address, date of birth, place of baptism and the school they attend. All candidates must be in year 3 or
above. Classes will start on Tuesday 9th November from 4-5pm in the church hall.
THE LOBSTER POT LUNCH: Starting on Friday 17 Sept at 12.45pm in the church hall. Lunches cost £15 for a three course meal, glass of wine, coffee and chocolates. Menu in the cloister. If you would like to come along please sign the board on the table in the cloister.
MOTHER & TODDLER GROUP will restart on Friday 17 September at 9.30-11.00am. All are welcome.
BIKE N HIKE SATURDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2021 9am – 5pm. Have fun visiting over 600 churches and chapels. For more info contact www.bnh.co.uk or
bikenhike@bedshertshct.org.uk.
ROSARY GROUP: Come and join us in the church garden on Tuesday evenings at 7pm for recital of the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
Virtual London Marathon on Sunday the 3rd October, around Hertford (26.2 miles) raising much needed funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK. If you would like to make a donation please go to:
REDISCOVER YOUR MARRIAGE: Retrouvaille simply means ‘rediscovery’. The programme offers the chance to rediscover yourself, your spouse, and a loving relationship in your marriage. 10s of 1000s headed for divorce have successfully saved their marriages by attending and using the tools provided. There is no group therapy or group work. For confidential information about ‘Retrouvaille’ or to register for the programme commencing with a ‘Virtual’ weekend on… 21st –24th October 2021. Call or text 0788 7296983 or 0797 3380443 or email retrouvailleukinfo@gmail.com
or visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday: Thanksgiving – Goddard Family
Sunday: 23rd SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
8.30am: Emily Dorsett (RIP Anni)
10.30am: People of the Parish
6.00pm: Tony Casey (RIP)
Monday:
10.00am: Jansen Family (Ints)
Tuesday:
12.15pm: Kevin & Dorothy Mullen (RIP)
Wednesday:
10.00am: Tarrant Family (RIP)
Friday:
12.15pm: Victoria Evans (RIP)
Saturday:
6.00pm: Tony Casey (RIP)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 5pm and benediction at 5.45pm
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Victoria Evans, Irene Hilditch, Norah Hilditch,
Paul Rutland-Barsby, Jim Ferguson