ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 52 No: 45
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: 6 December 2020
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.
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THE VIEW FROM THE PRESBYTERY
The past week has been very eventful, one way and another. On Wednesday we found some tools in the garden and as Mrs Walker went off to phone the police someone must have come and taken them away. They had been reported as stolen, but have now disappeared. And then on Thursday a leak developed in the skylight in the office near the front door. Our roofer was called and I went off to an appointment in London. When Mr Walker went up to have a look, he discovered that it wasn’t just a leak. The lead had been stripped from the roof and, given the rain, the office was getting pretty wet. Tarpaulins were used to patch up the roof damage and the footage from CCTV cameras was examined. This showed two young men stealing the lead and the police will examine this more carefully today. The extraordinary thing, though, is that the roof is just outside my bedroom window and I didn’t hear a thing! I carried on sleeping soundly while they took the roof lead away, and I feel very embarrassed. The police will be looking into this incident, too, and we shall have to contact the Insurance Company to see whether there will be any compensation. What a business!
It has been good to have public Masses again in church and the booking system is now in place once more. Please use this online facility if you can; otherwise you can phone the secretary on 07900 538114. We hope to have the Christmas services available for booking from this weekend and there will inevitably be people who will be disappointed because of the discrepancy between the number of people who want to come and the places available. I am really sorry about this, but next year should be better!
Masses at Christmas will be as follows: Vigil Masses at 4pm and 6pm on Christmas Eve; Midnight Mass brought forward to 9pm; and Masses at 8.30 and 10.30am on Christmas morning. There will be an organ for each of these Masses and singers at the 9pm and 10.30am. Since we can’t have congregational singing inside the church, some carols will be sung outside before and after these two Masses and you are invited to spread out and join in. It’s not ideal, but the best we can do for now. The stewards may need help in cleaning the church after these Masses, so do look out and see whether any help is needed.
This weekend we celebrate the Second Sunday of the Advent and meet the extraordinary figure of John the Baptist. He tells us to prepare a way for the Lord and make his paths straight. This past year has not been and easy one for straightening anything out. We have been hit by the most awful pandemic that any of us will ever have to deal with. It is only natural that we should feel a bit lost and confused, perhaps even frightened. Yet we believe that the Lord is with us in all our difficulties and particularly at this time of the year when the nights are long and even the days are often dark. Let us prepare a way for the Lord, so that he may come and console us.
God Bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION DECEMBER:
For a Life of Prayer
We pray that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ be nourished by the Word of God and a life of prayer.
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.
ORDER YOUR FRESH CHRISTMAS TREE
As in Previous years, The Friends of St Joseph (School PTA) are offering you the chance to pre order your fresh Christmas tree at a great price, from a local ecologically managed plantation near Watton at Stone. The order forms are on the table in the cloister (next to the newsletters) or email nadinebarry@hotmail.com
HERTFORD & DISTRICT FOODBANK CHRISTMAS 2020 SHOPPING LIST:
tinned salmon, tinned ham, tinned potatoes, mince pies, Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, tinned fruit, tinned custard, jars of jam or marmalade. Items can be dropped at Tesco’s or Sainsbury’s in Hertford at the front of the stores.
MISSIO RED BOXES: If you have a Missio box please can you bring it in asap ready for counting.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Christmas Eve: 4pm, 6pm & 9pm
Christmas Day: 8.30am & 10.30am
It is absolutely essential that you book your place(s). These Masses have now been released on the website – if you cannot book directly online please contact Trish, our Parish Secretary, on 07900538114 and she will make the booking for you. If you require more than 4 places you will also need to also contact Trish.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE LIMITED SPACES SO PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT!
POPE FRANCIS’S PRAYER TO OUR LADY at this time of the virus outbreak O Mary, you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in Jesus’s pain, keeping your faith firm. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need, and we are sure you will provide so that, as in Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to feasting after this time of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, to the joy of the resurrection. Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of us who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
RECENTLY BAPTISED:
Aurelia Lily Byrne
Isla Rose Pathmanathan
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday:
6.00pm: People of the Parish
Sunday: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
10.30am: Alf Rossi (RIP Anni)
6.00pm: Deceased Clergy
Monday: St Ambrose
10.00am: Keith Pollard (RIP)
Tuesday: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
10.00am: People of the Parish
Wednesday:
10.00am: Esh Sakarya (RIP)
Thursday:
7.30am: Private Intention
Friday:
10.00am: Winston Denton (RIP)
Saturday:
10.00am: Vaughan Family (Ints)
6.00pm: Wilson Family (Ints)
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Mary Deighton, Mary Whelan, Frankie Whelan
May they rest in eternal peace.