ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 53 No: 22
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 June 2021
CORPUS CHRISTI
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
This weekend, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, which is usually called by its shorter Latin name: Corpus Christi. It is a Feast that goes back to the Middle Ages and was very much an answer to doubt: doubt about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and doubt in the ability of a priest to transform the elements of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. Such doubts still persist and many people find it hard to accept the Church’s teaching on the Eucharist. Two places were associated with the spread of the Feast in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries: Liège in Belgium and Orvieto in Italy. In these two towns and surrounding areas the practice grew of forming processions of the Blessed Sacrament and celebrating the Eucharist with great displays of flowers of vestments and music. We would normally have a procession in Hertford at the end of the 10.30 Mass and finish this with Benediction in the garden, but the Covid restrictions have put paid to that this year, so we must make sure that next year we do something very splendid to mark the Feast. We certainly wouldn’t want to lose the traditions of the liturgy, but I suspect that we will have quite a bit of work to do to bring people back to the full practice of the Faith. It has been a long time since lockdowns started.
But even this year we can read the prayers and texts of the Mass of Corpus Christi, which were composed by none other than St Thomas Aquinas and are some of the most beautiful texts of the liturgy. It is a shame that we can’t use the Mass Books this year and follow the texts that are given, but we can perhaps try to find a missal at home and read through them calmly and carefully. The Sequence – part of which will be sung in Latin at Mass – is especially worthy of study.
I hope people were able to enjoy the wonderful Bank Holiday and half-term weather last week. It was so good to feel the warmth of the sun and to see people out and about. We have to hope that restrictions will be further reduced in the next few weeks, although I am beginning to wonder whether everything will happen, as is hoped, on 21 June. It may take a little bit longer than that, and we wait to see what changes will be made to the rules about public worship. I particularly look forward to the return of congregational singing, which is such an important part of our worship together. It will be great, too, to have altar servers, choir and ministers of the Eucharist again. It has been lonely on the sanctuary on my own!
We shall all, soon, be making our plans for the summer, I imagine. I shall be away from Hertford from 16 August until 2 September and we have yet to find a supply priest to come and stay. Fr Jonathan Flood, who came last year is unable to repeat that this year, so we shall have to see what we can manage. As always, keep safe; keep smiling; keep going!
God Bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION JUNE
The Beauty of Marriage
Let us pray for young people who are preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community: may they grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience.
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.
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.
IF YOU ARE A GIFT AIDER AND YOU STOP PAYING TAX OR CHANGE ADDRESS
you must let the parish office know.
Thank you.
THE LOBSTER POT LUNCH
Starting on Friday 16 July at 1pm in the church hall. Lunches cost £15 for a three course meal, glass of wine, coffee and chocolates.
If you would like to come along please sign the board on the table in the cloister. Menu to follow.
BABY CLOTHES: We are in urgent need of baby clothes from birth to 3 years, boys and girls. Please bring them to Sue Walker at the church hall Monday – Friday 8am – 12 noon. Thank you.
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.
NEW OFFERTORY ENVELOPE BOXES
These are ready for collection. Please come to the Presbytery to collect your box.
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday: FERIA
6.00pm: People of the Parish
Sunday: CORPUS CHRISTI
10.30am: Thomas O’Brien (RIP Anni)
6.00pm: Caroline Delaney & Family (Ints)
Monday: FERIA
10.00am: Mick O’Shea (RIP)
Tuesday: FERIA
10.00am: Mel Starling (RIP Anni)
Wednesday: FERIA
10.00am: Sylvina Rodrigues (RIP Anni)
Thursday: Feria
7.30am: George Robert Emmett (RIP Anni)
CHURCH CLOSED
Friday: THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS
10.00am: Private Intention
Saturday: THE IMMACULATE HEART OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
10.00am: Fr Peter Ssennyondo (Ints)
6.00pm: People of the Parish
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Eda Wdowycia
May she rest in eternal peace.