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 Tel: 01992 582109
Parish Priest: Monsignor Séamus O’Boyle
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
Prayers & Readings for this Sunday’s Mass can be found on p. 255 in the Parish Mass Book.
Please note that there is a Loop system in the Church.
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View from the Presbytery
The Octave Day of Easter already – and another six weeks of this joyful season ahead of us. My thanks again to all who helped Holy Week and the Easter Triduum be such prayerful celebrations of our Faith. A personal thank you for your generous Easter Offerings which go towards my annual stipend, your thoughtful Easter cards and bottles of wine – very much appreciated!
Our Gospel this weekend retells the story of Jesus appearing in the closed room where the disciples were hiding full of trepidation. He speaks calming words of peace to them. Of course, Thomas was elsewhere when Jesus appeared and so refused to believe that Jesus was alive. Although Thomas has gone down in history as ‘Doubting Thomas’ in today’s Gospel he makes a wonderfully succinct statement of faith in Jesus when he says: ‘My Lord, and My God’. Jesus responds with words that could be directed to all of us: ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’ Indeed – that is where happiness lies – in knowing that there is more to existence than this life – there is the promise of eternal life with the Lord.
Some parishioners and former parishioners have died in the last week or so – our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this sad time. I was personally saddened to hear of the death on Easter Monday of a former Rector of the Venerable English College in Rome – Monsignor George Hay – he was 93 and still celebrating Mass in the local Church in Devon near his retirement home. Fr Terry and I both knew him well and have cause to be grateful to him for his time as our Rector in Rome – he was a kind and gentle man – and a great role model for many young priests. May all those who have died rest in peace and rise in glory!
Fr Séamus
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES: If you usually give your weekly offering to the Parish via the envelope scheme, new boxes of envelopes for the new Financial Year are now available for collection at the back of the Church. If you do not find a box with your name on it, and would like to make your offering in this way, please let me know via email hertford@rcdow.org.uk And I can sort out a box of envelopes for you. Thank you. Fr Séamus
THANKSGIVING FOR MATRIMONY: The Cardinal invites all couples who are celebrating 5th, 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, and 60+ wedding anniversaries during this year to a special Mass of Thanksgiving on Saturday 25th May at 2.30pm in Westminster Cathedral. If you are a couple celebrating one of these milestones and you would like to attend the Mass, please let me know. The easiest way to do so would be to send an email with your details to the Parish email address: hertford@rcdow.org.uk This week is the closing date for applications to attend the Mass.
PRAYERS ASKED PLEASE –
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Elizabeth Barnes, Ursula Partner, Jan Kracinski, Stephen Carey, Paul Cox, Malcolm Gilbert, Enzo Andrean, Miriam Matthews, Ruth Featherstone, Stephen Judd, Mary Ward, John Sweeney, Pam Gates, Juliet Davis, Phyllis Read, Jo Black, Robbie Robinson, Fr Terry, Angela White, Manuel Lopez, Linda Abeysundera, Julia Rochford, Gerry Goss, James Monaghan, Jennifer Rademeyer, Teresa Morris.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY: Joseph Magee,
Alexandra Dunne, John Lamb, Eugene Martin, Mgr. George Hay, Maggie Maslinski.
May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER INTENTION FOR APRIL
For the role of women
We pray that the dignity and immense value of women be recognized in every culture, and for the end of discrimination that they experience in different parts of the world.
MASS INTENTIONS:
Saturday 6th April
6.00pm: Matthew Coughlan RIP
Sunday 7th April II of Easter
8.30am: People of the Parish
10.30am: George Robert Emmett RIP
Monday 8th April Annunciation
10.00am: Margaret Corley RIP
Tuesday 9th April
12.15pm: Terry Legrys RIP
Wednesday 10th April
10.00am: Joseph SanthiapillaiAnniv.
Thursday 11th April
CHURCH CLOSED
Friday 12th April
12.15pm: Mary Flach Anniv.
Saturday 13th April
Sunday 14th April III of Easter
8.30am: Private Intention
10.30am: Private Intention