ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 53 No: 5
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: 7 February 2021
FIFTH 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
We had a good celebration of the Feast of Candlemas last Tuesday and our crib is finally taken down. It is sad in some ways to see it go, but good to see the Pietà back in its proper place. I would like to thank Geoff and Liam Ings and Peter Boyle for their great work of erecting and taking down the crib, and also John Jansen for all his work on the Pietà. We are blessed to have such fine volunteers.
So now we turn our attention to Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent which begins on 17 February. Our celebration of Ash Wednesday will have to be different this year, since we can’t have the imposition of the ashes in the normal way, because it would involve the priest touching the foreheads of members of the congregation. Furthermore, Cardinal Nichols has stated that we shouldn’t have extra Masses arranged for Ash Wednesday so as to minimise the need for people to leave their homes and do too much travelling. Consequently, there will be one Mass on Ash Wednesday at 10.00am and ashes will be sprinkled over people’s heads in the cloister as they leave the church. There will be more information on this next week.
However, the Cardinal also makes another suggestion in a Pastoral Letter which we shall read next weekend. He suggests that we could have Ash Wednesday celebrations at home and gives an order of service in his Pastoral Letter. This letter will be uploaded on the parish website next weekend and there will also be hard copies in the cloister for people to take. This will be quite an innovation, but it seems to be a very good thing to try in these uncertain times.
The funeral of Simon Pearson, who died on 18 January, will be on Tuesday 23 February at 11.00am. We shall have to cancel the 10.00am Mass on that day, since it would be difficult to sanitise the church properly between the two ceremonies. We also have to comply with the guidelines on numbers and limit attendance at the funeral to thirty people. Normally, we would easily exceed that number, so please don’t come if you have not been in touch with the family. We shall try and arrange a Mass for Simon once things are easier.
A good number of people have told me that they have had the first vaccination jab and the numbers round the country have been equally impressive, with over 10 million people vaccinated. Let us hope and pray that this vaccination campaign will help us to relax some of the restrictions we are living under, and lead to the opening up of schools and businesses. Until that time, we must still keep vigilant and comply to the very best of our ability with the guidelines that are in place. They are a nuisance, certainly, but they will get us through in the end. Perhaps we can be inspired by the example of Sir Tom Moore, who showed such resilience and courage.
As ever, let me say: Keep safe; keep happy; keep going!
God Bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION FEBRUARY:
Violence Against Women
We pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded.
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.
THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY: Vinnie Packs contain essential items i.e. thermal hat, gloves & socks. The contents of each Vinnie Pack cost around £3.50 and donations to sponsor packs would be most welcome. Donations can be transferred to SVP Vinnie Packs, a/c 46088237 sort code 60-60-04 or cheques made out to SVP can be sent to Vinnie Packs, PO Box 72264, London, SW1P 9EZ
DAILY WALK? SOMETHING POSITIVE THIS LENT. Could you walk 10000 Steps either on one day or everyday this Lent? The walk could be a sign of your solidarity with all those who do not have access to a safe water source and who have to walk for water each day. Find out more or sign up online at cafod.org.uk/walk and go the distance this Lent and help to end water poverty.
YOU CAN HELP YOUR MARRIAGE. Do you feel alone? Are you frustrated or angry at each other? Do you argue … or have you just stopped talking to each other? Does talking about it only make it worse? Retrouvaille helps couples through difficult times in their marriages. There is no group therapy or group work. The programme has helped tens of thousands of couples experiencing difficulties in their marriage. The next ‘virtual weekend retreat’ takes place 25th–28th February. For confidential information about Retrouvaille, or to register for the next programme, call 07887-296983 or 07973- 380443, or e-mail retrouvailleukinfo@gmail.com or visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk
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.
TO OUR CATHOLIC UNIVERSE AND CATHOLIC TIMES READERS at the moment you are unable to collect your paper at Mass, but you can get it delivered direct to your home every week, POST FREE. Please go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com or call on 0161 820 5722 and they will arrange for you. SPECIAL OFFER 3 MONTHS: £25.00
SPECIAL OFFER 12 Months: £99.00
DIGITAL COPY 12 Months: £55.00
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday:
6.00pm: Ita Shiel (RIP)
Sunday: 5th Sunday of the Year
10.30am: Catherine Gertrude Mex (RIP)
6.00pm: Nuno Jorge (RIP Anni)
Monday:
10.00am: Sr Loretta Dooley (Ints)
Tuesday:
10.00am: John & Paddy Bacon (RIP)
Wednesday: St Scholastica
10.00am: Simon Pearson (RIP)
Thursday:
7.30am: Private Intention
Friday:
10.00am: Margaret Gasser (RIP)
Saturday:
10.00am: People of the Parish
6.00pm:
RECENTLY DECEASED: Mgr Mark Langham, Simon Pearson, Ita Sheil, Fr Patrick O’Donaghue
May they rest in eternal peace.