ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 54 No: 16
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: 8 May 2022 FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY
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
As I have mentioned over the last few weeks, we shall have a Health and Safety Inspection on Thursday 19 May. This requires us, among other things, to have a Fire Drill at Sunday Masses and this will take place this weekend at the end of the masses. Try and leave the church as quickly as you can; we have to record how long this exit takes and then we can inform the Inspector. This is, I know, a bit of a nuisance, but it is something we have to do at least once a year, so please do your bit by using the two exits (through the sacristy and house, and via the main door). I shall let you know how it went next weekend. Life is never dull, anyway.
One difficulty we face is that this is Good Shepherd Sunday and we have arranged to have a retiring collection for the diocesan Priests’ Training Fund. I shall still leave a basket out for people to contribute this week, if you have brought the money or envelope with you, but we shall also do the same next weekend to avoid any confusion with the Fire Drill. There are currently 58 men studying for the priesthood at Allen Hall, 17 of whom are for our own diocese of Westminster. There are also two men studying in Rome. The Fund also supports the ongoing formation of the priests of the diocese, so it does have many commitments. Please give what you can.
We are still preparing for the celebration of Confirmation at 7pm on Thursday, 19 May. The final class will be this Monday, 9 May, and I would ask all of you to keep the candidates in your prayers. We have 32 young people who will receive the Holy Spirit at this celebration, and this is a splendid total. The candidates have been very diligent in their preparations and I thank them for their good behaviour. The only drawback to this is that we have quite a small church and it soon gets full, so I would ask that each candidate has no more than 6 guests (including their sponsor). If each candidate does have 6 guests then the total numbers of candidates and guests is 224, which will make things very full. The candidates will sit, with their sponsors, in the main nave and we shall try and find enough room for everyone else. We have one problem: the photographer who was to photograph the proceedings is now unable to come and I wonder whether anyone knows a photographer who might be willing to take on the job. Please let me know as soon as you can. Thank you.
You will find some prayer cards at the back of the church with a prayer for the Queen as she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee in a few weeks. Do feel free to take one. She will need our prayers as she prepares for this important and quite unique event.
As always, keep smiling, keep safe and keep going. And, for now, keep wearing the masks and using the sanitisers.
God bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION FOR MAY
Faith-Filled Young People
We pray for all young people, called to live life to the fullest; may they see in Mary’s life the way to listen, the depth of discernment, the courage that faith generates, and the dedication to service.
CURRENT CHURCH VOLUNTEERS:
You were recently made aware that all DBS checks of parish volunteers need to be updated. This process is now done online, with the exception of your IDs being checked. Please could you email your full name, volunteer post (e.g. reader, cleaner, catechist etc.) and your email address to
hertfordsg3@safeguardrcdow.org.uk so that you can be registered. Once you have been registered you will receive an email that will link you to the beginning of the online process. Please note ALL volunteers appointed by the parish MUST do this. When you have completed the process online you will be prompted to make an appointment with Elizabeth Black to get your IDs verified, please do this via email as soon as you can. Please let Father Terry know if you do not have access to the internet or would like some help in completing the online application.
PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES:
If you no longer use your envelopes please do let the office know. Maybe you might consider changing your offering to standing order, if so please contact the office.
If your box is not there please do let the office know and it will be reallocated to you.
URGENT APPEAL FOR CHILDREN’S CLOTHES:
From baby to teenage years.
Please leave with Mrs Walker in the church hall, Mon-Fri 8am-12noon.
ROSARY GROUP: Come and join us in the church on Tuesday evenings at 7pm for recital of the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
THE LOBSTER POT LUNCH: Friday 20 May at 12.45pm in the church hall. Lunches cost £15 for a three-course meal, glass of wine, coffee and chocolates. Please call Sue on 07711 584 517.
ST MICHAEL’S CATHOLIC GRAMMAR SCHOOL: Applications to sit the entrance tests for Year 7 Entry in September 2023
Applications are now being accepted for girls currently in year 5 to sit the entrance tests for year 7 entry to St Michael’s in September 2023. Applications can be made through the online system available on our website https://www.st-michaels.barnet.sch.uk/admissions/admissions-2023-24/
CHRISTIAN AID COFFEE MORNING: at Hertford United Reformed Church, Cowbridge, SH14 1PG on Saturday 14 May 10-12.00.
Everyone welcome.
RECENTLY MARRIED:
Victoria Byron & Martin Atkinson
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday:
6.00pm: Kevin & Dorothy Mullen (RIP)
Sunday: FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
8.30am: Teresa McCarthy (Ints)
10.30am: Fr Anthony Nye SJ (RIP)
6.00pm: People of the Parish
Monday:
10.00am: Matthew Brotherton (Ints)
Tuesday: Mass is early today due to a Deanery meeting
10.00am: Fr Anthony Brunning (RIP)
Wednesday:
10.00am: Bridget Peters (RIP)
Thursday: CHURCH CLOSED
Friday:
12.15pm: Tim Culloty (RIP)
Saturday: St Matthias, Apostle
6.00pm: Shelagh & Roger Stacey (RIP)
Confessions: 10-10.30am & 5.00-5.30pm
Exposition of the blessed sacrament 5-5.40pm
Recently Deceased
Winnie Kudish, James Zsibrita, Maurice Champ