ST JOSEPH’S JOURNAL Volume 54 No: 1
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: 9 January 2022
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
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
Well, I think we made it! All our Christmas services went pretty well; numbers were certainly more than last year; the church looked wonderful and it was great to have altar servers, organists and even a choir for Midnight Mass. I must thank all those who worked so hard to make the Feast so special: the servers and musicians have already been mentioned, but there are also those who arranged the flowers, those who cleaned the church, the readers and eucharistic ministers, the stewards, the collectors and money counters and those who put up the crib. I must thank you for your generous contributions to the collections and I must add a personal note of thanks to all who sent me cards (sometimes with generous enclosures!) and many other presents and gifts. I was overwhelmed by it all.
The liturgical season of Christmas ends today with the Baptism of the Lord, and on Monday we are back in Ordinary Time with Week 1 of Year 2. Green vestments return and we must get down to the many things that need to be done to keep the show on the road for the next year. First of those is the Marriage Preparation Course which has three sessions and begins on Monday 17 January at 8pm in the small hall. The second meeting is on 21 February and the third is on 21 March. Couples intending to marry in 2022 need to attend these three sessions and we look forward to seeing them on 17/1.
The second important course of preparation is for Confirmation and this begins on Monday 24 January from 6.15-7.30pm. Candidates need to be in School Year 9 or above and also need to fill in one of the forms that can be found on the chest at the back of the church. The date of the ceremony has not been finalised yet, but I hope to have a date very soon.
There have been a few written responses to the questions given on the forms which you can still find at the back of the church, and you can also complete an online questionnaire, details of which are given overleaf. The Holy Father has asked for this survey to be done in preparation for the Synod in Rome in 2023. Please try and give your thoughts, which will, of course be anonymous.
Given the very large numbers of Covid infections at the moment we are strongly urged to wear masks in church and to get the vaccinations that are available. This is not just a silly idea. There are good reasons for us to comply with this advice and the safety of ourselves and other people is compromised if we just ignore it. Please cooperate with the suggestions to help us all.
As I always say: keep smiling, keep safe and keep going! There is much to do, but we can be sure that we will be given the grace and strength to persevere. We are blessed and fortunate to be members of the Church. Let us work and pray to bring many more people back to their observance. Happy New Year, once again.
God bless – Fr Terry
POPE’S INTENTION FOR JANUARY 2022
FOR TRUE HUMAN FRATERNITY
We pray for all those suffering from religious discrimination and persecution: may their own rights and dignity be recognized, which originate from being brothers and sisters in the human family
IF YOU GO IN TO HOSPITAL: 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.
SYNODALITY SURVEY
In order to obtain as many responses as possible so that we may provide a full parish response to Westminster, an online survey has been created in which everyone is invited to participate.
It will take only 10 minutes of your time, and the responses will remain entirely anonymous. Pope Francis wants all the baptised to feel they can participate in the synodality process, so please encourage all of your family and friends to join in, including those who rarely attend Mass and those who do not attend at all. We need to know what all Catholics think at this important time when the future of the Church is being discussed in what is effectively a continuation of the 2nd Vatican Council. Here is the link:
https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90408106/a0cc4c376c43
If you go to the online version of this newsletter there is a hyperlink that may make life easier!
Thank you in advance for your help.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PHOTOGRAPHS
Are ready to be collected from Mrs. Walker, Monday – Friday 7.30am – 12noon. Or from the sacristy after the weekend Masses.
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.
WHITE FLOWER APPEAL
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children will be holding its annual appeal next weekend Please give what you can to support their important work. There are also some cards on the chest at the back of the church which can be filled in and posted to SPUC to support freedom of speech on pro-life issues, especially in universities and colleges.
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Margaret Hogg, David Ellam, Peter Bruno
RECENTLY BAPTISED
Aurelia D’Angelo
RESCHEDULED PARISH PARTY: We were unable to celebrate the New Year properly on 1 January, so we wanted to find an alternative date. Provisionally, we have chosen Saturday 30 April with Mass at 11.00am and a reception in the Hall afterwards. This is very much an advance warning, but let’s hope it will be possible to celebrate properly.
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday:
6.00pm: Thomas & Joanna Coleman (RIP)
Sunday – THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
8.30am: People of the Parish (Ints)
10.30am: Margaret Hogg (RIP)
6.00pm: Jack O’Mahoney (RIP)
Monday:
10.00am: Chadirchi Family (Ints)
Tuesday:
12.15pm: Martha Seaward (RIP Anni)
Wednesday:
10.00am: Tom & Annie Parsons (RIP)
Thursday:
CHURCH CLOSED
Friday:
12.15pm: Danny Higgins (RIP)
Saturday:
6.00pm: Rita Connors (RIP)