Parish of Our Lady & St Vincent, Potters Bar
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 16th January 2022
Do whatever he tells you
In John’s gospel the mother of Jesus is mentioned just twice: at the marriage feast at Cana, the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus and at the crucifixion, the end of it. That could be a way of telling us that the role played by Mary was not just the fact of her being the mother of Jesus, but that she was actively involved with Jesus in the work of our redemption. We have read that at the marriage feast at Cana, Mary was invited as well as Jesus himself and his disciples. As the feasting went on and the wine ran short, Mary took the initiative to intercede with Jesus and he performed what turned out to be his first miracle, the first of his signs.
Jesus somehow knew he had this power to enhance the lives of others. After his forty days fast in the desert he was hungry and the devil suggested it to him to turn some stones into bread for his own use, but he did not do it. Yet he later multiplied bread for crowds of his hungry followers to eat. What does the Cana miracle tell us? Is it that God’s special gifts are not meant primarily for our personal benefit but for the service of others. That is what St Paul says in the Second Reading when he lists examples of different gifts of the Holy Spirit and adds that “to each person is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
What gifts has God given me? Am I using these gifts for some service in the community?” We may wonder why there are no more manifestations of the Holy Spirit like what we read in the Bible. Maybe if we began better using the gifts we have for the common good – like the gift of praying, singing, teaching, caring, sharing, encouraging, supporting, motivating, writing, etc. – then we might begin to see miracles. Concern for others is the basic miracle.
Mary points to her Son and says, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ What is the Lord asking you to do?
☎ 01707 654359 Email – pottersbar@rcdow.org.uk Website – www.olasv.org.uk
All services are live streamed – click on ‘live streaming’ link on website
Recording of Sunday Mass available on 01707 518202 after 10am Sunday
Parish Priest: Canon Shaun Lennard – shaunlennard@rcdow.org.uk
Presbytery: 243, Mutton Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 2AT
Deacon: Rev Donal Hopkins – donhopkins@rcdow.org.uk
Catechetical coordinator: Mrs. Francesca Khaliq – pottersbarcat@rcdow.org.uk
Parish Administrator: Nicola Thrussell, Pastoral Assistant (Seminarian): Dale Cutlan
Safeguarding Rep. Mike Sibley: pottersbarsg@safeguardrcdow.org.uk
Parish Office open Mon, Tues & Fri 9.30am – 12.30pm (except public holidays)
To speak to a priest in an emergency ring 07854 866860
COLLECTIONS
Jan 2: Envelopes £422; Loose £238
Christmas Offerings: £4,329
Thank you for your generosity.
THANK YOU
Under the Gift Aid scheme for the tax year 2020-21 we have received £23,138 in tax refunds. Thank you to all parishioners and one-off donors who have given through this scheme. If you pay tax and join this scheme we can reclaim the tax that you have already paid the Inland Revenue. You can give using Standing Order, through the credit/debit card machine or using envelopes. New sets of envelopes will be ready in late February for the next tax year. If you pay tax and would like to join the scheme, which is confidential and which will cost you nothing, please contact the parish office now.
PARISH OFFICE
The Parish Office is open to callers from 9.30am – 12.30pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
TED PEARCE RIP
Ted and his wife Mary attended 9am Mass for many years before moving into a Care Home in St Albans two years ago. Ted died recently and his funeral will be at Ss Alban & Stephen Church, Beaconsfield Road, St Albans AL1 3RB on Tuesday 1st February at 10am. Fr Shaun will be going to concelebrate.
READERS
Please can Readers send their replies to Rosemary’s email regarding availability to read for February, March and April by 17th January.
FIRST RECONCILIATION
Parents are reminded that preparation sessions have resumed. The next session will be on Saturday 22nd January at 4.30pm.
ALPHA IS STARTING! DON’T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY!
Why do bad things happen to good people? Does God heal? These and many more questions will be explored
at our ‘Alpha’ course Starting on Monday, January 24th, 7.30pm and then every Monday evening.
Registration closes this weekend. To register, or for more information, email; pbalpha@rcdow.org.uk
For those with no online access, manual registration forms are available in the Narthex. Watch a
promo video www.youtube.com/watch?v=fViYK_Xb3Wg
We will be meeting face-to-face in the well-ventilated and heated hall. Face coverings should be worn unless eating (or exempt.) Everything will be socially distanced to keep everybody safe. Remember, if you come to the first one and decide it is not for you – you will not be pestered!
SUNDAY POWERPOINT
COVID precautions mean that we are not able to use hymn books for the moment. The easiest eco-friendly way of seeing the words is projecting them above the entrance doors. We need people at 9am & 11am Mass each week to simply press a button on the laptop to move through the slides. There is a sign-up sheet on the whiteboard in the narthex for those who are willing to click through the PowerPoint on Sundays. If you have offered to volunteer, please sign up for any dates that suit you. We need more volunteers, so please speak to Dale. It is very simple, the PowerPoint will be set up and ready to go, and you are able to view the next/all slides without affecting what is projected. If you are willing but unsure, Dale is more than happy to walk you through it. The more who volunteer, the less work it is. Children who do this at Pope Paul School are very welcome.
CHRISTMAS FOR SOMEONE ELSE
Please help us continue to support those in the local community who are most in need. We were able to help 20 families for Christmas. The fund remains open for the winter months. Please contact the Parish Office for details.
DID YOU GET A NEW LAPTOP FOR CHRISTMAS?
As part of our Love in Action (LIA) projects, in partnership with Nicholas Breakspear School, we are launching the parish Tech Appeal THIS WEEKEND. You will have the opportunity to donate unwanted laptops/notebooks to those in our parish and partner schools in need of IT equipment. You may have received a new device for Christmas and so will have an old one you can donate. Please have a look at home to see if you have a suitable device you no longer use, to donate to the appeal. If you do have any please fill in the questionnaire that can be found on our website http://olasv.org.uk/.
A member of the team will then call you.
EPIPHANY BLESSING OF THE HOME
There is a beautiful German custom of families asking God’s blessing on homes at Epiphany. Homes are blessed and the inscription “20+C+M+B+22” is chalked on or above the door. The numbers are of the year and the letters are Christus Masionem Benedicat (which means ‘Christ bless this house’) At the same time the letters are the first letters of the names of the Wise Men Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. The prayer of blessing and chalks are available in the narthex for you to take away to bless your home.
COMING TO CHURCH
To help keep everybody safe we ask you
- Wear a face covering unless exempt.
- Sign in using QR code or slip
- Sanitise your hands on entering and leaving the building
- Keep to one-way system for Holy Communion
- Take missalettes and newsletters home with you
- Leave by all exits at the weekend
- Do not come to church if you have COVID symptoms.
We are making sure that the building is well-ventilated (the best defence) and the underfloor heating helps us from being too uncomfortable!
Don’t forget that all Masses are live-streamed via the parish website and, if you do not have internet access, you can listen to a recoding of Sunday Mass on 01707 518202 (local calls are free)
WEEK of PRAYER for CHRISTIAN UNITY, 18 – 25 JANUARY
As several churches in Potters Bar are without a minister at the moment there is no pulpit exchange this year. There will be a joint service later in the year.
You are invited to join Christians from across Hertfordshire in on-line prayer on 25th January 2022 at 7.30pm ALL ARE WELCOME! Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89465881609?pwd=aHduWWw3b1NVOVlzZ01sa3lWdkt5Zz09
Meeting ID: 894 6588 1609 and Passcode: 656904
FR DES BAKER RIP
Fr Des, who died before Christmas, was one time chaplain to the St John of God community in Barvin Park. He was also on the team of All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney. His funeral, led by Bishop Paul McAleenan, is taking place on Thursday in St Leonards, where he lived in retirement. Fr Shaun is going to concelebrate.
CHURCH CLEANING
Team A – Weds 2nd February 10.30am.
PLEASE PRAY FOR
Please remember in your prayers the sick, their, including: Damien Grafton, Marsaili MacAuley, Linda Brooks, Patricia Wallington, Grant Davis, Bridie Spelzini, Frank Casali, Susan Lundrigan, Jean Rudd, Theresa Round, Joan Bonner, Jean Lowery, Jamie Giles, Mary Lindsay, Paige White, Bernadette Whelan, Christakis Christofides, Philomena O’Sullivan, Bernard Keown, Ann O’Neill, Jason Mosely, Robert Chambers, Abbey Cummings, Kathleen Gershlick, Anne Conlon, Kathy Lavelle, Monica Doheny, Vincent, Lee & Abigail Clark, Baby Logan Williamson.
Recently dead: Tom Butler, Fr Evan Jones, Ted Pearce, Kamil Terlecki and for all those whose anniversaries occur about this time.
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
23rd January, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Nehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10
1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Newsletter deadline – Tuesday 9.30am
TIMES OF MASS & OTHER LITURGIES
Sunday 16th January Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sat 6pm Vigil Mass Intentions of Sean and Chloe
9am Bridie Gaughan RIP
11am People of the Parish
12noon Baptism of Amelia Edge
Monday 17th January 10am Mass Deceased Members of the Kirwan Family
2.30pm Funeral Mass Tom Butler RIP
Tuesday 18th January 10am Mass Intentions of the Kissane Family
Wednesday 19th January 10am Mass Intentions of the Kiely Family
Thursday 20th January No Mass
Friday 21st January 10am Joseph Medaiyl RIP
Saturday 22nd January 12noon Funeral of Kamil Terlecki (Upson’s chapel)
5.15 – 5.45pm Sacrament of Reconciliation
6pm People of the Parish
Sunday 23rd January Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
9am Lewis Hartley RIP
11am Christopher Weeratunge RIP (Anniversary)
