Parish of Our Lady & St Vincent, Potters Bar
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 23rd January 2022
The Great Jubilee
Harold Miller lived with the nomadic Gabra people of N. E. Kenya for many years. Every 50th year they would celebrate a ‘Jubilee’, redistributing their cattle among the people, forgiving all debts and ending all disputes, so that everyone could start afresh. Miller could not believe his eyes when he saw this happening. They told him that they, in turn, could not understand how anybody could survive in a community that did not do this! The differences in wealth and status would become so great that the community or society would collapse! The gap between the rich and the poor, between the successful and those who failed, would become unbearable and the debts unpayable.
We cannot deny these truths when we look at our global community today.
In the first reading Ezra reminds his people of Moses’ Law. Back in their own country, after exile, they have lost their vision. When the people hear what they should do and how they should organise themselves, they break into tears. Ezra tells them not to weep and mourn. He asks them to react more positively, in a manner more appropriate to the celebration of the Jubilee. He tells them to go and eat and drink, taking care to share what they have with those who have nothing.
The task Ezra gave his people is the task we have today. COVID and the associated restrictions have been a kind of exile. We are called to bring Good News to the poor, light to those in darkness. To proclaim the Lord’s justice and peace.
In the second reading St Paul reminds us that we are all parts of the same body. We are all connected and that we all have our unique part to play. Try reading the Gospel inserting your own name ‘He has sent me, Shaun, to give Good News to the poor….’ It can be really powerful. Then ask the Lord, in the silence, to show you how you can do this.
☎ 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
COLLECTION
Jan 9: Envelopes £307; Loose £249
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.
FIRST RECONCILIATION
Parents are reminded that preparation sessions have resumed. There is an important parents‘ session on Tuesday at 7.30pm in the hall. This is not for children and one parent from each family must attend.
On Saturday 29th at 2pm the children will be celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time in church. You will receive final details of your alloted time this week.
CONFIRMATION PREPARATION
Candidates are reminded that the sessions start again on Wednesday 2nd February in the Hall. The Retreat Day at SPEC is on Sunday 6th February and you will receive final details this week.
ALPHA HAS STARTED
Monday was the first session. If you would like to join late please speak with Fr Shaun or Deacon Don TODAY.
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. 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.
SYNOD
Thank you to the 100 parishioners who responded and thank you to Angela Baffa, our synod rep, who is collating the response to the diocese. In few weeks time we aim to have a summary available for parishioners so that we can discern the way forward as a parish.
WEEK of PRAYER for CHRISTIAN UNITY, 18 – 25 JANUARY
There will be a joint service locally 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
DID YOU GET A NEW LAPTOP FOR CHRISTMAS?
As part of our Love in Action (LIA) projects, we have launched the parish Tech Appeal. You can 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/.
ADULT CONFIRMATION
Did you miss out on the Sacrament of Confirmation. Dale is going to run a short programme of preparation sessions for confirmation culminating in confirmations at Easter. If you are interested in finding out more (we will tailor the course to the availability of participants) please email the parish office or leave a note for Dale, as soon as possible.
MISSING DVDs
We are missing two ‘Catholicism’ DVDs from the cupboard in the Hall; Disk 1: Episodes 1 & 2 and Disk 5: Episodes 9 & 10 . If you have borrowed these and think you may still have them, please do return them to the parish office as soon as possible.
SCRIPTURE FESTIVAL
St Alban’s Cathedral 3rd – 5th February. Many family-friendly activities around scripture.
See www.rcdow.org.uk/scripturefestival
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 four 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 recording of Sunday Mass on 01707 518202 (local calls are free).
STEWARDING
One of the comments which came up many times in the synod listening exercise was how much people appreciated the presence of stewards welcoming them to Mass with a smile, a missalette and a newsletter. We thank those who are doing this on a regular basis – it is such an important ministry. It is your church – could you help? Even once a month would help. There is only one person greeting at the Saturday evening Mass – is this fair? Please sign up if you can help.
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, Christakis Christofides, Philomena O’Sullivan, Bernard Keown, Ann O’Neill, Jason Mosely, Robert Chambers, Abbey Cummings, Anne Conlon, Kathy Lavelle, Monica Doheny, Vincent, Lee & Abigail Clark, Baby Logan.
Recently dead: Bernadette Whelan, Michael Butcher, Fr Evan Jones, Ted Pearce, Kamil Terlecki and for all those whose anniversaries occur about this time.
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
30th January, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
Luke 1:1-4; 4:21-30
Newsletter deadline – Tuesday 9.30am
TIMES OF MASS & OTHER LITURGIES
Sunday 23rd January Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Sat) 6pm People of the Parish
9am Lewis Hartley RIP
11am Christopher Weeratunge RIP (Anniversary)
Monday 24th January 10am Mass Intentions of Maureen Buckley
Tuesday 25th January 10am Mass Francis Sodder RIP
Wednesday 26th January 10am Mass Hilario Pestano RIP (Anniversary)
Thursday 27th January No Mass
Friday 28th January 10am Intentions of the Keyes Family
Saturday 29th January 5.15 – 5.45pm Sacrament of Reconciliation
6pm Philomena Gahan RIP (Anniversary)
Sunday 30th January Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
9am Francis Sodder RIP
11am Colin McArdle RIP (Anniversary)
