Parish of Our Lady & St Vincent, Potters Bar
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 30th January 2022
Today’s Gospel is the continuation of last Sunday’s Gospel. Jesus read the jubilee text from Isaiah and said ‘This text is being fulfilled today, even as you listen.’ All eyes on the synagogue were on him. But, by the end of today’s passage the mood changes completely and his life is in danger. What happened to make the crowd turn against him so quickly?
Put yourself in the position of the crowd. The local boy who has done well comes back to his home town and announces his work in the Lord’s year of favour. They surely expect some special treatment as they are his neighbours. But Jesus announces that the wonderful healings and miracles he had performed in Capernaum and other places are difficult for him to perform in his home town because he is not accepted (‘Surely this is Joseph’s son?’ they mutter)
He goes on to say that this wonderful Kingdom will be shared with non-Jews and pagans. He reminds them of examples of two non-Jews in their scriptures who were blessed by God. They cannot accept that they have to share this wonderful prospect with others. They want to keep the best things in life – God and God’s blessings – within their own little closed circle. This attitude lies at the heart of nationalistic and racist attitudes.
Those villagers display their lack of openness to others by pushing Jesus out of the synagogue. They are about to hurl him down the hill. They would rather kill him than accept his message. But Jesus slips out and walks away. He walks away to continue his work and his journey. This journey will lead him to Jerusalem where, for exactly the same reason, the people will thrust him out of the town and crucify him.
The Lord has anointed you and me. He has sent us to continue his mission to the whole world. That is our challenge and we must be wary of excluding others.
☎ 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 – pottersbar@rcdow.org.uk
Pastoral Assistant (Seminarian): Dale Cutlan
Safeguarding Rep. Mike Sibley: pottersbarsg@safeguardrcdow.org.uk
Parish Office open Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 9.30am – 12.30pm
To speak to a priest in an emergency ring 07854 866860
COLLECTION
Jan 16: Envelopes £517; Loose £268
Thank you for your generosity.
PARISH OFFICE
The Parish Office is open to callers from 9.30am – 12.30pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
ALPHA HAS STARTED
Last Monday was the first session. If you would like to join late please speak with Fr Shaun or Deacon Don TODAY.
PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas) is on Wednesday. Candles will be blessed at 10am Mass. You are welcome to bring your own devotional candles for blessing if you wish.
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 should have received details.
BLESSING OF THROATS
The annual blessing of St Blaise will be given after 10am Mass on Thursday.
Please note there is no Mass on Friday this week.
CHUCHES TOGETHER PRAYERS
Come and join other Christians in Potters Bar for prayers and breakfast at 8.30am on Saturday 5th February at the URC, 245, Darkes Lane, EN6 1BZ
SCRIPTURE FESTIVAL
St Alban’s Cathedral 3rd – 5th February. Many family-friendly activities around scripture. From 10am to 4pm each day there will be events to help us explore scripture more deeply. Roman Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 12noon on Friday (as it is every Friday) and a group from Pope Paul School will be going on Thursday. Why not take Bus 84 or 305 and make a day of it?! For full details see www.rcdow.org.uk/scripturefestival
INCLUSIVE MASS
11am Mass next Sunday is our monthy ‘Inclusive Mass‘ when the children stay in for the whole of Mass. We attempt to engage everybody in various ways. Any suggestions for developing this Mass are very welcome.
CHORAL VESPERS
On Radio 3 on Wednesday at 4pm will be Vespers for the Feast of the Presentation from Our Lady of Victories Church in Kensington, sung by the schola of Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School.
CHRISTMAS FOR SOMEONE ELSE
Since last Christmas you have donated £10,739.86 to help vulnerable families over the winter. We have dispersed £7,426.93 of those funds last winter, for a summer trip and, more recently, vouchers for food at Christmas and in January. The remaining funds will be dispersed over the next few months. It is still not too late to give, either on the credit/debit card machine or by cash/cheque. Contact the 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.
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, by Sunday 13th February.
COVID PRECAUTIONS
Although the regulations about wearing face coverings is being relaxed we ask that everybody over 11years continues to wear face coverings unless exempt. This is the current advice, especially as we are singing again.
We have just received guidance from the Bishops’ Conference about the next phase and, after consulting with committee/group leaders, we will announce the way forward next week.
From next weekend we will resume the use of hymn books at sung Mass.
PALMS
Please bring in any old palms you have so that the pupils at Pope Paul School can burn them to make ash for Ash Wednesday
MISSING DVDs
We are missing two ‘Catholicism’ DVDs from the cupboard in the Hall; Disk 1: Episodes 1 & 2, Disk 5: Episodes 9 & 10.
PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
Nicholas Breakspear School are petitioning the County Council to install a pedestrian crossing and other traffic calming measures, for the safety of their students, outside the school. Please support the school by signing the petition by visiting www.nbs.herts.sch.uk and clicking on the link.
LOST PROPERTY
Please check on the table in the narthex THIS WEEKEND to see if anything of yours is there. Anything unclaimed will be given to a charity shop or recycled. Lost property is kept in the box by the sacristy door.
BERNADETTE WHELAN RIP
Bernadette’s funeral Mass will be on Tuesday 8th February at 11.30am. Her mortal remains will be recieved into the church the evening before at 4pm.
SHIELDING/ISOLATING?
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.
LOURDES PILGRIMAGE
The annual diocesan pilgrimage is planned for 22 – 29 July 2022. At this stage the organisers need to know who would be interested. If you are interested (you are not committing yourself at this stage) please go to
https://forms.rcdow.org.uk/lourdes-pilgrimage-2022-expression-of-interest/
This is the best way to travel in the current climate as all is guaranteed COVID-protected.
VOLUNTEER FOR CAFOD
Could your New Year’s resolution be volunteering for CAFOD? We have lots of different ways you can get involved such as: In the parish, In local schools, Coordinating volunteers If you’d like to know more, please get in touch with Tony tsheen@cafod.org.uk
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, including Colin McArdle and James Bradley.
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
6th February, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Isaiah 6:1-8 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11
Newsletter deadline – Tuesday 9.30am
TIMES OF MASS & OTHER LITURGIES
Sunday 30th January Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Sat) 6pm Philomena Gahan RIP (Anniversary)
9am Francis Sodder RIP
11am Colin McArdle RIP (Anniversary)
Monday 31st January 10am Mass John McDaid RIP
Tuesday 1st February 10am Mass Colin McArdle RIP (Anniversary)
10am Funeral of Ted Pearce in St Albans
Wednesday 2nd February 10am Mass Pauline Dooling RIP (Anniversary)
11.20am Funeral of Michael Butcher, W.Herts Crem
Thursday 3rd February 10am Michael John Burke RIP
Friday 4th February No Mass NOTE CHANGE OF DAY
Saturday 5th February 8.30am Churches Together Prayer, URC
1pm Baptism of Mark McCarthy
5.15 – 5.45pm Sacrament of Reconciliation
6pm People of the Parish
Sunday 6th February Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
9am Breda Houlihan RIP
11am Thomas Braganza RIP
