NEWSLETTER

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Year C)

Sunday 29th December, 2024

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Message from Canon Kristian

Dear sisters and brothers
The Sunday which falls within the Octave of Christmas is always dedicated to the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  This Feast once again emphasises the humanity of the Christ-child, who was born into, and grew up within, the context of a human family.  The great majority of us are formed by the family into which we are born, whatever form that family may take. Importantly, “holy” does not mean “perfect” in the title of this feast.  No family is perfect, not even the Holy Family, which had its own challenges and struggles – from leaving the boy Jesus behind in the temple (Luke 2:41-52) to his mother and his relatives thinking Jesus was out of his mind at the start of his ministry (Mark 3:21) – and these are only the issues actually that were eventually recorded in the Scriptures!  None of our families are perfect either, but the Christian tradition places immense importance on them as places of love and formation, especially in matters of faith.  Because of this, families are often referred to in Church teaching as the “Ecclesia domestica” or “the domestic Church“.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in which several paragraphs are devoted to this topic, explains this title as follows:

1656 In our own time, in a world often alien and even hostile to faith, believing families are of primary importance as centres of living, radiant faith. For this reason the Second Vatican Council, using an ancient expression, calls the family the Ecclesia domestica (cf Lumen Gentium 11, Familiaris consortio 21). It is in the bosom of the family that parents are “by word and example . . . the first heralds of the faith with regard to their children. They should encourage them in the vocation which is proper to each child, fostering with special care any religious vocation.”
1657 It is here that the father of the family, the mother, children, and all members of the family exercise the priesthood of the baptized in a privileged way “by the reception of the sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, and self-denial and active charity” (Lumen Gentium 10). Thus the home is the first school of Christian life and “a school for human enrichment” (Gaudium et spes 52§1). Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous – even repeated – forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one’s life.

The family as “a school of human enrichment” – what a expression pregnant with meaning!  It is the responsibility of the parish family – itself called to be a school of human enrichment in its own special way – to provide what support it can to the families within it so that they can fulfil their mission as “domestic churches”, and to be there for those families that are struggling.  This is a “big ask” for any parish community, and it is one which many, including our own, have work to do even to provide more than a basic level of support.  However, we should never lose sight of the vital importance of this aspect of our life as a parish and continue to strive to do our best to enable and support our families to become these schools of human enrichment.  In light of this, if anyone has any ideas or proposals with regards to how the parish might support our families better, please do have a chat with me about it.

This weekend, the Diocesan Administrator, Canon Paul Cummins, has issued a Pastoral Letter to be read in all our parishes giving details about some local arrangements with regards to the Holy Jubilee Year of Hope, which began on Christmas Eve when Pope Francis opened the Holy Door in Rome.  Pope Francis is inviting us all to become “Pilgrims and Heralds of Hope” during this Holy Year 2025, and Canon Paul offers some ideas about how we might embark on pilgrimage within our own diocese.
Along with the Newsletter this week, I attach:
  • the weekly guide to a prayerful reading of the Sunday Gospel, offered by Monika Manser
  • a flyer from the Society of St Gregory regarding an online course “Praying the Liturgy”, part of its “Taking the Liturgy Seriously” series
  • a short, but challenging, article by Sister Ilia Delio OSF, a Franciscan Sister, who is a scientist, university professor and a theologian specialising in the teaching of the Jesuit priest Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955), entitled “The Birth of God Is Our Future”, which seeks to situate the message of Christmas in a forward-looking context, one in which we ourselves are called to serve as “midwives to the future, to an unfolding world”.
I hope you are continuing to have a restorative celebration of Christmas, and I wish you every blessing as we enter the new civil year.
God bless
Canon Kristian
Canon Kristian Paver
Parish Priest
Parish of St Boniface and St James Mid Devon
40 Old Road Tiverton EX16 4HJ

Holy Jubilee Year 2025 – “Pilgrims of Hope”

The 2025 Jubilee opened on December 24 with the rite of Opening of the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Peter by the Holy Father. The Jubilee offers a special moment for conversion and grace to rekindle hope in the daily journey of life and the proclamation of the Gospel. The Pope’s Bull of Indiction, Hope does not disappoint, proclaiming the Jubilee Year can be read here and the Opening of the Holy Door and other events can be viewed on the Vatican News and Vatican Radio YouTube channel and Facebook Live page.

“Pilgrim of Hope” booklets, which contain both information and spiritual guidance with regards to the Holy Year of Jubilee, are available for everyone this weekend. Please take one.

Donations at the Christmas Crib

Please take time to visit the Crib over the Christmas period.  Any donations will go to the Catholic Children’s Society, as it works across the Diocese spreading God’s love and giving families hope in times of crisis.  The Catholic Children’s Society asks us for a combination of concern, prayer and action. 

Friends of the Holy Land Christmas Appeal

This Christmas, there will be no celebrations in Bethlehem again. Without tourism, Bethlehem’s lifeblood which supports 80% of the population, unemployment has surged. With the borders closed, there is no option to seek work in Israel. Prices have skyrocketed, residents are traumatised by the constant fear and anxiety for the future while their daily lives are restricted by checkpoints and roadblocks. Yet, over the past year, we have seen hope shine more brightly than ever through the Christian community in the West Bank. Though they number around 45,000, less than 1% of the population, the impact they make is remarkable. You can make a donation at https://www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/donate/christmas.

Day of Reflection on Vocation

‘Is God calling me to Priesthood or to the Religious life?’. A Day of Reflection for men will be held on Saturday 1 February from 10.00am-4.00pm at Exeter University Chaplaincy, Boniface House, Glenthorne Road, Exeter EX4 4QU. The day will include Mass, a time of Adoration, a short conference, an opportunity for Confession and individual conversations with serving priests from our Diocese; and sharing food together (please give any information about special dietary requirements).  Under 18’s are welcome to attend with parents’ permission. For more information and to register your interest please contact Fr Jacek Kostuch on jacek.kostuch@prcdtr.org.uk or vocation@prcdtr.org.uk.

Tree of Hope for CHAT

There is a CHAT Tree of Hope in the narthex at St Andrew’s. Choose a tag and either donate on your own behalf or perhaps as a thoughtful gift for that person who seems to have everything and then present them with the tag so that they can see the impact of the contribution made on their behalf.

Funeral Details

The Requiem Mass for Janet Robson RIP will be celebrated on Wednesday 8 January at 2.00pm. Her body will be received into church at 5.00pm on Tuesday 7 January.

A Funeral Service will be held for Jean Fitz-Costa on Tuesday 14 January at 9.30am.

November Parish Giving

Loose: £966.65 Contactless: £340.00 Standing Orders: £2802.00

Masses and Events this week

Sunday29th December – The Feast of the Holy Family

  • Saturday 28 December – The Holy Innocents

    • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm

    Sunday 29 December – Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (C)

    • Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
    • Holy Mass at 11.30am Irene Dobson

    Monday 30 December – Sixth Day of the Christmas Octave

    • No Mass today

    Tuesday 31 December – Seventh Day of the Christmas Octave

    • No Mass today
    • Tough Times Group at 7.00pm in St Boniface’s Hall

    Wednesday 1 January – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

    • Mass at 10.00am (at St Andrew’s)

    Thursday 2 January – St Basil the Great, Bishop and Doctor

    • No Mass today

    Friday 3 January – Weekday of Christmas before Epiphany

    • No Mass today

    Saturday 4 January – Weekday of Christmas before Epiphany

    • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm

    Sunday 5 January – Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (C)

    • Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface)
    • Holy Mass at 11.30am Pro Populo
    • Christmastime Children’s Party, 3.00-5.00pm, in St Andrew’s Hall