NEWSLETTER

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Sunday 27th May, 2023

Please contact the parish to receive the newsletter by email each week.

Message from Canon Kristian

Dear brothers and sisters

The work of the Catholic Children’s Society has never been more needed than in these financially challenging times.  Not only does it provide funding for essential items such as beds, cookers and school uniforms, but it also leads parenting programmes in venues and schools across the diocese.  Their help is given freely to children and families in need, of all faiths and none, without discrimination.  This Society’s Annual Appeal takes place this weekend and Canon John Deeny, the Diocesan Administrator’s Delegate for Caritas Diocese of Plymouth has written the following note of support:

The theme of Pope Francis’ message for this year’s World Day of the Poor is: Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor. It is a quote from the Book of Tobit 4:7.  

As we continue to navigate through these challenging economic times, we are only too aware that there are many families and individuals in our midst who are facing tremendous strain due to the very high cost of living.  The Catholic Children’s Society Plymouth remains on the front line in responding to an ever-growing number of those seeking support to meet their basic needs and making every effort not to turn anyone away.  However, the mounting demand has taken a toll on the Society’s resources, depleting its funds.  

The Society has benefitted enormously from the compassionate and generous giving of so many people. Their invaluable contributions continue to make a significant difference in helping bring comfort and practical support to many families and individuals who are especially struggling in these difficult times.

I appeal to your generosity, once again, to support the remarkable work of the Catholic Children’s Society Plymouth through its Annual Appeal.

Thank you for your generosity in the past, and may God bless you for responding as generously as you can to this year’s Appeal.

 Canon John Deeny

As we get nearer to the beginning of the new academic year, it is also time to give some thought to the celebration of next year’s First Holy Communions.  The preparation for the reception of First Confession and First Holy Communion usually starts at the beginning of October, so it is now time for those parents with children aged 7 and over who are ready for start preparation to fill in the application form attached to the Newsletter or to pick up a hardcopy at the entrance to church.  The completed form should be returned to Canon Kristian or to the Parish Office as soon as possible.  Please do pass on this information to those you know who might want to receive this notification.

Our Parish Summer Fair takes place next Saturday in the grounds at St James, 11.00am-1.00pm.  It will be great to see many of you come along to join in the fun. Please do spread the word amongst your friends and neighbours.  The Summer Fair is open to everyone!  A flyer is attached for you to send to your contacts and to use on your social media platforms if that would be an appropriate thing for you to do.

Along with this week’s Newsletter, I attach:

  • Monika Manser’s weekly aid to a prayerful meditation on the Sunday Gospel
  • the First Holy Communion Preparation 2024 Application Form
  • the Summer Fair Flyer
  • the Summer Newsletter from CHAT
  • the Newsletter from The Lighthouse in Tiverton

Some of our young people received their GCSE exam results during this week.  We congratulate them on their successes.  However, whatever their results, let us keep them in our prayers as they continue to discern their future paths.

May the love of Christ surround us all, wherever we are and in whatever life situation we find ourselves.

Be assured of my prayer for you all

Canon Kristian

Canon Kristian Paver

Parish Priest

Parish of St James & St Boniface

40 Old Road

Tiverton EX16 4HJ

Catholic Children’s Society Annual Appeal

The annual appeal of the Catholic Children’s Society takes place this weekend.  If you did not take an envelope last week, please use one this weekend if you can Gift Aid your donation or visit their website www.ccsplymouth.org.uk to understand the wonderful work which the Society does to help struggling children and their families.  Donations can also be made by:

  • sending a cheque made payable to ‘Catholic Children’s Society (Plymouth)’ to St Boniface House, Ashburton, Devon TQ13 7JL

  • BACS paid into Catholic Children’s Society (Plymouth) sort code: 52-41-60, account number: 06024335

  • texting 5CCSP to 70085 to donate £5, 10CCSP to donate £10 or 20CCSP to donate £20.

Parish Summer Fair

Thank you to all those parishioners who helped at the preparation evening last week, fuelled by tea and cake. The Fair starts at 11.00am next Saturday, 1 September. We will be setting up from 9.00am and any helpers would be very welcome. If anybody has any folding tables or pop-up gazebos, these would be appreciated on the day. Please take some flyers with you today and give them to your friends and neighbours or put up in your local shop.  If you can, email the attached flyer to your contacts and share it on your social media pages. All are welcome. 

Parish SVP Skittles Evening

Thank you to those parishioners who attended the Skittles Evening and made it such an enjoyable occasion.  The sum of £141.00 was raised for the Parish SVP’s funds.

First Holy Communion 2024

Plans will soon be being put in place for the celebration of First Confession and First Holy Communion next year. If you have a child, aged 7 or over, who you would like to start preparation for the reception of these Sacraments next year, please either fill in the application form attached to the Newsletter or pick up a copy at the entrance to church.

Parish Showing of “The Letter”

The Parish CAFOD Group will be hosting a showing of the film “The Letter” in the Parish Hall on Saturday 16 September, 1.30-4.00pm. The Letter tells the story of a journey to Rome of frontline leaders where the climate change or the destruction of the environment is having a major impact of their lives to discuss the encyclical letter Laudato Si’ with Pope Francis. This is an important film to watch and discuss, so please make this a date in your diaries.

Diocesan Youth Newsletter and Diocesan Youth Rally 2023

Click on this link for the regular Youth Events newsletter. If you would like to receive this Newsletter directly, either follow the link on the newsletter itself or email youth@prcdtr.org.uk.

Join young people from across the diocese in fun, games and challenges at the Youth Rally on Saturday 23 September, 12noon-6.00pm, at St Rita’s Honiton. Are you ready for the infamous obstacle course? Or are a keen to score lots of goals in the penalty shoot-out or netball challenge. There will be bouncy castles, “didi cars”, sumo wrestling challenges and much more for you to have a go at. The event is open to anyone between the ages of 7- 16. You are encouraged to come as part of a parish/ school team or simply sign up and be placed in a team. The £8 contribution includes a BBQ and drinks. To book: https://forms.office.com/e/L2jn7EwXfH or contact Saskia for further information: youth@prcdtr.org.uk

Season of Creation 2023

“ Let Justice and Peace Flow” is the theme of this year’s ecumenical Season of Creation, inspired by the words of the prophet Amos: “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (5:24). The Season of Creation runs from 1 September to 4 October. During the Season of Creation, we are invited to pray, act and focus on the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor – to listen to those whose voices are less heard; to pray for those individuals, communities, species, and ecosystems which are lost and those whose livelihoods are threatened by climate change. Pope Francis has shared a message for the start of the Season https://seasonofcreation.org/2023/05/25/message-of-pope-francis-for-creation-day-2023/ encouraging us all to take action to care for God’s creation.

You can find ideas and resources for celebrating Season of Creation on the diocesan website https://www.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/the-diocese/how-we-work/environment/season-of-creation/.

CHAT Food Bank Needs Stocks Urgently!

Due to increased demand, the stocks at the CHAT Food Bank are greatly reduced. Please remember to use the receptacles for your donations at the checkouts in the major supermarkets in our area or deposit your donations in the CHAT box at church. Remember you can download the BankTheFood App onto your phone, choose the CHAT Foodbank, and find out in real time what our local foodbank urgently needs.

200 Club

Canon Kristian will make the draw for August after the 6.00pm Mass this Saturday. If you are not a member of this fund-raising initiative, please consider joining.  Please speak to Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon at St James or Teresa Cummings at St Boniface.

Masses and Events this week

Sunday 27th August – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

  • Saturday 26 August – Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God, Priest

    • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm Patrick (Pat) Ellis RIP

    Sunday 27 August – Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

    • Holy Mass at 10.00am Pro Populo
    • Holy Mass at 11.30am (at St Boniface)

    Monday 28 August – St Augustine, Bishop and Doctor

    • Singing to Remember at 2.00pm in the Hall

    Tuesday 29 August – The Passion of St John the Baptist

    • Service of the Word and Holy Communion at 10.00am
    • Funeral Service for John Hennessy RIP at 11.00am (St Boniface)
    • Monthly Lunch Club, 12noon-2.00pm, in the Hall

    Wednesday 30 August – St Margaret Clitherow, St Anne Line and St Margaret Ward, Martyrs

    • Service of the Word and Holy Communion at 12noon (St Boniface)

    Thursday 31 August – St Aidan, Bishop and Missionary, and the Saints of Lindisfarne

    • Reception of the Body at 4.30pm
    • Holy Mass at 6.00pm

    Friday 1 September – Weekday

    • Requiem Mass for Katie Barlow RIP at 11.00am

    Saturday 2 September – Weekday

    • Parish Summer Fair, 11.00am-1.00pm, in St James’s Grounds
    • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm Pro Populo

    Sunday 3 September – Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

    • Holy Mass at 10.00am
    • Holy Mass at 11.30am (at St Boniface)

Imaginative Contemplation – Matthew16:13-20 – Who do people say...Lectio Divina – Matthew 16:21-27 – Get behind me Satan