NEWSLETTER

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Thanksgiving

Sunday 11 October 2020

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

Message from Canon Kristian

Dear Parishioners

Despite the challenges that face us still with regards to the spread once again of Covid-19, we remain thankful to God for the abundance of food and other necessities of life that we enjoy, but we also recognise that there are many people around the world, and in our own country, who continue to live in poverty, experiencing hunger and deprivation on a daily basis.  This weekend as we celebrate our annual thanksgiving to God for the fruits of the harvest, we join in prayer and stand in solidarity with those who lack the basic necessities that their human dignity deserves.

You will have heard that the Holy Father formally issued his new Encyclical Letter, Fratelli tutti – Brothers and Sisters All, in Assisi on 3rd October, the eve of the Feast of St Francis.  The Pope’s letter focuses on the need for rebuild a sense of global solidarity across the whole human family from the standpoint of our Christian faith and encourages us to strive to counteract the increasing fragmentation of our world.  The Letter is full of sound teaching and offers an incisive analysis of many of the challenges facing us in a post-Covid world.  Together with Bishop Mark, I strongly encourage you to read the whole document. Bishop Mark’s Message to the Diocese and a short summary of the Holy Father’s Encyclical is available to read here.

Against the background of our Harvest Thanksgiving, the Newsletter contains various ways in which we can help others who find themselves in situations of great need.  On a global level, we are being asked to contribute financially to the CAFOD Coronavirus Appeal.  Along with our offerings from the Harvest Family Fast Day which took place last Friday, you will find a number of different ways that you can donate towards that appeal.  On a more local level, the October CHAT Newsletter gives information of the great work that is being done to reach out to those in need as well as ways we can help.  A reminder of the CHAT Harvest Bucket Challenge is available to view, as well as the main items needed by the Food Bank. Your “buckets” or individual items can be brought to church and we will get them to CHAT.  There is also the free diocesan online event organised by Caritas Plymouth in preparation for the World Day of the Poor which will be an opportunity to reflect for the first time of the teaching of Fratelli tutti and to discover how we might find ways of responding to homelessness, isolation and ageing, refugees and migrants, and poverty in our own communities.

Monika Manser has also kindly provided her weekly handout to help those who wish to pray with this Sunday’s Gospel by imaginative contemplation – please see the Resources>Reflections section of the parish website to access this and previous reflections.  If you would like to join in the weekly online prayer meeting to reflect together with other members of the parish please contact the parish and we can pass on your details to Monika.

Finally, it is great to see people returning in good numbers to the practice of regular Sunday Mass.  As you know, due to Covid restrictions, the places available at the Saturday evening and Sunday morning Masses are limited, so please do contact Rosie, the parish secretary, as early as you can in the week to ensure that there will be a place available for you.  You can call Rosie during Parish Office opening hours, which are in the Newsletter, or contact the parish office via email and she will reply when she is in the office.  I know that we are used to the freedom to turn up at Mass when we want and that this way of acting for us is very alien, but it is nonetheless important that we do this in order to keep each other safe, especially at this time when the virus is once again on the increase.

As always, be assured that you are all often in my prayers and I am always available if you need to talk or would like a visit.

With every blessing

Fr Kristian

Coming to Mass

Now that the 11.30am Mass on Sunday has been moved to St Boniface, Cullompton, and spaces are therefore limited for Mass in St James, Tiverton, it is really important that you contact Rosie in the Parish Office as early in the week as possible – either by phone during parish office hours or by email at any time – to ensure that there are places available. Unfortunately, once we have reached the maximum number permitted due to COVID distancing regulations, we are not allowed by law to admit others into the building. To be fair to everyone, “rolling bookings” cannot be taken for the weekend Masses, but are still possible for weekday Masses.

Parish Office Hours:

  • Monday – Thursday: 10.00am-1.00pm
  • Friday: 10.00am-2.00pm

NHS Test and Trace

Both St James and St Boniface have been issued with their specific QR code by the Government and these are posted at the entrance and exit of each church.  If you have downloaded the NHS Test and Trace App, please use the “check in” option each time you come to church.  We have been asked to continue to take people’s details manually as well, as there are some who are not able to download the App.

CAFOD Coronavirus Appeal – Survive, Rebuild, Heal

This Sunday is our Sunday of Thanksgiving for the Harvest. Friday, 9 October, was the CAFOD Harvest Family Fast Day on which, this year, we were asked to stand together with families in the poorest countries facing the worst of coronavirus.  As Pope Francis reminds us: “Only together can we do this.

Please return your envelopes this week, if possible, completing the Gift Aid slip if you are a taxpayer (additional envelopes are available at the entrance to church). Alternatively, you can use our contactless “tap and donate” facility, give your donation directly to CAFOD online at www.cafod.org.uk/give, or text “CAFOD” to 70085 to donate £10.  The text will cost £10 plus one standard rate message.  If you do not want to receive further marketing communications on your telephone text “CAFODNOINFO”.

World Mission Sunday

Next Sunday is World Mission Day, the Sunday dedicated to prayer for the spread of the Gospel in missionary territories.  All donations go to the Universal Solidarity Fund which support spiritual and material need across the world.

Preparation for the World Day of the Poor

Caritas Plymouth warmly invites you to join Bishop Mark for an on-line event on Saturday 24 October, 10.30am–12.30pm to reflect on the Pope’s Message for World Day of the Poor and on Catholic Social Teaching:

  • Hear from Bishop Mark about some of the key messages in ‘Fratelli Tutti – Brothers and Sisters All’ about social action in a post-Covid world
  • Learn more about how the Church is focussed on helping the poor and marginalised
  • Learn how Caritas Plymouth is actively becoming the helping hand of the Church in our diocese
  • Hear from organisations already committed to action in their areas of expertise
  • Learn more about homelessness, isolation and ageing, refugees and migrants and poverty in our communities and what we are doing
  • Connect with other Parishes and share experiences of action and success
  • Reflect and pray together on what is possible to enable and empower us to successfully grow the Ministry of Charity of the Church.

Register on-line HERE or email us at caritas@prcdtr.org.uk.

First Holy Communion Preparation

First Communion preparation for those at St James who were already preparing to receive the Sacrament prior to the COVID lockdown starts next Saturday, 17th October, in the Parish Hall.  Deacon Michael and Elaine Kelly will be in contact with the families regarding the times for each group.  Siobhan Gilroy and Eduarda Santos will be in contact with the children who were preparing at St Boniface regarding dates and times.

Parents who would like their children, aged 7 and over, to make their First Holy Communion in 2021, are asked to give their details to Canon Kristian or Deacon Michael, or directly to the Parish Office as soon as possible.

Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation

If you are 13yrs or older – or have a young person of this age – and would like to be confirmed, please have a word with Canon Kristian or Deacon Michael, or contact the Parish Office as soon as possible.

St John Henry Newman

Last Friday we celebrated for the first time the Feast of St John Henry Newman, canonised by Pope Francis in October 2019.  St John Henry was a pastor, scholar and priest of heroic virtue.  The Bishops’ Conference has produced some Podcasts which seek to examine the breadth of his teaching and preaching by way of reflections from those who have been inspired by, and had their lives touched, by him: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/series/journeying-with-newman/.

Masses and Events this week

Saturday 10 October – St Paulinus of York, Bishop

  • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm Pro Populo

Sunday 11 October – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

  • Holy Mass at 10.00 am Marcin Gorlo Intentions
  • Holy Mass at 11.30 am (St Boniface) Sally Elizabeth Shepheard RIP

Tuesday 13 October – St Edward the Confessor, King

  • Holy Mass at 10.00am

Wednesday 14 October – Weekday

  • Holy Mass at 12noon (St Boniface)

Thursday 15 October – St Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor

  • Holy Mass at 6.30pm

Friday 16 October – Weekday

  • Holy Mass at 12noon

Saturday 17 October – St Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

  • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm