NEWSLETTER

 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Feast of the Martyrs of England and Wales

Sunday 25th October 2020

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

Message from Canon Kristian

Dear Parishioners

I hope you and your loved ones are all keeping well and safe as we enter these uncertain times once again due to the spread of the coronavirus. A very important questionnaire, which all of our parishes are being asked to send out to our parishioners, in order to be prepared in the case of another lockdown or other emergency is available to download here.  It is really important that we can identify both those who can act as volunteers during that time and those we need to have to look out for in a particular way.  I would be most grateful if you would complete the form and return it to the Parish Office either by hand, by post or via email.  Although the questionnaire is particularly concerned with the possibility of another lockdown due to COVID-19, it is already applicable to the times we are living through now, so the more information I have as your Parish Priest, the better provision can be made so that the parish community can provide the pastoral care necessary.

The Sunday marks the 50th Anniversary of the Canonisation of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, which we would have celebrated liturgically as a Feast had not the date fallen on a Sunday which, as the Lord’s Day, always take precedence in these cases.  However, Bishop Mark is anxious that this important anniversary does not pass without us acknowledging the profound debt that we as Catholics in this country owe to the courageous witness of our forebears.  In particular, in his Pastoral Message to you all, the Bishop invites us to reflect on the depth of the Martyrs’ love for the Mass and our belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist and on their unswerving fidelity to the Successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. Against that background, the Bishop encourages us all to a renewed appreciation of the gift of the Sacraments and asks those who can to return to the regular celebration of Mass in church after the hiatus of the recent lockdown. Not only is our physical gathering as the Body of Christ in church and the reception of the Eucharist absolutely central to our life of faith and mission – as St Augustine once said, when we receive Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, “we become what we eat”, but it is also an act of gratitude to all those men and women in our country who, over the centuries, have given their lives so that we might enjoy the privilege of celebrating the Sacraments together and living our lives as Catholics openly and free from persecution.  Do take some time to read the Bishop’s Message to us all.

You will remember that in August we were visited by two Sisters from the Convent of St Elisabeth in Minsk, Belarus, and those of us who were able to meet and talk with them were really moved by their faith and their utter commitment to the people in need who live with them in Minsk. I receive frequent newsletters from St Anastasia, giving updates on their ministry and giving insights into their spirituality as a Sisterhood.  I thought that some of you would be interested to read these newsletters too, the most recent, which is focused on their Rehabilitation Centre for disadvantaged men, is available to read here.  Further information about the life and ministry of the Sisters can be found on their website  http://www.obitel-minsk.org.

The month of October, traditionally dedicated to the prayer of the Holy Rosary, comes to an end this week.  Across the dioceses of our Islands there has been a wave of Marian prayer throughout the month, which culminates next Saturday, 31st October.  Our Diocese has been allotted the prayer slot of 11 am-12 noon on this day and there will be a live-streaming of the Bishop leading the Rosary from the Cathedral in Plymouth around 11.30am, and I have included the link in the Newsletter.  Even if you are unable to join in this prayer via the link, or you would simple prefer to join in the prayer in spirit, I encourage everyone to spend some time praying the Mysteries of the Rosary during that hour in intercession for the well-being of our Islands and all those who live in them.

I have also put in the Newsletter the results of the recent special collections we have had in the parish.  I am really touched by how much parishioners have donated to the various appeals, notwithstanding the financial pressures that many of you are experiencing due to the effects of the pandemic.  Your generosity speaks volumes about the your desire to put “faith into action” and about the genuine commitment of our parish towards those who live in greater need that we do.  In particular you will see the impressive sum that has been raised in a short time for CHAT – and more has been donated since.  We owe a special “thank you” to Christine Pickford for her outstanding generosity in making free-of-charge the striking face-coverings which many of us now wear out and about in the parish.

Recognising the importance of our reflection on the Sacred Scriptures in our life as Christians and in the Year of the Word which we are still celebrating, Monika Manser has offered her usual handout to assist those who find it helpful to pray with the Sunday Gospel using the method of imaginative contemplation.

With my prayers and blessings

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 the Parish Office as early in the week as possible – either by phone during parish office hours (see below) 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.

Parish office times:

  • 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.

50th Anniversary of the Canonisation of the 40 Martyrs

This Sunday marks the 50th Anniversary of the canonisation of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales by Pope St Paul VI.  These martyrs gave their lives in witness to their Catholic faith, especially regarding the centrality of the Mass and our belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament and to be faithful to our allegiance to the Bishop of Rome, the Successor of St Peter.  It was their sacrifice that enabled the life of the Church to continue through extremely challenging times of persecution so that we might have the freedom and joy of living and celebrating our Catholic faith in our day.

Given the fact that, in our diocese, we have the privilege of having the National Shrine of St Cuthbert Mayne, one of the 40 Martyrs, in Launceston, Cornwall, Bishop Mark has written a Pastoral Message prompted by this 50th Anniversary, inviting us to a renewed appreciation of our sacramental life, encouraging those who can do so safely to return to the celebration of Mass in our churches.

First Holy Communion Preparation

Parents who would like their children, aged 7 and over, to make their First Holy Communion in 2021, are asked to fill out the Application Form and to return it to the Parish Office as soon as possible.

Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation

If you are 12 or older – or have a young person of this age – and would like to be confirmed, please complete the  Application Form and return it to the Parish Office as soon as possible. The Bishop has been scheduled to come to the parish to celebrate the Sacrament on Saturday 10 July 2021, so we need to start the preparation very soon.

National Rosary Relay Rally

The month of October devotions culminates in the National Rosary Relay Rally across the dioceses of the British Isles next Saturday 31 October, to pray for faith, life and peace to prevail throughout our Islands.  The designated hour for our diocese is from 11am-12noon.  Bishop Mark will lead the praying of the Rosary on livestream from the Cathedral at around 11.30am.

Diocesan Youth Ministry

The recent Service for Creation can be found on the Diocesan YouTube page. It is beautiful to hear what the young members of the Church love about our world and to hear our young adults reflecting on our God-given duty to be the stewards of the earth. If you know a young person who would like to take part in the next online service in December please contact youth@prcdtr.org.uk.

If you are between the ages of 11-21, what about taking part in an online drama group to produce an alternative Nativity Play? Zoom sessions will run on 9, 16, 23 and 30 November from 7.30-8.45pm. Please contact Saskia using the email address above.

Second Collection for Catholic Communications

Next weekend we will hold the Second Collection to support the Catholic Communications Network, which promotes the increasingly important use of the various communications media – radio, television, internet – in the mission of the Church.

Recent Collections

The following donations have been received over the last few weeks:

CAFOD Coronavirus Appeal: £351.00

World Mission Sunday:  £192.00

CHAT (Harvest and Face Coverings): £263.00

Thank you so much for your amazing generosity in such difficult times!

Repository Stall, Fundraising Items and Contactless Giving

A selection of items from the Repository, together with some fundraising items, which are perfect as stocking-fillers, are available at the entrance to St James.

By way of reminder, you are now able to make all your donations – whether for the weekly collection, particular second collections, CAFOD and for all Repository and Fund-raising items using our Contactless Giving facility.  Just ask one of the stewards to assist you as you come into church.

Masses and Events this week 

Saturday 24 October – Weekday

  • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm

***clocks go back one hour***

Sunday 25 October – 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

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

Tuesday 27 October – Weekday

  • Holy Mass at 10.00am

Wednesday 28 October – St Simon and St Jude, Apostles

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

Thursday 29 October – Weekday

  • Holy Mass at 6.30pm

Friday 30 October – Weekday

  • Holy Mass with Prayers for Healing at 12noon

Saturday 31 October – Weekday

  • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm

Safe Spaces

The Safe Spaces team is there for those who have experienced church-related abuse of any kind through its helpline and live chat service between Monday–Saturday 10am-6pm, apart from Thursdays when the service is open 12-8pm.

Tel:         0300 303 1056

Email:      safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk

LiveChat:  www.SafeSpacesEnglandandWales.org.uk

Website:   www.SafeSpacesEnglandandWales.org.uk