NEWSLETTER

Nineteenth Sunday of Easter (Year B)

Sunday 8th August 2021

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Message from Canon Kristian

Dear brothers and sisters

As we continue our reflection on St John’s presentation in the Gospel of Jesus, the Bread of Life, the only Food which can satisfy fully our spiritual hunger and which nourishes us and give us eternal life, you will see that over the next few weeks the Newsletter will be highlighting a number of ways in which we discover ways of bringing something of that life to the poor of our world and to our common home, God’s creation, which we humans have seriously wounded.  Just as Jesus is the Bread of Life for us, so too he is Food for the World.  By receiving the Bread of Life, we are called to “become what we eat” and to proclaim and offer the transforming presence of Christ to others.  May all of us find a way of sharing in that mission, however small or insignificant the contribution may seem.  As we know, even something small dropped into water causes many ripples; remember the offering of the young boy in the Gospel a couple of weeks ago – five barley loaves and two fish – which, handed to Jesus, ended up feeding more the five thousand people!

It was a delight to be able to attend the first face-to-face meeting of our parish SVP since the Covid lockdown this week.  It’s members, inspired by the example and teaching of St Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, do really important work in reaching out to those who are isolated and in need within our parish community and beyond.  Much of this work is done in a quiet way “behind the scenes”, unseen by the wider parish community.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the SVP members for all that they have done and continue to do on our behalf.  New members are always welcome to join and I encourage anyone – wherever they live in the parish – who feels this outreach to those in need is something they are being call to do to have a word with me or to contact Simon Coombs, the president of our parish SVP Conference, directly.

Hopefully, more of our parish groups and ministers will be able to meet together after the summer break, so that we will be able to re-establish our ministries of welcome, music, altar server, reader, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist and catechist; to rediscover ways in which we can evangelise, develop our own faith and spiritual lives whether we are young or old; and to reflect together on our life as a parish community in the light of the Bishop’s document on the development of pastoral structures  A Precious Place of God’s Grace  and the parish self-assessment tool that goes with it.  We have a challenging, but exciting, time ahead of us!

With regards to the liturgical calendar this week, we celebrate the Feast of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) on Monday.  She is the most modern  of the five Patrons of Europe, having been murdered by the Nazis in the gas chambers of Auschwitz on 9 August 1942 at the age of 51.  I would strongly encourage you to read about her fascinating and heroic life (for example on the Vatican website).  Edith was born a Jew and, although she converted to Catholicism in her 20s, she never forgot her Jewish roots and, indeed, it was because she was of Jewish descent that she was numbered among the more than six million Jews who were murdered in the Shoah during the Second World War.  With the rise of populism and intolerance in many parts of our continent of Europe in our own times, her intercession for us is of even greater importance.  We are also invited to pray at this time for a deeper understanding between Christians and Jews based on our shared heritage of faith and the divine word of God, and for all people of faith, that mutual respect and the promotion of peace may be a voice for good in our world.

Thanks as always goes to Monika Manser for offering her weekly guide to the contemplation of the Sunday Gospel using our imagination and for organising the Thursday Parish Get-together on Zoom, for which the access details are available from the parish office as usual.

May God bless you all.

Canon Kristian

Important Changes to Mass Attendance at Church

  • There is no longer any need to book to attend the Saturday or Sunday Mass Please be respectful of other’s space. “Please leave a space” cards are available at the entrance to church to be placed on a bench next to you if you would prefer that people not sit too close to you.
  • As there is still a restricted number of spaces at St Boniface due to the size of the church and the limited ventilation, the booking system for the 11.30am Mass will continue for the time being.
  • Continue to use the NHS Track and Trace QR codes. Stewards will still take your names to ensure we have a record in the event of the need to self-isolate, which remains a legal requirement.  Additional contact details of those on our parish database will no longer be required. If you have not filled in a census form, or your details have since changed, census forms are available at the entrance to church.
  • The “one way” system is no longer in place, but please follow the guidance of the stewards at the time for Holy Communion.
  • Those who can are asked to continue to wear face coverings whilst in church. The congregation is asked not to remove face coverings when singing.
  • Holy Communion will to be administered solely under one kind and, although it is permissible for people to receive Communion directly onto the tongue should they so wish, Communion on the hand is the recommended way of receiving Holy Communion as it presents less risk of cross infection.

Parish Afternoon Tea Party Thanks

Thank you to everyone who came and enjoyed cake and conversation last Sunday afternoon. It was great to see the parish community getting together again. Many thanks to all those who contributed to the “mountain” of delicious cakes and for the generous donations.

200 Club

Congratulations to Gerry Kelly who won the £30 prize and to Mike Ingersent who won the £20 prize in the August draw.  Anyone wishing to join the 200 Club, please speak to either Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon at St James or Teresa Cummings at St Boniface.

Regular Parish Giving

Thank you to all who have signed up for Standing orders and also to those who use the Card machine. The counters have an easier job now! Should anyone else wish to sign up for Standing orders, please contact either Rosie in the Parish Office or speak to Margaret Found. The Card machine takes payments for the weekly Collection, Second Collections, 200 Club, CAFOD , Repository etc.

Refreshments after Sunday Mass

Tea and Coffee will again be served after 10.00am Mass at St James from this Sunday.  Refreshments started last Sunday after 11.30am Mass at St Boniface, although we are very much dependent on the weather there due to having to meet together “al fresco”!

CAFOD Faith in Action Day

After recharging our energy in the summer, CAFOD is inviting us to reconnect at their online Faith in Action Day on Saturday 11 September, 11.00am-4.00pm, and find out how, as a faith community, we can organise ourselves to build momentum for the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow this year. Learn more about the COP, Pope Francis’s call to action and how people in the Amazon region are leading the fight to care for our common home. Confirmed speakers include Josianne Gauthier, CIDSE Secretary General; Claudelice Silva dos Santos, Amazon and Human Rights defender; Youth Catholic activists and lots more. This event is part of the Climate Coalition’s Great Big Green Week. Register at www.cafod.org.uk/cop26event.

Diocesan Youth Rally

The annual Diocesan Youth Rally will take place at St Rita’s, Honiton on Sunday 26 September, 1.00-6.30pm. Parishes are encouraged to bring teams of 6 young people aged 8 – 16 and asked to give a donation of £8 per person. A BBQ will be offered throughout the afternoon along with other snacks and drinks. Challenges include Tug of War, It’s a Knockout and Gladiators. After Mass, certificates and medals of achievement will be awarded. To book please contact pmorris@wjmorris.co.uk or youth@prcdtr.org.uk

Donations to CHAT

The red box at the entrance to St James is available for your donations to the Foodbank. In addition, CHAT is looking for donations of 2-person tents and clean saucepans.  These can either be delivered directly to CHAT or left in the entrance hall at church.

Walking with the Poor

Caritas Plymouth will be holding an event on Saturday 9 October from 10.30am-3.00pm at St Rita’s Centre, Honiton, to prepare for the World Day of the Poor which takes places in November.  This free event includes lunch, and thoughts and ideas will be shared about how we are reaching out to the poor and whether we need to take a different approach to poverty. Speakers include Bishop Mark and Raymond Friel from the Caritas Social Action Network.  Best practice on Covid safety measures will be followed. Spaces are limited, so booking is essential.  Click here to register or paper forms are available at the entrance to church.

Parish Services and Events This Week

Saturday 7 August – Weekday

  • Holy Mass at 6.00pm (Vigil Mass)

Sunday 8 August – Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

  • Holy Mass at 10.00am Robert and Barbara Hodgson (wedding anniv)
    Nick and Briony Best (wedding anniv)
  • Holy Mass at 11.30am (at St Boniface) Pro Populo

Tuesday 10 August – Feast of St Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

  • Holy Mass at 10.00am Marcin and Barbara Gorlo (wedding anniv)

Wednesday 11 August – St Clare, Virgin

  • Holy Mass at 12noon (at St Boniface)

Thursday 12 August – Weekday

  • Get Together on Zoom at 11.00am
  • Holy Mass at 6.00pm

Friday 13 August – Weekday

  • Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 11.30am
  • Holy Mass at 12noon

Saturday 14 August – St Maximillian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

  • Holy Mass at 6.00pm (Vigil Mass)

Sunday 15 August – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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