NEWSLETTER
First Sunday of Advent
Sunday 28 November 2021
Please contact the parish to receive the newsletter by email each week.
Message from Canon Kristian
Dear brothers and sisters
I wish you all a Blessed and Fruitful Advent Season!
As well as starting out on a new Church Year (Sunday Cycle C), this Advent also forms the basis for the start of the worldwide synodal listening process, initiated by Pope Francis. The Newsletter contains all the information necessary regarding the opportunities for listening and feedback in our parish, being led by our four parish facilitators. A copy of this week’s reflection and questions are available on our dedicated section of the website ‘Our Parish’s Synodal Journey‘ – you can either download the material and fill in or read online and use the webform to give your anonymous feedback. Even if you are not able to take part in one of the face-to-face or on-line gatherings, you are encourage to contribute individually using the email address provided or via our parish website. The participation of as many of our parish family in this process is important. The more voices that are heard, the better! The access details for this week’s parish Zoom gathering for the synodal process are available from the parish office.
In addition, you will find the most recent Newsletter for CHAT, full of interesting information about their important work and ways of contributing to it, and the fifth edition of Deacon Peter’s Inspire to provoke and support our on-going reflection on the weekend’s liturgy.
Notwithstanding all the challenges that continue to face our world, let us pray that this new Church Year will herald a time of real spiritual growth and social and ecological conversion so that the presence of the Christ who comes may be seen and honoured in every person and in the whole of creation.
With the assurance of my prayers for you all.
God bless
Canon Kristian
Walking Together – Our Synodal Journey – Theme 1 “Listen”
During this first week of Advent, we start our Walking Together with a focus on listening. We are invited to reflect on how we listen to God and how we listen to each other. We are asked to consider what our faith has meant to us over the last 18 months living with COVID. A handout to aid this reflection is available on our dedicated Our Parish’s Synodal Journey section of the website.
There will be gatherings after the Sunday Masses at St James and St Boniface, a gathering after the Tuesday morning Mass at St James, a weekly gathering via Zoom on Wednesday at 7.00pm and an event for our young people in the week leading up to Christmas. The access details for the Zoom meeting can be found in the email accompanying this newsletter or by emailing the Parish Office. Please make this time of reflection and consultation a priority and a key part of your Advent preparation for Christmas.
If you are not able to attend any of the parish listening events or prefer to respond directly, you can find all the materials and guidance about how to send through your thoughts and views on the Diocesan website https://www.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/key-documents/parish-resources/.
“Day by Day”
Copies of the “Day by Day” booklet, which contains the daily scripture readings for Advent are available at church this weekend. There are also Junior and Infant versions for our children. These booklets are offered FREE of charge, so please do take copies to help with your spiritual preparation for Christmas during the Advent Season, alongside the reflections we are being asked to make on our “Walking Together”.
“The Night Journey” by Fr Robbie Low
Bishop Mark writes:
“Fr Robbie Low (a priest of our diocese) has written a lovely new Christmas children’s book, ‘The Night Journey’. I highly recommend it as a beautiful reflection on the Mass which leads us to the manger and the child in the arms of Mary. It is beautifully illustrated by Jan Burrell and begins and ends in the parish church and family home. I think I would make a great Christmas gift for children, grandchildren and godchildren – a little work of evangelisation and, as you will find in the book, a key link across the generations.”
The book costs £7.50 and all proceeds go to charities working with disadvantaged children. Copies are available at the entrance to church.
November Mass of Commemoration of Family and Friends
During the 10.00am Mass on Tuesday, 30 November, the last day of November, the names of all those whose names were placed in the urn in front of the altar in both our churches will be commemorated.
An Hour with Rachel Turner
SW Celebrate invites all parents, grandparents, carers, catechists – in fact, all those in the Church who want to see families grow and thrive in faith to spend “An Hour with Rachel Turner”, the author of It takes a Church to raise a Parent. Rachel speaks at conferences and runs training days for parents and church leaders around the UK and abroad. She is an excellent teacher and communicator, who speaks with both humour and practical experience. The session will take place via Zoom this Tuesday 30 November, 8.00-9.00pm. Register at https://celebratetrust.org/parentingforfaith by Monday 29 November, 6.00pm.
Advent Retreat Day
An Advent Retreat Day, “Waiting for a Child”, will be led by Fr Jose Romero OAR at St Rita’s, Honiton, on Saturday 11 December. The day will begin with coffee/tea at 9.30am, followed by two talks and silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the morning. There will be Mass at 2.45pm and an opportunity for confession. Cost, including lunch, is £25. Bookings can be at www.stritascentre.org/events or on (01404) 42635. Payment can be made on the day.
YMCA Christmas in Cullompton and Halberton
The chaplain of Cullompton and Halberton YMCA, is appealing for donations of a Christmas gift of around £5 in value for either a male or a female (no alcohol). Please do not wrap the present but attach a card saying that you are from the parish of St James and St Boniface. Christmas tea items, such as Christmas cake, Yule log, stollen, panetone, chocolate treats and mince pies (including gluten free items) are also be very welcome, along with single packets of biscuits which the chaplain can use at the weekly drop-ins. Donations can be left in church or dropped off at St Andrew’s Church Office in Cullompton before 20 December.
200 Club
Canon Kristian will make the December Draw after the 6.00pm Mass this Saturday. If you would like to join the 200 Club, please speak to either Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon at St James or to Teresa Cummins at St Boniface.
Monthly Lunch
The Monthly Lunch will take place in the Hall this Tuesday, 30 November, 12noon-2.00pm. Everyone is welcome to come along for some tasty homemade food and pleasant company.
“Book” and Lunch Group
This Thursday, 2 December, the “Book” and Lunch Group will be having lunch at Exe Café, Petroc, at 12.30pm, returning to the Church Hall afterwards. If you are unable to come, please let Sheelagh know (01884 256312).
Parish Services and Events This Week
Saturday 27 November – Weekday
- Holy Mass at 6.00pm (Vigil Mass)
Sunday 28 November – First Sunday of Advent (C)
- Holy Mass at 10.00am Pro Populo Synodal Listening
- Holy Mass at 11.30am (at St Boniface) Synodal Listening
Monday 29 November – St Cuthbert Mayne, Priest and Martyr
- Requiem Mass for Waldemar Smigocki RIP at 11.00am (St Boniface)
- Singing to Remember at 2.00pm in the Hall
Tuesday 30 November – St Andrew, Apostle
- Holy Mass at 10.00am (with Commemoration of the Departed)
- Synodal Listening at 10.30am in the Hall
- Committal of Majola Rapley RIP at 12noon (Squires Chapel of Rest)
- Lunch Club at 12noon-2.00pm in the Hall
- Reception of the Body at 4.30pm
Wednesday 1 December – Advent Weekday
- Requiem Mass for Beryl Webb RIP at 11.00am (St James)
- Governors Meeting at 5.30pm at St John’s School
- Synodal Listening at 7.00pm on Zoom
Thursday 2 December – St Osmund of Salisbury, Bishop
- “Book” and Lunch Group at 12.30pm at Exe Café, Petroc
- Holy Mass at 6.00pm
Friday 3 December – St Francis Xavier, Priest
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions at 11.30am
- Holy Mass at 12noon
Saturday 4 December – St John Damascene, Priest and Doctor
- Holy Mass at 6.00pm (Vigil Mass)
Sunday 5 December – Second Sunday of Advent (C)
- Holy Mass at 10.00am Pro Populo Synodal Listening
- Holy Mass at 11.30am (at St Boniface) Synodal Listening
