NEWSLETTER
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Racial Justice Sunday
Sunday 5th February, 2023
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Message from Canon Kristian
Dear sisters and brothers
The coming week has more than its fair share of special Days of Prayer! This Sunday is Racial Justice Sunday, which invites us to reflect on the constant challenge of racism in our own society and on a world level, and on how our Christian faith impacts on our understanding, openness and engagement with people from all different culture and ethnic backgrounds both at the personal level and at the level of our parish community. We are blessed in this parish to have a wonderfully rich diversity of people within our parish community and in the wider community. This Sunday is therefore a day to give thanks to God for this blessing and for the new life and gifts that have been brought to our community by those who have come from different parts of Europe and the world to make their home here. We are all one family, brothers and sisters in Christ. We are One Race, the Human Race!
This Wednesday is the Feast of St Josephine Bakhita. Josephine was born in Darfur in Western Sudan around 1869. She was kidnapped and brutally treated by Arab Slave Traders and sold many times, until she was eventually sold to an Italian diplomat who brought her to Murano in the Veneto region of Italy where she worked in servitude until she was declared to be free by an Italian Court in 1889. She then became a religious sister of the Canossian Order in Venice and died in 1947. She was canonised by Pope St John Paul II in October 2000. She has since become the Patron Saint of Sudan and of those who are victims of human trafficking in our own day. As a result, her feast day has now been adopted around the world as the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking. To find out more information, and perhaps join in the online Pilgrimage of Prayer around the world on that day, go to https://www.globalsolidarityfund.org/international-day-of-prayer-and-awareness-against-human-trafficking/.
Next Saturday, 11 February, is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. For obvious reasons, that day is the World Day of Prayer for the Sick. Lourdes is a place of profound healing, both physical and spiritual, and so we remember all those who are sick, those we know personally and those who often suffer in secret and in unseen ways, that they may receive the healing they need. We remember the sick of our parish community in a special way, especially Joan Jee is who now extremely frail and entering on her final journey to the Lord. In his Message for this Day (20230110-giornata-malato.pdf (vatican.va)), Pope Francis invites “…all of us to reflect on the fact that it is especially through the experience of vulnerability and illness that we can learn to walk together according to the style of God, which is closeness, compassion, and tenderness.”
It was a delight to see such a good number of our young people gather on Saturday morning for an introductory meeting in view of the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation later this year. If you have a young person who is in Year 9 or older who is ready to start preparation for Confirmation and you still need to register them, I attach the Registration Form to this email and would ask that you return it to the Parish Office, to me or to Deacon Michael by next Sunday please.
Do please remember to bring back your palm crosses from last year if you still have them, so that they can be burned to provide the ashes which will be imposed on us at the Masses on Ash Wednesday in a few weeks’ time.
May God bless you all abundantly
Canon Kristian
Canon Kristian Paver
Parish Priest
Parish of St James & St Boniface
40 Old Road
Tiverton EX16 4HJ
Racial Justice Sunday
This Sunday is Racial Justice Sunday, which has the theme: “All are included in the mission of Christ and His Church. Let us walk together, pray together and work together”. It reflects the role each of us must play in promoting the mission of Christ and His Church. This was inspired by conversations around last year’s Racial Justice Sunday and Pope Francis’ visit to Canada in July 2022 when he spoke about looking towards a future of ‘justice, healing and reconciliation’. A prayer has been produced that can be used year-round as well as questions for reflection. There are also short videos for Walking Together, Working Together and Praying Together. There is a retiring collection at the end of Mass to support the work of the Catholic Association for Racial Justice.
Diocese of Plymouth Newsletter Sign-up
The Diocese of Plymouth Communications Team is relaunching regular encouraging spiritual reflections and sharing other information through a diocesan-wide e-newsletter. If you would like to receive the newsletter via email, please click on the ‘Sign Up to our Newsletter’ button on the front page of the diocesan website https://www.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/ and enter your details. You are free to opt out of receiving emails at any time.
Operation New Warm Clothes
Many of you have already been amazingly generous in donating new warm clothes for the children in our area. There are still a couple of winter months ahead of us, so please keep the donations coming. There are boxes in both churches for your donations.
CAFOD Exeter Deanery Meeting
You are invited to at take part in the CAFOD Exeter Deanery Event which will take place in our Hall at St James next Saturday 11 February, 11.00am-1.00pm, followed by a shared lunch. The meeting will be preparing for Lent and the CAFOD Fast Day. Come along and find out more about this year’s Fast Day plans and challenges and other CAFOD initiatives, including news about the “Fix the Food System” Campaign. Hear from others how CAFOD is working across the Deanery to fundraise, campaign for aid and raise awareness of social injustices across our beautiful planet. For more information, please contact Jane Trott on 07530 279240.
60th Wedding Anniversary Celebration
Our prayers and congratulations go to Jeanette and Mike Ingersent who celebrate the 60th anniversary of their wedding this week on Tuesday 7 February.
Diocesan Job Vacancy – Bookkeeper
The Diocese of Plymouth is seeking to a Deanery Bookkeeper for the Deaneries of Exeter and Torbay. Please see attached advert or see the poster on the church noticeboard.
Catholic Children’s Society (Plymouth) – Trustees Wanted
The Catholic Children’s Society is seeking enthusiastic trustees who can commit to serving on the Trustee Board. Your professional skills might be just what is needed, whether they are in areas such as business/finance, HR and social care. This is a voluntary position, both rewarding and challenging. The Society also looking for youth trustees to bring the views of young people to its work and to make a difference to some of the most deprived families in our Diocese. This volunteering role would give you good business experience, an ability to find out how a small charity works, knowledge of safeguarding, as well valuable experience working as part of a diverse team and much more. You will need to be aged 18+. Further details can be found by visiting the Society’s website www.ccsplymouth.org.uk, by contacting the office on 01364 645420 or by emailing ccs@prcdtr.org.uk to make further enquiries.
LOUDfence in the Diocese of Plymouth
A LOUDfence – a visible display of support and solidarity with those who have been affected by abuse, to show survivors of abuse that the Church hears them, believes them and is here to support them – will be take place at Christ the King Church, Armada Way, Plymouth, between 2.00pm on Wednesday 15 and 4.30pm on Friday 17 February. The event is open to everyone, and attendees will be encouraged to tie a ribbon to a fence which could also include a message of support. The full schedule: Wednesday 15 February at 2pm: Opening- speakers will be Fr Mark Skelton (Diocesan Clergy Lead for Safeguarding) and Antonia Sobocki (LOUDfence). Thursday 16 February: LOUDfence open all day. Friday 17 February: LOUDfence open until 4.30pm and there will be a Survivors Mass will be held at 12noon, celebrated by Fr Mark Skelton. If you are unable to attend the LOUDfence but would like to send a message of support for this, please visit: https://www.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/the-diocese/how-we-work/vicariate-for-safeguarding-and-pastoral-care/loudfence/ and complete the online form, or send an e-mail to sophie.scagell@prcdtr.org.uk.
200 Club
Canon Kristian will make the draw for February after the 6.00pm Mass on Saturday. New members are always welcome. Please speak to Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon at St James or Teresa Cummings at St Boniface.
Vocations to Priesthood – Day of Reflection
Is God calling me to Priesthood or to the Religious life?’. A Day of Reflection for men will be held on Saturday 18 February from 10.00am-4.00pm at Christ the King, Armada Way, Plymouth, PL12EN. Under 18s are welcome to attend with parental permission. For further information and to register for the event, please contact Fr Jacek Kostuch on jacek.kostuch@prcdtr.org.uk or speak to your Parish Priest by 14 February 2023 at the latest. Arrangements can be made to collect you from Plymouth Railway Starion and returned after, if required.
Palms for Ashes
Ash Wednesday occurs on 22 February this year. You are asked to bring back to church your palm crosses from last year so that they can be burnt to make the ashes that will be used during the Masses on Ash Wednesday. Please leave them at the entrance to church.
Masses and Events this week
Sunday 5th February – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
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Saturday 4 February – Weekday
- Finance and Property Committee at 9.30am in the Hall
- Vigil Mass at 6.00pm Pro Populo
Sunday 5 February – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
- Holy Mass at 10.00am Karol Marynczak (birthday intentions)
- Bacon Breakfast in the Hall after Mass
- Holy Mass at 11.30am (at St Boniface)
Monday 6 February – St Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs
- Singing to Remember at 2.00pm in the Hall
Tuesday 7 February – Weekday
- Holy Mass at 10.00am
- SVP Meeting at 7.30pm in the Hall
Wednesday 8 February – St Josephine Bakhita, Virgin
- Service of the Word and Holy Communion at 12noon (at St Boniface)
Thursday 9 February – Weekday
- Holy Mass at 6.00pm
Friday 10 February – St Scholastica, Virgin
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions at 11.30am
- Holy Mass at 12noon
Saturday 11 February – Our Lady of Lourdes – World Day for the Sick
- Friends of St James and St Boniface at 9.30am in the Hall
- Vigil Mass at 6.00pm
Sunday 12 February – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
- Holy Mass at 10.00am Pro Populo
- Holy Mass at 11.30am (at St Boniface)
