World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. It is an opportunity to pray for vocations and to encourage those who may be considering ordination or the religious life. The Diocese of Plymouth also asks for your assistance in supporting our seminarians through their training and formation, both through prayer and financial support. There will be a retiring collection at each Mass and, if you are able to contribute to our Seminarians’ Fund, either as a single donation or through regular giving, please pick up an information leaflet (and a Gift Aid envelope if you are a tax-payer) or click on https://priesthoodplymouth.co.uk/resources. There will also be a Holy Hour of Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and for those currently in priestly ministry at 4.00pm at St James. The Vocations Sunday Prayer 2023 and Message from Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer, entitled “Vocation: Grace and Mission”, and a Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP, the Archbishop of Liverpool, are attached to the Newsletter.

Funeral of Bishop Emeritus Christopher Budd RIP

The Requiem Mass for Bishop Christopher will take place at the Church of the Sacred Heart, South Street, Exeter, this Friday 5 May at 12noon. Archbishop John Wilson, the Archbishop of Southwark and the Metropolitan of the Southwark Province, will preside at the Mass. For those who cannot attend, the Mass will be live-streamed at Sacred Heart livestream address: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqZLydKWQ6CqG2utRNBeKmA. Bishop Christopher’s body will be received into the church the evening before, on Thursday 4 May, at 5.00pm.

Plymouth Diocesan Catechetical Camps 2023

The Summer Camps are a long-standing part of the youth activities of the Diocese of Plymouth and are open to all. This year the theme of the Camps is “Leap of Faith: Having the Courage to Journey like Mary” and the Camps are returning to the pre-Covid format. The Junior Camp (Years 3-6) will take place from 30 July-4 August and the Senior Camp (Years 7-10) from 6-11 August at Grangehurst, Buckfast Abbey. The St Petroc’s Camp (Years 11-12) will be held at St Rita’s, Honiton, from 14-18 August. The cost per participant is £230 and bookings can be made at https://forms.office.com/e/pJQuB8Rhk5. Financial assistance may be available for those who would struggle to pay this amount. In addition, if you are a young adult who could offer a week of their time to help out at one of the Camps, please speak to Canon Kristian and he can put you in contact with the Camp organisers.

Young People’s Heatree Residential

If you are in Years 6-10 and aged between 10 and 16 and enjoy outdoor pursuits, why not join young people from around the Diocese at Heatree Activity Centre on Dartmoor from 26-28 May? The group will have the chance to join in activities such as high ropes and raft building, along with exploring the Scripture Readings for Pentecost. Contact Saskia, youth@prcdtr.org.uk for further information or book: https://forms.office.com/e/Bhd7xDUksE

Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla

The Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla will take place next Saturday, 6 May. The Catholic Community of England and Wales are being asked to pray for the King and Queen on that day and so please take a copy of the prayer card away with you today. The Mass at 12noon this Friday will also be a special Mass on the eve of the Coronation with prayers and scripture readings chosen by the Bishops of England and Wales to mark this historic occasion.

The Great Big Diocesan Quiz CCSP Results

Joining teams across the Diocese, 11 teams from our parish gathered in the Hall last Friday to take part in the Great Big Diocesan Quiz to raise funds to support the work of the Catholic Children’s Society in the Diocese of Plymouth. The winning team amongst the parish teams was The Simple Cousins – Mary, Thomas, David and Chris Cousins – who scored an impressive 87 out of a total of 115. At the level of the Diocese, The Simple Cousins were pipped at the post by the The Squiffy Team from Bournemouth which took first place with a score of 93 out of 115. Joint third place was taken by The Little Friends from Ilfracombe and The Optimists from our own parish – Jill and David Bernard, Fiona Hobday and Mike Pinn – who scored 76 out of 115. Congratulations to all who took part and especially to the winning teams!

Recycling for the Catholic Children’s Society

Did you know that you can now help raise funds simply by recycling your ink cartridges via the Society’s Recycle4Charity programme? For each ink cartridge recycled via the programme, the Catholic Children’s Society will receive up to £2 donation. Please pop your used ink cartridges in the box located at the back of church.

“Book”/Lunch Club

This Thursday 4 May, the “Book”/Lunch Club will meet for lunch at Fordmoor Farm Shop and Café on the Cullompton to Honiton Road, at 12.30pm. Any queries, please contact Sheelagh on 01884 256312.

200 Club

Canon Kristian will make the draw for April after the 6.00pm Mass this Saturday. New members are always welcome. Please speak to Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon at St James or Teresa Cummings at St Boniface.