Statement concerning Canon Christopher Whitehead
The following statement was issued on Thursday of last week: “The Episcopal Ordination of Canon Christopher Whitehead will not take place on 22 February 2024 as expected. Canon Paul Cummins continues as the Diocesan Administrator. A canonical process is currently underway, and no further comments will be made until this process has been concluded. Canon Christopher Whitehead has stepped back from active ministry whilst this process is ongoing.” Canon Paul added: “May I ask that you keep Canon Christopher in your prayers and please continue to pray for those responsible for choosing a bishop for us. Please continue to keep me and our Diocese in your prayers”.

Palm Crosses for Ashes
Ash Wednesday falls on 14 February. In order to make the ashes for the Imposition of the Ashes on that day, if you have them, please bring last year’s palm crosses back to church this weekend and next weekend.

200 Club
Father Kristian will make the draw for February after the 6.00pm Mass this Saturday. If you are not a member of this parish fund raising initiative please consider joining. Please speak to Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon at St James or Teresa Cummings at St Boniface.

Laudato Si’ Group – “Zero Food Waste” Recipe Book
At their last meeting, the members of the parish Laudato Si’ Group, which keeps us focussed on the call of Pope Francis to care for the earth and our
environment, decided to invite members of the parish to contribute to a Parish “Zero Food Waste” Recipe Book. More information about the sort of recipes being asked for, anecdotes and memories attached to them, together with photos or pictures drawn by our children and young people is contained in the flier attached to the Newsletter. Please email your contribution to antoniaryan11@gmail.com. The Laudato Si’ Group meets this Saturday at 4.00pm in the Hall. Everyone is welcome.

National Marriage Week
The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has designated 7-14 February as National Marriage week. The guide for the Week attached to the
Newsletter includes a reflection from Bishop David Evans, the Lead Bishop for Marriage and Family Life, on “Marriage as God’s gift to men and women. It is an expression of the depths of human loving, of its enduring reality and of its likeness to the love of God”. The guide contains other prayers and reflections on the vocation to marriage and the sacrament of marriage.

An Invitation to Survivors of Abuse
The Diocesan Safeguarding Team held its first survivor group meetings in November, which were an opportunity for anyone with lived experience of
abuse to share their thoughts and ideas about survivor support work in our diocese. The diocese would welcome the opportunity to hear from others who have a lived experience of abuse, so that we can involve them in the work that is being done to support survivors. If you would like to help us with this work, or you would like to find out more, please contact Sophie Scagell (Survivor Support Caseworker) or sophie.scagell@prcdtr.org.uk.
on 01364 645436

Lent Course on Zoom
The Parish of Teignmouth, Dawlish and Shaldon is holding its annual Zoom Lent Course and generously invites anyone in the diocese to join them. The speakers, all from our diocese, will base their sessions on the five great “Initiation” Gospels of Year A: Deacon Nick Johnson, 16 February, The Temptations of Jesus; Fr Andrew Marlborough, 1 March, The Transfiguration; Deborah Fisher, 8 March, The Woman at the Well; Fr Ignatius Raj, 15 March, The Man born blind; and Gerard Gillespie, 22 March 22, The Raising of Lazarus. The sessions start at 6.30pm and the Zoom access details are:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83445840521?pwd=K3lKRFVGbnY0eEMzc3pV MVhOcnFCdz09. Meeting ID: 834 4584 0521 Passcode: 862737.

Coffee Mornings for the New Church
As the work on the rebuilding of the church in Tiverton edges closer, in order to raise funds for various items that will be needed in the new building – eg altar linen, processional cross and candles – we are asking parishioners to start holding Coffee Mornings in the different areas of the parish. If you would like to offer to host a Coffee Morning, please let Canon Kristian, Maggie Pulford or Margaret Found know.

Lent Retreat Day
A Lent Retreat Day, entitled “A campaign of Christian Service” led by Fr Jacek Kostuch, will take place at St Rita’s, Honiton, on Saturday 2 March. The day will begin with coffee/tea at 9.30am. Talks will be given at 10.00am and at 11.00am, followed by Silent Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 12noon. Lunch will be served at 1.00pm and Mass celebrated at 2.45pm. There will also be opportunities for Confession for those who wish. The charge for the day, including lunch, is £25.00. Booking can be made by phone, email or online (www.stritascentre.org/events). Payment can be made on the day. If you have any questions, please contact Krista Radzina on 01404 42635.

The CAFOD Big Lent Walk
This Lent, CAFOD is calling all Catholics who can to walk 200km in 40 days to help fight global poverty. Walk when and where you choose over 40 days, alone or with friends. CAFOD and SCIAF are teaming up to bring the Big Lent Walk to Great Britain! Thousands of walkers from England, Wales, Scotland and beyond, will be tying up their purple laces and walking an incredible 200km this Lent to fight global poverty. Sign up today and do the Big Lent Walk yourself, putting your best foot forward with the biggest group of Big Lent Walkers yet. When you sign up, CAFOD will send you a welcome pack with a wallchart and a pair of ‘Big Lent Walk’ laces. If you hit the target of £200 on your fundraising page, then CAFOD will send you a ‘Big Lent Walk’ Tote Bag!