CAFOD Lent Fast Day Appeal
This coming Friday, 23 February, is the CAFOD Lent Fast Day. This year your donations will help hardworking people in countries like Liberia with resources, tools and training to feed their families for good. Please take an envelope with you today and return it next week, having filled out the Gift Aid declaration if you are a taxpayer. Alternatively, you can donate online at www.cafod.org.uk. Please pray that our sisters and brothers around the world will have what they need to feed their families. The first edition of the weekly Parish CAFOD Group Lent News is attached.

Diocesan Newsletter for February and “Lenten Offerings”
The link for our Diocesan Newsletter is: https://email.workwithgusto.co.uk/t/tFCC2410AEBEA86022540EF23F30FEDED. Individuals from around the Diocese will also be producing weekly “Lenten Offerings” – prayers and reflections – to help nourish, inspire, support and uplift us on our spiritual journey. Sign up to receive them at: https://email.workwithgusto.co.uk/h/t/A561A3216C433494. This week’s Offerings are attached to give you flavour of what to expect.

“At the Supper of the Lamb” – A Commentary on the Mass
Canon Kristian will be leading a weekly session looking at the different parts of the Mass from theological, liturgical, pastoral and practical angles. The dates are as follows: Tuesday 20 February – The Introductory Rites, Thursday 29 February – The Liturgy of the Word, Tuesday 5 March – The Offertory and Eucharistic Prayer, Wednesday 13 March – The Communion Rite, and Wednesday 20 March – The Concluding Rites. The sessions will take place at 7.00pm in the Hall.

“Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the 12 Steps”
For Lent this year, a group of parishioners is offering a reflective prayer and study group on the book by Richard Rohr: ‘Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the 12 Steps’. Father Richard, a Franciscan, expands the idea of addiction as a metaphor for the patterns of our own sinfulness and the sin of the world, and then explores how the 12 steps can help us all in our everyday lives as Christians. The group will be meeting online at 6.00pm on Sundays and all you will need is a copy of the book and the courage to look a little deeper. When the evenings are lighter, meeting in person in the Hall could be an option. Everyone is most welcome to join the group. To find out more or register your interest, please email Barbara at strongbarbara@gmail.com or call 01398 331823 this weekend.

Laudato Si’ Group Recipe Book Project and Newsletter
A reminder that the Laudato Si’ Group is inviting you to contribute towards a “Zero Food Waste” Recipe Book. The information sheet is attached to the Newsletter. Please email your contribution to antoniaryan11@gmail.com. The Laudato Si’ Group meets on the first Saturday of each month at 4.00pm in the Hall. Everyone is welcome. In their Lent newsletter attached, the Group suggests that, instead of “giving up” for Lent, we could perhaps “give a little”.

“Tough Times” Support Group
A new “Tough Times” support group is starting in the parish to provide a safe space to share, vent and find solace in navigating life’s storms. It will provide a friendly space to find strength in shared experiences and in the comforting embrace of our faith. You are not alone; you can walk this journey together with others, leaning on the hope found in Christ. The group will meet on the last Tuesday of every month at 7.00pm in the hall at St Boniface in Cullompton, starting on 26 March.

Natural Family Planning (NFP) South West
The NFP Training Team wish to recruit and train new teachers to become part of a team delivering the Billings Ovulation Method in our Diocese. Applicants will need to chart their own fertility to gain experience. Training will be via correspondence modules over a 2-year time frame. Training is organised by Billings Method England (BME), the national accrediting body. Once accredited, you will be expected to attend two local diocesan study days a year in person and two BME Zoom training sessions per year. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Christine on 07742 320717.

Saying Goodbye Service
“Saying Goodbye”, a part of the Mariaposa Trust, will be in Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 2 March at 12.30pm to hold a Baby Loss Remembrance Service. The Mariposa Trust’s core objective is to support people who have lost babies at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy. The Service is for anyone who has either personally lost a baby at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in early years or who has been affected by family members’ or friends’ loss, whether the loss was recent or 80 years ago. The welcome is also extended to anyone who is grieving the fact that they haven’t had children. This may be due to circumstance, infertility or for other reasons. Babies and children are also invited to come with their families, as the Saying Goodbye Service is truly a family event for all. To read more about the Mariaposa Trust, please go to the Saying Goodbye website: www.sayinggoodbye.org.

January Parish Giving
Loose Plate: £941.45 Contactless: £290.00 Standing Orders: £3140.00

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. 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!