Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum

This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week or Great Week, the most important period of the whole liturgical year. We celebrate and are drawn into the final saving events of the Lord’s life here on earth, from his entrance into Jerusalem, through the celebration of the Last Supper with his disciples and his suffering and death on the Cross, to his glorious resurrection. The celebrations of the Sacred Triduum – the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the Celebration of the Passion on Good Friday and the Easter Vigil – are such important days for Christ’s followers that all of us should naturally be drawn together at church to celebrate these world-changing and life-changing events. In fact, although these Services take place on three separate days, they are in fact one celebration spread over a number of days. Thus, it would be a great blessing for our parish to see as many parishioners as possible taking part in the Sacred Triduum. In addition, during the Easter Vigil this year, we have the great joy of celebrating the baptism of Indrė Navardauskaite and the Reception into Full Communion with the Catholic Church of Simon Green.

Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

To enable those who wish to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation before the Sacred Triduum and Easter, the following times for Confession have been scheduled: Tuesday 26 March, 5.00-7.00pm at St Boniface, Wednesday 27 March, 6.30-7.30pm at St James, and Thursday 28 March, 10.30-11.30am, at St James.

The Prayer of the Church (Liturgy of the Hours)

During the Sacred Triduum we will be celebrating Night Prayer (Compline) at the end of the Watching of Holy Thursday at 11.45pm, the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer (Lauds) on Good Friday and Holy Saturday at 9.00am at St James. These are powerful ways of joining in prayer with the Church around the world on these most holy days.

Tough Times Support Group

A “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, offering a friendly space to find strength in shared experiences and in the comforting embrace of our faith. We are not alone; we can walk this journey together, 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.

Diocesan Lenten Offerings

The link for the “Lenten Offerings” for Palm Sunday and Holy Week to help nourish, inspire, support and uplift us on our spiritual journey is: https://email.workwithgusto.co.uk/t/t-939A4FD7954230CE2540EF23F30FEDED.

Walk of Witness in Cullompton

There will be an ecumenical Walk of Witness in Cullompton on Good Friday. People are asked to assemble at Tesco from 10.00am and the Walk will begin at 10.15am, pausing in front of the Baptist Church and in Church Street, before ending at 11am at St Andrew’s Anglican Church.

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross will be prayed in both St James and St Boniface at 7.00pm on Good Friday, especially for those who are unable to take part in the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3.00pm in St James. However, this devotion will also be spiritually enriching for those who have participated in the Celebration earlier in the afternoon.

The Blessing of Easter Food

The Blessing of Baskets of Easter Food, an important tradition especially for our parishioners originating from Poland and Lithuania, will take place on Holy Saturday in both St James and St Boniface at 12noon.

Parish St Vincent de Paul (SVP) Group

The Parish SVP group (called a “Conference”) is twinned with a Conference in Nellore, India, and sends them an annual financial contribution to help the poor and needy in their area. In recent correspondence, our twin has told us how the money has been used to provide scholarships to poor students, to make regular visits to adopted families and to visit the elderly. 

In addition to visiting the sick, elderly and needy, the Parish SVP Conference with the help of the national SVP organization has also recently been able to provide fridge freezers to two local people referred by CHAT, along with a microwave for one of the beneficiaries. We are always open to welcoming parishioners to be new members of the SVP group to share in its important work, so please speak to Simon Coombs for further information.

Let’s celebrate Easter with colour!

Parishioners are invited to bring either bunches or arrangements of Spring flowers of any colour on Good Friday or Holy Saturday morning for us to decorate St James church for Easter Sunday. If you are using vases, please put your name on the base so that they can be returned afterwards. Thank you in advance for your contributions – they really helped at Christmas to enhance the celebration.