World Communications Day

This Sunday is the 57^th World Communications Day. The theme chosen by Pope Francis for this year is Speaking with the Heart. The Pope says in his World Communications Day Message: “It is the heart that spurred us to go, to see and to listen, and it is the heart that moves us towards an open and welcoming way of communicating.” You can read whole of the Holy Father’s Message here.

Vital to the spread of the Gospel is good communication – through the websites, publications and social media channels of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England Wales. The Conference works hard to forge positive relationships with media outlets to communicate news relating to every aspect of the life of the Catholic Church and her people. There will be a retiring collection to support this essential work of the Bishops on our behalf. Alternatively, you can donate online at: Donate – World Communications Day – Catholic Bishops’ Conference (cbcew.org.uk).

Memorial Mass for Bishop Christopher Budd RIP

The Canons of the Chapter of the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Boniface, Plymouth invite you to the Memorial Mass for Bishop Christopher Budd. This Mass will be an opportunity for us as a Diocese to celebrate his life and his considerable contribution to the Plymouth Diocese during his time as our Bishop from 1986 until 2014, as well as a chance to offer up prayers for the repose of his soul. This Mass will take place this Tuesday, 23 May, at 12noon at Plymouth Cathedral and will be followed by a barbecue in the Cathedral grounds.

Caritas Diocese of Plymouth – Refugee Week Event

Every migrant has a name, a face and a story’ (Pope Francis). Refugee Week is approaching and the theme this year is Compassion.  Caritas Diocese of Plymouth would like to invite people to learn more about  ‘Love the Stranger’ - a new publication by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which reflects on our Christian response to the challenges facing those who have left their homeland in search of a better life.  Love the Stranger is a call to action – not only to help those who come here, but also to facilitate and rejoice in their service to our society. 

There are many in our diocese who welcome those new to their community, reach out to asylum seekers, welcome families through community sponsorship, host Ukrainian families and much more.  This event will be an opportunity to find out more about what is happening and to learn from each other. All welcome to join Caritas via Zoom on Wednesday 21 June from 6-7pm. Please email caritas@prcdtr.org.uk  or fill in this short form to receive the Zoom link https://forms.office.com/e/DeWyqB7cL9.

April Parish Giving

Loose Collection £1581.27 Contactless £320.00 Standing Orders £3072.00

New Diocesan Newsletter

The Diocesan Communications Team is relaunching a diocesan-wide newsletter in the coming months. They will be sending out a special tribute edition to Bishop Christopher in the next few days, with photographs and extracts from his Pastoral Letters sourced from the diocesan archives, as well as written tributes. If you’d like to receive this and subsequent newsletters, please sign up here: https://email.workwithgusto.co.uk/h/t/A561A3216C433494.

CHAT Urgent Appeal

CHAT’s foodbank is seeing more people each month who need urgent help for necessary items. The stocks are running low and your help is needed. Please consider whether you can help by donating.

• You can drop food at church, at the CHAT Office, or any of the supermarket drop off points. 

• You can order a supermarket delivery directly to the CHAT Office or shop from the CHAT Amazon “wish list” if this is more convenient for you.

• You can send a financial donation and then CHAT can purchase the things they most need.

• Downloading the Bank Food App will alert you to the most needed items.

• Follow the CHAT Facebook page (CHATMidDevon) and spread the news with others

More people are also needing help with basic household items when setting up home. There is more information on the CHAT website about the sort of things that are needed. Please see https://www.chatmid.org/donate  in particular for more information about the various ways you can donate.  

CHAT is also currently recruiting more trustees, so if this is something that is of interest to you, please visit https://www.chatmid.org/volunteering for more information or contact the Team for an informal chat.

Annual Collection for our Sick and Retired Priests

Next weekend there will be the annual collection to support our sick and retired priests. This is one way in which we can show gratitude for the years of service that these men have given to our parish communities across the Diocese. Please be as generous as you can.

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 is “Leap of Faith: Having the Courage to Journey like Mary”. 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.