Annual Collection for our Sick and Retired Priests

This weekend there will be the annual collection for the Plymouth Secular Clergy Fund which supports our sick and retired priests. Making a donation to the Fund is a way in which we can show gratitude for the years of service that these men have given to our parish communities across the Diocese and ensure that they get the care they need due to age or infirmity. Please be as generous as you can. Your donation can be gift-aided by filling in a donation envelope.

Holy Father’s Prayer Intention for June

The Holy Father invites us to join him this month in praying for the abolition of torture. We pray that the international community may commit to a concrete way to ensuring the abolition of torture and guarantee support to victims and their families. Visit www.thepopevideo.org to view a video of the Holy Father himself introducing this prayer intention.

Catholic Children’s Society Annual Mass

The annual Mass for the Catholic Children’s Society will this year be held in our own parish in St John’s School Hall on Thursday 8 June at 2.00pm. It would be great to see some support present from our own parish community.

An Update on the results of fundraising and on volunteering for the Catholic Children’s Society is attached to the Newsletter.

Sponsored Walk for CHAT

Our parishioner, Ewelina Żychlinska, and her daughter, Zofia, are doing a 1000km walk over three months to raise funds to support the work of CHAT. If you would like to support them, you can do so online at Ewelina Żych is fundraising for Churches Housing Action Team (Mid Devon) Ltd (justgiving.com) or by giving your donation to them directly.

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.

New Diocesan Newsletter

The Diocesan Communications Team is relaunching a diocesan-wide newsletter in the coming months. If you’d like to receive the newsletter, please sign up: https://email.workwithgusto.co.uk/h/t/A561A3216C433494.

Mid Devon Show

Volunteers to help with the Churches’ Tent at the Mid Devon Show on Saturday 22 July at Knightshayes are needed. There is an urgent need for people to make cakes or a few litres of soup. People are needed to serve food and to welcome at the entrance of the tent, and there is a need for people to commit to pray from home over the course of the day for the Christian presence at the Show. The Churches’ Tent is a great opportunity for us to show God’s love to our community, to offer food, children’s activities and a place of rest, as well as showcase the charities working across Mid Devon. If you can help, please email Joanna Friend on joanna.friend@nhs.net.

Marriage Care

Marriage Care, a long-established Catholic charity, is looking for new volunteers, especially anyone willing to train as a Marriage Preparation Course Facilitator. Facilitators present the “Preparing Together” workshops to groups of engaged couples, either in person or via Zoom. If you think you might be interested in this worthwhile role, further details are available from https://www.marriagecare.org.uk/get-involved/marriage-preparation/, and if you have any questions, please contact the local coordinator, Jenny Allen, at jennifer.j.allen1966@gmail.com.

“Book”/Lunch Club

The “Book”/Lunch Club will be meeting this Thursday, 1 June, at Weatherspoon’s in Tiverton as 12.30pm. Please contact Sheelagh on 01884 256312 if you would like to come along to share friendship and food with those who meet up each month.

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.