CAFOD Syria-Turkey Earthquake Appeal

In the wake of the terrible earthquakes in Syria and Turkey on 6 February, CAFOD’s local experts are already on the ground in Syria and responding to the needs of those affected. CAFOD has been working in Syria for years providing humanitarian support to families affected by the 12 year long conflict – families who now face another devastating crisis.   

  Because of the generosity of parishes in recent Fast Days and other donations, CAFOD has been able to make an initial allocation of £100,000 to provide urgent humanitarian support – food, water, shelter, medical assistance and winter kits – in the worst affected areas. CAFOD also set up a Syria-Turkey Emergency Appeal.    

  Let us join CAFOD in praying for our sisters and brothers affected by the earthquakes and the winter weather. Your support for CAFOD throughout the year allows our Catholic agency to act quickly when disasters strike.

God of mercy,
We pray for the people of Türkiye and Syria
following the recent earthquakes.
We mourn the death and destruction.
and pray for those who have died and those who grieve.

We hold in our hearts those who are injured,
and those who have lost loved ones, livelihoods, and homes.

Sustain and guide all responding to this disaster.
Grant those affected courage and resilience,
as they rebuild their lives and communities.

Inspire us to unite in solidarity,
acting swiftly and generously,
so that help may reach all who need it.

Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.
Amen.

Diocese of Plymouth Newsletter Sign-up

The Diocese of Plymouth communications team is relaunching regular spiritual reflections and sharing other information through a Diocesan-wide e-newsletter. If you would like to receive the newsletter via email, please click on the ‘Sign Up to our Newsletter’ button on the front page of the website https://www.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/ and enter your details. You will be free to opt out of receiving emails at any time.

Operation New Warm Clothes

Many of you have already been amazingly generous in donating new warm clothes for the children in our area. There are still a couple of colder months ahead of us, so please keep the donations coming.

Become a Parish Volunteer for the Catholic Children’s Society

D o you enjoy organising coffee mornings, raffles, tombolas and quizzes?  Do you have a little spare time each month to help vulnerable children and their families living in our Diocese?

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, perhaps you might like to consider becoming a Catholic Children’s Society Parish Volunteer, maybe even jointly with one or two friends?  The CCSP is looking for Parish Volunteers throughout the Diocese to help the Society to raise funds for our Essential Grants Programme as it is currently overwhelmed by the number of applications it is receiving.  The Society received 421 applications in 2022 compared to 314 in 2021, and it is foreseen that the number of families looking for help will only continue to rise as the costs of living are becoming too much.  At present a maximum limit has to be put on the amount of grant funding that can be approved each month, as the Society simply cannot continue to approve the number of requests for support. For this reason, fundraising in 2023 is more important than it has ever been to reach out to as many vulnerable families living in our Diocese.

We have produced a Parish Volunteer Information Pack to help parishioners to support the Catholic Children’s Society (Plymouth) in each parish.  If you are interested in finding out more or in putting your name forward, please contact vicki.dunstone@prcdtr.org.uk or call 01364 645420.

200 Club

Congratulations to Clive Murphy who won the £30 prize and to Fiona Langford – Jackson who won the £20 prize in last weekend’s draw. The 200 Club is an ongoing fund raiser for the Parish and new members can join for £1 a month. Please speak to either Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon at St James or Teresa Cummings at St Boniface. 

Palms for Ashes

Please bring last year’s palm crosses back to church so that they can be burnt to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday on 22 February.

LOUDfence in the Diocese of Plymouth

A LOUDfence – a visible display of support and solidarity with those who have been affected by abuse, to show survivors of abuse that the Church hears them, believes them and is here to support them – will be take place at Christ the King Church, Armada Way, Plymouth, between 2.00pm on Wednesday 15 and 4.30pm on Friday 17 February. The event is open to everyone and attendees will be encouraged to tie a ribbon to a fence which could also include a message of support. On Wednesday 15 February at 2pm, the opening speakers will be Fr Mark Skelton (Diocesan Clergy Lead for Safeguarding) and Antonia Sobocki (LOUDfence). On Friday 17 February there will be a Survivors Mass at 12noon. If you are unable to attend the LOUDfence but would like to send a message of support for this, please complete the online form or send an e-mail to sophie.scagell@prcdtr.org.uk.