NEWSLETTER
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year c)
Sunday 10th August, 2025
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Message from Canon Kristian
Dear sisters and brothers
The week saw the annual commemoration of the dropping of nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagazaki in 1945 and the terrible destruction and the on-going suffering in the lives of individuals that this unleashed. On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima, Pope Leo offered words of solidarity and prayer at the end of his Wednesday audience: “I wish to assure my prayers for all those who have suffered its physical, psychological, and social consequences.” Referring also to the bombing of Nagasaki that is remembered today, 9 August, he said: “Those tragic events remain a universal warning against the devastation caused by war – and particularly by nuclear weapons.” Pope Leo expressed his hope that the world today, plagued by intense divisions and deadly violence, will replace its false sense of security “based on the threat of mutual destruction” with justice, open dialogue, and trust in fraternity.
Last year, the International Affairs Department of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, published a document titled Called to be Peacemakers. In it, the Bishops affirmed that “the cost of nuclear weapons should be measured not only in the lives destroyed through their use, but also the suffering of the poorest and most vulnerable people, who could have benefited were such vast sums of public money invested in the common good of society instead”. Acknowledging that the UK is one of the few nuclear-armed states in the world, it notes that the Catholic Church in England and Wales has a particular responsibility to respond to the late Pope Francis’ call that: “Now is the time to counter the logic of fear with the ethic of responsibility, and so foster a climate of trust and sincere dialogue.” In the light of this anniversary, this document, and in particular the section entitled “The Church’s Call to Nuclear Disarmament”, is well worth a read.
As an antidote to the destruction caused by weapons of war and to what might be called the “culture of death”, we have a major celebration of the “culture of life” in the week ahead with the occurrence of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary body and soul into the glory of heaven, which is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics in England and Wales. In this beautiful summer Marian feast, we celebrate both Mary’s unique participation in her Son’s Resurrection at the moment of her death and anticipate the resurrection of all the members of Christ’s Body – our own sharing in the risen and inextinguishable life of Christ. In Ireland, this Feast was traditionally referred to as the “Feast Day of Our Lady in the Harvest Time”, reflecting devotion to Mary as the Queen of the Harvest and as the first fruits of the Resurrection, with the Christian faithful being the rest of the harvest of new life. As the holiday season is now in full swing, there will only be a Vigil Mass at 6pm in St Boniface on Thursday 14 August and a 12noon Mass on the Solemnity itself in St Andrew’s. Please note that there will not be an evening Mass on Friday.
Along with the Newsletter this week, I attach:
Monika Manser’s weekly guide to a prayerful reading of the Sunday Gospel
the latest edition of Deacon Peter’s Inspire
a flyer from the Laudato Si’ Group with ideas and links for summer activities with children
a flyer for Lydia Fitton’s Concert
As always, we remember those in our parish community and others whom we know who are sick at this time, particularly Ellie Williams and those in hospital or in nursing homes. May they receive healing of body, mind and spirit.
God bless
Canon Kristian
Canon Kristian Paver
Parish Priest
Parish of St Boniface and St James Mid Devon
40 Old Road Tiverton EX16 4HJ
Solidarity and Support for Palestinian Christians in the Middle East
The lands of Palestine are the cradle of Christianity, sometimes referred to as the “Fifth Gospel” and the Christian Palestinians as the “living stones”, their persistent existence going back to the days of Jesus walking that very ground. In 1949 some 10% of the population was Christian, today it is less than 2% and declining.
A number of parishioners wish to start a project (along with other local Christians) to demonstrate solidarity and support to Palestinian Christians in the Middle East. This has become increasingly important these past two years with War and Famine in Gaza and increasing violence in the occupied territories.
To this end and as part of a wider support to all the victims of violence in the area, some parishioners are calling for a meeting this Tuesday, 12 August, at 7.45pm (for 8.00pm) in St Andrew’s Hall to pilot a Tiverton and district wide project aiming to respond both practically and politically to the famine, war and violence across the Palestinian territories as a small local endeavour contributing towards the eventual establishment of Peace with Justice for all Israelis and Palestinians.
Do please come along if you can. If you are interested in becoming more involved and helping with the meeting, please speak to Sally Chapman, Bridget Tosh, Carol or Terence McCarthaigh (t.mccarthaigh@btinternet.com).
Updating the Parish Database
Under the General Data Protection Regulation, it is necessary for us to ensure that the data the parish holds on our parishioners is up to date. We therefore need to ask each person/family to fill out a new census form at regular intervals. It has been some years since the parish database was last updated, so new census forms are available over the next few weekends. Many of you have already returned your forms. Could those who have yet to return theirs please do so as soon as possible. There are additional forms available for those who still need to take one. If you know of anyone who does not attend church regularly, but who would still like to be included on the database, please take a form for them to complete and return.
Concert – Music from the Stage with Lydia
This coming Thursday 14 August 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Church, Tiverton, Lydia Fitton will be performing a programme of songs from stage productions ranging from classical opera through to contemporary musical theatre numbers. Tickets are £8 for adults or £5 for under 16’s and will be available on the door (cash only please).
Baptism of Helen Hewson
We will have the great joy on Tuesday 26 August of celebrating the baptism of Helen Hewson at the 9.00am Mass. Helen is a valued Early Years teacher at our parish school and she and her family are well-known members of the parish. Please do come along and support her on this important and blessed occasion.
SVP Skittles Evening
The annual SVP Skittles Evening will be held at the Racehorse Pub in Wellbrook Street, Tiverton, on Friday 22 August from 7.00pm. The cost will be £10 a person, inclusive of a buffet supper. Please let Simon Coombs (07761 420703), Shelagh Eastwood, Sheelagh Bourdon, Margaret Found or Maggie Pulford know by 15 August if you will be taking part, as numbers for food need to be given by that date.
New Directors for Plymouth CAST
Plymouth CAST is a Catholic multi-academy trust of 34 schools and 1 nursery, spanning the Diocese of Plymouth. Its mission is to be a community of outstanding schools in which our pupils flourish in safe, happy, and stimulating environments and leave with the knowledge and skills, personal qualities, and aspirations, to make the world a better place, inspired by the Gospel. Plymouth CAST is looking to expand its Board of Directors. It is particularly interested in hearing from you if you have skills and current or recent experience of education at primary or secondary level, particularly within a multi-academy trust. Please contact the Clerk to the Trust Board for further information, Mrs Leah Paiano: lpaiano@plymouthcast.org.uk
Thanks to the “Mad Hatters”
Margaret Found and Sarah Forward would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all who came to the Mad Hatters Coffee Morning and all those who put so much effort into the wonderful hats. They were delighted at the result.
Laudato Si’ Ideas for Summer
The Laudato Si’ Group has produced lots of environmentally friendly and local holiday ideas for all the family. They are attached to the Newsletter and a useful handout will be available at church.
200 Club
Canon Kristian will make the draw for August after the 6.00pm Mass this Saturday. If you would like one or more numbers in this parish fund raiser for as little as £1 a month, please let Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon know at St Andrew’s or Siobhan Gilroy at St Boniface.
SVP National Raffle
Parishioners who have taken a book of SVP Raffle tickets and not returned them are asked to do so as soon as possible please. Stubs and monies have to be sent to the SVP National Office by the end of this month.
Masses and Events this week
Sunday 10th August–Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Saturday 9 August – St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
- Vigil Mass at 6.00pm Sally Ward-Enticott (birthday ints)
Sunday 10 August – Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
- Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
- Holy Mass at 11.30am
Monday 11 August – St Clare, Virgin
- Singing to Remember at 2.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall
Tuesday 12 August – Weekday
- Holy Mass at 9.00am
- Solidarity and Support for Palestinian Christians, 7.45pm for 8.00pm, in St Andrew’s Hall
Wednesday 13 August – Weekday
- Holy Mass at 12noon (St Boniface)
Thursday 14 August – St Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr
- Holy Mass at 9.00am
- Vigil Mass of the Assumption at 6.00pm (St Boniface)
- Music for the Stage with Lydia at 7.30pm in St Andrew’s
Friday 15 August – Assumption of Our Lady -Holy Day of Obligation
- Confessions and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 11.30am
- Holy Mass at 12noon
- Holy Rosary at 12.45pm
- Youth Club, 11.00am-12.30pm, in St Boniface’s Hall
- Vigil Mass at 6.00pm
Sunday 17 August – Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
- Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
- Holy Mass at 11.30am