NEWSLETTER

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Sunday 6th July, 2025

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Message from Canon Kristian

Dear brothers and sisters
As we enter into the summer month of July, we begin our liturgical journey through “Ordinary Time“, that succession of Sundays during which we hear proclaimed in a more continuous way the Gospel of a particular evangelist who, this year, is St Luke. Rather than just dipping in and out of his Gospel, we are immersed in Luke’s presentation of the person and ministry of Jesus the Christ and of his teaching with regards to the blessings and challenges of being a disciple.  We are invited to listen out for the particular characteristics found in St Luke’s writing –
  • the emphasis on the presence and action of the Holy Spirit
  • the ministry of healing and forgiveness
  • the importance of prayer
  • the role of Mary
  • the recognition of women as disciples and agents of the plan of salvation
  • the proclamation of the Reign of God to the non-Jewish world
  • the special focus on the “anawim” (what we would call in today’s theological language, God’s preferential option for the poor, the downtrodden, the marginalised).
What a wealth of characteristics for our on-going prayer and meditation over the Summer and Autumn months! Because of this rich tapestry, the Gospel of Luke speaks readily to the challenges that face our societies and our world today, and it provides us with much food for thought with regards to how we live as disciples and proclaim the Gospel in the concrete circumstances in which we find ourselves, both as individuals and as a community.
Although this Sunday is the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, as a parish community we are celebrating the First Holy Communion of 23 of our children and young people.  This is the second of the three stages for full Christian initiation – baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation – which are recalled at every baptism of an infant prior to the praying of the Our Father on the infant’s behalf by his or her parents and godparents.  So, what is happening this weekend is intimately connected with what took place a number of years ago when these young people were baptised and became a beloved daughter or son of God and members of the Body of Christ, his Church on earth.  This day forms part of the journey to maturity in the practice of the faith for each of these young people, and so it is right that we celebrate with them, support their parents and godparents in their Christian duty and give witness of our own faith to them by who we are and what we do.  I wish to acknowledge the support given by the families of the children and young people throughout the preparation programme and the dedication of the catechists – Deacon Michael, Elaine Kelly and Monika Manser – in helping these young people to deepen their faith, especially in the gift of the Eucharist.  On behalf of the whole parish community, I thank you.  It is important to remember that this occasion is not an ending, but only a stage on the journey towards maturity of faith which, for most of us, takes at least a lifetime and, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we are on this road of discovery together!
Along with the Newsletter this weekend, I attach:
  • Monika Manser’s guide to a contemplative reading of the Sunday Gospel
  • Number 150 of Inspire, from Deacon Peter
  • Flyers regarding St John’s Starmakers’ production of The Wizard of Oz, the upcoming Coffee Morning and Tea Tasting, and the Summer Afternoon with CHAT.
May the Peace of Christ be always with us, with those who are ill and suffering, and in those places and people being torn apart and wounded by the distorted human desire to dominate and control.
Be assured of my prayers for you all.
God bless
Canon Kristian
Canon Kristian Paver
Parish Priest
Parish of St Boniface and St James Mid Devon
40 Old Road Tiverton EX16 4HJ

First Holy Communion Celebrations

Our children will be making their First Holy Communion at the Saturday 6.00pm Vigil Mass and at the 11.30am Sunday Mass in Tiverton this weekend. Particularly on Sunday, there will be a significant increase in the numbers of people coming to Mass and, although we will do our best to provide additional seats, please be mindful that not everyone will get a seat. Due to limited parking at St Andrew’s too, at both Masses, please do park in the neighbouring roads and carparks if at all possible. Please keep our children and their families in your prayers.

Pope’s July Prayer Intention

Pope Leo invites us to join him this month in prayer for formation in discernment: “Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.”

Coffee Morning and Tea Tasting

The next Coffee Morning will take place next Saturday 12 July, 10.00am-12noon, in St Andrew’s Hall. This gathering will include a guided “tea tasting”. All welcome. Proceeds go to St James refurbishment fund.

Young Adults’ Holy Year Pilgrimage to Rome

A small representative band of young adults from our diocese will be making a Holy Year Pilgrimage to Rome in four weeks’ time, under the leadership of Fr Albert Lawes. Karol Gorlo from our own parish will be a part of this group. He is appealing for support in helping him cover the cost of £1,300.00. Please contact Canon Kristian if you would like to help Karol or speak to Karol directly.

St John’s Starmakers’ Summer Show

St John’s Starmakers will be performing The Wizard of Oz in the New Hall, Tiverton, on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 July at 6.30pm. The children always put on a wonderful show, so please go along and support them if you can. Tickets are £6 each and can be bought at the school, on the door or reserved by emailing Catherine Fitton at cfitton@stjohnstiverton.co.uk.

Pretty Muddy Race for Life for Cancer Research UK

Our parishioner, Ewelina Zychlinska, is taking part in the Exeter Pretty Muddy Race for Life on 19 July to raise money for Cancer Research UK. She says: “Cancer is happening right now, which is why I’m taking part in a Race for Life Pretty Muddy to raise money and save lives. 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Every single pound you donate makes a difference to Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work”. If you would like to donate to her fundraiser, please go to this link.

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.

Well-being Walks

Anew “Well-being Walk” is being trialled in Tiverton. The aim of the walk is to see if there’s any appetite for local short wellbeing walks and to identify any potential walk leaders. It is taking place this Monday 7 July at 10.00am, starting and finishing at the Exe Valley Leisure Centre. To get all the details, please click  the link – Tiverton Wellbeing Walk. A similar Well-being Walk is taking place in Cullompton on Wednesday 9 July at 10.00am, starting and finishing at the Cullompton Leasure Centre. To get all the details, please click the link – Cullompton Wellbeing Walk.

Sea Sunday

Next Sunday,13 July, is Sea Sunday and there will be a retiring collection to support the work of Stella Maris, formerly known as the Apostleship of the Sea.

SVP National Raffle

Members of the SVP will be selling the Society’s summer raffle tickets over the coming weeks. They cost £1 a ticket and come in books of 5. There is a first prize of £5000, a second one of £1000 and 15 additional prizes of £100. The Parish SVP group will receive 50% of the ticket sales to support its work, so please be generous. 

A Summer’s Afternoon with CHAT

Join the team from CHAT for A Summer’s Afternoon at Ashley Court, Tiverton, on Saturday 12 July, 2.00–5.00pm. Entry by donation. Bring a picnic blanket and enjoy a relaxed and fun afternoon in the beautiful grounds of Ashley Court. Live music from Bel Canto Choir, local craft stalls, enjoy a cream tea or a glass of Pimm’s, and explore the stunning gardens. There will be plenty for families too – meet an Exmoor Pony, enjoy lawn games, and join in the free Charlie Bear treasure hunt. If you would like to sell your own crafts, handmade items, plants etc, stalls are available at £10 a table. Contact holly.reid@chatmid.co.uk to book.

Masses and Events this week

Sunday 6th July – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

  • Saturday 5 July – Weekday

    • Youth Club, 11.00am-12.30pm, in St Boniface’s Hall
    • Laudato Si’ Group at 4.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall
    • Vigil Mass at 6.00pm First Holy Communion Children

    Sunday 6 July – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

    • Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
    • Holy Mass at 11.30am First Holy Communion Children

    Monday 7 July – Weekday

    • Well-being Walk, 10.00am, Exe Valley Leisure Centre, Tiverton
    • Singing to Remember at 2.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall

    Tuesday 8 July – Weekday

    • Holy Mass at 9.00am

    Wednesday 9 July – Weekday

    • Well-being Walk, 10.00am, Cullompton Leisure Centre
    • Mass at 12noon (St Boniface)

    Thursday 10 July – Weekday

    • Holy Mass at 9.00am
    • St John’s Starmakers Wizard of Oz, 6.30pm, New Hall, Tiverton

    Friday 11 July – St Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe

    • Holy Mass at 9.00am
    • St John’s Starmakers Wizard of Oz, 6.30pm, New Hall, Tiverton

    Saturday 12 July – Weekday

    • Coffee Morning & Tea Tasting, 10.00am-12noon, in St Andrew’s Hall
    • A Summer Afternoon with CHAT, 2.00-5.00pm, Ashley Court, Tiverton
    • Vigil Mass at 6.00pm

    Sunday 13 July – Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

    • Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
    • Holy Mass at 11.30am