Advent “Walk with Me” and “Day by Day” Booklets

To accompany and support your daily Advent spiritual preparation for Christmas, “Walk with Me” and “Day by Day” booklets are available this weekend. They are offered to you for free, so please do take copies with you. There are also booklets and calendars for children.

Scottish Brunch

Monika Manser is hosting a Scottish Brunch to celebrate St Andrew’s Day on Monday, 1 December, 10.30am-12.30pm, in St Andrew’s Hall, featuring Scottish cuisine including Lorne sausage in a roll, haggis on toast, porridge, tattie scones and oatcakes. A selection of homemade jams, jellies and chutneys will also be on sale. All proceeds will go towards the interior fittings for St James.

HCPT Lourdes Pilgrimage 2026

One of our young parishioners, Bonnie, is raising funds to pay for her participation as a helper on the HCPT Group 141 Pilgrimage to Lourdes next year. She is planning to do a sponsored walk up and down Exmouth Seafront five times on Sunday 28 December 2025, a distance of 10 miles in total. If you would like to sponsor her, please put your details on the sponsor form at the back of church.

Advent Retreat Day in Honiton

An Advent Retreat Day will take place in St Rita’s, Honiton, on Saturday 6 December, led by Deacon Kelvin Russell and Fr Jose Romero OAR, entitled “From Captivity to Freedom: An Advent Journey of Hope”. The charge for the day, including lunch, is £25.00. To register, please complete the application. You can contact St Rita’s Centre by phone on 01404 42635, by email at admin@stritascentre.org, or register online via the website:  https://www.stritascentre.org/events-retreats-1/advent-retreat-day-from-captivity-to-freedom-an-advent-journey-of-hope . Payment can be made in advance or on the day.

Products and Gifts to support Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)

Following our second Vigil for Peace in Palestine last Tuesday, Zaytoun products and goods from the Palestinian territories will be on sale after the Masses this weekend. Proceeds will go to support the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians.

Big Christmas Raffle

The tickets for the Big Christmas Raffle are now on sale. There are three impressive hampers to be won, filled with high quality produce and products from the Southwest. Tickets cost £5.00 each.

Advent Retreat at Lynton

From 12-14 December, the Sisters of Mary Morning Star are inviting women, aged 18-35, to come and spend a time of prayer and study in the context of their contemplative community in Lynton. See the attached poster for more details or email srsmarymorningstar@gmail.com for further information and to book a place.

Diocesan Yearbooks

The new Diocesan Yearbook is now available at the entrance to church, priced £5.00 each.

CAFOD World Gifts

Why not donate a life-changing gift to those who are poorer in our world on behalf of a relative or friend this Christmas? CAFOD has a wide range of gifts, ranging from a Happy Queen Bee to a Community Water Supply. Please take a CAFOD World Gift Brochure with you this week. It also contains some stocking-filler ideas too.

Parish Children’s Christmas Party

We will be holding our Christmas Party for all the children of our parish who are still are Primary School or younger on Sunday 14 December, 3.00-5.00pm, in St Andrew’s Hall. For safety reasons, parents must remain on the premises whilst their children are at the party. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available for the adults. Please sign up on the A4 sheet at the entrance to church if your children are planning to take part or send an email to the parish office. All welcome.

St Boniface Christmas Party

The annual Christmas Party held in St Boniface’s Hall will take place on Saturday 13 December, 2.00-4.00pm. If you would like to take part, please put your name on the list at the entrance to St Boniface’s church.

Christmas Carol Service

There will be a Christmas Carol Service on Friday 19 December at 7.30pm. Anyone who would like to join our group of singers is invited to come along to the rehearsals on Saturday mornings, 11.00am-12noon, in St Andrew’s.

Residential for Teens

A residential weekend for teens, aged 13-17, will take place from 23-25 January at East Shallowford Farm on Dartmoor focussed on the theme of “I was a stranger and you invited me in” (Matthew 25:35) and which will explore the questions “Refugees and Asylum Seekers, who are they and why did they flee?”. The residential is designed to give young people a chance to step back from the busyness of daily life, explore their faith, enjoy fellowship with others their age, and take part in guided reflection, prayer, and activities. A contribution of £50 per person to assist with costs is requested. For further information, contact Saskia at youth@prcdtr.org.uk.

The Community of Our Lady of Walsingham

The Community of Our Lady of Walsingham seeks help to purchase a property to accommodate their growing community and further their apostolates of prayer, parish missions, hospitality, chaplaincy and youth work. Any amount, large or small. is greatly appreciated and the community assure you of their prayers. Cheques payable to “COLW” can be sent to: House of the Divine Will, Neatherd Moor, Dereham, NR20 4AZ. More information, as well as the option to donate online, can be found at: www.maryshouseappeal.org. Email: office@walsinghamcommunity.org, or call 01362 692574.