Holy Jubilee Year 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope Passports

In this Jubilee Year our Diocese has launched a new Pilgrims of Hope Passport inviting pilgrims to visit four historically and spiritually significant churches in Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset: the Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Boniface, Plymouth, is a place central to the heart of our Diocese; the Church of St Cuthbert Mayne, Launceston, holds the relics of this local martyr of the Reformation; the Church of the Holy Trinity, Dorchester has a strong connection to the Chideock Martyrs, and the Church of St Boniface, Crediton, contains two relics of the Patron of our Diocese and the bringer of the Catholic Faith to the people of Germany and of Holland. These Pilgrims of Hope Passports are available at church and can be the stamped at each of the four churches named above.  All are encouraged to visit these sacred sites, whether as part of an organised pilgrimage, or to create their own pilgrimage routes and walks.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Prayers

The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity runs from 18 – 25 January. The daily prayer materials have been provided by the Ecumenical Monastic Community of Bose in Italy, entitled “Do you believe this?”, and are inspired the 1700^th anniversary of the great Council of Nicaea in 325 which produced one of the Creeds we still use at Mass today.

St John’s School will be leading Prayer for Christian Unity this Friday, 24 January, at 9.15am in the school hall. Everyone is welcome to come and join our children in this prayer.

A “Thank You” from CHAT

This week we received a lovely email from Holly Sutton, the Fundraising Manager at CHAT: Dear all at St James and St Boniface, Happy New Year! I am writing on behalf of everybody at CHAT to thank you for your kind donations recently of 23 toasters, 24 kettles and 4 air fryers. Christmas and Winter as a whole are an especially busy time for us as people struggle to heat their homes, as well as to have enough food to eat and all of the other pressures that the season brings. Donations of food, gifts and household items all go towards making things a little bit easier for people and we are grateful for your support to keep our shelves stocked. We couldn’t help the number of people that we do without generous people like you and we are grateful to be thought of.  Many thanks, Holly.

Readers at Mass Wanted!

We need more volunteers to exercise the ministry of reader at all of our weekend Masses. This is a really important service to offer to the community. If you would be interested in becoming a reader, please have a word with Canon Kristian.

200 Club

Congratulations to Barbara Parr who won the £30 prize and to Kay Morris who won the £20 prize in the January draw. We really need more parishioners to join this on-going fund raiser. If you would like to join for as little as £1 a month, please speak to Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon at St Andrew’s or Siobhan Gilroy at St Boniface.

CHAT 30^th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving

2025 marks a milestone for CHAT, and while there are several events planned throughout the year, it will begin by thanking God for his provision and guidance over the past 30 years. We are invited to join with other Churches from our area in a joint Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Church, Tiverton, next Sunday 26 January at 6.30pm.

CHAT began 30 years ago as an ecumenical response to a call to action to support those struggling with homelessness. Over these years, thanks to the incredible support have received, CHAT has been able to bring hope to those who need it most across Mid Devon, making a meaningful difference in countless lives.

CHAT remains steadfast in its mission to prevent homelessness and relieve hardship in Mid Devon and many people in our community continue to need this help. The Service of Thanksgiving will also provide an opportunity to share updates on CHAT’s current situation and to pray together for the future.

The Parish Rosary Group Prayer Board

Our Rosary Group, which prays the Rosary after Mass on Fridays and which is always welcoming of new members, is keen to include as many people in their prayers as possible. In order to do this, they have created a special board which will be at the weekend Masses. Anyone who knows of someone in need of prayer – of whatever faith or none – can add their name to it and the Rosary Group hope to see many names added to it. The members of the Rosary Group will have it with them when they pray each week, so that those whose names are on the board are included in their prayers. 

Post Vacancies

The Diocese of Plymouth is recruiting a Property Administrator based at St Boniface House, Ashburton. To express your interest in the post, please contact recruitment@prcdtr.org.uk. The closing date for applications is Monday 3 February 2025.

Two of our Primary Schools are also advertising for new Headteachers. The closing date for applications is 27 January 2025. Details are attached.

Caritas Events

The following events are being advertised by Caritas Diocese of Plymouth: Cost of Living Online Zoom Event this Tuesday 21 January, 11.30am-12.15pm – a short online session sharing signposting and information that can be given people struggling with the cost of living; Modern Slavery and Labour Abuse Event , Thursday 13 February, 11.30am-1.30pm, at Holy Family Parish Hall, Plymouth – a workshop on the prevention of modern slaver and labour abuse, with a particular focus on the care sector; and a National Justice and Peace Network Webinar Opening the Doors of Freedom from Trafficking and Exploitation on Thursday 6 February, 7.00-8.30pm. More details are attached to the Newsletter.