NEWSLETTER

Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year A)

Laetare Sunday

Sunday 15th March, 2026

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Message from Canon Kristian

Dear sisters and brothers
The late Pope Francis started his ministry as the Successor of St Peter by reminding us, in his ground-breaking Encyclical Evangelii Gaudium, that our Christian faith should bring us joy, .  In that document (art 6), he made the famously taught:
There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter. I realize of course that joy is not expressed the same way at all times in life, especially at moments of great difficulty. Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved.
 
Lives lived like “Lent without Easter“!  What might seem to be just another catchy phrase contains within it a fundamental truth about the salvation offered to us through the passion, death AND resurrection of Jesus the Christ. The Lord’s path of suffering and his conquering of the forces of sin and death led to the new life of the resurrection.  We, through our baptism, are baptised into the death of Christ, so as to rise with him to new life (cf Romans 6:4-6).  We are reborn to eternal life, as daughters and sons of God, through the waters of baptism. This assurance of the bright promise of new life, even and perhaps especially in those moments of greatest challenge, pain and grief, enables us to retain a deep and unique sense of joy because we know that, even in the darkest times of our life, as Pope Francis simply  but profoundly puts it, “we are infinitely loved” by God.
The occurrence of Laetare Sunday on the Fourth Sunday of Lent is a reminder to us of all this, as well as being a reminder that the Lenten discipline of penance and conversion, which is necessary for all of us if we are to grow in our closeness to God and the living out of the Gospel, though it might be tough and hard-going on occasion, is a journey of joy.  It is a path of joy precisely because it is focussed not on making us feel an ever-greater sense of guilt, shame and worthlessness, but on deepening our ability to experience and feel the power of the Holy Spirit (the Lord and Giver of Life, and the Creed succinctly but beautifully refers to the Spirit) healing our wounded hearts and enabling newness of life to blossom and flourish in the barren and arid parts of our lives. Thus, the Entrance Antiphon for the Fourth Sunday of Lent proclaims: “
Rejoice, Jerusalem, (Laetare Ierusalem in Latin) and all who love her.
Be joyful, all who were in mourning;
exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast. (Isaiah 66:10-11)
Laetare Sunday, which marks the midpoint of the Lenten Season, is a day of celebration, on which our penitential discipline is briefly relaxed, musical instruments may be played at Mass, flowers are allowed in church, the purple vestments are set aside and rose ones are worn instead.  It is a liturgical reminder that we are called always to live our lives as “Easter People”, as children of the resurrection.
This joy also overflows this Sunday towards mothers, as it is also Mothering Sunday in our country.  Note that this day is traditionally called “Mothering Sunday” rather than “Mothers Day”, the name which has been adopted by general society in recent times.  Both words – “mothering” and “Sunday” – are significant.  It is the action of mothering that is celebrated, something that is, of course, carried out in a unique way by mothers, but is wider than that.  There are other people in our lives who, at one time or another, have fulfilled a “mothering” role, who have nurtured us and helped us to grow, and we recognise and give thanks for all of them on this day. This day is also a Sunday, the Lord’s Day. Thus, it is to God that we give thanks for the blessing of our mothers, whether living or dead, and those who have mothered us and continue to do so, including Mary, the Mother of all Christians, and the community of the Church, our Mother on earth.  Whilst we pray this will be a day of joy, we do not fail to remember in prayer those who are grieving the recent death of a mother and those mothers who have suffered the loss of a child, not least in those places around the world where there is violence and conflict.
The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance is an integral part of our preparation for Easter.  Due to the internal arrangement and structural limitations of both St Andrew’s in Tiverton and St Boniface in Cullompton, it is not easy to schedule times for Confession.  However, I will endeavour to set aside times, in addition to the scheduled time each Friday, to celebrate the Sacrament in the Fifth Week of Lent and the first few days of Holy Week.
Along with the Newsletter this week, I attach the regular guide to a prayerful reading of this Sunday’s Gospel, the March Newsletter of the Parish Laudato Si’ Group and the new format Newsletter from CHAT, the Churches Housing Action Team.
I am sure that we are all continuing to pray for peace in our unstable world, and I would also ask you to pray for the repose of the soul of Dave Westwick, whose funeral will take place in St Boniface this coming Friday and for his wife, Vonnie, and his family, that they may be consoled in their time of mourning by our belief that we are all “infinitely loved” by God, a love which even conquers death itself.
God bless you all.
Canon Kristian
Canon Kristian Paver
Parish Priest
Parish of St Boniface and St James Mid Devon
40 Old Road Tiverton EX16 4HJ

Mothering Sunday

The Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare Sunday – is also Mothering Sunday. On this day we give thanks and pray for all mothers, especially our own and those in our parish community. We also remember all those women who have nurtured us physically, emotionally and spiritually throughout our lives.

Products for Dignity – Household Cleaning Products for CHAT

As one of the themes of Lent is that of cleansing and purification, the Friends of St James and St Boniface thought that it would be appropriate that we should focus our Lenten support for CHAT on asking parishioners to bring offerings of household cleaning products – washing up liquid and scourers, kitchen/bathroom/toilet cleaner, cleaning cloths and dusters, washing powder or capsules and laundry softener.  The Foodbank has a great need of these things, which are essential to enable individuals and families to clean their accommodation and their clothes, both external acts which recognise and enhance the dignity of every person.  The cleaning Products for Dignity collection will last the full 40 days of Lent.  Please leave donations at the back of church.

Lent Talks on Zoom

Fr Mark Skelton, the parish priest in Newquay, is opening up his parish Lent Talks based on the parables of Jesus on Zoom to anyone across the diocese who would like to take part. The Meeting ID is 895 7188 9251 and the Password is 125755. The talks are as follows: Thursday 19 March, 7.00pm, Sr Bernadette Reis – The Parable of the Prodigal Son; Thursday 2 March, 7.00pm, Mr Simon Giarchi – The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.

David Westwick RIP

The Requiem Mass for David Westwick will take place this Friday, 20 March, at 11.00am in St Boniface, Cullompton. His body will be received into church the previous evening at 5.30pm. Please keep Vonnie and her family in your prayers in a special way at this time.

National Child Exploitation Awareness Day

National Child Exploitation Awareness Day occurs this Wednesday,18 March. The purpose of the Day is to highlight the issues surrounding child exploitation; encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero tolerance to adults developing inappropriate relationships with children or children exploiting and abusing their peers. Visit https://stop-ce.org/?_gl=1%2A1r3cmgj%2A_ga%2AMjA5OTAxNDg3MC4xNzczNDE5MjYz%2A_ga_S6QXWVQS8R%2AczE3NzM0MTkyNjIkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzM0MTk0NjkkajU3JGwwJGgw to find out more information about this day and how you can deepen and further awareness.

Tea, Coffee and Cake

Come and enjoy tea, coffee, cake and more, 2.00-4.00pm, on St Patrick’s Day, this Tuesday 17 March, in St Andrew’s Hall. There will also be a not-to-be-missed talk on “How to make an icon”. Donations will go towards the internal furnishings of the rebuilt St James and St John.

Diocesan Newsletter

The Diocesan newsletter for March with news and views is available at: https://email.workwithgusto.co.uk/t/t-EE999F4145FB3F0F2540EF23F30FEDED.

Eggcelent Easter Raffle

Friends of St James and St Boniface are running an Easter raffle. Ttickets are now on sale. Any donations for the raffle can be left in the basket at church; we hope to expand the hamper currently on display. All proceeds to the refurbishment of the new church.

Lent Station Masses with Bishop Nicholas

Throughout Lent, Bishop Nicholas will be celebrating Station Masses across our diocese. The idea of the Station Mass originated in Rome in the time of Pope Gregory the Great and continues to the present: daily Lenten Masses are held at forty different, “station” (from the Latin “statio” for outpost) churches around the city. The next Station Mass in our deanery will take place in St Mary’s Church, Barnstaple, on Tuesday 24 March at 7.00pm.

200 Club

Congratulations to Maggie Pulford who won the £30 prize and to Margaret Stanley who won the £20 prize in the March draw. If you would like to join this on-going fund raiser for as little as £1 a month, please speak to Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon at St Andrews or Siobhan Gilroy at St Boniface.

Vigil for Peace

The next Vigil for Peace will be held on Tuesday 24 March, 7.00pm, at St Andrew’s Church in Tiverton. As previously, the time of vigil will still focus on peace in Palestine but, as the conflict in the Middle East escalates, there will also be a wider intention of pray for peace throughout the world.

Contemplative Retreat

An Introduction to the Gries Path of Prayer, as well as an opportunity for a short retreat for those familiar with this way of prayer, will take place at St Rita’s Centre, Honiton, 20-24 April. For further details, contact the retreat co-ordinator Paddy Rylands at paddyrylands@gmail.com.

Great Tommy Sleep Out

Our parishioner, Ewelina Zychlinska, will be taking part in the Great Tommy Sleep Out on Saturday 21 March to raise funds for Royal British Veterans Enterprise. If you would like to support her, please go to her JustGiving page, which can be found here.

Ladies’ Clothes Swish

Friends of St James and St Boniface are holding a Ladies’ Clothes Swish on Saturday 11 April, 10.00am-12noon in St Andrews Hall. Pay £10 and fill a shopping bag from the ladies’ clothes and accessories on display. Additional bags will cost £10 each. Tea, coffee and cake will be available. We are now collecting donations of ladies’ clothes and accessories. These can be left in St Andrew’s Hall. All clothes must be clean and in a saleable condition. Proceeds to the refurbishment of the new church.

Masses and Events this week

Sunday 15th March– Fourth Sunday of Lent

  • Saturday 14 March – Lent Weekday

    • Parish Finance and Property Committee at 9.30am in St Andrew’s Hall
    • Youth Club, 11.00am-12.30pm, in St Boniface’s Hall
    • Holy Baptism of Rosemary Woolley at 1.30pm
    • Vigil Mass at 6.00pm

    Sunday 15 March – Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare Sunday (A)

    • Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
    • Holy Mass at 11.30am Patrick Bolton (birthday ints)

    Monday 16 March – Lent Weekday

    • Singing to Remember at 2.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall

    Tuesday 17 March – St Patrick, Missionary Bishop, Patron of Ireland

    • Holy Mass at 9.00am
    • Afternoon Tea, Coffee and Cake with a talk on How to Make an Icon, 2.00-4.00pm, in St Andrew’s Hall

    Wednesday 18 March – Lent Weekday

    • No Mass at St Boniface

    Thursday 19 March – St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

    • Holy Mass at 9.00am
    • Reception of the Body at 5.30pm (St Boniface)

    Friday 20 March – Lent Weekday

    • Requiem Mass for David Westwick RIP at 11.00am (St Boniface)
    • Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions at 11.30am
    • Holy Mass at 12noon
    • Prayer of the Holy Rosary at 12.30pm

    Saturday 21 March – Lent Weekday

    • Friends of St James and St Boniface at 9.00am in St Andrew’s Hall
    • Vigil Mass at 6.00pm

    Sunday 22 March – Fifth Sunday of Lent

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