Message from Canon Paul with a Statement from Bishop Philip

As you will recall, back in November Bishop Philip issued a statement postponing his installation as the Bishop of Plymouth. He has now written a follow-up statement which was issued last Monday:

“At the beginning of November 2024, just before I was to begin my ministry in Plymouth, I let it be known that concerns of a personal nature had been raised, to which I had to attend immediately. This has taken longer than I anticipated.

All things considered, I have come to the decision to present to the Holy Father a request to step down from my appointment as Bishop of the Diocese of Plymouth. The Holy Father has accepted my request.

For the immediate future I will be taking a sabbatical: a time of prayer and personal reflection, the next stage on the journey of my ministry.

I realise, with regret, that this leaves a continuing vacancy in the Diocese of Plymouth. I assure the lay faithful, clergy and religious of the Diocese of my good wishes and prayers and ask the same of them for me.”

This news may come as a shock and a disappointment to you as, I am sure that like me, you were looking forward to having a bishop in post. I expect that you may have some questions, but this statement from Bishop Philip is all the information that I have for you. Please continue to keep Bishop Philip in your prayers particularly at this time, and please pray for those who will be a part of the selection process for our new bishop. Please also keep Pope Francis in your prayers as he continues to struggle with ill health. Thank you so much for all your support. Please continue to keep me, and our Diocese, in your prayers. May God bless you.

Ash Wednesday – A Day of Fast and Abstinence

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Holy Season of Lent. There will be Mass with the Imposition of the Ashes at 9.00am and 6.00pm in St Andrew’s and 12noon in St Boniface. As St Andrew’s Hall is in use on a Wednesday, please try to park elsewhere other than the church car park if at all possible.

Ash Wednesday is also a Day of Fast and Abstinence. We are all encouraged to do this if we are able. However, fasting is obligatory for those between the ages of 18 and 59, and abstinence is obligatory from those aged 14 and over.

“Day by Day” and “Walk with me” booklets for adults and children will be available to take away to help with a Lenten pause for prayer each day.

Scottish Afternoon Tea

Monika Manser is hosting a Scottish Afternoon Tea which will feature Scottish cuisine including Haggis, oatcakes, Scottish pancakes, treacle scones, tablet etc. It will be held in St Andrew’s Hall this coming Tuesday 4 March, 2.30-4.30pm. Proceeds will go to fund the interior fittings of the new St James’ Church.

Lent Cross Challenge

A parishioner has shared the details of the Lent Cross Challenge, originating from the Anglican Diocese of Bath and Wells. Churches and schools, as well as families and individuals at home, are being encouraged to make a simple daily focus in the 40 days leading up to Easter aiming to keep the cross at the heart of Lent. The challenge is to spot, find, discover, make, bake or create a cross shape each day during Lent. The Lent Cross Challenge 2025 guide suggests where you might find, or how to make, the cross for each day, as well as offering a short Bible reading that points towards the cross. This is both a fun and creative thing to do for Lent, so have a go and perhaps even share some of your results on our parish Facebook page!

Word on Fire Series on the Mass

You are invited to join an online group to watch a new six-part series from Word on Fire, in which Bishop Robert Baron teaches on the Mass, on Wednesday evenings at 7.00pm during Lent and Easter. Each one-hour session will consist of a half hour film, followed by prayer and reflection. For a link or for more information contact deborah.vankroonenburg@prcdtr.org.uk.

Lent Series of Talks on Zoom

Fr Mark Skelton, the Parish Priest of Newquay, is offering his usual Lent Series of Talks on Zoom. They will take place on a Thursday evening at 7.00pm, but the Zoom call will be open from 6.45pm. Each talk is free-standing. The only link between them is that they seek to reflect on some of the Holy Father’s signs of hope in this Jubilee Year: 13 March – Commitment to Others; 20 March – Debt Cancellation; 27 March – Recognizing Hope; 3 April – Peace; and 10 April – Jesus’s Last Pilgrimage. The link to join the Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84052447850?pwd=MmPzcp911dTsGJWDxR0vH5H9zYS4e6.1 Meeting ID: 840 5244 7850 Passcode: 043004.

Parish Social and Fundraising Events

A list of upcoming parish social and fundraising events is attached to the Newsletter. A date for your diaries: Parish Spring Bingo, a fun family event, is planned for Friday 11 April, 7.00-9-00pm in St Andrew’s Hall. The Friends of St James and St Boniface are requesting donations for this event: luxury Easter Eggs for Bingo prizes; wine, chocolate or new items for the Raffle. Please leave them in the basket in the narthex at St Andrew’s.

Handbell Concert and Cream Tea

On Saturday 22 March, at 2.30pm in St Andrew’s, Tiverton, there will be a Handbell Concert by Poole-based quartet, Clapper Chaos. Between them they play a set of 41 bells and a two-octave set of 25 hand chimes. All their arrangements are unique, and you will not hear them played by any other group! This will be followed by a Cream Tea in the Hall. Tickets for the event are on sale at church now, £10.00 each. The proceeds will be shared equally between the communities of St Andrew’s and St James’.