NEWSLETTER

First Sunday of Advent (Year C)

Sunday First December, 2024

Please contact the parish to receive the newsletter by email each week.

Message from Canon Kristian

Dear brothers and sisters
Each of our lives at its various levels – physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual – is guided by a number of rhythms and cycles.  For us, an important one of these is the cycle of the Church’s Liturgical Year.  Unlike the civil year which begins on 1 January, our Church year begins on the First Sunday of Advent which occurs this Sunday.  Although the first four weeks of our new year are in preparation for the celebration of the Incarnation of Christ on the Solemnity of the Nativity on 25 December, we should not lose sight of the fact that we are starting out on a new spiritual cycle lasting 12 months.  Over these 12 months in the Liturgy we are presented with a holistic view of our faith, the Mystery and History of Salvation, the Person of Christ and the way of discipleship, and it is vital that we try to live the various moments (or “Seasons”) of the year as parts of a single whole, not as separate, self-contained celebrations.  Thus, we are invited to immerse ourselves regularly, week by week, into these profound Mysteries of Faith, so that our lives may be transformed by the hearing of God’s Word, by the reception of the Body and Blood of Christ – the Food for our journey, and by the mutual support and prayer of our gathered community.  So, as we start out on this new Liturgical Year, let us look beyond the Feast of Christmas, to a more distant horizon and wonder who God will be calling me to become as I share in the life of the Church over these next 12 months!

As you will be aware, the second reading of the proposed law governing assisted suicide was sadly passed by Parliament on Friday, 330 MPs voting in favour (including the two MPs covering the area of our parish) and 275 voting against.  Following the decision in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues, released this important statement:

“We are disappointed that MPs have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill progressing through parliament. We believe that this bill is flawed in principle and also contains particular clauses that are of concern. We ask the Catholic community to pray that members of parliament will have the wisdom to reject this bill at a later stage in its progress.
      In addition to being opposed to the principle of assisted suicide, we are particularly concerned with clauses in the bill that prevent doctors from properly exercising conscientious objection, provide inadequate protection to hospices and care homes that do not wish to participate in assisted suicide and allow doctors to initiate conversations about assisted suicide. We ask that these voices be heard in the next stages of the Bill to strengthen the deep concerns about this proposed legislation.
      We have expressed the view, during this debate, that genuine compassion involves walking with those who need care, especially during sickness, disability and old age. The vocation to care is at the heart of the lives of so many people who look after their loved ones and is the sign of a truly compassionate society. It is essential that we nurture and renew the innate call that many people have to compassionately care for others.
      It remains the case that improving the quality and availability of palliative care offers the best pathway to reducing suffering at the end of life. We will continue to advocate for this and support those who work tirelessly to care for the dying in our hospices, hospitals and care homes.”

This month also sees the start of the catechetical preparation programmes for First Holy Communion and for Confirmation.  At present, there are 19 children enrolled with First Communion and 27 young people enrolled for Confirmation! Parents should have been contacted directly by email about the date, place and time of the introductory meetings.  However, if not, then the details are in the Newsletter.  In particular, it is important to note that the sessions for First Holy Communion Preparation will now be taking place in St John’s School in Tiverton, and not in St Andrew’s Church Hall in Tiverton.

Along with the Newsletter I attach:
  • the weekly contribution from Monika Manser to assist with a prayerful reading of the Sunday Gospel
  • the November Diocesan Newsletter
  • the November Newsletter from the National Marian Shrine at Walsingham
  • the latest Newsletter from our parish school, St John’s.
May the Lord bless us abundantly over the next 12 months, both in our individual lives and in our community life together, and may this Adventide be a time of fruitful preparation, waiting and anticipation.
Canon Kristian
Canon Kristian Paver
Parish Priest
Parish of St Boniface and St James Mid Devon
40 Old Road Tiverton EX16 4HJ
(01884) 252292

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

To help with our spiritual preparation from the celebration of the Incarnation of Christ, “Walk with me” and “Day by Day” booklets are available free for those who would like to take them this weekend. These booklets help to ensure that we have a daily pause to pray and reflect on the Advent Season.

Advent Service of Light

The congregation of St Andrew’s invites us to join them at 4.00pm this Sunday for their Advent Service of Light, with the In Ecclesia Choir from Taunton.  The Service will be followed by refreshments in the Hall. 

Advent Reflection Group

Join Monika Manser at 7 Blundell’s Avenue after 9.00am Mass each Tuesday in Advent to reflect on the daily meditations in the book “Advent and Christmas Wisdom” by Henri J.M Nouwen? The daily Advent Action at the end of each reflection will help focus on living the Advent and Christmas message in our daily lives. The book is published by Redemptorist Publications and is readily available from various on-line bookshops.

Tree of Hope for CHAT

We are hosting a CHAT Tree of Hope in the narthex at St Andrew’s. Each tag on the tree contains the option of either making a financial donation or purchasing a specific item to be dropped off at CHAT, who will ensure it goes to people in need in the community. Choose a tag and either donate on your own behalf or perhaps as a thoughtful gift for that person who seems to have everything and then present them with the tag so that they can see the impact of the contribution made on their behalf.

Sacramental Preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation

The introductory meeting for parents of those children who will be preparing to celebrate First Reconciliation and to receive First Holy Communion in 2025 will take place in St John’s School Hall, Melbourne Street, Tiverton EX16 5LA, next Saturday, 7 December, at 9.30am.

The meeting for the parents of our young people who will be preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation next year will be held in St Andrew’s Church Hall, Blundell’s Avenue, Tiverton EX16 4DL on Saturday 14 December, at 11.00am.

Advent Retreat Day

An Advent Retreat Day will take place at St Rita’s, Honiton, next Saturday 7 December, 9.30am-3.30pm. The day will be led by Fr Jonathan Bielawski on the theme “Jesus Is Coming: Why?”. The charge for the day, including lunch, is £25 Booking can be made by phone, email, or online (ADVENT RETREAT DAY – “JESUS IS COMING: WHY?” ). Payment can be made on the day.

Thanks x 3

Sheelagh Bourdon would like to thank all those who made Christmas Shoeboxes this year. A driver from Ukraine has taken 7,476 boxes from the South West back for the children in that war-torn country.

Thank you to all of those who purchased toasters and kettles for CHAT as part of our harvest thanksgiving. Twenty of each have been donated to help those who will be setting up home with little or nothing by way of household basics.

Finally, thanks to everybody who supported the Christmas Craft Fair last Saturday. Thank you to all those who prepped, set up and tidied up, created and baked, to those who look after a stall, to St John’s Starmakers and their teachers for the excellent performance and finally to those who came and shopped. 

Polish Evening

You are invited to come along and celebrate the culture and food of the Polish members of our parish community this Friday, 6 December, at 7.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall. Our parish is so blessed to have parishioners originating from Poland as an integral part of our community.

Christmas Draw Tickets

The tickets for the Christmas Draw are now on sale. This year the prizes are different from previous years. Instead of multiple prizes, there are only three large hampers, filled to the brim with luxury or local products for Christmas! Tickets are £5.00 each.

Musical Afternoon Tea

April and John Golding will be holding another Musical Afternoon Tea at their home in Bampton on Wednesday 11 December, 2.45pm for 3.00-5.00pm, to raise funds for the interior of the rebuilt St James. So that they can ensure that there is space for all would like to take part, please let them know if you are planning to come by emailing jodol@me.com.

Christmas Get-Together at St Boniface

The annual Christmas Get-Together at St Boniface Hall will take place on 21 December. Finger food will be on offer and some desserts too. If they can, people are asked to bring a plate of food along to share. Carols will be sung, and “Goody bags” and selection boxes will be given to the children.

Quiz Night for CHAT Cancelled

Due to a lack of interest, the Quiz Night has been organised by Ewelina Zychlinska to raise funds for CHAT has been cancelled. However, raffle tickets are still on sale for £1 each. These can be bought via Ewelina’s Justgiving page. Just email her via the page and she will reply with your ticket numbers. At St Boniface, tickets can be bought with cash. The draw will take place on 22 December. You can also continue to make donations via her fundraising page https://www.justgiving.com/page/ewelina-ych-1731777385365?newPage=true .

Heating, Repairs and Redecoration of St Boniface

Following the installation of the new heating system in St Boniface, there is now need to repair the walls where the plaster has lifted. Once this has dried, this will be followed by a complete internal redecoration. As a result, there will only be Mass celebrated on Sunday at 9.30am from now until the week before Christmas to enable the work to be carried out throughout the week. There will not be any Mass on a Wednesday until further notice.

Masses and Events this week

Sunday 1st December – First Sunday of Advent 

  • Saturday 30 November – St Andrew, Apostle

    • Youth Club, 11.30am-1.00pm, in St Boniface’s Hall
    • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm

    Sunday 1 December – First Sunday of Advent (C)

    • Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
    • Holy Mass at 11.30am
    • Advent Service of Light at 4.00pm

    Monday 2 December – St Osmund of Salisbury, Bishop

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

    Tuesday 3 December – St Francis Xavier, Priest

    • Holy Mass at 9.00am
    • Advent Prayer Group at 9.45am at 7 Blundell’s Avenue

    Wednesday 4 December – Advent Weekday

    • No Mass at St Boniface

    Thursday 5 December – Advent Weekday

    • Holy Mass at 9.00am

    Friday 6 December – Advent Weekday (St Nicholas, Bishop)

    • Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 11.30am
    • Holy Mass at 12noon
    • Prayer of the Holy Rosary at 12.30pm
    • Polish Evening at 7.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall

    Saturday 7 December – St Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor

    • First Holy Communion Parents Meeting at 9.30am in St John’s School Hall, Tiverton
    • Parish Property and Finance Committee at 9.30am in St Andrew’s Hall
    • Laudato Si’ Group at 4.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall
    • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm

    Sunday 8 December – Second Sunday of Advent (C)

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