NEWSLETTER

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Racial Justice Sunday

Sunday 1st February, 2026

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Message from Canon Kristian

Dear brothers and sisters
One of the most beautiful and enriching developments in our parish community in recent years has been the increase in the presence of parishioners who originate from different parts of the world.  In times past, parish communities in this country benefitted from a large number of people and priests from Ireland and their presence had a huge impact on our life and worship.  In the last decades of the last century, our communities welcomed new members from many of the countries of Central Europe – Poles, Slovaks, Hungarians, Lithuanians to name but a few, who have become longstanding and established members of our parishes.  In more recent times, we have been blessed with many new members from the Indian Sub-continent and from various parts of Africa.  This is a striking manifestation of the catholicity or universality of the Catholic Church which, whilst holding fast to its unity of faith, of sacraments and of the communion of the bishops with the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, embraces and celebrates the diversity of the spiritual traditions and cultural identities of her members.  This ability to live unity in diversity is not only something which reflects our biblical self-understanding of what it means to be the Body of Christ (cf  1 Corinthians 12:12-27), but is also an important witness to a wider world which is increasingly fractured and divided on the grounds of political opinion, religious identity and ethnic origin, leading to extremist views and ever-growing violence against those who are “not-like-us”.
Having said this, the Church herself, including in local parish communities, has not be exempt historically and even in our own day from anti-Christian racist attitudes and behaviour.  Therefore, it is important that we constantly reflect candidly on the inclusive reality of our own parish and community life.  How do ensure that everyone in our community feels loved, understood and appreciated, regardless of who they are and where they originally come from?  What do we still need to do to ensure that we as inclusive as possible in encouraging everyone, and especially those who come from other cultures and countries, to take an active part in internal church ministries – such as readers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and music/singing – and in the different expressions of the external mission of our community?  Do we treat each other as equals, and do we have a desire to learn from and be enriched by those who have a different cultural and ethnic heritage?  How do we encourage and enable member of our community to share their heritage with the whole community?  Do we have the courage and honesty to name, challenge and change racist attitudes and behaviour in the Church, whether at the universal and local levels, which, rather than always being obvious and intentional, are often implicit, covert and unintentional?  Unless we are willing to face and answer such questions, our ability as Christians to work for racial justice in the wider world is greatly compromised.
In order to encourage this self-reflection at parish level, the Church this weekend celebrates its annual Racial Justice Sunday which, this year is specifically related to this very aspect of the life of the Church herself: “Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:21): Promoting Racial Justice in our Parishes.  The Southwark Diocesan Commission for Racial and Cultural Inclusion has made available a useful “Toolkit”, put together by one of the parishes in that diocese, to assist parish communities in examining the inclusivity of their parish life.  Perhaps this is something we should be planning to include in our own parish-level reflection, especially as we are on the verge of returning to our own home in Tiverton, the present make-up of both of our worshipping communities and the growing diversity in our parish school?
The start of Lent is only a couple of weeks away now, so it is that time again to bring back to church your palm crosses from last year, so that they can be burnt to produce the ashes for the Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday.
Together with the Newsletter, I attach the usual weekly guide of a prayerful reading of the Sunday Gospel and the application forms for the Lent Day Retreat in Honiton and the Gather Conference in Torquay.

Please remember in your prayers the sick and frail of our community, and also commend to the grace and mercy of God Ruby Whitton and Bridget Beales whose Requiem Masses we will be celebrating this week and Christine McDermott from Willand who died last week.
May God bless each and every one of you!

Canon Kristian
Canon Kristian Paver
Parish Priest
Parish of St Boniface and St James Mid Devon
40 Old Road Tiverton EX16 4HJ

Racial Justice Sunday

This Sunday, 1 February, is Racial Justice Sunday and the theme this year is: “Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:21): Promoting Racial Justice in our Parishes. Click here to watch a short video message from Bishop Paul McAleenan, from the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales: “In the family of the Church and in society, there are people from every nation and race. All are important and wonderfully made. The central commandment is to love. True love recognises the value of everyone.” Let us today commit to love our neighbours from every nation and every race.

Children from St John’s School

This weekend we have the great joy of welcoming some children from St John’s School, who will be taking a leading role at the 11.30am Mass – welcoming, reading the Scriptures and the Prayer of the Faithful, bringing up the offertory gifts and playing some of the music.

Knitting for the Catholic Children’s Society

Do you love knitting? Over the last few years, parishioners from a number of parishes across the diocese, including the Assumption of Our Lady in Torquay and Our Lady of Lourdes and St Cecilia in Blandford Forum, have knitted beautiful baby blankets, cardigans, hats, booties, mittens and teddy bears. Thanks to these kind, wonderful knitters, the CCSP has posted many small bundles of knitted garments to families who apply for an Essential Grant because they don’t have the funds to pay for some of the basic essentials for their babies, such as cots and mattresses, single and double pushchairs, baby monitors, baby clothes, travel systems, highchairs, car seats, sterilisers, electric breast pumps, changing bags and bottles, nappies and wipes.  The Society has received some wonderful feedback from parents.

If you enjoy knitting and would like to help families of all faiths and none, please do get in touch with our Essential Grants Manager by calling 01364 645424 or by emailing vicki.dunstone@ccsplymouth.org.uk.

Dilexi Te – The Burning Heart of the Church’s Mission

Join Caritas and CAFOD this Lent, on 21 February, 11.00am-4.00pm, Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre, for a diocesan day to reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s powerful Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi Te, which calls us to return to the Gospel and reminds us that love of the poorest of our sisters and brothers is part of the “burning heart of the Church’s mission”. Bishop Nicholas will open the day and also close the day by presiding at Mass. Click here to register or email: caritas@prcdtr.org.uk.

Soul of the City Gospel Choir Concert

CHAT is hosting an uplifting gospel concert with the Soul of the City Gospel Choir filled with soul, harmonies and powerful melodies on Saturday 7 February at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Tiverton. It promises to be a joyful evening to raise vital funds for CHAT’s work supporting people across Mid Devon. Tickets cost £15 per person and are available from www.bit.ly/soulofthecityconcert.

Parish Palestinian Supper

A Parish Palestinian Supper of food, storytelling and music will be held on Tuesday 3 March from 7.00pm. Tickets will soon go on sale at a proposed £10 per person. Any profits from the evening will be sent on to the charity Medical Aid for Palestine. Volunteers are needed to help. Contact Sally Chapman, Mary Ryan, Briget Tosh, Monika Manser or Barbara Hodgeson.

Towards a Synodal Church – Conversations in the Spirit

The Synod process has emphasised the importance of listening and good conversations in our community life. However, these are not always so easy in practice!  Blessed Sacrament Exeter are hosting a one-day training workshop with Fr Matthew Nunes, Director of the School for Synodality.   This workshop will run on Saturday 21 February and introduce the principles of holding prayerful, truthful and safe conversations which value gracious listening and courageous speaking.  All parishioners from across the diocese are very welcome to attend. Please email exeter-heavitree@prcdtr.org.uk to let them know you’re coming.   They are asking for a contribution of £10 per person to cover costs – pay on the day.  Please bring a packed lunch. 9:30am tea and coffee for a 10.00am start, 3:30pm finish, at the Richard Reynolds Centre, Blessed Sacrament Church, 29 Fore Street, Heavitree, EX1 2QJ. 

Lent Day Retreat

A Lent Day Retreat led by Fr Robbie Low will take place at St Rita’s Centre, Honiton, on Saturday 21 February 2026, entitled “The Sacrament of Liberation”. The charge for the day, including lunch, is £25.00. To register, please complete the application form or register online via our website:  https://www.stritascentre.org/events-retreats-1/lent-retreat-day-the-sacrament-of-liberation. You can contact St Rita’s Centre by phone at 01404 42635 or by email at admin@stritascentre.org.

Inspire 2026

Diocesan Youth Events would like to welcome young people aged 13-25 to Inspire 2026 which will take place at Buckfast Abbey on Saturday 14 March, 11.00am-6.00pm. Inspire is a festival of musicians, speakers and workshops encouraging young people to explore how Christ is rooted in their lives. Details on the bands, speakers and workshop will be released over the coming week. Tickets are £30 per person, and Under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult. For further information contact Saskia or Ruby: youth@prcdtr.org.uk or to book go to Inspire 2026 Parish Booking Form – Fill in form.

GATHER Conference 2026

The annual GATHER conference will be taking place between 20-22 March at the Livermead Cliff Hotel in Torquay. This year’s theme is: ‘I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live’, and the speakers include Avril Baigent (School for Synodality) and Fleur Dorrell (The God who Speaks). Pauline Books will be bringing a selection of their excellent range for people to peruse and buy, and you can expect a warm welcome and a wonderful weekend of faith, formation and friendship. Bishop Nicholas will be coming to journey together synodally with the other participants. The Booking Form is attached to the newsletter or can be obtained by emailing plymouthgather@yahoo.com.

Masses and Events this week

Sunday 1st February – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

  • Saturday 31 January – St John Bosco, Priest

    • Youth Club, 11.00am-12.30pm, in St Boniface’s Hall
    • Vigil Mass at 6.00pm

    Sunday 1 February – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

    • Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
    • Holy Mass at 11.30am Karol Marynczak (birthday ints)

    Monday 2 February – The Presentation of the Lord

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

    Tuesday 3 February – Weekday

    • Holy Mass at 9.00am
    • Requiem Mass for Ruby Whitton at 12.30pm (St Boniface)

    Wednesday 4 February – Weekday

    • No Mass at St Boniface

    Thursday 5 February – St Agatha, Virgin and Martyr

    • Requiem Mass for Bridget Beales at 11.30am

    Friday 6 February – St Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

    • Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions at 11.30am
    • Holy Mass at 12noon
    • Prayer of the Holy Rosary at 12.30pm

    Saturday 7 February – Weekday

    • First Holy Communion Preparation at 10.00am in St John’s School Hall
    • Parish Laudato Si’ Group at 4.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall
    • Vigil Mass at 6.00pm

    Sunday 8 February – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

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

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