NEWSLETTER
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Peace Sunday
Sunday 18th January, 2026
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Message from Canon Kristian
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Peace Sunday: Although the World Day of Prayer for Peace is celebrated elsewhere throughout the Church on 1 January, in the Catholic Church in England and Wales it is moved to the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Every year, the Pope releases a special message for this day in which he presents the theme for that year. For this, the 59th World Day of Prayer for Peace, Pope Leo has chosen: “Peace be with you all: Towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace“. I have attached this Message to the newsletter and, in our increasingly fractured and hostile world, I encourage you all to read and reflect upon it. We are each of us called to live this “unarmed and disarming” peace, laying down our weapons of violence and division (our weapons are not necessary physical, but are often ideological, political and attitudinal) and enabling others to lay theirs down. What a challenge this is, but it is something which forms a central tenet of our faith, which is why I have also given a link to a recent, but little read, document produced by our own Bishops’ Conference – one of whose authors is now our own Bishop Nicholas – “Called to be Peacemakers“. The peace of Christ is gifted to us at every Mass and we gift that peace to each other at the same celebration. It is both our privilege and our duty to be those who take that same peace to others as Christ’s “ambassadors” of reconciliation, as St Paul invites us to become (cfr 2 Corinthians 5:20).
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been chosen by the Christians in Armenia – the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church and the Armenian Evangelical Churches, and focusses on St Paul’s image of the Body of Christ, inviting the Christian family to be “one Body and one Spirit” (cfr Ephesians 4:4). Christianity has deep and ancient roots in Armenia, but the Armenian people have not been free from genocide and civil war in recent times, so their invitation to unity comes from a lived experience of division. Whilst the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has faded in observance over the late few decades and local ecumenism has likewise dwindled to a rather polite “co-existence” (although we are truly fortunate in our parish to have the presence and action of CHAT – the Churches Housing Action Team – which is a constant reminder of the importance and effectiveness of united Christian outreach), I would strongly encourage each of us to download the booklet which gives more information about our Christian brothers and sisters in Armenia and the daily prayers and reflections for the week, so that we can at least unite in our private prayer with those Christians across the world praying for the unity of the Christian family. This unity, too, requires that we have the courage to live an authentic “unarmed and disarming” peace, and are thereby willing to lay aside the divisive memories, attitudes and hurts of our religious history so as to discover a deeper oneness in Body and Spirit. I have given the link in the Newsletter.
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Monika Manser’s weekly guide to a contemplative reading of the Sunday Gospel
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Number 164 of Inspire, from Deacon Peter
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The latest Newsletter from the Parish Laudato Si’ Group, introducing a series of monthly pledges which benefit the environment
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The latest Newsletter from St John’s School
Peace Sunday
The Bishops of England and Wales invite us to keep this Sunday as a day of prayer for world peace. For his message for the 59th World Day of Prayer for Peace, Pope Leo has chosen the theme: Peace be with you all: Towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace. This is a daunting goal in the light of the widespread belief that we must be armed, even with nuclear weapons, to protect ourselves. Both Pope Leo and a recent statement from our own Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (Called to be Peacemakers) indicate that peace should not rely on fear, threats or weapons. Peace should have the capacity to resolve conflicts and open hearts through mutual understanding and hope. The phrase ‘Peace be with you’ is an integral part of our Liturgy in each Mass. We are all invited to be peacemakers. Let us start in our own hearts, asking forgiveness, and praying that we will be people of peace in a world of violence.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – One Body, One Spirit
The Week of Prayer for Chrstian Unity runs from this Sunday, 18 January to next Sunday, 25 January. For 2026, the daily prayers and reflections have been prepared by the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church, along with their brothers and sisters of the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches. These resources draw upon centuries-old traditions of prayer and petitions used by the Armenian people, along with hymns that originated in the ancient monasteries and churches of Armenia, some of which date as far back as the fourth century. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 extends an invitation to draw upon this shared Christian heritage and to delve more deeply into our fellowship in Christ, which unites Christians worldwide.
Ephesians 4:4 summarises the teachings of Paul about unity, emphasising here, too, that the followers of Christ represent ‘one body and one Spirit’, united in a single hope. This metaphor signifies the Church as a unified entity transcending barriers of geography, nationality, ethnicity and tradition.
200 Club
Congratulations to Mike Ingersent who won the £30 prize and to Teresa Cork who won the £20 prize in the January draw. Those parishioners who pay their annual subscriptions at this time of year are reminded to do. You can either pay by cash or cheque and give it to Simon Coombs or Margaret Found or pay by card on the machine at the back of Church.
December Parish Giving
Loose: £1670.23 Contactless: £613.00 Standing Order: £3272.50
January Diocesan Newsletter
The January Diocese of Plymouth Newsletter is now available at this link: https://email.workwithgusto.co.uk/t/t-562C2F808AB4C5622540EF23F30FEDED.
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”. Hear from inspirational speakers: Rt Revd Nicholas Hudson, Bishop of Plymouth, Christine Allen, CAFOD Director, Raymond Friel OBE, CSAN Chief Executive Officer, Fr. Richard Finn OP, University of Oxford. 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.
Towards a Synodal Church – Conversations in the Spirit
How do we listen to each other well? How do we step back from our own agendas to be attentive to where the Spirit is moving? How can we make better decisions about organising ourselves as Christian communities? How do we enrich our parish communal life with enriching conversations? 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 face-to-face training workshop with Fr Matthew Nunes, Director of the School for Synodality. This Conversations in the Spirit workshop will run on Saturday 21 February and will introduce the principles of holding prayerful, truthful and safe conversations which value gracious listening and courageous speaking. It is suitable for all levels of experience, including people who have not been involved in the Synod process so far. 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 just £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.
Plymouth Diocesan Yearbooks 2026
The new Plymouth Diocesan Yearbook is now available at the entrance to church, priced £5.00 each.
Reader and Extraordinary Minister Rotas
A reminder to the readers and extraordinary ministers at St Andrew’s to sign up on the rotas at the back of church behind the hymnbook stand. Thank you.
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 18th January, 2026
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Saturday 17 January – St Anthony, Abbot
- Fist Holy Communion Preparation, 10.00am, in St John’s School Hall
- Youth Club, 11.00am-12.30pm, in St Boniface’s Hall
- Vigil Mass at 6.00pm
Sunday 18 January – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
- Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
- Holy Mass at 11.30am
Monday 19 January – St Wulstan, Bishop
- Singing to Remember at 2.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall
Tuesday 20 January – Weekday
- Holy Mass at 9.00am
Wednesday 21 January – St Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
- Holy Mass at 12noon (St Boniface)
Thursday 22 January – Weekday
- Holy Mass at 9.00am
Friday 23 January – Weekday
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions at 11.30am
- Holy Mass at 12noon
- Prayer of the Holy Rosary at 12.30pm
Saturday 24 January – St Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor
- Vigil Mass at 6.00pm
Sunday 25 January – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
- Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
- Holy Mass at 11.30am