NEWSLETTER
Solemnity of All Saints (Year A)
Sunday 1st November, 2026
Please contact the parish to receive the newsletter by email each week.
Message from Canon Kristian
Dear brothers and sisters
Due to the way the calendar falls this year, instead of 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints this Sunday. However, this celebration does not interrupt the “flow” of the Sunday liturgies since, as you know, the Liturgy of the Word on the Sundays in Ordinary Time is mainly focussed on the Lord’s life and ministry and, in particular, his teaching about what it means to be his disciple. The Solemnity of All Saints is a timely reminder that the call to holiness – in the sense of a life lived in harmony with the values of the Beatitudes in the concrete reality of our lives – is a universal call and includes all those who have been baptised. This call to holiness is a lifelong process which involves continual conversion, change and growth in the Holy Spirit, so that each of us can be transformed fully into the person God loved into existence to become. As the First Letter of St John expresses it so well: “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn 3:2). One of the most profound documents of the late Pope Francis was focussed on this call to holiness in today’s world, Gaudete et exultate, and, in a section entitled “In the Light of the Master” (arts 65-109), he gives us a beautiful exposition of what it means to live according to the Beatitudes today, reminding us that from the get-go this will often mean “going against the flow”:
65. Although Jesus’ words may strike us as poetic, they clearly run counter to the way things are usually done in our world. Even if we find Jesus’ message attractive, the world pushes us towards another way of living. The Beatitudes are in no way trite or undemanding, quite the opposite. We can only practise them if the Holy Spirit fills us with his power and frees us from our weakness, our selfishness, our complacency and our pride.
66. Let us listen once more to Jesus, with all the love and respect that the Master deserves. Let us allow his words to unsettle us, to challenge us and to demand a real change in the way we live. Otherwise, holiness will remain no more than an empty word…
I would encourage all of you to take some time to read and reflect on this teaching of Pope Francis, even if it is just the section on living the Beatitudes today. As we honour and give thanks for all those who have gone before us on the path to holiness, and who have lived lives of heroic virtue, often unrecognised and unacknowledged, it is an opportunity to recall that they are our brothers and sisters and that we too are called to tread the same path, encouraged and assisted by their presence and prayers.
November also marks the time of the year when we have a heightened awareness of our unbroken relationship with those who have died and of that spiritual work of mercy that flows from this – to pray for the dead. As our Funeral Rites clearly expresses this on-going connection based in love:
My brothers and sisters,
we believe that all the ties of friendship and affection
which knit us as one throughout our lives
do not unravel with death.
Confident that God always remembers the good we have done
and forgives our sins,
let us pray, asking God to gather our brother/sister to himself.
Lord our God,
the death of our brother/sister
recalls our human condition
and the brevity of our lives on earth.
But for those who believe in your love
death is not the end,
nor does it destroy the bonds you forge
in our lives.
We share the faith of your Son’s disciples
and the hope of the children of God.
Bring the light of Christ’s resurrection
to this time of testing and pain
as we pray for our brother/sister
and for those who love him/her
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us therefore make a special effort during this month to pray for those who have died, not only our own loved ones, but for all who have died, especially in tragic or violent circumstances, and for those people who have no one left to pray for them.
Along with the Newsletter this weekend, I attach:
the weekly guide to a prayerful reflection on the Sunday Gospel, from Monika Manser
a sheet for the names of the dead (please complete these legibly, as they will be collated at the end of the month for the Mass on 27 November)
a poster about the World Day of the Poor Gathering at St John & St James with Bishop Nicholas
the application form for the Advent Retreat in St Rita’s, Honiton.
May God bless you as we enter into these final weeks of the Church’s Year,
Canon Kristian
November Prayers for the Dead
During the month of November, we are encouraged to focus our prayers more earnestly on those who have died and especially for those who are in purgatory, that time of purification leading to their entry into the communion of the saints in heaven. There are receptacles in front of the altar is both of our churches for the names of those who have died and for whom we will pray throughout the month. A sheet for these names is attached to the Newsletter, and hard copies can be found at the entrance to church. The names will be commemorated at the Mass on Friday 27 November at 12noon.
Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)
As Monday is All Souls Day, there will be a Mass for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed at 9.00am.
All Souls at St Andrew’s, Tiverton
For those who might be interested, a small choir is coming to sing Faure’s Requiem as part of the evening service for All Souls at our friends in St Andrew’s, Tiverton, on Monday 2 November at 7.00pm.
Mass at St John’s School
There will be a Mass in St John’s School Hall, Melbourne Street, Tiverton, on Friday at 2.15pm mark the start of the School Year and to celebrate the Harvest. Please do come along and take part in the Mass with our children.
Preparation for First Holy Communion 2027
The first of the sessions for the children and their families who are preparing for the Sacraments of First Confession and First Holy Communion next year will take place in the Parish Hall at 10.00am next Saturday, 7 November.
World Day of the Poor Event – The Lord is the Refuge of the Poor
Join Caritas Diocese of Plymouth to celebrate the 10th World Day of the Poor on Saturday 14 November, 11.00am-4.30pm, at our newly dedicated St John and St James Catholic Church. Bishop Nicholas will open the day and close it with the celebration of the 6.00pm Vigil Mass. The keynote speaker, David Wells, will reflect on Pope Leo’s Message and Canon Kristian will give a brief introduction to the new church. A simple lunch will be provided. Registration is essential for this free event and early booking is advised. To register, click 10th World Day of the Poor Event: Tiverton – Fill in form, email caritas@prcdtr.org.uk or tel: 01364 645440.
Cleaner for St John and St James
We are looking to hire a cleaner at St John and St James Church, Tiverton, for 3 hours a week (plus an additional 2 hours fortnightly) at £13.45 an hour. Please contact recruitment@prcdtr.org.uk for the job description and application form. Closing date for applications is Monday 2 November.
SVP Skittles Evening
Thank you to everyone who attended last week’s skittles evening and to those parishioners who were unable to attend but who gave donations. The sum of £124 was raised to support the work of the SVP.
CAFOD World Gifts
Bring joy to the world this year by buying CAFOD World Gifts for family members and friends this Christmas. When you buy World Gifts, you make a real impact in communities all around the world. Last year, for example, 1479 families got access to safe, clean water, 2885 lessons were provided to help people learn to read and write, 1397 families received essentials to stay warm this winter and 1558 goats and chickens were given to farmers along with training so that they can earn a living for their families. Please take a catalogue away with you today.
September Parish Giving
Loose: £1005.06 Contactless: £350.00 Standing Orders: £3265.00
Parish Altar Servers
We always need more altar servers, so any young person who has made their First Holy Communion is encouraged to come forward and offer themselves for this importance service for our community. It would be great to see youngsters from all the different cultural backgrounds in our parish represented on the altar. Please speak to Canon Kristian over the next couple of weeks and training can then be arranged.
Young Adults’ Advent Retreat
An Advent retreat for young adults’ retreat (18-30) will be held at Buckfast Abbey, 20-22 November. The weekend will explore Isaiah 40:3, with talks led by Br Augustine OP and Br Reginald OP, with a chance to pray and reflect whilst meeting other young adults from across the Diocese. £40 contribution per person. For more information contact Saskia at youth@prcdtr.org.uk. Booking is essential: Buckfast Abbey Retreat for young adults 20th – 22nd November 2026 – Fill in form.
Advent Retreat Day
An Advent Retreat Day, “Exploring Prayer and Conversion”, will take place on Saturday 5 December at St Rita’s led by Fr. Gerald Wilson OAR. The charge for the day, including lunch, is just £27.00. To register, please complete the application form attached to the Newsletter or, alternatively, register online here. For more information, you can contact St Rita’s Centre on 01404 42635 or at admin@stritascentre.org. Payment can be made in advance or on the day.
Masses and Events this week
Sunday 1st November –Solemnity of All Saints
-
Saturday 31 October – Weekday
- Youth Club, 11.00am-12.30pm, in St Boniface’s Hall
- Vigil Mass at 6.00pm
Sunday 1 November – Solemnity of All Saints
- Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
- Holy Mass at 11.00am
31st Week in Ordinary Time
Monday 2 November – Commemoration of the All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
- Holy Mass at 9.00am
- Singing to Remember at 2.00pm
Tuesday 3 November – St Winifride, Virgin
- Holy Mass at 9.00am
Wednesday 4 November – St Charles Borromeo, Bishop
- Holy Mass at 12noon (St Boniface)
Thursday 5 November – Weekday
- Holy Mass at 9.00am
Friday 6 November – Weekday
- Confessions and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 11.30am
- Holy Mass at 12noon
- Prayer of the Holy Rosary at 12.30pm
- Mass for the New School Year and the Harvest, 2.15pm, in St John’s School Hall
Saturday 7 November – St Willibrord, Bishop
- The Friends of the Parish, 9.00am, in the Parish Hall
- First Holy Communion Preparation, 10.00am-12noon, in the Parish Hall
- Vigil Mass at 6.00pm
Sunday 8 November – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) – Remembrance Sunday
- Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
- Holy Mass at 11.00am
NEWSLETTER
Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year A)
World Communications Day
Sunday 24 May 2020
Please contact the parish to receive the newsletter by email each week.
Message from Canon Kristian
text
heading
text
Masses and Events this week
Sunday 24 May – Seventh Sunday of Easter
- Holy Mass without a congregation at 10.00am