Pope’s Prayer Intention for March

During the month of March, our Holy Father Pope Francis invites us to join with him in praying for families in crisis: “Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure of their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences”. To watch a video of Pope Francis introducing this prayer intention and to find more information about it, please go to https://thepopevideo.org/march-for-families-in-crisis/.

CAFOD Lent Family Fast Day Appeal

CAFOD’s Family Fast Day took place last Friday, 14 March. Please return your envelope with your donation this weekend. Your donation will enable CAFOD to provide practical help to people affected by war, poverty and climate change so they can build hope for the future. Alternatively, you can donate by calling 0303 303 3030 or online at www.cafod.org/envelope.

Laudato Si’ Snowdrops

The parish Laudato Si’ Group has some snowdrops ‘in the green’ for parishioners to take after this weekend’s Masses as mentioned in their most recent newsletter. They seem to be a fitting gift in this Jubilee Pilgrimage Year. It is hoped that they will naturalise in local gardens as little symbols of hope to gladden hearts over the next few months.

Caritas

The link for the Caritas March Newsletter about love in action around the diocese is: https://tinyurl.com/285mneux.

One of the themes of the Year of Jubilee is forgiveness. Caritas has created a sheet with information and resources around the theme which can be read here https://tinyurl.com/mwmmdmc5.

Cleaning Products for Dignity and CHAT Lent Reflections

Our special 40-day collection of household cleaning products for CHAT has gotten off to a fantastic start! Our Lenten support for CHAT will be focussed on donations of household cleaning products, such as polish, washing powder/pods, softener, cleaning sprays, sponges, tea clothes, dusters, toilet cleaner, bleach, bin bags etc.  You are invited to leave your donations in the box in the entrance to church. This year, CHAT has also produced Lenten Reflections based on the main Sunday Gospel readings for the Season of Lent.

Second Jubilee Lenten Offering

Here is the link to the Lenten Offering for the Second Week of Lent: https://email.workwithgusto.co.uk/t/t-5A052451FEA82ECD2540EF23F30FEDED. It features a reflection on the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent by Monsignor Draper, CAFOD’s intercessory prayer and prayers on the theme of hope from the pupil chaplains at Our Lady and St Patrick’s Primary School in Teignmouth. 

Draw for the Simnel Cake & Guess the Name of the Easter Bunny

Tickets for the Draw for the Easter Simnel Cake, which will be made by Monika Manser, are on sale now, £2.00 each. The draw will be made on Sunday 13 April after the 11.30am Mass.

Guess the name of this year’s 1kg Lindt Easter Bunny from this weekend, £2 a name. Canon Kristian has chosen a name from the list and it is sealed in an envelope until Sunday 13 April when the winner will be revealed!

24 Hours for the Lord- “You are my hope” (Psalm 71:5)

As part of the Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Francis has asked that a special time of vigil take place over the period of 28/29 March, leading up to the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday. As a celebration of the Mercy of God – the core of the Gospel message, this vigil will start with a Penitential Liturgy followed by Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with the opportunity to celebrate individual Sacramental Confession and Reconciliation for those who wish. Whilst it is the expectation that, in large urban parishes, this vigil should last 24 hours, in parishes such as ours the period of time will naturally be shorter. Therefore, our Vigil will take place on Friday 28 March, 6.00-9.00pm.

Handbell Concert and Cream Tea

Next 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’.

Parish Social and Fundraising Events

An updated 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.

Lent Series of Talks on Zoom

The Lent Series of Talks on Zoom offered by Fr Mark Skelton start this coming Thursday evening, 13 March, at 7.00pm, with a talk entitled “Commitment to Others”, but the Zoom call will be open from 6.45pm. Each talk is free-standing talk. The link between them is that they seek to reflect on some of the Holy Father’s signs of hope in this Jubilee Year. Remaining talks with be 20 March – Debt Cancellation; 27 March – Recognizing Hope 3 April – Peace; and 10 April – Jesus’s Last Pilgrimage. The Zoom link is as follows: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84052447850?pwd=MmPzcp911dTsGJWDxR0vH5H9zYS4e6.1 Meeting ID: 840 5244 7850 Passcode: 043004.