Updating the Parish Database

Under the General Data Protection Regulation, it is necessary for us to ensure that the data the parish holds on our parishioners is up to date. We therefore need to ask each person/family to fill out a new census form at regular intervals. It has been some years since the parish database was last updated, so new census forms are available. Many of you have already returned your forms. Would those who have yet to return theirs, please do so as soon as possible. There are still parishioners who need to complete a form, so additional forms are available at the back of church. If you know of anyone who does not attend church regularly, but who would still like to be included on the database, please take a form for them to complete and return.

August Diocesan Newsletter

The August diocesan newsletter is now available at: https://email.workwithgusto.co.uk/t/t-F551B10A84478E9B2540EF23F30FEDED.

Baptisms of Mary Jithin and Helen Hewson

Next Sunday at 2.30pm, we have the joy of celebrating the baptism of baby Mary Eiga Zerah Jithin. Please keep her, her family and godparents in your prayers. We will also have the joy on Tuesday 26 August of celebrating the baptism of Helen Hewson at the 9.00am Mass. Helen is a valued Early Years teacher at our parish school and she and her family are well-known members of the parish. Please do come along and support her on this important and blessed occasion.

1000 Rabbis send Letter to the Prime Minister of Israel

Our Diocesan Interfaith Officer, Deacon Mark Brown, has received the following link from Cardinal Michael Czerny, the Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development, via the Bishops’ Conference, to a blog post by Rabbi Ron Kronish, the Founding Director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/why-i-signed-a-letter-with-1000-rabbis-to-pm-netanyahu/. It provides another perspective on the tragedy occurring in Gaza at this time.

200 Club

Congratulations to Simon Coombs who won the £30 prize and to Terry Starkey who won the £20 prize in the August draw. If you would like to join this on-going fund raiser for as little as £1 a month, please speak to Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon at St Andrews or Siobhan Gilroy at St Boniface. 

Annual Appeal for the Catholic Children’s Society

Next weekend, 23/24 August, a retiring collection to support the work of the Catholic Children’s Society (Plymouth) will take place at the end of Mass.

Silent Prayer with St Ignatius

Following on from the recent gathering held on St Ignatius’ Feast Day on 31 July, it has been decided to make this a monthly event, falling on the last Thursday of the month. Therefore, the next gathering for half an hour of silent prayer in the Ignatian tradition will take place on Thursday, 28 August, 12.30-1.00pm, in St Andrew’s.

SVP Skittles Evening

The annual SVP Skittles Evening will be held at the Racehorse Pub in Wellbrook Street, Tiverton, on Friday 22 August from 7.00pm. The cost will be £10 a person, inclusive of a buffet supper. Please let Simon Coombs (07761 420703), Shelagh Eastwood, Sheelagh Bourdon, Margaret Found or Maggie Pulford know if you will be taking part, as numbers for food need to be given to the venue.

Diocesan Youth Rally

The Diocesan Youth Rally 2025, aimed at those aged 6-16 years, will take place on Saturday 20 September at St Rita’s, Honiton, 12noon-6.00pm. Come as a team of 6 (over 12’s or under 12’s) or join a team at the rally itself. This is a fun way to meet others from across the Diocese, to have a go at some of the challenges and maybe to win a trophy. To book, go to: https://forms.office.com/e/swtEZ0viqV, and for further information, contact youth@prcdtr.org.uk.

New Directors for Plymouth CAST

Plymouth CAST is a Catholic multi-academy trust of 34 schools and 1 nursery, spanning the Diocese of Plymouth. Its mission is to be a community of outstanding schools in which our pupils flourish in safe, happy, and stimulating environments and leave with the knowledge and skills, personal qualities, and aspirations, to make the world a better place, inspired by the Gospel. Plymouth CAST is looking to expand its Board of Directors. It is particularly interested in hearing from you if you have skills and current or recent experience of education at primary or secondary level, particularly within a multi-academy trust. Please contact the Clerk to the Trust Board for further information, Mrs Leah Paiano: lpaiano@plymouthcast.org.uk

SVP National Raffle

Members of the SVP will be selling the Society’s summer raffle tickets over the coming weeks. They cost £1 a ticket in books of 5. 1^st prize is £5000, 2^nd of £1000 and 15 additional prizes of £100. The Parish SVP group will receive 50% of the ticket sales to support its work.  Parishioners who have taken a book of Raffle tickets and not returned them are asked to do so as soon as possible please.

Jubilee Day for Catechists

A Jubilee Day for catechists and those interested in being catechists –“My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me” (Jn7,16) – will take place at Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre on Saturday 27 September, 10.00am-4.00pm. Speakers include Dr Pat McGovern and the LIFT Team from Truro and Deacon Tim van Kroonenburg. The day will also provide opportunities to connect with fellow catechists and share ideas of fruitful pastoral practice in our challenging times. To register, please email plymouth-crownhill@prcdtr.org.uk.