NEWSLETTER

Twenty Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

8th October, 2023

Please contact the parish to receive the newsletter by email each week.

Message from Canon Kristian

Dear sisters and brothers

The first week of the month-long Synod in Rome has passed.   Not only is this Synod different because it includes participants from the clergy, religious women and men and laity in addition to bishops, but it is being held in a unique style in the Paul VI Audience Hall where mixed small groups sit around tables rather than in the usual ranked seats of the Synod Hall.  This is to enable and encourage deeper discussion and discernment of the themes for each week, before responses are fed back to the Synod body as a whole.  This past week the Synod participants have been reflecting on Section A of the Working Document – For a Synodal Church.  See this report (Friday Synod briefing: Focus on migrants, women, poor – Vatican News) for a bit more detail about this first week. You can also listen to a brief introduction to the Synodal process at 71. Synod General Assembly: Listening across our divides – Vatican News.  Please do keep this important gathering in your daily prayer, as requested by Pope Francis.

You will see in the Newsletter reference to supporting the work of the School Pastors in the High School in Cullompton.  Our parish is represented among these School Pastors, but there is a real need for more volunteers. Siobhan Gilroy writes:

Do you care about the wellbeing of our young people in Cullompton and wish you could do something that helps and supports them?  If so, then the ideal opportunity is to become involved with Cullompton School Pastors.  We always welcome new people of any age and attending any church in the area to become part of the team that goes into school to provide pastoral support at a breakfast and lunch club (approximately an hour’s commitment each time).  But you may feel that is not for you, even though you really care about supporting these young people.  If so, then we have two options for you: come and join our management committee or be a prayer pastor.  In doing so, you would help guide our mission to bring the love of Jesus into the lives of our young people without having to be involved in day-to-day contact.  As a committee member there are usually four meetings of an hour and a half a year with some communication and discussion via email in between.  We are currently only four on the committee and would be in the position of having to cease activities if we fell below that number, so please take a moment to think and pray about this to see if you could contribute just a few hours a year to help. As a prayer pastor you would commit to praying at home for the duration of the session that is going on at school, no training needed!  Do please get in touch via cullompton@schoolpastors.org.uk to explore further.

There seems to be a lot happening of Saturday 14 October:  the Day of Reflection for the World Day of the Poor at St Rita’s Honiton, the Exeter Deanery Liturgy and Music Day at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Heavitree and the Cullompton Autumn Festival.  In addition, there is a Day of Reflection for Vocations to the Priesthood at the Exeter University Chaplaincy (see attached poster).  This isn’t great planning if you would like to attend more than one of these events, so it will be a question of choosing the one that attracts you the most!

Could I stress to those parents who have children aged 7 and older and who would like them to start preparation to receive the Sacraments of First Reconcilation and First Holy Communion, it is really important that you fill in an application form, which can be found either on the parish website or at the entrance to church, and return it to the parish office by the end of October at the latest.  It is important that we know how many children we will have on the programme as this will enable us to make plans, in consultation with parents, regarding the dates of the preparation.

I am pleased to note that Deacon Peter has restarted his weekly contribution “Inspire” to the Newsletter.

So along with the Newsletter, I attach:

  • Monika Manser’s guide to prayerful contemplation based on this Sunday’s Gospel
  • the latest edition of Inspire from Deacon Peter
  • the poster relating to “Dine for Dignity” at the Masquerade Ball
  • the poster giving details of the Day of Reflection for Vocations to the Priesthood

Please remember to pray for all the sick of the parish, especially those undergoing treatment, recovering from operations or living with chronic illnesses.  There are also a number of our elderly parishioners who are very weak at the time and in need of our prayer support.

Rosie, our parish secretary, is on annual leave for the next couple of weeks, so there will be no one in the parish office between the normal hours of 10am-2pm, Tuesday to Friday, on a constant basis.  I will make every effort to respond to telephone calls, messages and emails, but please be patient if it takes me a while to do so!

Be assured of my prayers for you all.

Canon Kristian

Canon Kristian Paver

Parish Priest

Parish of St James & St Boniface

40 Old Road

Tiverton EX16 4HJ

Prisoners Sunday

Prisoners’ Sunday is the national day of prayer and action for prisoners and their dependants promoted by the Catholic Church and across the Christian denominations. It is a day to direct our thoughts and prayers to prisoners, their families and children, as well as the time to reflect on how we as individuals, as a Church and as a community are serving those affected by imprisonment. The work of the Church’s national charity, Pact (Prison Advice and Care Trust), works with prisoners and their families and embodies the Christian value of mercy and belief in the innate dignity of every human being. For more information about the charity and its important ministry, go to https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/. There will be a retiring collection this weekend to support the work of Pact. Some gift aid envelopes are available for those who pay tax.

October Prayer Intention – Prayer for the Synod

On Tuesday, 4 October, the Synod opened in Rome to reflect on the results of the listening process that has taken place in parishes and communities throughout the Church. Pope Francis asks us to pray for the Church: “that she may adopt listening and dialogue as a lifestyle at every level and allow herself to be guided by the Holy Spirit towards the peripheries of the world”. See www.popevideo.org.

Creation Hub

Creation Hub, hosted by Sampford Peverell Team Mission Community, will take place at Uplowman Village Hall this Sunday, 8 October, from 11.00am-3.00pm. There will be stalls with information, a locally sourced/fair trade lunch (12.30-1.30pm) and speakers (1.30-3.00pm). Care for the environment is so important to people living in rural areas, so do go along and explore what can be done right to make a difference here in our local communities.

First Holy Communion 2024

If you have a child, aged 7 or over, who you would like to start preparation for to receive First Confession and First Holy Communion next year, please pick up an application form at the entrance to church or download a copy from the parish website, and return it to the Parish Office as soon as possible.

CAFOD Harvest Fast Day

Last Friday, 6 October, was the CAFOD Harvest Fast Day. Please return your donation envelope this weekend if possible. You can also donate via the contactless machine in church or online.

Day of Reflection for the World Day of the Poor 2023

All are welcome to come and spend the day at St Rita’s Centre, Honiton, on Saturday 14 October, 10.30am-3.30pm (lunch included) to pray and reflect on Pope Francis’s message for the 7th World Day of the Poor – “Do not turn away your face from anyone who is poor”(Tobit 4:7) – and how we are called to respond.  Come along to celebrate those who give their time to others and reflect on how we can extend the hand of welcome. Places are filling up fast for this FREE event so booking is essential by 2 October by emailing caritas@prcdtr.org.uk.

Exeter Deanery Liturgy and Music Day

The Deanery is privileged to welcome Jo Boyce and her friends to Blessed Sacrament Church in Exeter for a day of uplifting teaching, music and worship on Saturday 14 October, 10.15am-6.00pm. Jo will be helping us to understand how music can be used to enhance liturgy. By sharing teaching and techniques she will deepen our formation, knowledge and skills to use within our parish settings. The day will start at 10.15am with tea and coffee in the St Richard Reynolds Centre next to the Blessed Sacrament church and finish with the celebration of Mass in the church at 6.00pm. Please bring a packed lunch. There is plenty of parking on site. Bring your voice, an instrument if you play one, and most importantly, your desire and enthusiasm for praising God in the Liturgy of the Church. To let us know to expect you, please complete the form by clicking this link.

Cullompton School Pastors

D uring the Cullompton Autumn Festival on Saturday 14 October, School Pastors will be raising money selling cream teas from 12.30 to 2.00pm in the Baptist Church Hall.  There will be musical entertainment while you munch from Take Note Community Choir at 12.30pm. School Pastors involves people from all churches in Cullompton, including St Boniface, supporting students at Cullompton Community College.  They help run a breakfast and lunch club and provide a friendly face and listening ear to any who need it in a supportive environment.  All members of the School Pastor team undergo professional training delivered by Ascension Trust and this has to be paid for.  They also wear uniform so that they are clearly visible in school. All this requires funding, so please come along and give them your support! 

Shoeboxes for Christmas

If you are interested in filling a shoebox as a Christmas Gift for a child in a place of poverty or war, information leaflets are available at church. If you have any queries, please contact Sheelagh on 07791 802009.

Catholic Youth Ministry Internships

Castlerigg Manor (Lancaster Diocese Youth Service) is looking for young Catholics aged 18-25 to join its internship programme. The scheme lasts for one or two years and gives wide-ranging experience, skills and qualifications, as well as the opportunity to work with a fantastic team based in the Lake District. For more information contact director@castleriggmanor.co.uk.

Dine for Dignity” at the Masquerade Ball

In order to raise funds for CHAT, a “Dine for Dignity” Masquerade Ball will take place at the Upton Barn and Walled Garden, Cullompton, EX15 1RA on Friday 17 November, 7.30-11.30pm. Tickets, which can be purchased via the QR code, include a two-course meal and welcome drink, are £37.50. 18+ only. Use code “ZOFIA10” when ordering your ticket and get 10% off!

Masses and Events this week

Saturday 7 October – Our Lady of the Rosary

  • Confirmation Preparation in the Hall at 11.00am
  • Holy Baptism of Faith Fury at 1.00pm
  • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm

Sunday 8 October – Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

  • Holy Mass at 10.00am Pro Populo
  • Holy Mass at 11.30am (at St Boniface)

Monday 9 October – St John Henry Newman, Priest

  • Singing to Remember at 2.00pm in the Hall

Tuesday 10 October – St Paulinus of York, Bishop

  • Holy Mass at 10.00am Malgorzata Wesolowska (birthday int)

Wednesday 11 October – St John XXIII, Pope

  • Holy Mass at 12noon (St Boniface)
  • Parish Pastoral Council at 7.00pm in the Hall

Thursday 12 October – St Wilfrid, Bishop

  • Holy Mass at 6.00pm

Friday 13 October – St Edward the Confessor, King

  • Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions at 11.30am
  • Holy Mass at 12.00noon

Saturday 14 October – Weekday

  • Holy Baptism of Kane and Xena Rose at 11.00am
  • Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm

Sunday 15 October – Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

  • Holy Mass at 10.00am Pro Populo
  • Holy Mass at 11.30am (at St Boniface)